Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,waves to photographers as he arrives to his office in Tehran, Iran , Tuesday, May 2, 2006.(AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)
Posted on 05/02/2006 9:43:19 AM PDT by Alouette
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran threatened on Tuesday to attack Israel in response to any "evil" act by the United States and said it had enriched uranium to a level close to the maximum compatible with civilian use in power stations.
The defiant statements were issued shortly before world powers meet in Paris to discuss the next steps after Tehran rejected a U.N. call to halt uranium enrichment.
Senior officials from the U.N. Security Council's permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany were to discuss how to curb an Iranian program that Western nations say conceals a drive for atomic warheads.
Iran denies the charge and refuses to back down from what it calls its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
Driving home that message, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, said his country had now succeeded in purifying uranium to 4.8 percent, at the top end of the 3 to 5 percent range for fuel used in nuclear power plants.
"Enrichment above 5 percent is not on Iran's agenda," Aghazadeh told the students' ISNA news agency.
Iran has previously said it had enriched to more than 4 percent, far below the 80 percent level needed for bomb-making.
It has used a test cascade of 164 centrifuges to enrich uranium so far and is building two similar cascades. It says it will start installing 3,000 centrifuges later this year -- enough to yield material for one bomb within a year.
The United States and Israel have vowed to deny Iran nuclear weapons. Washington has not excluded war if diplomacy fails, while Tehran has sworn to retaliate if attacked.
TARGETING ISRAEL
"We have announced that wherever America does something evil, the first place that we target will be Israel," ISNA quoted a senior Revolutionary Guards commander, Rear Admiral Mohammad-Ebrahim Dehqani, as saying on Tuesday.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map."
Iran's deputy oil minister said there was "some possibility" of a U.S. attack on his country over its nuclear program.
"I am worried. Everybody is worried," Mohammad Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian said in New Delhi after talks on a proposed $7-billion pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan.
Concerns that Iran's dispute with the West could lead to disruption of its oil output pushed oil prices above $74 a barrel, close to the record of $75.35 touched last month.
The United States, Britain and France are expected to introduce a resolution to the Security Council this week that would legally oblige Iran to comply with U.N. demands. The three countries favor limited sanctions if Tehran remains defiant.
Iran said Russia and China, also veto-wielding permanent council members, would not back any punitive measures.
"The thing these two countries have officially told us and expressed in diplomatic negotiations is their opposition to sanctions and military attacks," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Iran's Kayhan newspaper.
China and Russia both have big energy interests in Iran, the world's fourth biggest oil exporter. Russia is also helping Iran build its first atomic power plant in the Gulf port of Bushehr.
Nicholas Burns, the U.S. under-secretary of state for political affairs, said in Paris that Tuesday's meeting would seek to keep the Security Council members and Germany united before a meeting of foreign ministers in New York on May 9.
Asked about Mottaki's comments, he said: "All I know is that China and Russia say that they don't want a nuclear-armed Iran. And China and Russia have voted with us against the government of Iran. So we intend to preserve this unity."
Burns said he expected a consensus to emerge over the next 30-40 days on the need to send a "stiff message" to Iran, adding that a range of sanctions had been discussed privately.
These included restricting exports to Iran of dual-use technology that could support its research and development or help it fabricate fissile material or a nuclear device.
Other options were travel curbs on Iranian officials and a ban on arms sales to Iran, such as a planned Russian missile deal. Oil and gas sanctions were not being discussed now.
"We hope that the U.N. Security Council, through a resolution, will send a firm and united message to Iran," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said in Paris.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says it cannot confirm that Iran's goals are peaceful, but has found no proof of a military program.
A U.N. resolution would be adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, making it binding in international law. A separate resolution would be required for sanctions or military action.
(Additional reporting by Alireza Ronaghi and Parinoosh Arami in Tehran, Mark Heinrich in Vienna, Jon Boyle in Paris and Himanghsu Watts in New Delhi)
He does.
This is what will make the Mahdi come out of the well he is hiding in.
Sort of like Armageddon bringing Christ back.
>.I do. He's dying of cancer. He's a member of a sub-cult of Islamist who want an apocalypse. He wants to bring about said apocalypse.
Pretty much Jim Jones with nukes.<<
That's not unreasonable... But if its true maybe we should assasinate him instead. We are planning war because we assume his replacement would be the same.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,waves to photographers as he arrives to his office in Tehran, Iran , Tuesday, May 2, 2006.(AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)
>>The "profit" they have in mind is after everyone is dead.<<\
I posted a vanity about a talk with my Islamic plumber... that is exactly what he said about Iran. That the president wanted a war because he doesn't care about his life or the lives of his people but only in the afterlife.
Oh REALLY? And Israel will simply sit back and allow this to happen?
>>He does.
This is what will make the Mahdi come out of the well he is hiding in.
Sort of like Armageddon bringing Christ back.<<
If that is right, does if effect our response? Don't we still have to attack if the alternative is letting them get the bomb?
Thus the Iranians begin their rope-a-dope...of us.
They know they can refine now, and have set up the capacity. Now they'll expand the capacity so they can do more and more.
Stopping now is tactical. None of the European or Asian powers wants a war, so Iran appearing to really be going for nuclear power and not weapons can be used as an excuse, a cover, by governments to be able to say "See, pressure worked!" and back away from supporting any action. Then Iran will get more in place and do it again. Saddam played this rope-a-dope with the world for years, but HE didn't have the centrifuges and the refining capacity and scientists. Iran does.
All the while, the Iranian President telescopes his intentions to the Islamist world and becomes the de facto champion, by bearding the American lion.
Keep an eye on the American carriers. How many are in the Persian Gulf is a good indication of when, or if, the US is planning a military response.
Where did you read about him dying of cancer?
Fortunately Israel has a new missile/air defense system, called ARROW built with the US (the US (THAAD) version is mobile, but still in testing). Plus any Iranian missiles will have to pass over areas with a US presence. Our Patriots and Aegis ships will shoot them down. And if Iran really did nuke Israel, Israel would nuke them off the map. Of course the Iranian regime is trying to fulfill some apocalyptic prophecy do they do not care about logic or sense, they will probably try, once they get nukes.
"Iran will blow up Israel if SOMEONE doesn't act."Oh REALLY?"
"And Israel will simply sit back and allow this to happen?"
Last time I checked, Israel was "SOMEONE"
I cannot recall, but it was an actual news source.
To be fair, I believe he was "diagnosed" with cancer, not necessarily dying.
We should go in now, before the nuke program is dispersed and put in caves.
There is no justifiication for this U.N. crap that is a waste of time.
I see a failure of nerve.
>>Oh REALLY? And Israel will simply sit back and allow this to happen? <<
Weren't you a fighter pilot? The esitimates I've see on 1,000+ sorties point to a need for U.S involvement ... it would be good to hear a Freep assessment with a pilot background though.
And Pres. Bush is trying to use reason with this psychotic.
That makes him a fool.
>>And Pres. Bush is trying to use reason with this psychotic.
That makes him a fool.<<
I think the war plan is in motion but we have to persue a parallel diplomatic track for legal cover. The President knows that the chance of a real diplomatic solution is pretty much zero unless there is a revoltuion in Iran and the government is replaced.
I personally believe all the great science and learning was due to the millions of Hebrews that were living in that area for so long. Only about forty three thousnd Hebrews went back to build the second Temple. Ever since the national socialist dumbocrap (nazi) Jimma Carter caved in to Iran, we have owed them a really good beating. I wish our leadership felt the same way. Our so called leaders are allowing the philistine midget call our Creator and Nation vile names, and be powerless to pop him with a powerfull rock(et). We need a Dawid to stand up.
My thoughts, exactly.
This nutjob actually believe the 12th imam is the "messiah" who is ready to return. They believe Jesus will come back also and admit he was wrong and will kill all the Jews. They really believe this and are setting up the circumstances for the great return.
Their version of events is similar to mine EXCEPT in my version THEY are the Antichrist and false prophet. My Jesus will come back and knock their socks off.
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