Iran's former top nuclear negotiator insisted in an interview published Wednesday that the UN's nuclear watchdog had enough information from the Islamic Republic about its nuclear programme.
Ali Larijani, speaking to the Financial Times, criticised the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany for pressing for more sanctions before a key IAEA report due out later this month.
Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany agreed to push for a third UN resolution penalising Iran before International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei presents his report.
"It is (the) IAEA that is important to us," Larijani, who resigned from his post in October, told the business daily.
"We have finished answering all their ... questions."
The West accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran rejects, insisting that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and aimed at meeting energy needs.
The UN Security Council has already imposed two rounds of sanctions against Iran over the issue. ElBaradei's report is likely to influence whether, in the end, a third set will be approved.
"They have to continue it with shame," Larijani said of the insistence of the Security Council five plus Germany in pursuing a third round of sanctions.
"It is a stubborn approach with no logic, which can have its impacts on our relations with IAEA."
Larijani, who is running in Iranian parliamentary elections next month, told the FT: "Parliament is where you can control, ask questions, get information and make changes."
Stressing the importance of the coming elections and the parliament it would elect, he added: "The international situation is in transition and our country is important in the region. Iran can play a role."
earlier related report
IAEA declines comment on Iran nuclear weapons claims
The UN atomic watchdog said Wednesday it was aware of claims by an exiled Iranian opposition group that Tehran had an operational nuclear-warhead development site, but declined to comment on the information.
"We are aware of this, but have no comment at this point in time," said Melissa Fleming, a spokeswoman for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.
"As with all new information coming our way, our analysts take a serious look and decide whether it would warrant a follow-up," Fleming added.
According to the exiled National Council of Resistance of Iran, Tehran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapons programme, despite a recent US intelligence report which had said that Iran had abandoned such a programme in 2003.
A senior member of the group, Mohammad Mohadessin, presented reporters in Brussels with information he said had been collected on two sites in Iran on top secret studies on nuclear warheads.
Mohadessin said the site at Khojir, in a Tehran suburb, was an Iranian defence ministry missile-research site which is developing a nuclear warhead for medium-range missiles.
He described the other facility, in another Tehran suburb, as the "command and control centre" for production of a nuclear bomb.
This is not the first time the group has claimed to have information about Iran's alleged nuclear programme.
Its latest declaration comes just days before the latest assessment on Iran's disputed atomic drive by IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei.
ElBaradei's report, which diplomats in Vienna said could be released as early as Friday, will be crucial for the UN Security Council in deciding whether to slap further sanctions on Iran in the long-running nuclear stand-off.
The claims run counter to a US intelligence report released in December which said Iran halted its nuclear weapons programme in 2003.
That US report led to calls from Tehran, and some other quarters, for UN sanctions against the Iranian regime to be dropped.
"The Iranian regime is undoubtedly developing a nuclear bomb," Mohadessin said, adding that the information had been handed over to the IAEA on Tuesday.
earlier related report
IAEA declines comment on Iran nuclear weapons claims
The UN atomic watchdog said Wednesday it was aware of claims by an exiled Iranian opposition group that Tehran had an operational nuclear-warhead development site, but declined to comment on the information.
"We are aware of this, but have no comment at this point in time," said Melissa Fleming, a spokeswoman for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.
"As with all new information coming our way, our analysts take a serious look and decide whether it would warrant a follow-up," Fleming added.
According to the exiled National Council of Resistance of Iran, Tehran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapons programme, despite a recent US intelligence report which had said that Iran had abandoned such a programme in 2003.
A senior member of the group, Mohammad Mohadessin, presented reporters in Brussels with information he said had been collected on two sites in Iran on top secret studies on nuclear warheads.
Mohadessin said the site at Khojir, in a Tehran suburb, was an Iranian defence ministry missile-research site which is developing a nuclear warhead for medium-range missiles.
He described the other facility, in another Tehran suburb, as the "command and control centre" for production of a nuclear bomb.
This is not the first time the group has claimed to have information about Iran's alleged nuclear programme.
Its latest declaration comes just days before the latest assessment on Iran's disputed atomic drive by IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei.
ElBaradei's report, which diplomats in Vienna said could be released as early as Friday, will be crucial for the UN Security Council in deciding whether to slap further sanctions on Iran in the long-running nuclear stand-off.
The claims run counter to a US intelligence report released in December which said Iran halted its nuclear weapons programme in 2003.
That US report led to calls from Tehran, and some other quarters, for UN sanctions against the Iranian regime to be dropped.
"The Iranian regime is undoubtedly developing a nuclear bomb," Mohadessin said, adding that the information had been handed over to the IAEA on Tuesday.
