TEHRAN, August 15 (RIA Novosti, Nikolai Terekhov) - Iran views a resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Directors Thursday as "political abuse of office," a top Iranian diplomat said.
"The IAEA should ensure that all countries keep to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty rather than restrict their capabilities to conduct peaceful nuclear research for political reasons," Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said.
The minister said Iran was prepared to proceed with negotiations on its nuclear programs, but did not intend to give up its sovereign right to conduct peaceful nuclear research.
An emergency session of the 35-member board of the UN's global nuclear watchdog adopted a resolution drafted by the European troika (Britain, France and Germany) expressing "deep concerns" over Iran's decision to resume work on its nuclear program.
The resolution called on Iran to temporarily suspend all its nuclear operations, including those resumed at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center on August 10.
Tehran rejected the resolution, but said it was ready to continue discussions with the troika if no preconditions were attached.
