Iran Says It Has No Interest in Nuclear Weapons; France (Says Otherwise)

Al Bawaba ^ | February 16, 2006 | Al Bawaba

[najida]

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy on Thursday called Iran's nuclear program a “clandestine, military” project, and that "no civilian nuclear program can explain Iran's nuclear program."

Douste-Blazy, according to the AFP, made the comments to France's channel 2 television station, to which Iran quickly responded.

“Diplomats should refrain from making such strong announcements”, said Ali Larijani, the secretary general of the Islamic Republic’s Supreme National Security Council and Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator.

Larijani added, “We must not hear statements similar to what is said by the United States from European countries."

He rejected the claim that Tehran was pursuing a nuclear weapons program, saying that if Iran had wanted to pursue the production of nuclear weapons, it would not have signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

"We're not interested in acquiring a bomb, and that's why we accepted the nuclear non-proliferation treaty," he told French reporters.

Larijani hinted that the current criticism against it could result in the suspension of oil sales to the west.

“We will not take the first step. But, if they act in a way that changes the situation in the region, this might be effective,” he warned.

Earlier this month, Iran was reported to the United Nations Security Council for failing to abide by international regulations regarding its nuclear program.

On Tuesday Iran announced that it had resumed sensitive uranium enrichment work.

© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

[najida]

Again, things sound a little odd in translation.

[GOPJ]

ping

[D.P.Roberts]

Hmm. Believe the Iranis or believe the French? Quite a quandary.

[bikepacker67]

[TampaDude]

He rejected the claim that Tehran was pursuing a nuclear weapons program, saying that if Iran had wanted to pursue the production of nuclear weapons, it would not have signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. "We're not interested in acquiring a bomb, and that's why we accepted the nuclear non-proliferation treaty," he told French reporters.

Riiiiight...

[najida]

Ping again.

[MikeA]

Please don't make me have to choose between which of these two scum nations I'd want to believe!!!

[najida]

I get the impression the French ain't buyin' it either.

[Pietro]

Who hurts more if Iran stops selling oil?

Us or them?

We can buy oil on the world market, what will they eat when their only export is oil? How long can they survive w/o oil profits?

[KarlInOhio]

"We're not interested in acquiring a bomb, and that's why we accepted the nuclear non-proliferation treaty," he told French reporters.

So were they planning on carrying out their threat of burning Israel from the map with spitballs?

[najida]

Kinda disturbin' to find that the French may agree with us on this one ;)

[samadams2000]

Whom to believe? Iran of the French? Hmmnnn? Why not play it safe and disregard both as ruined societies.?

[KarlInOhio]

I get the impression the French ain't buyin' it either.

Iran just needs to sweeten the deal for France like Saddam did. Then they'll buy it.

[Darksheare]

We know Iran is pursuing nukes, everybody knows it.
What is surprising, France says it is a military program.
Now, taking France and their predilection for collaboration into account, how much assistance did they give the program?

[HOTTIEBOY]

They better watch out. Iran surely doesn't want to mess with the mighty military power of France.

[peacebaby]

agreed. rather disturbing that the French feel threatened enough to step over the line.

[MikeA]

LOL, great monkey pic.

[najida]

I'm finding that Al Bawaba, while fun reading, is often a bit like the National Inquirer.

I'm just postin' what I find :)

[Darksheare]

I still wouldn't put it past France to have rendered tech assistance to Iran though.
*chuckle*
Good to know!

[najida]

Interesting you should mention oil profits....

Iran exports more than 337 million tons of minerals

Posted on Al Bawaba: 07-02-2006 , 10:15 GMT

Iran exported more than 337 million tons of minerals in the first 10 months of the current Iranian year (started March 21), the Iran Customs Administration reported Monday. According to IRNA, the figure is 43.4 percent higher compared with the figure in the same period last year, it said.

Each ton of minerals had an average value of US$ 72, say 22 percent lower than the value reported in the same period last year.

Minerals, in the country's total non-oil exports, captured a 4.6 percent share during the said period which is 0.3 percent higher compared to that of the same period in the previous year, it added.

Iran's proven mineral reserves have been estimated at 27 billion tons and there are 3,800 mines throughout the country, it added.

There are currently over 3,000 mines in operation and some 70,000 people employed in the mining industry, it said.

AND
Iran food exports hit US$ 270.75 million

Postedm on Al Bawaba: 16-02-2006 , 14:23 GMT

Iran's Customs Administration reported on Wednesday that US$ 270.75 million of food stuffs were exported since the outset of the current Iranian year (started March 21). The figure is 46.5 percent higher than the same period last year, it added, according to Irna.

Chocolate, soft drinks, mineral waters, fruit juice and tomato paste boasted the highest share in the food stuff exports, the report added.

Major share of food stuffs were exported to Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, UAE, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan Republic and Russia, the report has indicated.

Iran's non-oil exports are expected to surpass US$8.5 billion by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2006). The volume of goods exported in the current year shows a 24 percent rise compared to the previous year.

Some US$ 6 billion in non-oil commodities have been exported to different countries since the start of the current Iranian year.

© 2006 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)