By Martin Banks - 23rd January 2008
MEPs have reacted with dismay after hearing a key Iranian official defend his country’s nuclear enrichment programme.
Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, faced a grilling from MEPs when he addressed the foreign affairs committee on Wednesday.
His appearance before the packed committee comes at a time when Iran is facing growing international pressure over its nuclear programme.
The US recently said Tehran has no need for its own nuclear programme since it is now receiving fuel from Russia.
But Jalili incensed deputies after maintaining that Iran will never give up its right to develop a nuclear programme.
Despite being quizzed repeatedly on his country’s human rights record, he also insisted that Iran was a “good example” of democracy in the region.
He took a swipe at western governments, saying they had failed to take any action “when Saddam Hussein attacked and occupied my country.”
“In contrast,” he said, “the UN has passed several resolutions against Iran in an effort to thwart our peaceful nuclear ambitions.”
Responding to his 40-minute address, which covered a wide range of issues, UK Tory MEP Robert Atkins said, “He totally ignored our questions about human rights violations and Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism. That says it all.”
His comments were echoed by Spanish EPP deputy Jose Salafranca, who branded Jalili’s response to questioning as “totally unsatisfactory”.
German centre-right MEP Elmar Brok, a former chairman of the committee, said, “He avoided questions on the nuclear issue and gave exactly the same answers as his predecessor did when he spoke in this parliament two years ago.”
Further reaction came from UK Socialist Richard Howitt, who said, “It was actually a clever presentation by Jalili that avoided repeating the blatant anti-semitism of Iran’s foreign minister when he addressed parliament last year.
“However, he completely failed to answer questions on human rights issues.”
That view was shared by both committee chair, Polish MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, and German EPP member Michael Gahler, who said the Iranian had “failed to adequately answer” questions posed by MEPs.
