Iran Warns It May Ignore Nuclear Rules

Ayatollah Khamenei Says Country May Defy "Illegal" U.N. Sanctions On Uranium Enrichment

(AP)  Iran's top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Wednesday the country will pursue nuclear activities outside international regulations if the U.N. Security Council insists it stop uranium enrichment.

"Until today, what we have done has been in accordance with international regulations," Khamenei said. "But if they take illegal actions, we too can take illegal actions and will do so."

Khamenei did not elaborate what "illegal actions" could be pursued by Tehran as it faces new sanctions by the U.N. body over its refusal to halt enrichment which the West fears is used for arms making.

Earlier Wednesday, Russia's foreign minister said it will not support "excessive" sanctions against its economic partner Iran, as the U.N. Security Council drew closer to a vote on a new, harsher set of measures intended to push Tehran to freeze its nuclear program.

Ambassadors from the 15 Security Council nations held informal discussions at Britain's U.N. Mission in New York ahead of a meeting later Wednesday to discuss possible changes to the draft resolution.

Germany and the five veto-wielding permanent council nations — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France — agreed on the modest package of new sanctions Thursday to step up pressure on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, which can be used to produce nuclear energy or nuclear weapons.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow "will not support excessive sanctions against Iran," and added that the draft resolution has been softened at Moscow's behest.

Lavrov also denied claims that Moscow had told Iran it would not deliver nuclear fuel for the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran unless Tehran complies with U.N. demands.

"There is no link whatsoever between the U.N. resolution ... and the implementation of the Bushehr project," he told lawmakers in the lower parliament house.

The proposed new sanctions in the draft resolution would ban Iranian arms exports and freeze the assets of 28 additional individuals and organizations involved in the country's nuclear and missile programs — about a third linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, an elite military corps.

The package also calls for voluntary restrictions on travel by the individuals subject to sanctions, on arms sales to Iran, and on new financial assistance or loans to the Iranian government.

Lavrov said an earlier, tougher version of the draft resolution that included broader restrictions on officials' travel and a ban on credits to Iran had been softened on Russia's advice. "We ... have agreed to influence Iran by gradually applying proportionate pressure," Lavrov said.

At Russia's insistence, neither the existing Security Council resolution nor the draft being discussed makes any mention of Bushehr. Lavrov said the Bushehr contract is in line with all international agreements aimed at preventing nuclear weapons proliferation.

European and U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks said Tuesday that Moscow had bluntly told Tehran it would not ship fuel for Bushehr until Tehran freezes its uranium enrichment program, as demanded by the U.N. Security Council.

Lavrov dismissed the claims as an "unscrupulous trick."

"It's not the first time that we are seeing such an unscrupulous approach aimed at driving a wedge between us and Iran," he said.

Russia has said fuel for Bushehr would not be supplied this month, as had been planned earlier, because of alleged Iranian payment delays that prompted Moscow to indefinitely postpone the Bushehr reactor's launch, which had been set for September. Russian officials also said that the number of workers at Bushehr had dwindled due to the funding shortage.

Iran angrily denied falling behind in payments and accused Russia of caving in to U.S. pressure to take a tougher line on Tehran. Iranian state television on Tuesday described Russia as an "unreliable partner," adding: "It is clear that Russia has stopped construction of this plant under pressure and for political reasons."

On Wednesday, Lavrov repeated Russia's assertions that Iran had dragged its feet on payments for Bushehr.

"Regrettably, our Iranian colleagues aren't telling the truth when they blame Russia for the financial problems which have emerged. Financial problems do exist, but they are linked to the Iranian side breaching an earlier-agreed schedule of payments," he said.

[wolf563]

RUSSIA`S change in pressure on IRAN is due to RUSSIA loosing face on the world stage . Being manipulated and used by Iran to get this far with NUCLEAR tech . The bomb that will be made from what thay have done so far is enough to kill a small nation like ISRAEL . All this on the hands of RUSSIA .Because IRAN talked them into building IRAN a" NUCLEAR power station ".Little did the RUSSIANS know how the IRANIANS MANIPULATE THIER PREY .This time they played one of the big boys and are getting away with it . FOR NOW!!!!!!!!

[toolmangler-2009]

zootallures2, When I remember the people that died so you would have free speech I swell with pride that my family served this country so well. I get sick when I see the putrid contents of your tiny brain spilled all over the internet insulting them and belittling their sacrifice. Then a light dawns, You aren't a citizen of the U.S.A.. A true Citizen of this country might disagree with the way things are done but would never say the things you have about it, therefore is it my belief that you are with the terrorists that hate the idea of free thought and worship. The only way you can get and keep a woman is by the authority of the Muslim religion. your entire life has no meaning other than the pain you can give your fellow man. I have seen only a few people like you and I thank God that there aren't many of your type around. Go on out with your brothers and blow up some more children, just do it in Iran.

[wolf563]

Iran has broken the rules in as many ways as they have distorted the truth . Now they are in bed with the African`s . Delay is all he wants so he can finnish what he`s up too . Africa should stay out of this or only pause the vote until thier one month term as head is complete .

[tbweb]

Iran already ignores and breaks every rule, the threat that it will ignore even more rules is almost comical!!

[us_infidel]

the United States and her allies will make sure that in the final end,
radical Islam will share the same fate as Hitler and the Nazis and end up in the garbage can of historys dicarded lies and imfamous falsehoods.

Posted by noaanhc at 02:26 PM : Mar 21, 2007

I sure do hope you're right. Most of the bedwetting libs posting here don't have the stomach to see it thru. If they ever become the majority, we're all in trouble.

[Syndicate]

zootallures2: I would stay away from Ahmadinejad. I hoping one of our great patriots shoots this SOB.

[noaanhc]

Hey Zoo

Showed one of my friends in law enforcement your hate filled words on here and he said this person needs to be investgated.You are one sick person and a disgrace to your Islamic faith.Most muslims worldwide and here in the US totally reject your radical views.You are nothing but a barbarian and a mouthpiece for Al-Queda and the rest of the
terrorist groups.For however long this war on terror may take us,the United States and her allies will make sure that in the final end,
radical Islam will share the same fate as Hitler and the Nazis and end up in the garbage can of historys dicarded lies and imfamous falsehoods.

[Syndicate]

We should help them all become martyrs.

[us_infidel]

US warns that we may park a long, black, tubular vessel offshore to help you all meet Allah sooner than you expected.

[clestes-2009]

No great surprise here. And there isn't much that can be done about it, thanks to dubya and co.

[one_american]

It's funny how the radical leaders of Iran are sounding defiant, just like Saddam Hussein, prior to his @ss-kicking.

If any liberal moonbats want to defend Iran, then they should emmigrate from this country into theirs.

[rohink-2009]

I wish Ahmadinejad would bring me along to the security counsil, holy moly would I tell them a thing or two. The United States should be under sanctions and have their nukes shoved up their arses and detonated. For terrorizing the whole world so they can swim in luxuries. For the false flag operation on 9/11 against their own citizens. For the murders of 100 times over what the Nazis did. For using africa for poster children to steal charity and use them for experiments. For holding back Africa to keep them as a reserve for resources. For the complete terrorization and horror inflicted on Afghanastan and Iraq. For just being the most evil, ignorant, and indifferent morons plaguing the planet and keeping it in a dark age of barbaric satanism.
Posted by zootallures2

zootallures2, are you from the United States? Just asking, cause if you are, you can always move and make more room for the Illegal Immigrants.

[vbkatlou]

zootallures2; while I disagree with what you have to say, I will defend your right to say it. Cos that's what we believe in America.

[theusa1st]

On Wednesday, Lavrov repeated Russia's assertions that Iran had dragged its feet on payments for Bushehr.

"Regrettably, our Iranian colleagues aren't telling the truth when they blame Russia for the financial problems which have emerged. Financial problems do exist, but they are linked to the Iranian side breaching an earlier-agreed schedule of payments," he said.

What does he expect...when you lie down with dogs you wake up with fleas.

[zootallures2]

Israel, America, and England are the Axis of Evil. You can lie, make propaganda but, or just look the other way.

Now 1957 came long after that Holicaust we are all suppose to learn from. Vietnam came long after that Holicaust we are all suppose to learn from. 9/11/2001 came long after that Holicaust we are all suppose to learn from.

If everyone continues to go along with a lie and look the other way, tell me, please tell me you GD FKN Jews and amerikkanos, just what the FK are we suppose to have learned? What is the point of your teaching?

[zootallures2]

Not even Saddam would think to use his secret police to murder poor people to steal their fruits. And then have the gaul, to smile and celebrate like then vice president Nixon.

The world is better off with out Saddam? Go better look at your own over stuffed fat azz in the mirror and see who the world would be better off with out!

I don't think I can ever eat a fruit again with out barfing my guts out... unbelievable!

America.. get some help, you are very very sick!

[zootallures2]

I wish Ahmadinejad would bring me along to the security counsil, holy moly would I tell them a thing or two. The United States should be under sanctions and have their nukes shoved up their arses and detonated. For terrorizing the whole world so they can swim in luxuries. For the false flag operation on 9/11 against their own citizens. For the murders of 100 times over what the Nazis did. For using africa for poster children to steal charity and use them for experiments. For holding back Africa to keep them as a reserve for resources. For the complete terrorization and horror inflicted on Afghanastan and Iraq. For just being the most evil, ignorant, and indifferent morons plaguing the planet and keeping it in a dark age of barbaric satanism.

[karlimhof]

Iran warms it may ignore nuclear rules.....

Why not, the US has been doing it for years -
thanks to our new neoconservative policy which states we reserve ourselves the right, others not.

On paper the neocons policy looks real "affirmative" but i reality, like Iraq, it doesn't work, is dangerous, irresponsible, and just plain stupid.

[zootallures2]

Iran has never used it's secret police to invaded a poor country and slaughtered it's people to steal their fruits. Iran has never used their secret police and hired terrorists to steal a poor country's bananas.

Only the fat ugly rich US and A has done such a horrible thing. Even Germany has appologised and compensated the Jews for WWII, and has continued to do so for the past 70 years.

You fat pigs were starving and had to run covert operations to steal their fruits? Then you sent that swine Nixon down to celebrate? What kind of a sh*t hole from hell is this?????

Iran has every right to not only peaceful nukes, but should build an arsenal and bomb you to kingdom come!

Imagine you come home and some nut cases murdered your children to steal your can of fruit cocktail.

[extremophil]

I can't wait for Iran to make the bomb. The Israelis will vaporize their caboose in .001 seconds.