AFP, United Nations, 10 Nov 2011 – UN leader Ban Ki-moon has ‘serious concern’ about military dimensions in Iran’s nuclear drive and it is up to the Tehran government to prove its peaceful intentions, a spokesman said Thursday.
But the UN secretary general still wants a negotiated solution, his spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters when asked about the latest International Atomic Energy Agency report which highlighted ‘credible’ intelligence suggesting Iran had worked on building nuclear warheads.
‘The secretary general notes with serious concern information that indicates Iran has carried out activities that point to a possible military dimension to its nuclear program,’ Nesirky said.
‘He emphasizes again that the onus is on Iran to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear program’ and for Iran to comply with all UN Security Council resolutions.
Ban ‘reiterates his belief that a negotiated rather than a military solution is the only way to resolve this issue,’ said the spokesman.
The UN Security Council has passed four rounds of sanctions over Iran’s uranium enrichment. Iran denies that it is seeking a nuclear bomb but has insisted it will fight back if attacked.