UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 3, 2007
Iran: U.S. Cannot Afford Another War
Iranian Minister Says U.S. Can't Launch War Against Iran Because Of Cost To U.S. Taxpayers
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Manouchehr Mottaki, Foreign Minister of Iran, speaks to reporters at U.N. headquarters Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. (AP)
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Timeline The U.S. And Iran Key events in once friendly, now contentious relationship between Washington and Tehran.
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Timeline Iran Nuclear Chronology Events in development of Iran's nuclear program since it first came to light.
Nonetheless, Manouchehr Mottaki accused U.S. President George W. Bush's administration of engaging in a "psychological war" and raising the option of a military strike every six months over the last two years.
At some point during each six-month period, he said, "we were receiving information which looked very exact - in some specific hour and date the strike will take place."
While the United States maintains that all options including a military attack remain on the table, Mottaki said "Our analysis is clear. U.S. is not in a position to impose another war in our region against their taxpayers."
Mottaki said Iran warned the United States two years ago that it would retaliate if the U.S. administration made a "mad decision" to attack. But he refused to say what action Iran would take, saying it would be disclosed at the appropriate time by "the relevant people."
On the final day of the U.N. General Assembly's ministerial session, the Iranian minister told a news conference that his country is trying to avoid any confrontations and wants a peaceful solution to concerns about its nuclear activities.
The Bush administration and others in the West have repeatedly voiced concern over Iran's uranium enrichment program, arguing that it is aimed at producing nuclear weapons. Iran has vigorously rejected the claims, defying U.N. sanctions while stressing its program is peaceful and agreeing to answer questions from the U.N. nuclear agency.
"We are not looking for nuclear bomb. We do not need nuclear bomb, and it is not in our military doctrine to have nuclear weapons," Mottaki said.
In a setback for the United States, Iran won a reprieve from new U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program on Friday. The Bush administration and its European allies ceded to Russian and Chinese demands in the Security Council to give Tehran until November to address questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency about its nuclear program.
Mottaki said the foreign ministers of the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany finally adopted "a realistic approach to the issue" at Friday's meeting and supported an initiative by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei that led to the current cooperation with Iran.
"We do believe that the issue is considering now in its right and appropriate place, which is IAEA, and we do hope ... this process does work appropriately," he said.
Mottaki said there were six or seven areas where questions have been raised, and the file on plutonium has already been closed by the IAEA, but he did not know "how long it will take" to answer all the queries.
"We are committed to show transparently all parts of the activities in Iran," he said.
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EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana warned Tehran Wednesday that the European Union wanted to see quick progress in international negotiations over its nuclear program.Our analysis is clear. U.S. is not in a position to impose another war in our region against their taxpayers.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki"We can't wait forever, and we have to see those negotiations are moving ahead ... there is a risk of more sanctions and it is a real risk, we have to get that across," he said in Brussels.
On the issues of Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan - where Iran has been accused of interfering - Mottaki said: "Iran was, and is, always as a part of the solution in our region, not as part of the problem."
Asked about concerns from some Arab nations that Iran would fill a void in Iraq if U.S. forces pulled out, Mottaki said this "was not a realistic and correct understanding" of what Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.
If foreign forces leave Iraq, which Iran believes they must do, the regional countries including Iran "are in the position to protect stability in the region," he said.
On Afghanistan, Mottaki said President Hamid Karzai's offer to talk to leaders of the ousted Taliban "is not a constructive signal." But he called on the international community to back the Karzai government and said Iran would continue supporting reconstruction in the country.
The only alternative to the Karzai government is civil war and more instability, he said.
"That's why international community and all the parties should support Mr. Karzai's government," Mottaki said.
As for Lebanon, where the pro-Western government and pro-Syrian opposition have been unable to elect a new president, Mottaki said "we believe no one should interfere."
"The Lebanese problem should meet with a Lebanese solution," he said. "What the countries in the region and outside the region can do is help the parties come closer together to reach a compromise."
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Add a Comment See all 101 Comments
- Dishonesty for any reason except to save a life is wrong.
- Reply to this comment
- Posted by Prinzowhales at 07:23 PM : Oct 04, 2007
Sounds just like the Qur''an doesn''t it? - Reply to this comment
- gunerv1--Are you familiar with the Talmud and the Kol Nidre? One encourages dishonesty toward non-Jews, the other excuses one in the coming year for any oathe one might break. Now, what do you think about that?
- Reply to this comment
- FCK YOU, YOU FCKING SELFISH HIPPY PIECE OF LIBERAL ***!!! Your drug induced hippy azz isn''''t even worth the breath arguing.
What exactly do you do for a living?...besides collect welfare and government handouts you stup1d fcker. Go back to the insane asylum liberal.
Posted by tankersmash at 08:52 AM : Oct 04, 2007
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ROFLMMFAO!!! "tanked" is on a rampage again!! Or still...!! What an attitude!! One of the Army''s finest!! He''ll go far as an officer in the Army. Hopefully his NCOs will "set him straight."
tanked should have taken some anger management classes along with the core curriculum in college.
Many of us concluded weeks ago that he was most likely NOT an army officer and probably not even in the military. Just another "keyboard warrior." - Reply to this comment
- *** STOP THE WAR & END CORPORATE CORRUPTION ***
Who Is Paying For Your Vote To Keep Control Of You And To Keep This War Going? Remember The Bankers Hold The Stock In Companies That Are Getting Billions In War Contracts From Your Tax Dollars That Has Ruined This Country And Made The Dollar Drop 35% Over The Past 4 Years, We''''ve Been Robbed!
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- posted by tomtomasters at 06:52 AM : Oct 04, 2007
If anyone should be ashamed it is you, you ungrateful piece of human trash. You are disgusting and also stupid. I try never to make it personal or resort to name calling but you are just scum.
Posted by theUSA1st
What he said!!!!! - Reply to this comment
- Prinzeowhales- The Koran says that they can lie even upon an oath if it will be better for them (Hummm sounds like DimocRats)
- Reply to this comment
- anyone one here?
- Reply to this comment
- Iran fulfills its international treaty obligations under the IAEA and Non-Proliferation Treaties...The Israelis are not members and allow nothing!! The US claims the right to break any and all treaties...like the mad scientist on SOUTH PARK, Bush sez, "I am above the law!"
- Reply to this comment
- That sound you hear is the war drum beating.
If Iran really wants nuclear energy than they should allow all inspections by the IAEA.
Technology exsists that can find out what plant or process any nuclear material came from. If Irans nuclear material is ever used in a terrorist attack, they will be found out.
Plus one US nuclear sub off their coast could take out the entire country. They know that and so do we.
Don''t let our greed for oil and money for the rich lead us to war.
Too costly a mistake to make twice. - Reply to this comment
- tankersmash: Proud member of the 101st fighting keyboardist. Risking carpal tunnel every day so others can die in his place.
The true definition of a coward. - Reply to this comment
- You obviously didn''''t read the comment by HIPPY_1968 below...he''''s a liberal idiot attacking military guys like me...since he can''''t argue the issues he resorts to what ALL LIBERALS do...spread lies.
Posted by tankersmash
And neo-cons say nothing but God''s truth. Like all the WMD, chemical weapons, yellowcake, "I was only picking up toilet paper in another stall", "they will great us with roses and cheers", No new taxes, I did not trade arms for hostages...
Really, you make it too easy. And any who supports this president, obviously does NOT support the troops. Pick a side. You are either with the troops or with bush. "You are either with us, or Against us. Bring it on." - Reply to this comment
- Way to go, Mottaki - now that is a funny statement.
Bush doesn''t give a tinker''s d@mn about the average American taxpayer or their children, and the people he helped out with his tax cuts are earning sufficient interest and dividends on the money they''ve saved so far to pay their future taxes at current rates.
Mottaki shouldn''t kid himself; Iran would probably already be under the gun if Bush had managed to make his tax cuts for the wealthy permanent. - Reply to this comment
- Nice work there, tankersmash. Really, how much could that hippy put toward the tax base anyway...tree-hugging and animal saving can''''t pay THAT well?
Posted by tcoleman12
He can''t put any towards the tax base...He''s a welfare collecting liberal moron who wants the government to run and control ALL aspects of life so he doesn''t get fckin'' job. - Reply to this comment
- tankersmash, please don''''t think that that person represents liberals. I am a liberal who will always stand up for the military. I think that''''s a mistake that many Vietnam era people make...thinking being liberal means being anti-military. We are very pro-military when it comes to a war with a clear need (like we were bombed at Pearl Harbor), but we are very anti people like Bush abusing the military to make his fascist buddies money in places like Iraq that never attacked us.
posted by kpokey
You obviously didn''t read the comment by HIPPY_1968 below...he''s a liberal idiot attacking military guys like me...since he can''t argue the issues he resorts to what ALL LIBERALS do...spread lies. - Reply to this comment
- Nice work there, tankersmash. Really, how much could that hippy put toward the tax base anyway...tree-hugging and animal saving can''t pay THAT well?
- Reply to this comment
- C,mon - be serious. Everyone knows that they don''''t let 12 year olds enlist in the military. Shouldn''''t you be in school?
Posted by hungry1968
Nice try liberal...You just can''t deal with the fact that I, NOT YOU, have served 7 years with 2 combat tours can ya?...go back to your LIES liberal...It''s all you are good at anyway. What''s the matter liberal???...you a litte uneasy with the fact the I have clout to my argument and you don''t?
...shouldn''t you be at some pro-queer with AIDS rally or a "let''s give ghetto ****** more welfare money" rally or a "wah wah wah, impeach GWB and stop the war rally"...or my personal favorite.... "wah, cut off the funding so our troops starve and can''t do there jobs" rally...I''m sure there is some bs liberal rally touting lies somewhere for you to attend. Moron. - Reply to this comment
- FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAMIST Mahmoud "MONKEYBOY" Ahmadinejad
SAYS FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM WILL RULE THE WORLD,,,
all nations will bow to iran,,, or iran will make them bow,,,
http://bamapachyderm.com/archives/2007/09/24/mahmoud-ahmadinejad-tourist-in-the-big-apple/
http://themoderatevoice.com/category/politics/foreign/ahmadinejad/
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/politicalcartoons/ig/Political-Cartoons/Ahmadinejad-s-Comedy-Act.htm
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/politicalcartoons/ig/Political-Cartoons/No-Homosexuals-Left.htm
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/politicalcartoons/ig/Political-Cartoons/No-Gay-People-in-Iran.htm
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/politicalcartoons/ig/Political-Cartoons/Homosexuals-in-Iran.htm
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/iran/a/mahmoudjokes.htm
A day in the life of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a life of hatred. This is the inside story of the President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the people around him on the day the British Marines and Navy personnel was invite for a fifteen day pay vacation. The question is, "What was on the mind of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3pP0RlAJyOY&mode=related&search= - Reply to this comment
- tankersmash, please don''t think that that person represents liberals. I am a liberal who will always stand up for the military. I think that''s a mistake that many Vietnam era people make...thinking being liberal means being anti-military. We are very pro-military when it comes to a war with a clear need (like we were bombed at Pearl Harbor), but we are very anti people like Bush abusing the military to make his fascist buddies money in places like Iraq that never attacked us.
- Reply to this comment
- "On behalf of all servicemen and women like myself..."
Posted by tankersmash at 08:52 AM : Oct 04, 2007
C,mon - be serious. Everyone knows that they don''t let 12 year olds enlist in the military. Shouldn''t you be in school? - Reply to this comment
