Posted on 02/16/2006 1:24:53 PM PST by 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)
Stop telling stories......
Yes, something is definitely tipping. I think the Europeans are finally realizing, after a series of dramatic illustrations, that their ever-growing mob of Muslim immigrants, who are in cahoots with the mobs of crazy Muslims in Arab countries, are seriously dangerous. I really think that until pretty recently, they believed that endless tweaking and expansion of their socialist programs would fix everything, and now it's becoming clear that all those programs have done is increase the scope of the problem.
Well, sure France enabled Saddam.
Saddam gave France cut rate oil, and France gave Saddam money for it. Hard currency aided Saddam. No question about it. Whoever traded with Saddam aided Saddam.
The French purpose wasn't particularly to aid Saddam, but to protect France's cheap energy supply. The French propped up Saddam's regime, to a point, in order to keep that oil flowing.
Now let's talk about the horror, oppression, torture, and terrorist funding from Saudi Arabia, and the degree to which the United States will absolutely prop up the Saudi regime no matter what, in order to preserve its oil interests.
Countries do what they need to do.
Can't be a nuclear threat for a long time unless you and Chirac know something we don't.
Iran was not the impetus for the riots in France; French policy is. They are the most polite discriminatory society you will ever see. And the resentment for it is quite strong. They do not have a mobile society like ours. Over there you are condemned to a socio-economic position for life.
They like it that way and they like keeping their minorities in de place.
"Can't be a nuclear threat for a long time unless you and Chirac know something we don't."
Persians are every bit as smart as Pakistanis, and they have a lot more money.
"Iran was not the impetus for the riots in France; French policy is."
Correct. These riots were a very French affair. And Iranians in France are mostly wealthy.
Lots of poor ones, too. I know of some who have been relegated to the Islamic slum/ghetto housing in Paris suburbs, who used to be reasonably well off in Iran at the time of the Shah but had to flee with nothing and received asylum in France. Since they live off welfare, like so many of the less educated or sophisitcated Arabs there, they share the same housing. And find it unbearable.
France is also the center for the MEK (Mojaheddin) so there are fewer wealthy Iranians in France than poor ones. I know of some highly respectable families who have had to do menial work to get by.
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