Iran to persist in nuclear pursuits - official
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-09 17:11

Iran's nuclear programs have peaceful aims and will not be abandoned even under threats of military action, which are no more real than a vampire's teeth, one of the country's vice presidents said on Thursday.

Esfandiar Rahim Mashaee said on a visit to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, that Iran opposes nuclear weapons and their use.

"On the Iranian nuclear issue, we have always been clear in our action, and in Iran all of its nuclear (programs) have a peaceful mission," he told a news conference after meeting Indonesia's vice president.

Iran has a senior vice president, and a number of other vice presidents who are in charge of individual areas of government. Mashaee oversees cultural heritage and tourism.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, acting at the behest of the European Union and the United States, last week voted to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council. The Western powers fear Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla called on Thursday for a dialogue to resolve the issue, and noted how other countries in the world such as North Korea have the capability to develop nuclear weapons.

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has accused Iran of being the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and Washington has not ruled out military action to dismantle Iran's suspected nuclear arms project.

Mashaee dismissed such talk.

"It's not surprising if Rumsfeld would resort to the threat of military action against Iran, but such a threat is as real as a dracula's sharp teeth," he said.