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Iran decries Israel''s imminent attack on its nuclear facilities

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 23 (KUNA) -- Iran on Wednesday complained to the UN about Israel's reported imminent attack against its nuclear facilities and vowed to defend itself if attacked.
In identical letters to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Security Council President Gerard Araud of France, Iranian Charge d'Affaires Eshagh Al Habib referred to reports that Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister decided to launch an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
"These reports indicate that Israeli officials unwarrantedly and under erroneous and false presumptions on Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, threaten the use of force against the Islamic Republic of Iran by signaling the imminence of an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities," he said.
He reiterated his government's position that Iran "has no intention to attack any other nations." Nonetheless, he added, Iran would not hesitate to act in self-defense to respond to any attack against the Iranian nation and to take appropriate defensive measures to protect itself, in accordance with its inherent right under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
He said Iran, "expresses, once again, its deep concern over, and strong condemnation of such a provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible statement by Prime Minister and Defense Minister as well as other officials of Israeli regime frequently threaten Iran with military strike." "The irony," he added, "is that there has been no reaction on the part of Western leaders and/or relevant organs of the United Nations including the United Nations Security Council vis-a-vis the inflammatory remarks and baseless allegations leveled against Iran's peaceful nuclear program." The Council imposed four rounds of sanctions against Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment activities. Iranian leaders have also repeatedly called for wiping out the "Zionist regime" from the face of the world.
Contrary to the Israeli records, Al Habib claimed, Iran is a "leading nation in rejecting all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to attend the Summit of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) in Teheran next week despite Israel's criticism and warning that he should not attend. (end) sj.sd KUNA 222104 Aug 12NNNN