Iran has an "inalienable right" to produce nuclear fuel, the country's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has told the United Nations.

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran's president announced Monday that his country has begun production of nuclear fuel on an "industrial level."

"Iran has succeeded in development to attain production at an industrial level," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran.
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Iran's leader vowed it will be used for energy "and for the expansion of peace and stability," adding that the goal of "progress" for Iran is "irreversible."
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The IAEA -- the U.N. nuclear watchdog -- has said it cannot confirm that Iran's nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. IAEA officials say Iran has failed to cooperate with inspectors.

The treaty recognizes the inalienable right of sovereign states to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but restricts this right for NPT parties to be exercised "in conformity with Articles I and II" (the basic nonproliferation obligations that constitute the "first pillar" of the Treaty).

The NPT is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. The Treaty represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States.

Does Iran have an "inalienable right" to produce nuclear fuel?

Wiki to the rescue!



Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nulcear Weapons (NPT)



This means until evidence can be shown linking a delivery system and weapons capability, pursuing enrichment is A-OK because signing up opens up the market on parts, labour, and background needed to safely build and operate a nuclear reactor.


Should the US hold bilateral talks with Iran to attempt to reach common ground?
Or said another way, should the bilateral talks offered in '03 through the Swiss diplomat offering concessions on nuclear development and suspension of aid to Islamic groups be returned to? Why was this offer not taken advantage of?

Given that the IAEA cannot confirm that Iran's nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, is Iran on the path of building a nuclear weapon, or are the purposes for electric power as Iran claims?

Expecting 100% certainty will never happen and is not a realistic expectation. The emphasis should not be entirely on the host country to prove their innocence or in this case, un-guilt. Confirm the lack of evidence right? Haven't we been down this road before? I can make a pretty good arguement in which Tehran cannot enrich weapon's grade material because of technological deficiencies.

NIE estimates Iran's bomb producing ability at least 10 years away. This message has been consistent since 2002. Given the consistency of NIE remarks, you can understand why I ask, "Is this about Iranian cooperation or more about continually making allegations which your own intelligence community takes issue with?".

1. Each non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes to accept safeguards, as set forth in an agreement to be negotiated and concluded with the International Atomic Energy Agency in accordance with the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Agency’s safeguards system, for the exclusive purpose of verification of the fulfilment of its obligations assumed under this Treaty with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. Procedures for the safeguards required by this Article shall be followed with respect to source or special fissionable material whether it is being produced, processed or used in any principal nuclear facility or is outside any such facility. The safeguards required by this Article shall be applied on all source or special fissionable material in all peaceful nuclear activities within the territory of such State, under its jurisdiction, or carried out under its control anywhere.

2. Each State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to provide: {a} source or special fissionable material, or {b} equipment or material especially designed or prepared for the processing, use or production of special fissionable material, to any non-nuclear-weapon State for peaceful purposes, unless the source or special fissionable material shall be subject to the safeguards required by this Article.

3. The safeguards required by this Article shall be implemented in a manner designed to comply with Article IV of this Treaty, and to avoid hampering the economic or technological development of the Parties or international co-operation in the field of peaceful nuclear activities, including the international exchange of nuclear material and equipment for the processing, use or production of nuclear material for peaceful purposes in accordance with the provisions of this Article and the principle of safeguarding set forth in the Preamble of the Treaty.