Brazil's Lula To Visit Iran
To Boost Agreement On Nuclear Issue
BRASILIA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio
Lula da Silva said Thursday his visit to
Iran in May may encourage an agreement on
the nuclear dispute between Teheran and the
international community.
Speaking to reporters after meeting his
Lebanese counterpart General Michel Sleiman,
Lula stated Brazil's position to seek a
negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear
issue and defend Teheran's right to develop
a peaceful nuclear program.
Western powers led by the United States are
promoting sanctions against Iran in the
United Nations Security Council for the
alleged development of its nuclear program
aimed at building nuclear weapons. But
Brasilia considers sanctions
counterproductive.
Lula said he was making efforts to mediate
between Teheran and the Security Council as
well as the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA).
Lula also said he sent Foreign Minister
Celso Amorim to Teheran on Thursday, who
will pass through Turkey and Moscow.
"We want to prepare for the trip properly
because we want to know the possibilities of
the IAEA to make a deal with Iran," Lula
said.
Asked if he feared Iran would build nuclear
weapons, Lula said peace was the limit.
"Brazil supports that Iran has the right to
produce nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes, either to produce electricity or
remedies. What Brazil is never going to
defend is that they may use nuclear energy
if it is not for peaceful purposes," he
said.
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