UK & World News
- 22 February 2012, 11:48
Iran's Supreme Leader: 'No Nuclear Weapons'
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has denied the real aim of the country's nuclear programme is to build "atomic" weapons.
"We are not after an atomic weapon. We want to break the supremacy (of the world powers) that relies on nuclear weapons," he reportedly told Iranian nuclear scientists.
According to an official government statement, he added: "God willing, the nation will reach this goal."
The statement was issued after UN nuclear inspectors were prevented from visiting a key military site in Iran.
Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have now left the country after failing to reach a deal to inspect the Parchin site near Tehran.
"Intensive efforts were made to reach agreement on a document facilitating the clarification of unresolved issues in connection with Iran's nuclear programme," the IAEA said in a statement.
"Unfortunately, agreement was not reached on this document."
It was the second time the UN team had requested access to the Parchin site where it believes explosives testing is being carried out. The first was during a previous trip in January.
"It is disappointing that Iran did not accept our request to visit Parchin during the first or second meetings," IAEA director general Yukiya Amano said in the statement.
Iran's envoy to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, was quoted by the Iranian news agency ISNA as saying the talks had been intensive and covered "co-operation and mutual understanding between Iran and the IAEA".
"These negotiations will continue in the future," he said.
The visit was aimed at clarifying all "outstanding substantive issues" surrounding Tehran's nuclear programme, in particular what the IAEA called "possible military dimensions".
The trip was also seen as an important precursor to a possible resumption of talks between Iran and the US, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany.
Last November, the IAEA said Iran had carried out activities in a number of areas "relevant to producing" a nuclear weapon.
Since then the US and the European Union have increased sanctions on the country's oil sector.
In retaliation Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz and announced it was halting oil sales to Britain and France.
It insists the sole purpose of its nuclear programme is to generate electricity.
:: Russia has said it could not rule out allowing the US to use the Manas airbase in ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan for an eventual strike on Iran over its nuclear programme.
"It cannot be excluded that this site could be used in a potential conflict with Iran," foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said, expressing hope such an "apocalyptic scenario" would not happen.
what do you think?
Happy_feet84
Just proves they clearly got something to hide and are up to something. Now does the world wait to see what that is and possibly regret it or do something about it and force them to let these people in to have a look
tagliatellius
Isn't it about time the inspectors took a look at Israel's weapons of mass destruction?
Name witheld
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
pearl smith
Hav you ever heard of israel doing nuclear before or any bombs for that matter
Roger Rushkin
Yes, over 1500 people massacred in three weeks in Gaza. Using missiles, phosphorous, tanks shells, drones. Attack on Lebanon in 2006 which killed thousands - and followed the previous invasions of Lebanon which killed thousands of civilians.
Jade Hutton
again i agree roger, but the main stream mdeia wont talk about or show this, as they are all controlled by the same people that are itching to get into more wars. people need to honestly wake up.
david p
And which countries, dear Tagliatellius, has Israel threatened to annihilate with their nukes? And having had them for a time, why haven't they already done so?
Jade Hutton
and which countrys has iran ever invaded in the last 300 years? iran dont want nuclear weapons and even if they do, what right do we have to say they cant when its us surrounding there country with every country we invade and regime change. Iran have every right to defend them selfs, and if you must know, its isreal pulling the strings of the US in all of these wars.
gypsy56
david - Israel HAS attacked Syria, Lebanon, Jordon and Palestine (without any declaration of war prior to the assaults). They HAVE killed many thousands of Palestinians, HAVE and continue to steal Palestinian land and give it over to Israelies to build their enclaves, deny Palestinians access to water for consumption or to water their crops Gaza was once a large city many miles inside the Palestinian border, now 100,000's of Palestinians are corralled inside the walls under attack by land, sea and air with no means of reply or defence. If you had to live like this what would your view of Israel be I wonder?
Roger Rushkin
Israel is constantly threatening to attack Iran. Virtually on a daily basis. Israel has a history of attacking sovereign states (Syria, Iraq, Lebanon) as well as perpetrating a brutal occupation of the West bank and a siege on Gaza. Israel is concerned that a nuclear Iran will challenges Israel's ability to act with impunity i.e. executing protestors in international waters, laying siege to over a million people in Gaza, massacring hundreds of children in Gaza, killing hundred of civilians every year in the West Bank, assassinating people , appropriating land, illegal settlements, etc.
Jade Hutton
tottaly agree Roger. iran is a pretty much a peacfull country, they havnt invaded any one else, and keep to there own affairs, dont have or want a centrailized bank, ect ect, look on a map of the world and look at the countrys surrounding iran that the west have invaded lately, cant blame them for seeking nuclear weapons thats if they even are but i dont bleeive all this WMD propagander they used that on us with Iraq and was a out and out lie. fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
Roger Rushkin
Jade, the propaganda build up by the ideologues in the US and in Judeo Fascist Israel is constantly clamouring for more war. (The Press seems to aid this clamour with one sided and biased 'reporting' like News International for example) Fortunately, whilst our leaders parrot the usual rubbish about 'imminent threat' etc this time they will not be as stupid as to attack Iran. And neither will the US. (hopefully) Iran has no history of attacking other countries. None at all. Israel and the US on the other hand . . . . . .
pearl smith
So why dont you go and live in iraq we will see how happy you are then especially when you may just happen to be a victim of a terrorist -which most of the people there are!
Jade Hutton
pearl your comment makes absaloutly no sense, no one has mentioned going to live in iraq, iraq is in a worst state now than when saddam was there, and you cant just invade countrys wanting regime change and using lies to get it, WE are the terrorists, cant you see that?? so blind its unbeleivable.
Roger Rushkin
What a pathetic comment 'why don't you go and live in Iran' Because I don't support an unprovoked attack by Judeo fascist Israel I should go and live in Iran! What rubbish. Most of the people in Iran are 'terrorists': what a sweeping and misinformed generalisation.
Sandy Mary
I cannot believe some of the anti Israeli rubbish spouted by the uninformed few. Wake up and realise it's Israel that's being blatantly threatened by Iran. What do you want them to do?? Just sit and wait till it happens. YEA RIGHT.
tagliatellius
Twaddle, it is Israel that is banging the war drum, but you just keep swallowing the propaganda.
Jade Hutton
wow sandyandmary like a country like iran would threaten a country like isearl with all its nukes and US and western ties. your swallowing the propagander machine from watching too much main stream media.
Roger Rushkin
Fear of democracy could hardly be more clearly exhibited than in this case. In January 2006, an election took place in Palestine, pronounced free and fair by international monitors. The instant reaction of the US (and, of course, Israel), with Europe following along politely, was to impose harsh penalties on Palestinians for voting the wrong way.
Roger Rushkin
Among elites and the political class, Iran is generally taken to be the primary threat to world order ? though not among populations. In Europe, polls show that Israel is regarded as the leading threat to peace. In the MENA countries, that status is shared with the US, to the extent that in Egypt, on the eve of the Tahrir Square uprising, 80% felt that the region would be more secure if Iran had nuclear weapons. The same polls found that only 10% regard Iran as a threat ? unlike the ruling dictators, who have their own concerns.
Roger Rushkin
Iranian nuclear capability wouldn't be the "existential threat" Israeli politicians have claimed. It might, of course, blunt Israel's strategic edge. Or as Matthew Kroenig, the US defence secretary's special adviser until last summer, spelled it out recently, a nuclear Iran "would immediately limit US freedom of action in the Middle East". Which gets to the heart of the matter: freedom of action in the Middle East is the prerogative of the US and its allies, not independent Middle Eastern states.
Happy_feet84
Jade, roger and tagliatelle or what ever his name is would have been the same type of people who would have said hitlers Germany wasn't a threat to anyone or the Jews. France also had ties with all western world and was considered a major power as was Russia and we all know know what happened there. You people read too much conspiracy theory crap online when history clearly shows what this kind of behaviour from countries often leads to and also what happens if not stopped early enough. I suppose Japan was harmless in 1941 as well. These countries like Iran are run by dictators and usually void of any concept of free speech and you believe their opinion polls, wake up! They justify all their actions with religious brainwashing
Roger Rushkin
Yes, yes, yes, whatever. (had to bring Hitler into it I suppose. If in doubt bring Hitler into it) But what evidence do you have that : a) Iran has Nuclear weapons b) Iran has ever attacked another country c) Iran has the capability to launch an attack on any other country
Happy_feet84
The UN is clearly trying to prove those points either way but Iran will not comply. Why not let the inspectors in to this facility if nothing to hide? Hitler is the one true example the world has seen, that's why it's relevant.
Roger Rushkin
So why doesn't Israel permit the inspectors to look around its own facilities? (Hitler, Hitler, Hitler. Good grief. Grow up)
Happy_feet84
Although I'm not saying that's right they don't allow it but they already have them and have possessed them for many years now. Iran does not at present and claims not to be doing so yet is cloak and dagger with the inspection process and is determined to "wipe Israel off the face of the earth" and all the other threats, u need to have a word with yourself son
Roger Rushkin
So it's OK for a Judeo Fascist state to have WMDs and to ignore international law (of which there are plenty of examples)? And it's OK for a Judeo Fascist state to daily threaten Iran with a military strike?
Jade Hutton
like how the UN cleary proved Iraq had weapons of mass destruction right? over a million civilian deathers on that country along since 9/11 its people like you happy feet that is why the world wil always have wars, you support anything and everything your rich masters want you to beleive.
Sandy Mary
Well done mate. Someone with no axe to grind and not afraid to express an opinion. I agree wholeheartedly.
Happy_feet84
And where have I said go to war with them dear jade? I said they to be pressured to allow the UN into this facility to prove their self proclaimed peaceful intentions. However if it gets to a point where they are still not complying and there is evidence that they possess weapons then tougher actions may be required. And don't give me that rubbish about Iranian public opinion and other Arab states opinion because the public there aren't allowed to have one and if they do they are persecuted as we've seen before in this region and still seeing today. It's people like u jade and ur mate roger here who will believe anything someone like Iran says until one day they don't bother talking to u they just attack and kill thousands. You 2 are prob the same type of people who get off work with 'stress' and moan about everything and anything. If u think Iran is innocent go over there and live for a while and see how ur treated, u don't live freely u are told how to live and that kind of dictatorship doesn't end with the desire just to keep their country how they see fit. These fanatics base their actions on a false and deliberate misinterpretation of their religion to get others to follow suit......wake up before its too late!
Roger Rushkin
Why exactly is Iran regarded as such a colossal threat? The question is rarely discussed, but it is not hard to find a serious answer ? though not, as usual, in the fevered pronouncements. The most authoritative answer is provided by the Pentagon and the intelligence services in their regular reports to Congress on global security. They report that Iran does not pose a military threat. Its military spending is very low even by the standards of the region, minuscule, of course, in comparison with the US.
Happy_feet84
Not saying it is at this moment in time but it could be if left to develop nuclear weapons. They believe it's their gods will to attack Israel and the western world. Realistically they would not stand a chance but are driven by false religious propaganda. Do u think Japan could have defeated the US? No but it didn't stop them trying. Iran needs to be pressured to reveal all peacefully but If they fail to do so then stronger actions are required. We cannot let a potential threat become an actual one when it comes to nuclear weapons
Roger Rushkin
What right has Israel - which by the way is a mono theocratic country with right wing bible fanatics who believe in the literal word of the bible in government positions - to decide who is and is not a threat? And why doesn't Israel permit inspectors to look at its own WMDs then?
Sandy Mary
Well said Happy feet84. I'm glad to see that the blinkered anti Israeli few, with their usual "everyone is wrong and I'm right".mentality are still in the minority. I've had two replies accusing me of swallowing propaganda from two no doubt well meaning but sadly biased and uninformed souls, who refuse to face facts. What about the propaganda spewed by Iran's leaders who openly threaten to destroy Israel and openly sponsor terrorism? Just like happy feet says, to ignore it or to condone it is morally offensive.
Roger Rushkin
'well meaning but sadly biased and uninformed souls, who refuse to face facts' So what are the 'facts'?
Jade Hutton
im not Anti iseral, im anti WAR fool iran hasnt invaded another country in over 300 years, UK, US, FRANCE ,ISERIAL are invading countrys left right and center in the name of terrosim, its us and aare stupid sanctions agaisnt these countrys that started all of this. what should be happening is us setting an example and disabling and destroying all our nuclear weapons, and maybe other countrys will follow suit as im pretty sure no one wants a nuclear war which will result in end of humanity.
gypsy56
Does that not also include condoning Israels naval barrages, air attacks and sniper fire on a people with little means of defence. Or how about the 'annexing' of Palestinian land which has continued for decades without reproach from the Western world. Just WHY do you find that acceptable!
Roger Rushkin
If an attack is launched by Israel or the US, it would not just be an act of criminal aggression, but of wanton destructive stupidity. As Michael Clarke, director of the British defence establishment's Royal United Services Institute, points out, such an attack would be entirely illegal: "There is no basis in international law for preventative, rather than pre-emptive, war." (But then Israel has never respected international law)
Roger Rushkin
Sandy and Mary: So what are the 'facts'?
Sandy Mary
The facts, Roger, are out there for everyone to see. The sad fact is that some refuse to see both sides of the story.The only reason I entered this debate is because I've never seen such one sided balderdash spouted on one subject. I realise only too well that that Israel in no saint in all of this, but they're only fighting fire with fire. After all, their annihilation is a serious subject. Not to some it would seem by what I read here. I wonder if the threats were to your neck of the woods, would there be a blunt refusal to see both sides? I think not. I'm not biased at all. I purposely put forward as strong an argument as you did. You should look in the mirror to see real bias.
Happy_feet84
Agree with u mate, not saying lets have a war with them but it cannot be ignored, better to be safe then sorry. U only have to look through history to see what happens
Sandy Mary
Totally agree. If we can't learn from history, we'll make the same mistakes all over again.
tagliatellius
You are the ones who are swallowing the propaganda, Iran has never threatened to wipe Israel of the map, that was a deliberate mistranslation from the Farsi by an Israeli propaganda unit.
Sandy Mary
I wondered when you would show up. Blatant blinkered and biased comment of no substance, You know when you've won an argument when the propaganda card is played. Is that the best you've got? Iran never said it, it was the Israelis. You really need to get out more tagliatellius. You're quite delusional in your attempts to twist the truth. Any one who believes your comment needs help.
gypsy56
The way I see it is the main argument for Irans nuclear weapons programme seems to be because the facility is built in a deep bunker in a mountainous region and no access allowed for the inspectors. Well if you were being threatened on a daily basis with a 'pre-emptive' strike on a nuclear facility - Where would you build it? - Near populated areas I presume, like the West do. As these Inspectors report to the Western leaders who are also threatening 'pre-emptive' strikes, why would you let them have ANY knowledge about the layout of the facility in question. As for Israel - Their own actions condemn them they need no words from me!
paulnaylor
mean while , back at the ranch , David is pandering to the press as usual going to some tea and biccies party about racism in football.....really important that is, much more important than dealing with 1000x more important issues like this one, the guys a nutjob.
Russell Beaumont
7:16am on 22/2/2012
Does anyone honestly believe that Iran is going to let observers in to witness a nuclear build up in preparation for a war with Israel?
gypsy56
7:37pm on 22/2/2012
Russell; Iran doesn't NEED a nuclear weapon to attack Israel, all it would need is contaminated waste (nuclear, chemical or biological) all of which is available on the open market and an open space with the wind in the right direction