September 9, 2003	Tuesday	Rajab 11, 1424

PARIS, Sept 8: Iran’s ambassador to France, Sadegh Kharrazi, has said in an interview that “we (Iran) haven’t ever committed any infraction, and, believe me, we don’t possess any nuclear weapons, indeed we’ll never have any, as it would be an offense against Islam”.

Kharrazi said in an interview with Le Figaro: “The French are understandably worried, but please be assured that our conversations with the French government are going very well. It’s a dialogue that must be continued.”

Observers believe that Mr Kharrazi, who served two years ago in Cyprus as the principal contact man with the United States when the first attempt was made to set up discrete relations between Washington and Tehran, is again playing an important role with regard to reassuring world public opinion over recent allegations that Tehran has been building nuclear weapons.

And, if there is one point on which he insists, it’s that any desire that Iran may have to develop its nuclear sector is limited to its civilian uses.

“With a population that will reach over 100 million in eighteen years, we are in need of civilian nuclear energy. Indeed, we do possess the technology to enrich uranium for civilian purposes,” said the ambassador.