POOR MULLAH WEARING NIKE! LoL
Posted on 06/12/2004 5:32:56 AM PDT by F14 Pilot
Iran's top diplomat said Saturday the country won't accept any new internationally imposed obligations regarding its nuclear program and that the world must recognize Iran as a nuclear-capable nation.
"We won't accept any new obligations," Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi told reporters, suggesting a toughening of Iran's position two days before the 35-nation board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, meets to discuss Iran's nuclear program.
"Iran has a high technical capability and has to be recognized by the international community as a member of the nuclear club," Kharrazi said at a press conference. "This is an irreversible path."
The IAEA has wrestled for more than a year with what to do regarding what the United States and its allies say is a secret Iranian nuclear weapons program. Iran has rejected such allegations, saying its nuclear program is geared toward generating electricity, not making an atom bomb.
Kharrazi insisted Saturday that Iran won't give up its development of the nuclear fuel cycle, the steps for processing and enriching uranium necessary for both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. Iran says it has achieved the full cycle, but is not now enriching uranium.
"That somebody demands that we give up the nuclear fuel cycle ... is an additional demand," Kharrazi said. He apparently was referring to demands by U.S. and European countries that Iran halt operations of a plant it inaugurated in March in Isfahan, central Iran, that processes uranium into gas and abort plans to build a heavy water reactor in Arak, another city in central Iran.
"We can't accept such an additional demand, which is contrary to our legal and legitimate rights," he said. "No one in Iran can make a decision to deny the nation of something that is a source of pride."
Iran has confirmed possessing technology to extract uranium ore, processing it into a powder called yellow cake and then converting it into gas. The gas is then injected into centrifuges for low-grade enrichment that turns it into fuel for nuclear reactors.
Uranium enriched to low levels has energy uses, while highly enriched uranium can be used in bombs.
Iran suspended uranium enrichment last year under mounting international pressure. In April, it said it had stopped building centrifuges. IAEA inspectors had found traces of highly enriched uranium at two sites, which Iranian officials have maintained was due to contaminated imported materials.
Kharrazi condemned a draft resolution critical of Iran drawn up by Germany, France and Britain and currently debated before the IAEA board meeting Monday.
"The draft resolution is unacceptable unless changes are made so that it can be acceptable to all parties," he said.
The minister said insistence by Europeans on "very tiny issues is contrary to the spirit of cooperation." He said that by doing so, the European countries are bowing to U.S. pressure and showing "lack of independence."
Kharrazi warned that failure in settling the debate over Iran's nuclear dossier will be a "failure for all," including Iran, Europe and the IAEA.
The minister confirmed Iran's efforts to buy 4,000 magnets needed for uranium enrichment equipment, saying the issue was being "unnecessarily" hyped. He did not say where the magnets were bought from.
Diplomats told The Associated Press in Vienna that Iran had acknowledged inquiring about 4,000 magnets needed for uranium enrichment equipment with a European black-market supplier and had dangled the possibility of buying a "higher number."
"If everybody is looking to settle this issue (Iran's nuclear dossier), they have to look at it in a broad outlook," Kharrazi said.
"Bombing will commence in 5 minutes!"
Its a matter of time before Israel acts.
This cannot be the last word.
I will judge the Bush presidency on how the Iranian nuclear issue is dealt with. It is the #1 issue.
By all means, tell us what he
should do.
They proved they can't be trusted -- when they invaded an embassy.
Iran, like France, doesn't have to be recognized for ANYTHING. There is a subversive element in the world, that even when they know what they are doing (not a certainty by any means), they still work at cross purposes with the rest of the world. Not to gain influence (which is why they are working at cross purposes inthe first place), but to keep others from achieving things that could be regarded as admirable.
The US took on the responsibility of enforcing the resolutions the UN passed in the first place, and only earned the further hostility of those on the Security Council and the General Assembly who did not want the resolutions enforced. Oh, it was very nice to have something on paper, but the reality was never to be carried out.
Feel-good, in this world, only gets you so far. Like about two inches off the starting line. So some people can TALK a good argument, but can they defend it when when attacked?
When the fist on the end of the swinging arm connects with somebody's nose, two things are tested. The capability of the nose to absorb damage and still function, and the capacity to retaliate. In the rush of adrenalin that comes with the facial damage, there is no consideration of a "nuanced" response. The reaction is entirely asymmetrical. Either crumple to the ground, curled in the fetal position, or turn on your tormentor and pound him senseless.
Sorry Mohammed, ragheads are not allowed in the club.
All nuclear powers have accepted internationally imposed obligations. It's part of being in the club. Without them, Iran is still a rogue state and a target.
No problem. I'll receive the news of a highly radioactive and glowing Tehran with a celebratory shot of something expensive :).
Black markets......look at what people will do for money. The UN has proven to be absolutely worthless as a protection against nuclear proliferation.
POOR MULLAH WEARING NIKE! LoL
Got that right. Kerry and Cahtah are from the same Blame America First club.
At the rate they're going, the only nuclear club they will be joining currently has just one member. Japan!
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