Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008
CAIRO (AFP)--Egypt supports international efforts aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said Wednesday.
But he also warned against taking military action against the Islamic republic, which is accused by the West of wanting to develop the bomb. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.
"Egypt supports international efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons," Abul Gheit said, backing an international diplomatic solution to Iran's disputed program.
His statement was read out by ministry official Wafa Bassim to a foreign relations council meeting in Cairo.
Abul Gheit said Egypt supports every country's right to use nuclear energy peacefully. Egypt last year announced the planned resumption of its own nuclear energy program.
In apparent reference to Israel, the region's only but undeclared nuclear-armed state, Abul Gheit said Egypt would support diplomacy against Iran as long as it "does not use double standards in handling the nuclear issue in the Middle East."
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
03-12-08 1230GMT
