An interesting q/a session with an iranian lawyer/author from the mainstream (largely ignorant) public. Some of the questions are shamelessly ignorant and arrogant. But nevertheless the answers are quite insightful and its worth reading to the end. :k:
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PostGlobal: Life in Iran and Nuclear Deals**
*Ali Ettefgah
Iranian Lawyer
Thursday, August 24, 2006; 12:00 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/08/23/DI2006082301195.html
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Dr. Ali Ettefagh serves as a director of Highmore Global Corporation, an investment company in emerging markets of Eastern Europe, CIS, and the Middle East. He is the co-author of several books on trade conflict, resolution of international trade disputes, conflicts in letters of credit, trade-related banking transactions, sovereign debt, arbitration and dispute resolutions and publications specific to the oil and gas, communication, aviation and finance sectors. He speaks Persian (Farsi), English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Turkish.
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you for your participation. I think the main focus of the current rounds about Iranian nuclear operations must be framed within the legal structure of the NPT as this is a test of the value and effect of international treaties and whether treaties can be interpreted by political pressure. This can be a fundamental issue in world affairs and whether agreements can be bulldozed by unlearned opinions. In case of Iran, there has been specific pressure on Iran to prove a negative. That will be a very dangerous precedent.
Lisbon, Portugal: Is there really anything the interantional community can do to make Iran give up its nuclear program short of war? Why bother with negotiations?
Ali Ettefagh: The issue under discussion is exactly why should Iran give up its civilian nuclear program to which it is entitled under NPT, especially Article 4 of it. In other words, Iran joined an international legal system to benefit from a system and a body of law to let it have civilian nuclear programs. The UN agency in charge of the Treaty, the IAEA in Vienna, is the body that must conduct and regulate the affairs of treaty members and it has made more than 2200 hours of inspections of Iranian facilities. No other country has been inspected in this manner. And the report is that Iran has complied with its treaty obligations.
You ask why bother with negotiations? I think this has to be put to the countries that pressure Iran. Iran is in full compliance with its treaty obligations. Should Iran be pressured to renounce its rights under the NPT? I say no, as tomorrow, other countries may be forced to do the same.
*New Hampshire: Hello Mr. Ettefagh and thank you for taking my question.
*
I remain perplexed at the situation regarding the development of nuclear technology in Iran. Why is it ok for Israel, Pakistan and India to possess nuclear weapons and not okay for other nations? I certainly can understand the impetus for wanting such technology as the US has launched wars on Iran’s borders-- Iraq and Afghanistan. Israel’s aggression to the Palestinians and the Lebanese is fully evident now.
As long as none of these nations are committed to doing away with their nuclear weapons or technology, I simply do not see the fairness of such a “policy”. I, for one, would like to see a nuclear weapons free world, but I don’t see that happening until all nations come together honestly and openly.
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you for your comments.
I am as much perplexed as you are about this massive hype and the double standards that are being applied. I am even more concerned why Iran is put in a position that it has to prove a negative: i.e. that it does not have nuclear weapons. It is absurd!
The Nuke 5 have a treaty obligation to stop proliferation of weapons-related equipment, alas non-members of the NPT (like India and Israel) have long accessed western equipment and systems for their weapons programs. I would also like to get rid of double standards.
Jerusalem Israel : Do you believe Mohammed Ahmadinejad upon attaining nuclear weapons will immediately use them to attempt to realize what seems to be his most obsessive desire, the destruction of Israel?
Ali Ettefagh: No.
*Richmond, Va: Dear Mr. Ettefagh:
Isn’t it true that the “third force” of millions of young Iranians actually possesses quite a favorable opinion of the US? Why do they not exert pressure on their government to respond positively to US efforts at a diplomatic resolution on the Iranian nuclear program? Do most of them honestly believe that their government harbors no desire to obtain nuclear weapons or at least the latent capacity to do so?
Thank you for your time.*
Ali Ettefagh: Most Iranians have a favourable opinion of Americans and America. However, that does not extend to the policies of the American government towards Iran. Iranians have suffered a lot from sanctions against them, support for Saddam and his killing and maiming more than 1 million Iranians, chemical weapons, and the dual standards. Concurrently, most Iranians are proud that Iran is mastering nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Iranians are keen students of history and they have a long-term vision, both to the past and the future and all remember that Iran has always been a major regional power but Persians have never attacked another country.
Oslo, Norway: I think that Iranian stubbornness on the matter of enrichment is much more a question of the national pride today. It�s more about being a member of the atomic club and being respected as a modern society with access to technology rather than possessing the bomb. What are your ideas about that? At the same time, I have feeling that it can simply be a very well done cover-up number by the government to play the nationalist card. Lately I have seen a lot of national flag waving instead of the standard green flags and �Down with USA� banners. What do you think?
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you for your question. The issue of access to technology is a matter of pride for any nation. There is nothing wrong with any nation to seek a more modern life for its people. The issue is also a matter of principles within international legal system that we all respect: If a country like Iran is a member of NPT, and when Iran has complied with its treaty obligations, why should it be stopped from its treaty rights? The treaty is essentially a set of rules that govern nuclear technology and there are no bans for a country to obtain peaceful nuclear technology for, say, electricity. Moreover, Iran has vast uranium ore deposits and this natural resource, like oil and gas, could be commercialised for export to the rest of the world. Look at India, for example. It is a very promising market for future exports of uranium.
As for your suggestion of a “cover-up”, the world is too small. The Iranian government is not a cheater and very intrusive inspections by the IAEA have concluded that there are no military programs in Iran.
*San Pedro, California: Iran is a major crude oil producing country in the world. How many barrels of crude oil does Iran export per day and how many barrel of gasoline does Iran imports per day? Please explain why the disparity.
*
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you. Iran has an OPEC quota to export about 2.6 million barrels a day. The issue of gasoline imports is essentially due to rapid growth in demand for cars in Iran, as Iran is now producing about 1m cars a year, and as investment in refineries has a long cycle. But that is a simple issue and its is fixed by short-term trades of crude oil vs. refined products until the refineries are upgraded. Iran is also going towards CNG technology which is more environmentally friendly and can tap Iranian gas reserves.
San Francisco, CA: Some of the ethnic groups in Iran have strong desire for separation and they have an organized movement for this goal, how serious this threat is?
If this is a serious matter, would autonomy and federalism be viable option?
Ali Ettefagh: My view and observation from Iran is that this “strong desire” is a fabrication of certain foreign lobbies abroad. I venture to say that this risk is not serious for Iran as Iraq and Yugoslavia have served as examples that not every theory and dream can become reality. India is also a land of many ethnic groups but there are no serious and strong movements that can be defined as a threat. Thank you for your question.
Baltimore, Maryland: How do you see the future for non-Muslim ethnic groups living in Iran, like the Armenians? How do you view the current restrictions they live under now, especially Armenian women?
Ali Ettefagh: Armenian Iranians are very much part of the fabric of Iranian society and are honoured and respected by other Iranians. There are no restrictions against Armenians in participating in daily life on par with other Iranians. There are many churches in main Iranian cities and practice of minority religions in Iran is openly accepted and considered normal. Compared with all other countries in the region, Armenians, Jews and Zoroastrians have complete legal and practical rights to worship, employment and other civil rights. Many streets in Tehran are named after Iranian Armenian soldiers that fought the war against Saddam to honour them. The Iranian civil code actually reserves the right of applying special religious rights and decrees of non-Muslims in matters of inheritance, marriage and divorce. It is fair to say that this cannot be found in other countries in the region.
Sun Prairie, WI: Mr. Ettefagh: Good afternoon as it must be to you, and welcome.
*As we have often been reminded in the last few years, natural disasters are apt to put even more lives at risk than wars are, and Iran is one of several countries most at risk. I wonder if you could tell us something about the progress of reconstruction after the Bam earthquake, and the state of Iranian preparedness for future earthquakes.
*
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you for your observation. Iran has been subject to several earth quakes and the reconstruction project for Bam is going along on its second phase.
For several years, Iranian building codes now require strengthen building structures in all cities and the Iranian civil defence system has an elaborate national system to assist at least 1 million families. Aside from earth quakes, Iran is also subject to floods in the north and the southwest. But again, no nation can be fully prepared for such disasters.
*Saint Brieuc, France: Hello, and thanks for taking my question.
Is there any discussion in Iran about WHY such a gas-rich country needs a nuclear energy program now?*
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you for your question. The Bushehr project as well as other uranium conversion facilities are not new and they date back to about 35 years ago. Iran has vast deposits of uranium ore and has been an exporter of uranium ore. This is essentially another way to exploit its natural resources, just like gas, and extend the value-added chain of processing for commercial purposes. Think of crude oil vs. refined products and plastics and you can have a better idea.
Secondly, Iran was and is a minority shareholder in Eurodiff, a French uranium processing company that is the fuel processor for French reactors.
Thirdly, power generation is only one of the several processes and other peaceful purposes (such as isotopes for medical imaging) are other products.
And finally, production of electricity by way of nuclear technology is an efficient way to produce electricity in a country where annual demand for electricity grows by about 8% a year.
So, Iran has decided to finish the project as substantial money has been invested in the project and, having a long-term view, the plans are to be a major exporter of fuel for foreign power plants. The market potential for exports of fuel is significant. Just think about India and the fact that 50% of Indians do not have electricity.
*Wheaton, MD: If Iran continues with its nuclear weapons program and the UN does nothing, is it likely that the Israelis will take matters into their own hands as they bravely did in Iraq in 1981?
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Ali Ettefagh: Your question presumes that Iran has a nuclear weapons program. It does not, and the IAEA has inspected all Iranian facilities that are for solely civilian purposes. In fact, President Ahmadinejad proposed in September of 2005 that Iran is ready to put all Iranian nuclear facilities into partnerships with foreign companies and governments to assure continued transparency. It is very unfortunate that weapons and power plants are all rolled up into one simplified blurb of reference.
Hamburg, Germany: Since Iran is clearly funding and supporting Hezbulla, shouldn’t the Israelis be bombing Tehran, in addition to Beruit?
Ali Ettefagh: It all depends on one’s perspective, I suppose. If bombing solves any thing, the world would have not chosen peace, justice and equity as the basis of its civility. In my personal opinion, Israeli bombing of Lebanese civilans was a a preplanned project that was looking for an excuse.
*Baton Rouge, LA: Let’s say Iran does create a nuclear weapon, Will Iran be more or less inclined to actually use their nuclear arsenal than other current or past members of the nuclear club like say India, Pakistan, Israel or even the now extinct Soviet Union who had plenty of leaders similar to Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
*
Ali Ettefagh: I deeply appreciate your comments. Atomic weapons in fact have been the best guarantors of peace for humanity. However, Iran has always announced its position that it is not developing nuclear weapons nor is Iran required to lie. It always has the legal right to withdraw from NPT.
Thus, I agree with you that the risk of use of atomic weapons by others is also significant.
*New York: 1- Do you have real $ nunmber Islamic republic pays to Hezbollah?
2- What are the effects of Mullahs dictatorship on Iranian Economy?*
Ali Ettefagh: As for your first question, and based on publicly available figures, most aid from Iran to Lebanon is about $100m a year and it is not from the government, but from charities and religious foundations. That sums to about $80 per pro-Hezbollah Lebanese and it is spent on healthcare, schools and alike.
As for your second question, I can only say that the clergy and the Iranian economy are two different subjects entirely. To compare, what is the role of the Catholic church in the Italian or Irish economy? Thank you for your interest.
Gothenburg, Sweden: Which countries in Europe does the Iranian regime consider as friends and which are “enemies”?
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you for your question. Iran has diplomatic relations with all European countries as well as extensive business relations, including investments of Iranian companies from both the public and private sector. In fact, Iran does not categorize any country as a friend or enemy, except that Iran does not recognise Israel. The other one is that the United States (and not Iran) cut diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980. Otherwise, Iran has cordial relations with all other countries.
Melbourne, Australia: How do people feel about living with so many oppressive laws and arbitrary systems of government? From a Western viewpoint, how do the Iranian people tolerate and live with this hanging over their heads?
Ali Ettefagh: Your question is very interesting as you mention the “Western” point of view which is subject to incorrect information. Less than 10% of all Iranians have passport (on par with Americans) and only half of this 10% live abroad and the rest simply travel. Iran is not a Soviet gulag. There are more than 120 newspapers published and more than 1500 weekly, monthly and periodicals. There is a lot of debate that never existed before the Revolution. The legal system is not “arbitrary” as you stated although it is fair to say that the early days of the Revolution was not without mistakes. But that is 27 years ago. Unlike any other country in the region, Iranian constitution recognises religious minorities and has allocated 4 parliament members for the Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholics, Jews and Zoroastrians. There are many other examples that will simply annul your question.
Tulsa, Oklahoma: Iran has some large ethnic/religious minorities: Kurds, Azeris, Armenians, Arabs, Baha’i’s, etc. Are these groups repressed by the government as potential enemies of the state ? How well do they fare in to the overall civil society dominated by a Persian theocracy ?*
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you for your question. Iran is indeed a land with many ethnic groups, however, none are “repressed” as you indicate. The Baha’i group have been declared by religious decrees and are subject to restrictions based on religious doctrine, and not based on law. In fact, Iranian Azeris, Kurds, Armenians are equal members of Iranian society and all enrich Iranian culture without restrictions. None are “enemies of the state” and no body is “dominated” as you indicate. There are Azeri and Kurdish language radio and TV broadcasts and local newspapers in each region. Armenians are strongly represented in Iranian parliament with two parliament members that are reserved for this minority group within the constitution. There are several churches in all major cities and Armenians are simply Iranians. I am affraid your idea of Persian theocracy is wrong as many of Iranian clergy are Azeris, Kurds or from other areas of Iran.
San Francisco, CA: US policy in Middle East has accelerated Iran�s influence in the area, and some believe that Hezbollah has shined in recent events. Looking back, is it true that Hezbollah was started by Imam Mousa Sadrr with the Shah�s help to create a Shiite organization in Lebanon to counter the possibility of Soviet Union influence in the area?
Ali Ettefagh: Imam Musa Sadr was a very respected Shiite leader in Lebanon and, even during the pre-Revolutionary era, Iran was the main regional power in both religious and political realms. Iran has always promoted peace, regional cooperation and dialogue. As for U.S. policy in the Middle East, I can only say that it has lost the credibility of a super power to act as an honest broker to settle all issues in the region. Oslo was a good structure but it has been cast aside and destroyed beyond recognition. Unfortunately!
*Moscow, Russia: Is there a fashion police in Iran, or can women wear what they please?
*
Ali Ettefagh: There is no fashion police. A look at shops in Tehran will convince you that the same articles are available. As for women’s dress, there is a nationally accepted code for traditional (conservative) Islamic head cover. But that does not stop any one to be creative and wear the colours and designs of their choice.
Washington DC: Dear Mr. Ettefagh, Thank you for your thoughtful comments and for joining us here. Many Americans, including Bush, emphasize the liberation of women as part of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, for example. Is this a specious claim? Do you believe Muslim women are treated fairly in Iran? How about Saudi Arabia? Also, could you please give us a sense of life on the street in Tehran. Are people discussing this nuclear deal with pride and excitement.
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you for your question.
The idea of liberating Iranian and Saudi women from Washington sets aside the requirement of respecting local culture. Just because women observe the local traditions of dress, does not lead to automatic repression which requires carpet bombing. As seen in Afghanistan, some women continue to follow their local customs.
As for role of women in Iranian society, it is not comparable with Saudi Arabia. Iranian women have the legal right to a national identity card, driving licenses, and the right to vote, work and inheritance. Women can be seen as police women (even commandoes), teachers, doctors, family judges, lawyers (like Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize), reporters, taxi bus and truck drivers, flight attendants and alike.
As for sense of life on the street, Iranians are very pleased with technical progress of their country. And just like Americans, they all love their children and do not want nuclear wars and nuclear weapons.
I invite you for a visit to see for yourself.
*Great Falls Virginia: Dear Mr. Ettefagh:
Given Iran’s ancient history as an aggressor nation (Persia), given its modern history in the 1970’s takeover of the American embassy contrary to International law, and given its support of waring parties most recently in Iraq, Palestine and Lebannon, why should any Westerner believe its claims that it is engaged in the peaceful development of nuclear technology? I for one am inclined to believe our administration on this one.
*
Ali Ettefagh: Persians as aggressors? This one must be a new con job hyped by neocons that I have not read! In my opinion, the takeover of the American Embassy at the beginning of the Revolution was not proper. The mastermind of that operation in fact apologised to a hostage at a meeting at UNESCO in Paris in summer of 1997. Unfortunately, that event (that took more than 6 months of planning) was on the same day as the Monica Lewinsky Affair broke in the news and the significance of it ws snuffed out by the other story. As for support of “warring parties”, I am affraid your description is not accurate. Palestinians and Lebanese Hezbollah are fighting for their own country and their own rights against unfair occupation of their land, illegal arrests of their people and resolution towards an equitable deal.
I suggest your administration should trust the IAEA reports and not second guess it. Those reports have been prepared with careful technical analysis and with real-time cameras monitoring all facilities. Accusations against Iran and forcing it to prove a negative is absurd!
London UK: In an item in The Times of London:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2326132,00.html we see a suggestion that a more peaceful and effective way to proceed is for the US and the West to admit defeat and engage in a constructive dialogue and stop emlty threats against Iran. Would you agree that this is a more effective way of promoting peace in the world?
Ali Ettefagh: I think that dialogue and discussion on an even turf is the best and the only way to resolve differences, exchange ideas and sound out each other. No threats, no pre-conditions, no canned sanctions and prepackaged answers before the questions are put to each other. Diplomacy is about making an equitable deal for both sides. The East & West ideas are very old, Cold War ideas. Those ideas suffered a permanent intellectual bankruptcy and I trust this war mongering mentality must go with it. Religion must not be used as the new form of Apartheid.
*Prof. S. Massarrat, Marburg, Germany: You know from the many papers published by scientific jounals like Nature and Sience that Iran has progressed much in science in the last two decades. Do you believe that Iranian scientists especially in USA are willing to come back to Iran and work in their country of origine despite the today life restriction and low salary in the research centers?
*
Ali Ettefagh: This is a very interesting question. The road to and from Iran is a two way street for scientists and engineers as well as other professionals. However, the working atmospheres are completely different due to budgets, planning cycles and, frankly, the stark difference of progress. The Iranian government has an overall policy of encouraging Iranians to return to Iran. However there are many practical issues such as families and language and schools for second generation people. I think the ideal solution would be to let go of the hostile environment cause by politics and let there be cooperation, exchange and other fields. Iranian stem cell research programs, for example, are very advanced and every one in the world can benefit from such cooperation.
*Austin, Texas: Thank you for your insight, to a complex problem. What solution do you see for Iran?
Pakistan, Israel, N. Korea, India, each have nuclear weapons. Should Iran gain nuclear weapons the risk of invasion from hostile countries, (Iraq, Israel, and other enemies) decreases.
Should Iran get nuclear weapons the world is at risk of Iran exporting those weapons to its client militia, Hezbollah or other enemies of Israel and Western Christian countries. How are should those countries deal with this legitimate risk?*
Ali Ettefagh: Iran has clearly and repeatedly announced that it has no weapons-related nuclear programs. The only solution that I can see is to have dialogue and elevated levels of good will with a clear and objective mind. Trading barbs and cheap one-liners is not the way to make the world a better place. An even turn and genuine two-way dialogue is the only way to resolve any unclear issue. Be it in Iran or elsewhere. I also believe that religious covers are a dangerous shortcut to prejudice.
New York, New York: You say we should trust Iran, but it has been developing a nuclear program in secret for the past 18 years and a recent report before the Security Committee reveals that the US knows far less about Iran’s nuclear capabilities than it would like - lacking both information that it has them, and that it does not. Agreed, Bush was wrong on WMD last time, but Iran is a far more sophisticated country. Intelligence is key. Trust, I don’t think, is warranted. In short, why 18 years of secrecy?
Ali Ettefagh: Given the IAEA inspections and given Iran’s offer of full transparency and opening all of its nuclear operations to an international partnership ought to neutralise all mistakes and shortcomings of the past. If we are working to go forward, then we should set aside yesterday’s newspaper!
*LA: Dr Ettefagh,
You said that religious minorities have equal rights in Iran. How do you explain some restrictions agaist Jewish people. For instance, Jews are forbidden to be techers in Iran outside of Jewish schools?
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Ali Ettefagh: There is no such law in Iran. The Iranian Jewish population is a very small group as a percentage of the population and especially as more than 1.3 million people enter the job market every year.
*Washington, DC: “I remain perplexed at the situation regarding the development of nuclear technology in Iran. Why is it ok for Israel, Pakistan and India to possess nuclear weapons and not okay for other nations?”
Mr. Ettefagh, thank you for your time.
How do you respond to policy-makers who suggest that the reason it is okay for Israel, Pakistan, and India to possess nuclear weapons is that they are not signatories of the NPT?
Also, I would argue (and I think the IAEA has repeatedly said) that Iran is not in full compliance with its treaty requirements.*
Ali Ettefagh: Thank you for your queston. It is very important to differentiate between peaceful nuclear technology under NPT and weapons-related technology. The heart of current issues are about double standards. Iran has complied with its treaty obligations. To the extent of my understanding, IAEA has said that Iran has not violated its NPT obligations. There are always questions and there will always be questions to clarify. But no other country in the world has gone thru such extensive and intrusive inspection by IAEA. Moreover, Iran has actually offered to put its enrichment assets in an international partnership (with governments or private sector) to ensure transparency of its operations. What more can it do to create an atmosphere of good will?
*Valley Forge, PA: Why did Iran refuse nuclear inspectors earlier this week? This type of action does not build trust or leave the rest of the world with the belief Iran does not want nuclear weapons.
*
Ali Ettefagh: Frankly, I never got to the bottom of that story. What I know is that IAEA has live monitoring cameras at nuclear facilities that provide full details. There are several facilities and a scheduling difference about one visit should not make or break the trust of any one. This kind of facilities are not something that can be constructed or changed in a day or two…
*Rochester New York: Do you think that the Iranian government has equivalent, less, or more moral authority than the US government?
2 - Same questions vis-a-vis Israel and Saudi Arabia*
Ali Ettefagh: I think every sovereign government believes to have an equal right to being independent and leading its own people, regardless of their system. But does, for example, U.S. have a “moral” authority to tell Iranians what to do? No, especially if it is said in the same breath of one man-one vote.
As for the Iranian system, I must say that Iranians have now voted for 9 presidential elections since the Revolution. That is 9 more elections that they had since the CIA brought back the Shah in a coup!
Bethesda, Maryland: What do people think of the Iranian president’s pro nuclear missile propaganda posters, videos and murals. I’ve seen images of them and are curious if they can be found online.
Ali Ettefagh: People are free to express their opinions. Russians were also characterised as The Evil Empire. But I have yet to see any one with read horns and tails walking around Kremlin.
*Burke, VA: There is a atatement that the President of Iran made that appears to be mistranslated and is causing huge problems. The statement is that he would like to “whipe Isreal off the map”. As could be expected that makes a lot of people worried. If one investigates the statement though what one finds is that it actually is a reiteration of Khomeni’s Isreal would be “erased fronm the pages of history” much as the way way the Soviet Union no longer exists but is now Russia etc. This is not a threat the way “whiping off the map” would be. Iran had nothing to do with the demise of the Soviet Union, and what he is saying is more of a prediction.
*
Ali Ettefagh: Your point is well taken and quite accurate. Some times, idioms can not be directly translated in the context that they were said. In context, I trust the President was making a reference to the idea of Israel and Zionism, not the physical removal and destruction of the country.
*Washington DC: Does the Iranian government have an alternative energy
policy or a position on its own oil dependence. As a fairly
large developing country its energy needs must be
accelerating. And as the developed world looks anew at
nuclear as an energy alternative, is this (explicitly) a factor
in the Iranian regime’s thinking?
Also, seems to me that given Iran’s political isolation, it is
only sensible that Iran would want to pursue an
autonomous nuclear program including fuel enrichment.
Would more open discussion of these factors calm the
hysteria in the rest of the world? Or is this doomed to be
just a schoolyard game where the sides are already
chosen?
*
Ali Ettefagh: Your points are very valid and keen obseravations. Growth in demand for energy in Iran is on par with China and overall consumption of electricity in Iran is about 10-11% every year and more importantly, year-on-year. Just like any other country, Iran must diversify its energy resources. Due to its geography, hyrdo resources are limited. Moreover, it is more economic for Iran to convert its own vast uranium ore to use (and to market abroad) rather than import nuclear fuel that is said to be 30 times more expensive!
All of these issues are raised in extensive IAEA reports. However and unfortunately, no body reads these reports that are freely available on the Internet.
Alexandria, VA: Re the earlier questions on arbitrary justice and fashion police: Are you completely oblivious to the existence and activity of the Basij - the religious police who beat and ‘arrest’ people who violate their idea of sharia?
Ali Ettefagh: I live in Tehran. I see the reality whilst I am afraid you have access to only slices of reality. I also travel frequently to the rest of the world so I try to be very objective.
*Laurel: Is sceince (such as nuclear research) in Iran in any way constricted by religious fundamentalism?
*
Ali Ettefagh: Not at all.
Ali Ettefagh: I sincerely thank all participants for this frank and very useful exchange. People-to-people exchanges are always useful and I was delighted to read your views and to have the opportunity to answer your questions. I really hope that this made a very small contribution to better understanding of each other. Finally, I invite you all to visit Iran and see for yourselves that Iranians also celebrate life and peace in the same way as others in the world. Best wishes to all.