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Iran for Peaceful End of Nuclear Crisis, Refuses Bullying
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"We
have repeatedly said the Iranian nation does not need nuclear
weapons. We are a civilized nation," said Ahmadinejad.
(Reuters).
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TEHRAN
, January 14, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asserted on Saturday, January 14, that
his country wants a peaceful solution to the current nuclear standoff
with the West as it has no intention to acquire nuclear weapons, but
reiterated
Tehran
's right to possess nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
"We
have repeatedly said the Iranian nation does not need nuclear weapons.
We are a civilized nation," Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted
Ahmadinejad as telling a news conference.
"The
people who are seeking to solve all equations with force and bullying
are the people who want weapons," added the Iranian leader.
He
warned that his country would not limit its nuclear program even if
ordered to do so by the UN Security Council.
"Even
if the Security Council becomes involved, it will not help resolve the
issue. We are not interested in going down this path, but if some
people insist on depriving the Iranian people of their rights they
should know that such a thing will not happen," a determined
Ahmadinejad told reporters.
Western
nations are threatening to haul the Islamic republic before the UN
Security Council over suspicions of seeking nuclear weapons, a claim
Tehran
categorically denies.
Tehran
has raised the stakes in the dispute by removing UN seals on equipment
that purifies uranium, which can be used for power or, if highly
enriched, in bombs.
Representatives
of the EU countries and the
United States
are to meet with counterparts from
Russia
and
China
on Monday, January 16, to discuss how to proceed at the International
Atomic Energy Agency and the Security Council.
European
ministers have said the question of sanctions is premature, while
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said military action was
"not conceivable."
No
Bullying
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A
satellite image of Natanz uranium enrichment complex in
Iran
. (Reuters)
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Ahmadinejad
said
Iran
will not be "bullied" by the West.
"Despite
the technological progress in the world, a few Western countries are
mentally living in medieval times and say you don't have the right to
scientific progress," he fumed.
"I
tell those few Western countries that today it is time for you to
create confidence. The time has passed for the language of bullying,
domination and relying on your nuclear, chemical and biological
weapons."
Ahmadinejad
reiterated the Iranian right to develop peaceful nuclear program as
enshrined in relevant international treaties.
"According
to agency regulations and the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty),
all member nations can have nuclear technology and no excuses or
strategies can infringe on these rights, even inspections must not
stop them from having their rights," he said.
"A
few Western countries who have nuclear weapons are questioning
Iran
, even though with unprecedented inspections and supervision there is
not the slightest evidence against
Iran
," he maintained.
IAEA
chief and Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei had underlined that there
was no evidence
Iran
was developing nuclear weapons.
“War
Criminals”
Ahmadinejad
launched a fresh diatribe against
Israel
, branding Western supporters of Tel Aviv as "war criminals"
and vowing they would soon be tried in Palestinian courts.
"The
ones who openly support the occupying regime of Al-Quds (east
Jerusalem
) must know their names will be on the list of war criminals and in
the near future will be put on trial in Palestinian courts," the
firebrand president told the news conference.
"Why
have you equipped the occupying regime of Al-Quds with atomic
weapons?" he asked.
The
UN nuclear watchdog had asked
Israel
to give up its secret
arsenal of nuclear weapons to head off an arms race in the
Middle East
.
"It
is us who should inspect the arsenals of you, seal and destroy
them," Ahmadinejad said, specifically responding to comments made
on Friday, January 13, by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and
US
President George W. Bush.
"If
the two of them (Merkel and Bush) are supporting the occupiers of
Al-Quds, they should explicitly admit it and this means that they are
taking part in the crimes being committed there," Ahmadinejad
said.
"If
you allow a free referendum take place you will see what will happen
-- a map back to 70 years ago when there was no
Israel
."
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