topic by
John Calvin
12/18/2001 (15:56)

Tehran, Dec 17, IRNA -- Iran on Monday rejected claims by the Israeli
Mossad intelligence agency's chief over the Islamic Republic's attempt
to develop nuclear and other non-conventional weapons.
'The oft-repeated and totally false allegation by Zionist circles
to this effect is made while the Zionist regime is blatantly
continuing to develop deadly weapons without heeding international
laws,' an informed source at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, who asked
to remain anonymous, said.
'Despite repeated expressions of concern by the regional countries
over Israel's nuclear threat (which is the main) cause of instability
and insecurity in the Middle East and its refusal to allow supervision
by international organizations, mainly the International Atomic Energy
Agency, this regime continues to develop and use non-conventional
chemical and biological weapons and ground missiles against
non-military targets,' the source further said.
Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy was cited as saying at a public
conference in Tel Aviv that Iran was attempting to develop nuclear and
other weapons of mass destruction, as well as expanding its long-range
missile program.
Iran has always denied that it is producing weapons of mass
destruction and has opened up its under-construction nuclear
facilities in southern Bushehr to regular IAEA supervision. It does
not recognize the racist Israeli regime and has always made public its
moral and political support for resistance groups in Lebanon and
Palestine.
BH/AH
End