Iran slams nuclear powers

SHANGHAI - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Friday criticised the world’s nuclear powers for trying to “monopolise” the technology for their own gain and prevent other nations from its civilian use.

“Nuclear states do not allow others to even peaceful use of nuclear energy,” Al Jazeera quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

“They want to monopolise science and technology for themselves to protect their material interests,” he said at the World Expo here.

The Iranian leader’s comments came after the UN Security Council imposed fresh sanctions on Tehran Wednesday.

Iran says its nuclear programme is purely for civilian energy purposes but critics suspect it of developing atomic weapons.

Ahmadinejad’s visit to China comes at a delicate time in Tehran’s relations with its ally, after Beijing backed the sanctions.

Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s atomic chief, lashed out at China Thursday, saying it was “gradually losing its respectable position in the Islamic world”.

Ahmadinejad did not directly criticise his host Friday, but last month he rebuked Russia, warning its leaders “to correct themselves”.

He also skipped Friday’s summit of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation in Uzbekistan, which was attended by Chinese and Russian presidents. Iran is an observer in the group.