LAHORE, Feb 9: Iran believes that all countries have the right to use nuclear energy for their scientific and technological advancements and that a few countries should not have monopoly in this particular area, says Iranian Consulate General Muhammad Husain Bin Asadi.

In a reception held at a local hotel on Thursday to mark the 33rd anniversary of the Iranian Islamic revolution, Mr Asadi said Iran had made it clear that their nuclear programme was for a peaceful purpose and had allowed International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors into its nuclear installations.

He said sovereignty was the corner stone of Iran’s foreign policy and they always wanted to have good relations with other countries, especially Pakistan and other neighboring countries.

He said ever since Pakistan came into being in 1947 its relations with Iran had been cordial and either side helped each other in difficult times. Last year, he said, Iran dispatched relief goods to Pakistan for flood victims and now supreme leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei had sanctioned $100 million for the reconstruction of Pakistani flood affected areas. A committee of experts had been formed to spend the amount with the consultation of Pakistani officials, he said.

Mr Asadi said Iran had recently laid transmission lines up to Turbat and a project to supply 100 megawatt to Gwadar was being implemented; another project to supply Iranian 1,000 megawatt to Quetta was also under consideration.

About the Islamic revolution, he said people of Iran brought about the revolution under the dynamic leadership of Imam Khomeini 33 years back to change their destiny and since then they had made tremendous achievements in every sector.

Other speakers paid rich tributes to the great Iranian leader, Imam Khomeini.