Iran offers to transfer nuke technology

[Inigo Montoya]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061216/...a/iran_nuclear



Sat Dec 16, 10:53 AM ET

TEHRAN, Iran -
Iran's president said Saturday his country was ready to transfer nuclear technology to neighboring countries, Kuwaiti television reported, a week after Arab states on the Persian Gulf announced plans to consider a joint nuclear program.
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The television said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a top Kuwaiti envoy he welcomed the decision by the Islamic republic's Arab neighbors to pursue peaceful nuclear technology.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to transfer to regional states its valuable experience and achievements in the field of peaceful nuclear technology as a clean energy source and as a replacement for oil," the state quoted Ahmadinejad as telling Mohammed Zefollah Shirar, a top adviser to Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

Such a technological transfer would be legal as long as it is between signatory states to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and as long as the
International Atomic Energy Agency that monitors the treaty was informed of the transfer.

Iran is at odds with the United States and its European allies, who accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is aimed solely at the peaceful production of nuclear energy.

Edgar Vasquez, a State Department spokesman, told the AP on Saturday that Iran's continued defiance of international nuclear safeguards represents "a serious threat" to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

"We expect Iran to comply with international obligations under the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) and its safeguards agreement with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)," Vasquez said.

"Iran's non-compliance up to this point is a serious threat — which we continue to work with our international partners and the international community in the
U.N. Security Council to remedy," he said.

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Associated Press writer John Heilprin contributed to this report from Washington.