Exploiting Natural Resources is the Sovereign Right of Any Nation

Iran has also carried out, to a very significant extent, the provisions of its Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA. After the most intrusive inspections of any member state by the IAEA in its entire history, the Agency has been able to identify only six minor breaches of Iran's SG Agreement, none of which was meant to "further a military purpose," to use the precise language of the SG Agreement. All the issues were resolved satisfactorily, according to the IAEA's February 23, 2008 report.

At the same time, exploiting the natural resources of any nation is the sovereign right of that nation, not one GIVEN to that nation. Iran is entitled to exploit its natural uranium ore for peaceful purposes. Whether doing so is economical for Iran can be decided by Iran and only Iran. As I have explained in an article published by Harvard International Review in its Winter 2005 issue, nuclear energy is completely economical for Iran.