Iranian Leader Says It Has Nuclear Rights

[Florida_Geek]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iran-Nuclear.html

September 22, 2004
Iranian Leader Says It Has Nuclear Rights
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 2:08 p.m. ET

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called on the international community Wednesday to recognize Iran's right to enrich uranium, again insisting Tehran will pursue a nuclear program that some -- including the United States -- suspect is aimed at developing weapons.

Khatami warned that Iran would continue its nuclear program even if it meant ending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

``We clearly demand that our right to enrichment be recognized by the international community because it is our legal right and in accordance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty,'' Khatami said after a Cabinet meeting Wednesday. ``If it does so, it will open the way for greater cooperation.''

Iranian officials have denounced demands by the IAEA that Iran cease its uranium enrichment program, a process that can produce fuel for both nuclear power stations and nuclear weapons, as ``illegal.''

The United States -- which once labeled Iran part of an ``axis of evil'' with North Korea and prewar Iraq -- and many nonproliferation experts believe Iran is covertly developing nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is strictly for generating electricity.

Khatami said Tuesday his nation ``won't go for nuclear weapons at all.''

...more at AP

[denverbill]

1. Frankly, any country that doesn't develop them is stupid.

It's an open invitation for a US invasion if you don't have nukes. Iraq taught them that. If Iraq had had one single nuke, Saddam would still be in power today.

No nuclear armed nation has ever been attacked by any other nation.

I'm not even sure where we got the right to deny nukes to other countries anyway, or chemical/biological weapons either for that matter. Yeah, we'll feel a lot safer being the only kid on the block with nukes, but since we have shown our willingness to use force even against world opinion, we obviously can't be trusted to use our force for the betterment of the world.

[Malva Zebrina]

3. espcially one that has been fingered as part of the axis of evil

any country that Bush has in his sights that does not take measures to protect itself and it's citizens, would be negligent and stupid.

Israel has threatened Iran at least four times in the past few months.

[Ganja Ninja]

2. Khatami is right but he has to realize ...

if you have nukes it's much easier for someone else to rationalize using them on you. Having a few bombs is a lot different than being able to deliver hundreds of them at the push of a button.

[MrSlayer]

4. "We won't go for nuclear weapons at all" Yeah and Bush never lies.

Iran getting nukes is a not a good thing. I don't know what the solution is but I believe the World has to prevent it from happening.