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Iranian cleric says atomic programme will continue |
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Friday, 01 October 2004 |
Reuters
By Parisa Hafezi
 TEHRAN - Iran is determined to press ahead with its atomic programme even if its nuclear dossier is sent to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions, a leading cleric said on Friday.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati told worshippers at Friday prayers in Tehran that possible U.N. sanctions on Iran would make the Islamic republic stronger than ever.
"Iran will never yield to international pressure to abandon its home-grown nuclear technology," said Jannati, who heads Iran's hardline Guardian Council -- a powerful, unelected supervisory body.
"Americans should know that it is just impossible. You will take this wish to the grave," Jannati said.
The United states and some other countries accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear arms under cover of a civilian atomic programme. Iran denies this, saying its ambitions are peaceful.
"We have no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons," he said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has urged Iran to stop its uranium enrichment programme and threatened to take Iran to the U.N. Security Council for possible economic sanctions at its November meeting if Tehran continued to ignore the call.
Although Iran promised Britain, Germany and France last year it would freeze all enrichment-related activities, it has begun processing raw uranium to prepare it for enrichment, a process that can be used to make a nuclear bomb.
In a move diplomats said could lead to Russia backing the U.S. drive to send Iran to the U.N. Security Council, a source close to a deal to smooth the launch of the Russian-built $800 million Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran said Moscow may call off next month's planned signing of the accord.
The deal would pave the way for Russia and Iran to start up the plant after years of delays.
SANCTIONS
In a speech broadcast live on state radio, Jannati said Iran had no fear of sanctions since it was familiar with those imposed by the United States on the country.
"Americans should know that implementing sanctions by the security Council will make us stronger," Jannati told worshippers at Tehran University campus.
Washington slapped a trade and investment embargo on Iran in 1995, which among other things prevents U.S. companies from investing in OPEC's second-largest producer or trading in Iranian oil.
"Such sanctions enabled us to build our Shahab-3 missile," Jannati said, referring to Iran's medium-range ballistic missile which military experts say could strike Iran's arch-foe Israel or U.S. bases in the Gulf.
Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic relations since hardline students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took hostage 52 Americans for 444 days after the 1979 Islamic revolution which toppled the U.S.-backed Shah. |
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Iran's nuclear standoff |
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AFP: Defence Secretary Robert Gates is hoping for a new UN resolution on sanctions against Iran in "a matter of weeks", as world powers raise the heat on Tehran over its nuclear programme, a US defence spokesman said on Tuesday.
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Reuters: Western concerns about Iran's nuclear intentions are well-founded, Russia's national security chief said on Tuesday, and suggested that more than diplomacy might be needed to end Tehran's defiance.
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Reuters: Iran began work on Tuesday to make higher-grade nuclear fuel, a senior official said, and the Pentagon said the United States wanted a U.N. Security Council resolution on Iran "within weeks" over its nuclear programme.
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Washington Post: Iran's formal notification Monday to a United Nations nuclear watchdog that it will begin producing higher-grade enriched uranium marks a new and potentially dangerous turn in Tehran's confrontation with the West over its nuclear ambitions.
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AFP: French President Nicolas Sarkozy and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates agreed in talks Monday that "strong" new sanctions must be passed against Iran over its nuclear drive, the French presidency said.
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Reuters: International pressure for new sanctions against Iran grew on Monday after Tehran announced more moves to expand nuclear fuel production and enrichment plants, heightening Western fears it wants to make atom bombs.
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AFP: Britain voiced deep concern Monday over Iran's "contradictory rhetoric" after Tehran confirmed plans to produce higher enriched uranium, days after seeming to accept a UN-drafted nuclear deal.
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Reuters: Iran has rejected Western overtures and the international community has no choice but to move toward imposing new sanctions over its nuclear program, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday.
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Bloomberg: Australia and the international community remain deeply concerned about the nature and intent of Iran’s nuclear program, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said in an e-mailed statement today.
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Reuters: Russia on Monday called on Iran to fulfil an agreement to send its uranium abroad for enrichment, Interfax news agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying.
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