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Iran can aid 'peaceful' nuclear research

TEHRAN, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Iran may be able to help members of the Non-Aligned Movement gain access to peaceful nuclear technology, a lawmaker said Monday.

A summit for NAM, a 120-member organization founded in 1961, gets under way Thursday in Tehran. Heads of state, as well as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, are expected to attend the conference.

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Mehdi Moussavinejad, a member of Iran's parliamentary energy commission, told the semiofficial Fars News Agency that Tehran was eager to help with nuclear energy for NAM members.

"Iran can form a new and powerful front to facilitate the access of the NAM member states to peaceful nuclear energy," he said Monday.

Given Iran's abundant oil and natural gas reserves, some governments suspect Iran is using its nuclear program as cover for weapons development.

Iranian officials last week met in Vienna with members of the International Atomic Energy Agency. IAEA officials had said they wanted access to certain Iranian nuclear installations to verify Tehran's intent.

IAEA chief inspector Herman Nackaerts said talks last week focused on the possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program. Talks, he said in a statement, "were intensive, but important differences remain between Iran and the agency" that prevented any breakthroughs.

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