KARACHI, Nov 16: Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masood Mohammad Zamani on Friday said that now when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had released its report clearing Iran on its nuclear programme, the matter should be shifted from the UN Security Council to the IAEA.

He was addressing a news conference to spell out his country’s stance amid criticism of his country despite the clearance.

“Iran has always cooperated with the IAEA and this has been appreciated by the agency,” he said, adding that the fact had been acknowledged by El Baradei, who submitted his report to the IAEA general council.

The report, Mr Zamani said, had removed concerns of many western countries with regard to the P1 and P2 centrifuges, and observed that some countries were trying to downplay the report of IAEA’s findings.

In reply to a question, he said some western governments were deeply involved in negative tactics against Iran to mislead the world on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Reiterating his country’s stance that Tehran had the right to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, he said this was also acknowledged by China, referring to the Chinese foreign minister’s recent visit to Iran.

About fear of a possible US strike on Iran aimed at preventing it from acquiring nuclear capability, the envoy said: “The US knows that Tehran is capable of defending itself because Iranians are united… Iran is neither Iraq nor Afghanistan, therefore, Americans cannot attack Iran.”

Responding to a question regarding negotiations with the US on Iraq, Mr Zamani said security and territorial integrity of Iraq was of paramount importance for Iran.