I know Al Qaeda is a pressing issue right now, but Iran is also creeping up a few notches on the radar screen. Figured I would post these article excerpts from MEMRI to bring them into perspective:
Courtesy:
http://www.memri.org/ticker.html ____________________________________________________________
March 11, 2004
ACCORDING TO THE MEHR NEWS AGENCY, THE CIA HAS BEEN LYING BY SAYING IRAN’S NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT WAS CONTAMINATED BY AN INTERNAL SOURCE OF ENRICHED URANIUM. THEY CLAIM THAT AN OFFICIAL ANONYMOUS SOURCE FROM THE IAEA REJECTED THE CLAIM AND SAID THE REPORT SHOWED THAT IRAN’S NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH URANIUM BEFORE BEING SHIPPED TO THE COUNTRY. (TEHRAN TIMES, IRAN, 3/11/04)
March 11, 2004
IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER KAMAL KHARRAZI WARNED THE IAEA AGAINST A 'WRONG' DECISION AGAINST IRAN, SAYING 'SUCH DECISIONS WILL FORCE US TO REACT.' HE ADDED THAT IRAN HAD 'VOLUNTARILY SUSPENDED URANIUM ENRICHMENT ON A TEMPORARY BASIS IN ORDER TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN OUR TIES AND WILL DEFINITELY RESUME ENRICHMENT WHEN OUR RELATIONS WITH THE AGENCY BECOME NORMAL.' (JOMHURI-YE ESLAMI, IRAN, 3/11/04)
March 11, 2004
The Iranian conservative daily Jomhuri-ye Eslami wrote: 'No-one can deny Iran’s natural right to obtain nuclear technology and enrich uranium. The continuation of these international pressures will only make the [Iranian] people and officials more determined to pursue their right.' (Jomhuri-ye Eslami, Iran, 3/11/04)
March 11, 2004
Iran’s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi warned the IAEA against a 'wrong' decision against Iran, saying 'such decisions will force us to react.' He added that Iran had 'voluntarily suspended uranium enrichment on a temporary basis in order to build confidence in our ties and will definitely resume enrichment when our relations with the agency become normal.' (Jomhuri-ye Eslami, Iran, 3/11/04)
March 10, 2004
THE REFORMIST IRANIAN DAILY MARDOMSALARI WROTE THAT THE WEST, ESPECIALLY THE U.S., SEEKS TO CREATE DIFFERENCES AMONG SHIITES AND SUNNIS IN IRAQ. THE PAPER SAID ALSO THAT THE MAIN SPONSORS OF AL-QAIDA AND ITS ILK ARE ACTUALLY THE WESTERN COUNTRIES AND THAT THE U.S. WANTS CHAOS TO PREVAIL IN IRAQ SO ITS FORCES WOULD REMAIN THERE LONGER. (MARDOMSALARI, IRAN, 3/9/04)
March 10, 2004
IRAN'S SUPREME NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY HASSAN ROHANI WILL PAY AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO JAPAN TO DISCUSS IRAN'S NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES AND ITS SIGNING OF THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL. (IRNA, IRAN, 3/9/04)
March 9, 2004
ACCORDING TO THE TEHRAN TIMES, 'THE ZIONIST REGIME HAS STARTED A DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN ABOUT IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM… THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE BEEN DESPERATELY TRYING TO SPREAD RUMORS ABOUT IRAN'S PEACEFUL NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES… WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS ARE APPARENTLY STILL ANGRY ABOUT THEIR PREVIOUS FAILURES TO DECEIVE THE WORLD ABOUT IRAN'S PEACEFUL NUCLEAR PROGRAM.' (TEHRAN TIMES, IRAN, 3/9/04)
March 8, 2004
THE SECRETARY OF IRAN'S SUPREME COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY, HASSAN ROWHANI,SAID THAT 'THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD ACCEPT IRAN IN THE WORLD NUCLEAR CLUB,' AND SAID THAT THUS FAR IRAN HAS 'SUCCEEDED IN THWARTING THE U.S. PLOTS.' (TEHRAN TIMES, IRAN, 3/8/04)