Posted on 04/11/2006 11:01:42 AM PDT by Blogger
TEHRAN, Iran
Iran has successfully enriched uranium for the first time, a landmark in its quest to develop nuclear fuel, hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday. He insisted, however, that his country does not aim to develop nuclear weapons.
In a nationally televised speech, Ahmadinejad called on the West "not to cause an everlasting hatred in the hearts of Iranians" by trying to force Iran to abandon uranium enrichment.
"At this historic moment, with the blessings of God almighty and the efforts made by our scientists, I declare here that the laboratory- scale nuclear fuel cycle has been completed and young scientists produced enriched uranium needed to the degree for nuclear power plants Sunday," Ahmadinejad said.
"I formally declare that Iran has joined the club of nuclear countries," he told an audience that included top military commanders and clerics in the northwestern holy city of Mashhad. The crowd broke into cheers of "Allahu akbar!" or "God is great!" Some stood and thrust their fists in the air.
The U.N. Security Council has demanded that Iran stop all uranium enrichment activity by April 28. Iran has rejected the demand, saying it has a right to develop the process. The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, is due in Iran this week for talks to try to resolve the standoff.
The White House denounced the latest comments from Iranian officials, with spokesman Scott McClellan saying they "continue to show that Iran is moving in the wrong direction."
Ahmadinejad said Iran "relies on the sublime beliefs that lie within the Iranian and Islamic culture. Our nation does not get its strength from nuclear arsenals."
He said Iran wanted to operate its nuclear program under supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency and within its rights and regulations under the regulations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Bush admin will do nothing about Iran: it's tired and has never had the b---s to take on the party of treason and their barking dogs in the media, and now its too afraid to do anything.
We won't do anything except cry like babies to the UN.
The President should stop making such a big deal out of Iran because it makes us look weak. If we won't take action, we shouldn't insinuate a threat.
Iran appears to be verrrrry scared.
Can't say I blame them. All this beligerence and taunting of the west. There must be some major dessent among their restless population and Iran's mullahs are desperate to deflect the populations rage against the US instead of the mullahs.
I can't think of any other reason they would be so anxious to get their butts kicked. Look at a map and notice where Iran's located.
Right in between Afghanistan/Pakistan on one side and Iraq on the other.
Both of these countries have had recent democratic elections.
Amazing how as soon as Iraq completes it's elections and the world see's the progress that Iran is getting more and more panicked.
Looks like the mullahs don't want to see their fascist dictatorship ending anytime soon, and so, like Hitler they now need a common enemy to rally the populace.
My guess is the Iranian revolution to overthrow the mullahs must be closer then we understand. I smell deperation and fear. Couldn't happen to a better bunch of people.
I agree!
Frank Gaffney on Hewitt right this second on this subject. Iran aiming at Hi-alt. NMR attack on USA.
Correction: Electro Magnetic Resonance attack from high altitude which would totally put entire USA "off the air". Result: Totally disabled on everthing.
Wow! Thanks.
Iran too...
(Yes, spelling counts)
Why the heck is every city in a terrorist country a "holy city?" Yesh!... give it up already!
The spelling was intentional ;)
Sounds like something Cassius Clay would have said in the good old days.
???
Do you think that maybe we've thought of that (about fifteen years ago) and have put safeguards into place?
Know for sure that many defense related situations have been. But not at all certain that civilian electronics is any where near being EMR hardened.
Would you mind being a little more clear about what you know about our exposure to this type of threat?
Coy questions tend to put off serious inquiry.
ADD: On top of that we have the "crybaby" leftist crowd who are out to blame the US for all the ills of the world.
So we have to "wade" thru all of their Marxist HateAmerica stuff.
Iran is a nuclear menace to the free world.
Oops! I should have looked into who you are first.
Just checked your "Links" to see if I might detect the subject areas you are interested in. "TILT"!
Forget a reply to my recent inquiry. No longer interested in what you have to say about any subject.
Thanks anyway.
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