Iranian nuclear plant causes Norwegian concern

nuclearA second uranium enrichment plant in Iran has led Norway to join other countries in expressing its concern over the disclosure, claiming that the plant is a clear breach of UN Security Council requirements.

The Norway Post reports that Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store claimed that there is an increasing crisis of confidence between the international community and Iran, over its lack of transparency with regards to nuclear activities. It was announced last week that Iran had managed to keep hidden for years the existence of the uranium enrichment plant. The news is just the latest in a series of breaches of the regulaions laid down by the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“The latest reports that Iran has built a new enrichment plant give cause for grave concern,” said Mr. Store. “This is incompatible with Security Council requirements, and shows clearly that Iran has not laid all its cards on the table”.

At the G-20 meeting in Pennsylvania, other world leaders including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and US President Barack Obama all condemned Iran’s behaviour, after the discovery of the new Iranian enrichment plant.

“This latest turn of events also shows how crucial it is that Iran show full transparency regarding its nuclear facilities and allow the IAEA full access. Otherwise it will be impossible for Iran to gain international confidence, which is also necessary for the country to exercise its right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, which we have never contested,” said Norway’s Foreign Minister Store. Mr. Store also highlighted the Security Council’s move to pass recent agreements of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. “The uncertainty surrounding Iran’s intentions could, unfortunately, complicate the efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. This is extremely regrettable,” said Mr Store.

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