Iran Argues Nuclear Case In Letter To "World"

Source: Reuters

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran sent a letter to the world's top diplomats on Tuesday to argue its case in the deepening nuclear row with the West, official media reported.

"I would like to emphasize that Iran's nuclear program is completely peaceful," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki wrote in the letter, published by news agency IRNA in Farsi.

"This program is not a threat against any country."

The agency said the letter was sent to "the world's foreign ministers" but did not specify whether it went to the United States and Iran's other western foes, who fear the Islamic Republic wants to use the program to pursue nuclear weapons.

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"All Iran's nuclear activities ... are based on the agency's charter and the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty), under the agency's full and continuous supervision," said his letter, which ran to four pages on IRNA.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSDAH04567420071120

:crazy:

I'm sorry, but I still can't believe the guy.

Oil's above $90, and if Iraq is sitting on ~$30 Trillion at today's market prices, then I'm sure Iran's reserves are worth real money too.

That said, it might not be the best energy project for Iran, but they're within their rights to pursue peaceful nuclear energy. We're pissing away money we don't have on biofuels projects that are only adding to the economic and ecological crisis... similarly, mistakes are theirs to make.

Much of this has to do with national pride I think - the Persians are an ancient civilization and they don't like being told what to do, especially given that they're surrounded by nuclear powers.

Nuclear energy is probably cheaper for them than putting up a petroleum fired plant. You see, since they have no refineries in their country, which would mean that not only would they have to build two-three petroleum fired electric plants for one nuclear, they would also have to build their own refinery also. Given the deal that they got on the nuclear plant, technology and fuel, it probably cheaper for them to go nuclear.

but I think it's actually VERY smart policy to start thinking beyond oil. They figure this is the time to use oil revenues to develop alternative energy sources for a post-oil-based world economy.

This is not uncommon, and actually smart economic planning. If they don't start developing alternative fuels, they will have to import their energy instead of produce it.

Many countries have done this (many European nations have developed their own alternative energy sources, to cut back on importing energy and take care of the environment).

And, you know what, even if they were building a weapon, I'm not scared. I'd be more scared of Pakistan and India going at it.

Nuclear energy is not the best way to go for them.

On edit, most likely they want nukes so we don't invade them.

but with the technology of today, solar cannot provide all their needs. Even European nations have to diversy their sources. Nuclear has to be part of the interim solution for transitioning from oil.

of history. Even the IAEA say that Iran is enriching uranium, in fact wasn't it just last week that Imademonjad (sic) was bragging about their enrichment program to Chavez? Yes it was. Keep thinking "Iran good, US bad" I hope you have your prayer rug vacuumed, you'll be needing it.

It was not producing the highly-enriched, weapons-grade U235 needed to make bombs.

No. Why would you believe Ahmadinejad, who said Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth, blames the Jews for I believe every evil that has ever happened, denies the immensity of the Holocaust, and is waaay too comfortable with the idea of the coming of the Messiah (or Mahdi if you prefer the Arabic term) at the end of the world when it comes to something like this. I tend to regard statements from people who persist in believing the Jews control the world, who want Armageddon to happen sooner rather than later, deny the Holocaust, and threatens to annihilate other countries as less than reliable.

..anyone here remember the Carter years? Iran is not a friend of the Democratic Party, the Republican Party or the U.S. Drink up.

Edited to add...they are not the friends of the gay and lesbian community ("we don't have homosexuals in Iran"), ecological community, secular community or virtually any other segment of Progressive America.

what are worried about?

But more importantly, why do you believe that little lord pissypants should bomb Iran? Why take up for him on a liberal board.

WRT to President Carter, did you ever hear of the October surprise?

Why do you believe Iran's intentions are pure? Is it simply to disagree with this lame duck admin or is it based on some knowledge that the rest of the world is unaware of?

I tend to agree with most of the world that an Iran with a nuclear weapon is an enormous threat to world peace and Israeli and European security. I may not believe claims that Iran is attempting to obtain nuclear weapons if it were only the Bush admin making the claims but since it is nearly universally accepted by nearly every government in the world it is a little hard to deny.

Edit to add....Your first statement is silly, why would I worry about anything happening anywhere I am not living? You must live in a tiny world.

And Iran in general and the Ayatollah Khomeini, the same one who is still arguably in charge of Iran, in particular is who cost Carter his second term.

how could he still be "arguably in charge of Iran" ??? :shrug:

THIS iS total BS. I know that westerners (especially americans) tend to think they're the center of the world, but you would really be surprised that the world trust more Iran than US. Even Saddam Hussein was more trustworthy than GW Bush.

The rest of the world don't fucking care about Carter second term, the humiliating hostage crisis of 79 and the feud you have with Iran. Iran was attacked by Iraq with all the help of US, France, UK, etc, they lost 1 million people (many of them gassed with YOUR CHEMICAL WMD).

What proof do you have they're looking for nuclear weapons ??? The same you had for Iraq ??? Please tell me ??? What security threat for Israel, Europe or US ??? Please explain to me. I'm stupid, i watch CNN and like to swallow all the bullshit OUR NICE AND BRIGHT AND SO INDEPENDENT SECURITY **EXPERTS** spit everyday on our SO DEMOCRATIC and SO FREE news-media.

Let Iran develop peacefully, it's a growing and developing nation, that's the real threat : the US Empire don't wont regional powers ! The bloodthirsty maniacs are in the white house!

:applause:

I disagree with you on many counts.

Firstly - I disagree that a nuclear armed Iran would be a enormous threat to world peace. A far graver threat is what is happening in Pakistan right now today - an ALREADY NUCLEAR ARMED STATE in a state of emergency with an out of control president and civil war in the making. Pakistan - the state that HAS Al Quaida cells already and Mushareff - your supposed ally refuses to do anything about them and will not allow you to go in and take care of the terror cells. Pakistan already SELLS nuclear secrets. And yet, you blather on and on about Iran. Makes no sense to me.

Secondly - I trust absolutely nothing that Bush states - whether or not the rest of the world agrees with him. He lies. And being the president of the United States - arguably the most powerful nation on the planet - how many have been forthcoming and willing to state to his face - he is wrong and get away with it? Nobody. They agree out of necessity - not fact.

Thirdly - this ongoing self imposed crisis of Iran is precisely what the oilbarons want - Iran included. It is good for business - good for high oil prices. See the price of oil lately?

Forthly - Iran has wanted a nuclear free middle east for some time and has indicated a willingness, even eagerness to pursue such a treaty....and it was ISRAEL that wanted no part of that, for then they would have to admit they have not lived up to any non nuclear proliferation obligations. And of course - whatever Israel wants - the US obliges even though Israel has done many things that are condemned on the world stage. See Lebanon just for starters - there are many many more.

And so it comes down to this. Bush wants a war with Iran. This drives up oil prices which is great for his oil buddies. This is also wonderful for the military industrial complex who have profited handsomely in the past middle eastern strife. They don't want peace - it is bad for the profit margins. Peace has become a dirty word - something to be villified - not sought after.

You've been had. You pay for wars that have nothing to do with your safety and your children die because it is good for business. You invade nations under false pretenses and then can't figure out why the rest of us are skeptical when you cry wolf. Your nation faces bankruptcy and a plunging dollar value....but there are fat cats in power who are ever so happy you blithely follow party lines and blather on with party propeganda.

I may not be "the rest of the world" - I am just one person - but I heard the song before. Fool me once - shame on you - fool me twice - shame on me.

And hear is something really radical to chew on. Let's just pretend for a moment that Iran did have a nuclear weapon. What would happen? If you really believe they would actually use it against Israel, you are far more stupid than your post even leads to. What would happen is that the US would stop threatening them. What would happen is that Israel might reconsider some of its policies regarding the palistinians. These are not necessarily bad things. But you are correct in worrying about a nuclear weapon in the hands of an unstable nation state - that is a world wide worry......so when are you going to worry about Pakistan?

And Israel with their humongous Nuclear arsenal is no threat to anyone.:eyes:

Israel is no more special than any other Country and they certainly should not be treated as such. Sounds like you've been drinking a lot of Kool-Aid.

Enriching uranium for nuclear fuel and for nuclear weapons is TWO VERY DIFFERENTS things.

...how 'bout you learn to spell the name of its leader?

Given this post, I suspect the worst of Pipoman, especially with that paranoid prayer rug comment.

Every other Country has Nukes anyway, why not them? It's not our business what they do.

Is fully and completely in line with peaceful uses. If you had any sort of knowledge about the nuclear industry and the process of enriching uranium, you would realize that Iran is years away from having a proper amount of weapons quality uranium. Enriching via uranium hexaflouride centrifuging is a long and arduous process, even with 3000 centrifuges. I know, I used to work at a nuke plant. The US went off of this method of enrichment fifty years ago because it is so slow. It works out OK for enriching uranium five percent, but up to 95% for weapons grade literally takes years of cascading centrifuging.

Oh, and if you think that anybody around here thinks "Iran good, US bad" I have a clue for you. It isn't that we think that the US is once again overreacting to a threat that simply isn't there, you know, kinda like that whole WMD and Iraq thing. Look how that's worked out:eyes: And gee, didn't I hear that same sort "prayer rug" crap floating around during the run up to the Iraq war? Now where did I hear that coming from:think:

Send to:
Everybody,
World


Unfortunately the post office didn't know what to do with it so its sitting next to the 'Santa, North Pole' pile.

Several other more aggressive nations do. Let's focus on them.

If Iran's major export product was broccoli this wouldn't be an issue. Suggesting that Iran is a threat is lies.