nuclear-news

Iran denounces nuclear weapons as ‘Great Sin” – West not so sure

Iran says nuclear weapons are a ‘great sin’  ABC Radio 702, 29 Feb 12, Iran condemned production of atomic weapons as a “great sin” as it called for more talks with the United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog. The country is facing growing international pressure over its nuclear program, which it says is peaceful but Western powers suspect could
have a military dimension.
Last week the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had been denied access to a key Iranian military site where it is suspected nuclear activities have been carried out.
Negotiations with the IAEA have stalled, but Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi said he expected talks to continue and that he was optimistic they would proceed in the right direction.
“I would like to re-emphasise that we do not see any glory, pride or power in the nuclear weapons,” he said in a speech to the UN-sponsored Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
“Quite the opposite – based on the religious decree issued by our supreme leader, the production, possession, use or threat of use of nuclear weapons are illegitimate, futile, harmful, dangerous and prohibited as a great sin.”
Mr Salehi also accused the West of double standards for backing Iran’s
arch-enemy Israel, the only Middle East state outside the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and believed to have the only nuclear
arsenal in the region.
“We have clearly stated time and time again there are two alternatives
in dealing with the Iranian peaceful nuclear program; one way is
engagement, cooperation and interaction, the other is confrontation
and conflict,” he said…..
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-29/iran-says-nuclear-weapons-are-a-great-sin/3859360/?site=sydney

February 29, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, politics international