Tehran, November 02, 09 (Hamsayeh.Net) - Turkey's Prime Minister Rajab Tayeb Erdogan in clear message to the world particularly the Western powers said, 'Those who criticize Iran's nuclear program continue to possess the same weapons,' referring to countries that not only hold huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons but continuously spend large amounts of money to upgrade them.

 

'I think that those who take this stance, who want these arrogant sanctions, need to first give these (weapons) up. We shared this opinion with our Iranian friends, our brothers,' he said.

The Turkish premier was on a two day visit to Iran and signed several important contracts including a $4.5 billion energy contract to develop phase 6-7 South Pars gas field.

 

As a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran maintains it has an absolute right to nuclear technology and its nuclear program is designed for peaceful purposes.

'Iran does not accept it is building a weapon. They are working on nuclear power for the purposes of energy only,' Erdogan said in an interview with The Guardian.

 

Turkey, which has extensive cultural and historical ties with Iran, has been increasingly critical of Western double standards in dealing with important international issues in recent years.