Ayatollah Vows Iran To Continue Nukes

Khamenei Says U.S. Is Pressuring Iran, Even Though Not Making Weapons

(CBS/AP)  Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday that Tehran will continue to pursue nuclear technology, state television reported.

Khamenei's declaration came on the eve of Iran's self-imposed Aug. 22 deadline to respond to a Western incentives package for it to roll back its nuclear program. The United Nations has given Tehran until the end of August to suspend uranium enrichment.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has made its own decision and in the nuclear case, God willing, with patience and power, will continue its path," Khamenei was quoted as saying by the broadcast.

He accused the United States of pressuring Iran despite Tehran's assertions that it was not seeking to develop nuclear weapons, as the United States and several of its allies have contended.

"Arrogant powers and the U.S. are putting their utmost pressure on Iran while knowing Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons," he said.

Iran on Sunday said it will offer a "multifaceted response" to the incentives proposal. It insisted that it won't suspend uranium enrichment altogether.

Last month, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution requiring the halt to enrichment under threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed Monday for a "solid answer" from Iran on the package.

"I still hope that it will be positive, although some signals have been very confused," said Merkel, whose country drew up the package with the five permanent Security Council members.

The proposal includes promises that the United States and Europe will provide civilian nuclear technology and that Washington will join direct talks with Iran.

Tehran says uranium enrichment does not violate any of its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and that its nuclear program aims to produce electricity.

Khamenei accused the West of wanting to obstruct scientific progress in the Islamic world and called for Islamic countries to stand together in the face of such pressure.

The resolution calls for the suspension of uranium enrichment by Aug. 31 or possible economic and diplomatic sanctions.

"Iran's preview of its response to U.N. demands that it halt its nuclear program, one week in advance of the deadline, falls short of the requirements of the Resolution," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk, "but because it is early, it is being seen as an opening salvo in negotiations that are sure to be intense, particularly because of Iran's relationship to the crisis in the Middle East."

"We have made clear that if Iran fails to comply with the Security Council's mandate, we will move quickly at the United Nations to impose sanctions," White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said Sunday.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he expected Tehran's response to the incentives package to be positive.

"In a time of acute crisis in the Middle East, I believe that progress on the nuclear issue is essential for the stability not only of the region, but the international system itself. It is time to take steps in the right direction," he said in a statement.

Uranium enrichment produces reactor fuel, but it also can make fissile material for nuclear warheads, and the United States and other countries suspect Iran is trying to develop atomic weapons.

Iran, which claims it only wants reactors to generate electricity, has rejected the resolution as "illegal," saying it has not violated any of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Asefi said the world could not afford to join the United States in imposing sanctions.

"Iran's influence in the region is clear. A country like Iran has extensive political, economic and cultural capabilities. Will other countries ignore Iran's capabilities in their political and economic cooperation?" he said.

Iran has said the incentives package is an "acceptable basis" for a compromise. Asefi said part of the package was "convincing" but there were ambiguities that needed to be clarified in talks.

Earlier, Iran's state-run television reported the test-firing of 10 surface-to-surface Saegheh missiles Sunday, a day after large-scale military exercises began across the country.

The military exercises come as Iran faces heightened international scrutiny for its support of the Shiite Muslim militants of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

[meku1]

"How to survive amidst 'a burning wilderness'??..this is only possible by wearing a fire protective shields..this is the thing that Israelis have realizes...; how can they (Israelis) (stay idly) and sustain the region that has the neighbours who point all the matchets (or guns) towards them?... while claiming 'Peace' on one hand and 'Whipe them out' of the world map on the other hand??...its hard to rule this out." Only God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob can stand for this...not mere partisan human beings!!

[starlexious]

My God when will the US learn that we don't own the wold and that we need to respect others country and no *** it up like we did in Iraq and we still doing it. We the US need to learn that others country have the same right to have weapons just like Isreal, thats why they hate us and more isreal. If isreal can have and has weapons of mass distruction why Iran or North Korea or any other country can't , we are not only country or isreal and we still ask our self why they hate us or why they want to destroy Isreal well thers your answer because we the US and Isreal deserv it . We need to learn on the hard way and we will if we keep f- up others country.....

[heardenuff]

take em away from isreal - as none of them deserve them they have never shown their capability of being able to cooperate with anyone little own their own neighbors.......

[umitsayman]

Well, these cases cannot be solved with an attitude like "I CAN HAVE BUT YOU CAN NOT"
If Israel has nuke, all neigbours can insist that they should have nuke as well. What is the reason Israel posessing nukes? Same to others.

[iamthatiam1]

In the interest of national and global security, perhaps the development of nuclear power plants, by those who do not currently posses the atomic bomb, should be temporarily banned, or, made a violation of universal/global law.

The ban would state that the continued development of nuclear power plants, by those who do not already posses the atomic bomb, would be viewed, by the global community, as an attempt to develop the atomic bomb.

In which case, both Iran and North Korea could not continue their efforts to develop nuclear power plants, or, according to the ban, the atomic bomb. As the temporary ban would clearly state, violation of the ban would equal the desire to acquire the atomic bomb, no more excuses.

Ultimately, the global community should assist others like Iran and North Korea in acquiring a safe alternative to nuclear power. Uncontrolled nuclear energy in the hands of North Korea and Iran does not bode well for the global community.

[iamthatiam1]

If nuclear power plant production is Iran's and North Korea's back door to the atomic bomb, is not nuclear power plant production a threat to global security?

If nuclear plant production is a threat to global security, and that it can be, should not nuclear power plant production be banned?, problem solved.

The global community should offer Iran, North Korea and others a safe alternative to nuclear power, a safe alternative to that which may otherwise lead to the extinction of the human race.

[greencharm]

In the effort toward globalisation, the desire is for a world of nonresistant countries. Where resistance is found, wars must be faught in order to rid the global process of the blockage so it may complete what it has determined as a peaceful world. It won't be peaceful of course because it will be based on fear.
However, to place our hearts at ease, there will come a world of peace after this fiasco is over.
It is the distance between here and there which will be wrought with a murderous rage. We can be assured there is more to come.

[heardenuff]

you could always move away to some other paradise?

[heardenuff]

SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE.............

can't wait to see how this one turns out...

hopefully the wind is blowing in the right direction......

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/9287-.html