Posted on 06/26/2005 9:43:05 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Sunday to pursue a peaceful nuclear program — an effort the United States maintains is really a cover for trying to build atomic bombs — and said his government will not be an extremist one.
Ahmadinejad also said Iran did not need the United States to help it become more self-reliant.
His comments came as Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld criticized Friday's vote, in which the ultraconservative former Tehran mayor steamrolled former President Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, as a "mock election." Rumsfeld said more than 1,000 potential candidates — including all women — were disqualified from running by the country's hard-line Guardian Council.
"He is no friend of democracy," Rumsfeld said on "Fox News Sunday." "He is a person who is very much supportive of the current ayatollahs, who are telling the people of that country how to live their lives, and my guess is over time the young people and women will find him as well as his masters unacceptable."
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom also said Sunday his nation, which considers Iran one of its greatest enemies, also believes the election was undemocratic.
One of the most contentious issues between Tehran and Washington is Iran's nuclear program. Washington accuses Iran of seeking to build weapons, while Tehran says its program is for generating electricity.
On Sunday, Ahmadinejad said he will continue the nuclear program.
"Iran's peaceful technology is the outcome of the scientific achievements of Iran's youth," Ahmadinejad told a news conference broadcast live on state-run television.
"We need the peaceful nuclear technology for energy, medical and agricultural purposes and our scientific progress. We will continue this."
He also said Iran's decision would not change: "This is the final path we have taken."
Tehran's nearly 20-year-old atomic program was revealed in 2002.
Iran suspended all uranium enrichment-related activities in November to avoid having its nuclear program referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions. Uranium enriched to low levels has energy uses, while highly enriched uranium can be used in bombs.
France, Britain and Germany have been negotiating with Iran on its nuclear program, offering economic incentives in the hope of persuading the country to permanently halt uranium enrichment.
Last week, former chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix told Swedish Radio it would take many years for Iran to achieve the capability to produce highly enriched uranium needed for an atomic bomb.
Ahmadinejad said the Europeans must implement their commitments if they want trust to be established.
"We will continue talks with Europeans while preserving our national interests and insistence on the right of the Iranian nation to use nuclear energy," he said in a new conference broadcast live on state-run television.
In Jerusalem, Shalom called on the international community to further isolate the Islamic regime because of its "nuclear threat." Israel accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons that could reach the Jewish state.
On relations with the United States, Ahmadinejad said Iran was determined to make progress and it did not need Washington to achieve that.
"The Iranian nation is taking the path of progress based on self-reliance. It doesn't need the United States significantly on this path," he said.
Ahmadinejad said he would seek to improve relations "with any country that doesn't seek hostilities against Iran," adding that his foreign policy would focus on "peace, moderation and coexistence."
"Moderation will be the policy of (my) popular government," he said. "Extremism will have no place in (my) popular government."
Iran's President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaks to the media, during his first news conference since his election on Friday, in the City Council building in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 26, 2005. The ultraconservative Ahmadinejad has vowed to pursue a peaceful nuclear program and said Iran doesn't need America to make progress. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. There's nothing like a bit of competition between siblings, so an Iranian couple has decided to name their newborn twins after the Islamic republic's bitter presidential election rivals.(AFP/File/Patrick Baz)
Iran's President-elect Mahmood Ahmadinejad (L) is greeted by Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as he paid a visit to the latter's tomb on the southern outskirts of Tehran, June 26, 2005. Ahmadinejad prepared for office after crushing his rival in an election that sent shockwaves around the world and rang alarm bells over the country's nuclear ambitions.(AFP/Atta Kenare)
Oh...lets give him a dozen or so....
Two Iranian women walk on a U.S. flag in Tehran June 25, 2005. Ultra-conservative Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad swept to a stunning landslide victory in presidential elections on Saturday and immediately vowed to turn Iran into a strong and exemplary Islamic state. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl
"Hans Blix told Swedish Radio it would take many years for Iran to achieve the capability to produce highly enriched uranium needed for an atomic bomb."
Right. How long is Irans border with Pakistan? You know, the owners of the much-acclaimed "Islamic Bomb", and a source of pride and espirit-de-corps for jihaddi's worldwide. Oh yeh......Paki's have sold nuke tech and parts. Lets get real about this sometime soon!
He's one of the thugs who took over our embassy.
Thanks again, Jimmy Carter.
Airbursted over strategic targets of course....
Jimmah Carter worst POTUS in the history of the United States.
So much happened on his watch for which he did so little...it's a tragic.
"Washington accuses Iran of seeking to build weapons, while Tehran says its program is for generating electricity."
Now why would the world's fourth largest oil producer need to burn uranium to make electricity?
In 1980, Ahmadinejad was the head representative of Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) to the student gatherings that took sessions with the presence of the Ayatollah Khomeini.
In these sessions, the foundations of the first Office for Strengthening Unity (daftar-e tahkim-e vahdat), the student organization behind seizure of the United States embassy which led to the Iran hostage crisis, were created.
During the seizure of the embassy, Ahmadinejad suggested a simultaneous attempt against the Soviet Union embassy, which was voted down.
------------
I'd say he was indeed a hardliner.
They (the mullahs that run Iran) would tell you that the electricty would allow them to sell more of their oil reserves, and be good for their economy in the long run...A lie.
Iran wants nukes to secure its future as a tyranny. The rule their citizens at the point of the gun...they want to keep others out with a nuclear deterrent.
TOTAL WAR NOW! Let's not wait for these clowns to have nukes.
Ahhhh...did you read the first two sentences of this article?
And the AP has used the word "Nukes" to mean "a nulear progam." I don't think they've misled anyone in this case.
I not so sure I believe Hans Blix is a man who never lies...and to cite a "Seattle" Based News source...smacks of liberal biast, but Iran probably is a couple years off from a servicable nuclear weapon...but that doesn't discredit their ambitions to possess one.
I didn't write it, the title is posted as it appears at the source link.
I understand your point, tho. Thanks.
Is that ozone I smell?
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.