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UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the United States and Iran to contain a row over Tehran’s nuclear programme, and said in remarks published on Sunday only Iranians were responsible for their country’s political future.
Washington accuses the Islamic Republic of seeking nuclear weapons, a charge denied by Tehran, and warned on Friday that the United States reserved the right to use military action to stop Tehran making such weapons.
“I hope they contain it (the dispute) and this is possible because we have very good examples of good cooperation between the United States and Iran,” Annan told the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
He urged Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to sign an additional protocol to allow more intrusive, snap inspections.
Tehran said on Saturday it is ready to cooperate more actively with UN inspectors to dispel doubts about its nuclear ambitions, which it has said were merely to diversify electricity generation sources.
Iran has faced mounting pressure in recent weeks from the IAEA which has reprimanded Tehran for repeatedly failing to report nuclear material, facilities and activities as required under its safeguard agreement with the UN nuclear watchdog.
Asked about overt US support for student protests in Iran against Islamic clerical rule, Annan said: “Any change in regime is a matter which only the Iranian people can decide.”
Iran accused the United States of interfering in its internal affairs after Washington applauded the demonstrations — the most outspoken domestic protests since the 1979 Islamic revolution — as a fight for freedom by the Iranian people.
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