ISLAMABAD Iran should be allowed to continue its peaceful nuclear programme, as it has every right to provide its people with their most basic need i.e. electricity, experts said on Saturday. Speaking at a seminar 'Iranian Nuclear Programme in Regional Perspective held at the Iranian embassy, experts including Prof Dr Syed Riffat Hussein, Akram Zaki, Dr Tahir Ahmed Khan and Imtiaz Gul criticised the US policies saying the US and its allies needed not only to accept but also respect Irans growing role in the international community. The speakers defended Irans nuclear programme and asked the world community to immediately call off sanction against Iran. Akram Zaki, former ambassador stated that the US and its allies also needed to stop their irrepressible tirade of threats against Iran. Any issue they have over Irans nuclear programme should be resolved with sincere democratic efforts. This situation, if not contained with cool head and if miscalculations continue, can easily turn into a crisis with potentially global ramifications for the rule of law under the NPT and for the economic and security interests of all concerned in the region and beyond, he said adding that the world should not allow itself to be dragged into another conflict on false pretences in this region again. One often hears that Irans real purpose for pursuing nuclear technology is to develop nuclear weapons and that with its huge oil and gas reserves it has no real need for nuclear energy. I must say these claims are politically motivated and are based entirely on hatred and distrust towards the region and its people, Akram Zaki said while addressing the seminar. Dr Tahir Ahmed Khan said Uranium enrichment for a civilian nuclear programme was Irans inalienable right. It cannot be taken away because of the Wests stereotypical suspension towards Iran. Iran has a real need for nuclear power and should be allowed to continue its civilian nuclear programme as there is no evidence of a nuclear weapons programme, he said. Dr Tahir said adding that it was important to remember the history of Irans nuclear programme and its relation with the West to fully comprehend the enduring crisis. Dr Tahir told the participants that Irans nuclear history pre-dated the current Islamic government, which is being accused of developing weapons of mass destruction. It originated in the mid-1970s when the US-installed dictator Shah unveiled plans to purchase several nuclear reactors from Germany, France and the United States to generate electricity. Shah was placed in power after the CIA Operation Ajax in 1953 destroyed Irans democracy and replaced it with a US-friendly dictatorship when their government negotiated for more than 15pc of oil profits. At that time, the United States encouraged Iran to expand its non-oil energy base. In recognition of Irans energy needs, US-Iran Nuclear Energy Agreement was signed in July 1978 - several months before the Islamic revolution. Dr Tahir told the participants that the agreement stipulated, among other things, American export of nuclear technology and material and help in searching for uranium deposits; but, when the peoples revolution overthrew the dictator in 1979 to reestablish its democracy, the US and its allies reneged on their nuclear energy equipment contracts without refunding billions of dollars they had already received. Dr Riffat Hussein told the participants that Iran was in real need of electricity power as its present requirements were more than predicted. With an annual growth of six to eight per cent in demand for electricity and a population estimated to reach 100 million by 2025, Iran cannot possibly rely exclusively on oil and gas, he said. Dr Riffat said that Irans current production level of 3.5 million barrels per day was increasingly geared towards domestic consumption, which has grown by more than 280 percent since 1979. If these trends continue, Iran may be a net importer of oil in just over a decade. With Irans population of 70 million, and growing, and its oil resources fast depleting, nuclear energy is a realistic and viable solution for electricity generation in the country. Western countries opposition and sanctions against Iranian nuclear programme is thus illogical and crudely self-serving, said Dr Riffat. Concluding the session, Dr Tahir Ahmed Khan said there was no justification for US and its allies suspicion over Irans peaceful nuclear programme and the UN sanctions and asked the world community to call off sanction against Iran.