Iran reiterates rights to nuclear know-how

Xinhua - English: "TEHRAN, Aug. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said here on Saturday that Iran would withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if its nuclear case was referred to the UN Security Council, local media reported.

'Iran does not welcome such an event (the referral) ...others should not think that this will frighten our great nation. If they try to refer Iran to the council, Iran keeps it as its right to quit the NPT,' Ali Larijani was quoted as saying by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Larijani stressed that 'many would lose' if Iran's nuclear issue was regarded as a security issue.

The negotiator made the remarks upon his arrival in Tehran afterwrapping up his first visit to the headquarters of theInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna since he was appointed as chief negotiator earlier this month.

During his one-day visit, Larijani held talks with IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei.

He revealed that he had informed ElBaradei of Iran's seriousness in its decision to master a complete nuclear fuel cycle, which it considers as part of its national ideals."