Your trusted source

Press TV has conducted an interview with Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a senior fellow at Princeton University, to discuss recent remarks by US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. 

- What is your take on the atmosphere of the security conference and Chuck Hagel’s remarks?

- …the major issue Chuck Hagel raised in his speech today was about Iran, claiming Iran is the major threat to peace, security and stability. He mentioned Iranian nuclear program as the major threat. I responded to him, Iran does not have nuclear bombs.

There has been thousands of inspections. There is no diversion in Iranian nuclear program. And I questioned the Defense Secretary of the United States, ‘why you do not mention a single word about the real threat in the Middle East on Non-Proliferation which is Israel?’ Because Israel is the only [entity] with hundreds of nuclear bombs.

And I was really surprised. This issue happened in another panel again. The Canadian foreign minister raised Iranian proliferation threat. And when he was asked about Israel, he did not respond one word. What the West is going to do with hundreds of nuclear weapons of Israelis?

It is really shocking how the West is weak and insincere about Non-Proliferation issue in the Middle East.

- Tell us why Israel’s nuclear program and of course nuclear weapons are not even discussed by the IAEA itself?

- Because the world powers decide in the IAEA. The board of governors of the IAEA is dominated by the world powers.

Look, in 2005, three countries were accused of non-compliance: Iran, Egypt, South Korea. They referred Iranian file only to the United Nations Security Council and sanctioned Iran while Egypt and South Korea that were found non-compliance, they did not do anything against them. Because Egypt at that time and Mubarak the dictator was the ally of the US. And South Korea was the ally of the West. They just closed the file immediately. The IAEA really is completely politicized.

- Dr. Mousavian, tell us what is your impression of the recent nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1?

- This deal is not ideal neither for Iran nor for the P5+1 but this is very important because after a decade of negotiations, now they have reached a base.

This is a base. This is an interim deal. They need to negotiate for a final deal but I support the deal because it includes the lifting of sanctions against Iran at the end. The deal practically respects the rights of Iran for enrichment and the deal is asking Iran for transparency with which Iran has never had any problems, even during our time.

When I was a member of the nuclear negotiation team, we told Europeans and other interlocutors that Iran has no problem about any type of transparency measures because Iran is not after nuclear bomb. And Iran is prepared to give any assurances that its nuclear program would remain peaceful forever. And there would be never diversion toward weaponization.

This was the two major issues we have been reiterating, I mean Iran has been reiterating for a decade. Now they accepted Iranian voluntary good will and the deal includes transparency measures and confidence-building measures on non-diversion toward weaponization.