The United States is looking for a reason to act against Iran amid accusations that Tehran is secretly developing atomic weapons, Iran’s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said in remarks published on Tuesday. The United Nations nuclear watchdog has been investigating Iran’s nuclear programme, which Tehran says is aimed solely at generating electricity rather than nuclear weapons. The US wants the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report Tehran to the UN Security Council for what it says are violations of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. ‘‘Nobody can deny our rights to have nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,’’ the Dominion-Post newspaper quoted Kharrazi as saying during a visit to New Zealand. ‘‘Animosity has prevailed in the US for many years now and therefore they have been looking for excuses (to act against Iran),’’ said Kharrazi. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, acknowledging Iran’s assurances that its nuclear programme was peaceful, said it was ‘‘absolutely critical’’ that Iran complied fully with the agency’s request to accelerate its co-operation. Tehran had said last month that it had resumed making parts for uranium enrichment centrifuges, which can be used to make bomb material. It further said that it is entitled to carry out such activities under the NPT and said it would not give up its right to pursue enrichment technology to produce fuel for nuclear power reactors. US sees China N-link WASHINGTON: The US State Department on Monday admitted ‘‘concerns’’ on reports that China had recently transferred missile technology to Iran in violation of its previous non-proliferation assurances, but declined to comment on the details of the exports. ‘‘We think they have made progress in non-proliferation. but concerns remain.,’’ a spokesperson said. — (Reuters)
