Posted on 02/14/2005 9:25:31 PM PST by NormsRevenge
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - Iran's foreign minister said Monday his country has no intention of developing nuclear weapons and does not fear being attacked by the United States but could defend itself if needed.
The European Union is working to persuade Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment program. The United States fears could be used to manufacture nuclear weapons and is pushing the Europeans to take a tougher line on the issue. Iran insists its nuclear activities are peaceful.
"Iran does not have any program to produce weapons," Foreign Minister Kamel Kharrazi told reporters. "Iran is a promoter of the elimination of nuclear weapons around the world and, based on our ideology, on our Islamic thinking, it is forbidden to produce and use nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction."
President Bush earlier this month accused Iran of being "the world's primary state sponsor of terror" and of pursuing nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said last week that an attack was not on the agenda.
Kharrazi said Iran does not believe it will be attacked by the United States, but "if there will be any threat against Iran, certainly we can defend ourselves."
"I believe it would not be easy to wage war against Iran," he said after a meeting with Hungarian counterpart Ferenc Somogyi.
Under an agreement reached last year with France, Britain and Germany, Iran suspended its uranium enrichment program during negotiations about European economic, political and technological aid. Iran has said it will decide soon whether to continue its suspension, which is monitored by U.N. nuclear inspectors.
The agreement left Iran free to produce plutonium, which can also be used to build nuclear weapons.
Kharrazi said Iran's nuclear program was his country's "legitimate right and it does not want anything further than that."
Well that settles that. Whew, I was worried there for a second. Oh but wait, it isn't against Islam to lie to the infidels now is it?
I wondered what Baghdad Bob was up to these days...
Well, nuclear warfare and other forms of violence do violate the basic practices of the 'religion of peace.' So obviously they're telling the truth.
Well, nuclear warfare and other forms of violence do violate the basic practices of the 'religion of peace.' So obviously they're telling the truth. Let's respect their culture, drop our guard, and turn on the Christians instead.
Dammit, another double post!
Do whacking off heads and disembowling count as violence?
Nuclear Pakistan...not Islamic? Mnnnn.
[8.58] And if you fear treachery on the part of a people, then throw back to them on terms of equality; surely Allah does not love the treacherous.
[8.59] And let not those who disbelieve think that they shall come in first; surely they will not escape.
[8.60] And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah's way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.
I'm always fascinated by the variations in the translations. I wish I knew Arabic.
Depending on your age, you may have to know it sooner than you expect.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.