Iran's ex-president Mohammad Khatami criticized on Monday Tehran's foreign policy, saying the Islamic republic must refrain from an "adventurous" approach despite Western powers imposing sanctions on the country.
The reformist cleric, under whose presidency Iran had suspended the enrichment of uranium, said the revolution of 1979 had created a lot of "enemies" for Tehran, but the Islamic republic should not exacerbate the situation.
We have big enemies... they did all sorts of things like imposing wars, committing terrorist attacks, coup attempts and imposing sanctions
"We have big enemies... they did all sorts of things like imposing wars, committing terrorist attacks, coup attempts and imposing sanctions," Khatami, a strong backer of Iran's opposition movement, said in a speech that was posted on the website of his organization, Baran.
"But it does not mean that we have to face them with an adventurous policy and intensify it. Wisdom and politics demand that we act logically and not give a pretext to others," he said implicitly referring to Tehran's defiant stance when it comes to its nuclear program.
Iran often makes announcements of progress in its military capabilities, in an apparent attempt to show its readiness to respond to any possible military attack.
On Monday its air force announced that it will soon test a new version of a 2000-pound guided-bomb.
Nuclear agenda
It is easy to create tension in the world, but hard to create detente as it requires courage and wisdom and the regime should take strides in this path
Iran, under the presidency of Khatami's successor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has aggressively pursued a nuclear agenda despite three rounds of U.N. sanctions.
Khatami, who had reportedly come under physical attack during a rally marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution on February 11, said Tehran "should not act adventurously... and adopt stances that do not have any roots in the revolution or Islam."
"It is easy to create tension in the world, but hard to create detente as it requires courage and wisdom and the regime should take strides in this path."
Khatami, along with other opposition leaders such as Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, has previously criticized Ahmadinejad for denying the Holocaust, although Iran's overall foreign policy is chalked by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On Monday, Khatami once again called for the release of political prisoners and protesters detained since the disputed June 12 re-election of Ahmadinejad.
"... those in prisons should be freed... freedom should be guaranteed... so that people will feel that there is importance of freedom and healthy election," the charismatic cleric said.
Lack of cooperation
The agency continues ... to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran, but we cannot confirm that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities because Iran has not provided the agency with the necessary cooperation
Khatami's remarks came as the U.N. nuclear watchdog meets on Monday to discuss a key report concerning Tehran's atomic program.
The meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could pave the way for a possible fourth round of sanctions on Iran.
The new IAEA chief of Yukiya Amano, accused Iran of not cooperating sufficiently with an investigation into its contested nuclear activities.
In an opening address to an International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors meeting, Amano also said a U.N.-brokered deal to supply Iran with fuel for a nuclear research reactor was however still on table.
"The agency continues ... to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran, but we cannot confirm that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities because Iran has not provided the agency with the necessary cooperation," he said.
"The necessary cooperation includes, among other things, implementation of relevant resolutions of the IAEA board of governors and the United Nations Security Council," the Japanese diplomat said.
It also meant allowing IAEA inspectors to conduct snap inspections, notifying the agency of plans to build nuclear plants and "clarification of issues related to possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program."
Amano, who took over the reins of the U.N. watchdog on Dec. 1, circulated a report to IAEA member states 10 days ago, the wording of which was seen as blunter and tougher than that used by his predecessor Mohamed ElBaradei.
Amano expressed concern that Tehran may be "currently" working on a nuclear warhead and confirms that Iran has started enriching uranium to higher levels, theoretically bringing it close the levels needed for an atomic bomb.
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