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Last update - 00:00 07/11/2008
Iran slams Obama's tough language on nuclear arms
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: Iran, Israel News 

Iran's parliament speaker says that Barack Obama is stepping in the wrong direction after the U.S president-elect said it was unacceptable for Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.

The official, Ali Larijani, was quoted Saturday on Iran's state-run news
agency, IRNA.
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"This is a step in the wrong direction," said Larijani. "If Americans want to change their situation in the region, they need to send good signals."

Meanwhile, Iran's state radio says that Obama's call for preventing the
Persian country from developing nuclear arms will cast doubt and disappoint Iranian expectations of changes in the U.S. foreign policy with the new administration.

Iran denies U.S. charges that it is seeking to build a bomb, saying its
nuclear program is geared only toward generating electricity.

"Iran's development of a nuclear weapon, I believe, is unacceptable and we have to mount an international effort to prevent that from happening," Obama said Friday, in his first press conference as U.S. president-elect.

Obama made the comments on Iran in response to a journalist's question on what approach he might take with Tehran, given the drawn-out dispute between the United States and Iran over its nuclear program.

He also said Iran's support of terrorist organizations was "something that has to cease."

Obama confirmed that he had received a letter of congratulations from Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He said that he would review the message and respond appropriately.

Declining to say what proposals he might pursue in connection with Iran, Obama said that, "We have only one president at a time."

He added that he will move deliberately on how to respond to Iran and what the response might be, but that he won't do it in a "knee-jerk fashion."

Obama said: "I am not the president and I won't be until January 20."

The president-elect's comments came shortly after Defense Minister Ehud Barak told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday that Israel would not rule out any course of action to prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons.

Most of Obama's press conference was devoted to his plans to deal with the financial crisis that is wreaking havoc on the U.S. economy.

Surrounded by a large group of economic advisers, he said the hardships many Americans were suffering economically were an urgent reminder that the nation's leaders must act swiftly to stabilize the financial industry.

Obama went on to say that he has asked his transition team, specifically, to work on some ideas to help the staggering auto industry.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Obama's newly chosen White House chief of staff, was among those who stood at his side, along with former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

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      1.   very guarded 22:45  |  Jared Feldschreiber 07/11/08
      2.   How weird 23:00  |  NIE 07/11/08
      3.   The Double Standard Game Again. 23:22  |  Cool B 07/11/08
      4.   Change (until I get elected - then all bets are off) 23:25  |  Erez Semaria 07/11/08
      5.   TRY THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS, then..... 23:30  |  Barry S. Roffman 07/11/08
      6.   3 men in the picture (Obama, Volcker, Emanuel)...... 23:33  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/11/08
      7.   #2 NIE....not weird 23:36  |  Lynn 07/11/08
      8.   OBAMA CAN SAY WHATEVER HE WANTS ... 23:46  |  whatever 07/11/08
      9.   All the ME should be free of Nukes! 23:49  |  American 07/11/08
      10.   #2 23:50  |  Jane 07/11/08
      11.   Today, Obama appointed an Israel hater... 23:56  |  JM 07/11/08
      12.   Where`s The Beef? 23:58  |  Yacov Shimpson 07/11/08
      13.   first rahmbo and now lies about iran 00:08  |  very dissapointed 08/11/08
      14.   To Jared #1 00:10  |  newsreader 08/11/08
      15.   #2 NIE 00:27  |  Peter Williams 08/11/08
      16.   Same Old Lies 00:38  |  Phil Ishmael 08/11/08
      17.   to 1# Jared: please don`t be so pessimistic 00:42  |  Daniel 08/11/08
      18.   It`s Europe that is the stumbleblock towards a solution 00:46  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 08/11/08
      19.   IT WILL BE THE END OF IT, OBAMA 00:51  |  indrajaya 08/11/08
      20.   The more things change 01:13  |  Stephen in New York 08/11/08
      21.   maybe the zio in the bush admin and obama`s 01:57  |  are giving him 08/11/08
      22.   #7-Fabrications like usual 01:59  |  umich student 08/11/08
      23.   Iran: Israel pursuit of oppressing palestinians is unacceptable 02:42  |  Aounist 08/11/08
      24.   Tom Lobo Meyer #18 It Israel, not thye EU that is the problem 02:46  |  American in NY 08/11/08
      25.   Obama for a start.... 02:57  |  Henry 08/11/08
      26.   Lynn #7 -ignorant comments the norm 03:08  |  NIE 08/11/08
      27.   No.22 Umich Student 03:10  |  Peter Williams 08/11/08
      28.   Lynn #7 -ignorant comments the norm 03:16  |  NIE 08/11/08
      29.   Obama will be much tougher on mullahs than Bush ever was 03:56  |  Realist 08/11/08
      30.   Peter Williams the zio cON MaN 03:56  |  GET A CLUE 08/11/08
      31.   #19 Indrejaya 04:17  |  Murray of Montreal 08/11/08
      32.   Obama,don´t make errors with Iran 04:18  |  Siad 08/11/08
      33.   I Think The Angle Of The Photo Is Wrong 04:27  |  Yosemite 08/11/08
      34.   Obama tries to settle Israeli fears 04:29  |  Gregor 08/11/08
      35.   NIE #2, #26, #28 04:32  |  Robert 08/11/08
      36.   Get Rid Of The Sign Too 04:35  |  Yosemite 08/11/08
      37.   Is Berlusconi Funny? 05:00  |  HaveFun 08/11/08
      38.   Indoraja - Most Muslims Are Decent People! With your exception. 05:15  |  NoToStupidRules 08/11/08
      39.   Indrajaya 19 declares war on Obama! 05:45  |  Realist 08/11/08
      40.   # 39, REALIST 06:00  |  indrajaya 08/11/08
      41.   Mullah`s regime is unacceptable 06:13  |  Yuri 08/11/08
      42.   Aounist 06:54  |  utagawa 08/11/08
      43.   Obama is a decent human being 06:54  |  Michael 08/11/08
      44.   To get a clue ( a fitting name for you) 06:59  |  utagawa 08/11/08
      45.   Questions for Indrajaya (#19) 07:10  |  Morris Valentine 08/11/08
      46.   News Flash Everybody! 08:26  |  Yosemite 08/11/08
      47.   Another News Flash Everybody! 08:36  |  Yosemite 08/11/08
      48.   # 45, MORRIS VALENTINE 08:36  |  indrajaya 08/11/08
      49.   "change" 08:46  |  Sameer 08/11/08
      50.   Iran sponsors the world`s most vicious terrorist groups, Hamas... 08:47  |  Jean Van Daem 08/11/08
      51.   Obama speaks but he is NOT the President yet, 09:46  |  Dagma 08/11/08
      52.   to Swiss #3 Dino Pseudonym 10:00  |  Daniel (Switzerland) 08/11/08
      53.   what will Obabma be able to change 10:27  |  redmike 08/11/08
      54.   Achmadinijad is really desperate 10:33  |  Gil 08/11/08
      55.   Achmadinijad is really desperate 10:42  |  Gil 08/11/08
      56.   #19 Indrajaya This is your mistake 10:42  |  Daniela 08/11/08
      57.   Obamas lip service 11:00  |  observing interested 08/11/08
      58.   "Unacceptable"? What a joke! 11:02  |  Natallie Durson 08/11/08
      59.   # 52 Daniel (Switzerland) Pseudonym 11:36  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/11/08
      60.   To Indrajaya again 11:42  |  Daniela 08/11/08
      61.   To Aounist # 23 - Oppressing `Palestinians` is unacceptable 11:53  |  Dolly 08/11/08
      62.   No 48 Indrajaya 12:59  |  Peter Williams 08/11/08
      63.   # 62, PETER WILLIAM 14:43  |  indrajaya 08/11/08
      64.   Natallie Durson 58 does not get it 15:45  |  Realist 08/11/08
      65.   #28 NIE ....from what I have read 15:58  |  Lynn 08/11/08
      66.   Surprise,, surprise, surprise 16:01  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/08
      67.   #19 Indy....he has America`s support 16:06  |  Lynn 08/11/08
      68.   If Iran denies its nuclear arms aims, thats fine.! 16:17  |  Stephen. 08/11/08
      69.   #22 umich student....the Additional Protocals 16:17  |  Lynn 08/11/08
      70.   #3 Cool B...not too long ago 16:21  |  Lynn 08/11/08
      71.   #48, Indra Exaggerates Allah`s Power & Wisdom Also! 16:42  |  Lavi 08/11/08
      72.   # 67, LYNN 16:46  |  indrajaya 08/11/08
      73.   #19 Indrajaya 17:47  |  H 08/11/08
      74.   Obama has limitations 17:48  |  Faris Zaidan 08/11/08
      75.   Iran has insulted America thinks Obama can`t read 18:22  |  x-ray 08/11/08
      76.   Does the Iranian regime believe IT took a step in wrong direction 18:39  |  SDHD 08/11/08
      77.   Now Faris Zaidan is a US colonel??? 18:49  |  Jasper 08/11/08
      78.   Lynn #65-from the U.States of Amnesia needs to read again 18:52  |  NIE 08/11/08
      79.   # 73, H 18:56  |  indrajaya 08/11/08
      80.   re Indy-You`re in for a Big Surprise 19:13  |  Steve 08/11/08
      81.   To Indrajaya (#48) 19:15  |  Morris Valentine 08/11/08
      82.   # 76, STEVE 19:39  |  indrajaya 08/11/08
      83.   Stehen - it is Washington and Jerusalem who 20:14  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/08
      84.   What a difference a day or two makes 20:18  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/08
      85.   to #59 Swiss (Pseud.) - 1 20:30  |  Daniel 08/11/08
      86.   #79 Indrajayah 20:30  |  H 08/11/08
      87.   #59 Swiss(Pseud.) - 2 20:38  |  Daniel 08/11/08
      88.   #59 Swiss(Pseud.) - 3 20:41  |  Daniel 08/11/08
      89.   Indrajaya 21:15  |  Peter Williams 08/11/08
      90.   The problem with ruling out a nuclear armed Iran 21:23  |  Joe 08/11/08
      91.   WHAT A BUNCH OF LOSERS 21:45  |  Murray of Montreal 08/11/08
      92.   Or For repeating A BIG LIE 23:34  |  Jordan 08/11/08
      93.   talk 23:35  |  Harry 08/11/08
      94.   #81,MV 23:53  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/11/08
      95.   iran - soon to be vapour 00:06  |  frenz 09/11/08
      96.   Nuclear proliferation or something else 00:29  |  allang 09/11/08
      97.   #17 Indy...Truman had a 22% approval 00:31  |  Lynn 09/11/08
      98.   to #59 Swiss (part 1) 00:39  |  Daniel 09/11/08
      99.   #59 Swiss (2) 00:49  |  Daniel 09/11/08
      100.   #59 Swiss (3) 00:51  |  Daniel 09/11/08
      101.   #78 NIE oh please 01:00  |  Lynn 09/11/08
      102.   #74 Faris Zaidan....then they will be more 01:04  |  Lynn 09/11/08
      103.   There`s Going To Be A Lot Of Disappointed Terrorists 01:05  |  Jeff Northridge 09/11/08
      104.   The fact will remain 01:34  |  Peter 09/11/08
      105.   Nuclear .... advantage or strategic problems 02:00  |  allang 09/11/08
      106.   Nuclear proliferation or something else 02:05  |  allang 09/11/08
      107.   #48 - indrajaya 03:16  |  MichaelF 09/11/08
      108.   Double Standards 05:58  |  Jean 09/11/08
      109.   Who are the the real terrorist? 06:14  |  Jean 09/11/08
      110.   OBAMA shedding his fathers race 06:55  |  VIPER 09/11/08
      111.   Jean # 96 07:33  |  allang 09/11/08
      112.   #94 Evidence please? 08:37  |  Henry 09/11/08
      113.   # 98 / # 99 / # 100 Daniel (1) 11:09  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/11/08
      114.   # 107, MICHAELF 11:12  |  indrajaya 09/11/08
      115.   # 98 / # 99 / # 100 Daniel (2) 11:21  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/11/08
      116.   #113 swiss DinoPseud. 11:58  |  Daniel 09/11/08
      117.   Lynn -comprehension problem #101 and #7 13:39  |  NIE 09/11/08
      118.   Jean # 109 You Wouldn`t Know A Terrorist From A Gargoyle 14:14  |  Jeff Northridge 09/11/08
      119.   #117 NIE....I must have hit a nerve 14:45  |  Lynn 09/11/08
      120.   #117 NIE...Iran says all military buildings are off limits 14:51  |  Lynn 09/11/08
      121.   #118 Jeff Northridge.....UN may not be able to define it 14:55  |  Lynn 09/11/08
      122.   # 116 Daniel (Pseudonym) 15:48  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/11/08
      123.   #89 & Indra - SOVERIGNTY & NUKE ISSUES 16:21  |  Barry S. Roffman 09/11/08
      124.   #110 VIPER .....Did you think for one instant 16:57  |  Lynn 09/11/08
      125.   Rollin the Tanks........into Iran 17:23  |  General Patton 09/11/08
      126.   # 124, LYNN 17:33  |  indrajaya 09/11/08
      127.   #119-120 Lynn the problem .... 18:15  |  NIE 09/11/08
      128.   To CJK (#94) 18:32  |  Morris Valentine 09/11/08
      129.   #110 Viper---don`t let a fart fool you! 19:24  |  Really 09/11/08
      130.   #19, Who cares Indrajaya ? 20:29  |  Gary 09/11/08
      131.   #40, America is much tougher than Indonesia 20:35  |  Gary 09/11/08
      132.   #59, Slow Switzerland And Samed 20:40  |  Gary 09/11/08
      133.   #68, I Would Differ With Stephen de Geneve 20:44  |  Gary 09/11/08
      134.   #122 Swiss (Martin) 21:10  |  Daniel 09/11/08
      135.   The problem with ruling out a nuclear armed Iran - Joe 21:43  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/08
      136.   #131 Gary. The fall of American imperialism. 21:57  |  Maureen Ann 09/11/08
      137.   #136, Indonesia Requested Assistance 22:14  |  Gary 09/11/08
      138.   #135, Totally Unwise.It Signals Weakness 22:18  |  Gary 09/11/08
      139.   Barry S. Roffman 22:30  |  Peter Williams 09/11/08
      140.   #128, MV 22:45  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 09/11/08
      141.   #137 Gary. America has a habit of answering request... 22:51  |  Maureen Ann 09/11/08
      142.   #141, Any War is Messy So Get Over It 23:02  |  Gary 09/11/08
      143.   # 132 Gary 01:28  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/11/08
      144.   #142 Gary. Saddam Hussein. 01:36  |  Maureen Ann 10/11/08
      145.   # 134 Daniel 01:41  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/11/08
      146.   Not going to clean the floor of the White House 03:39  |  Eminence grise 10/11/08
      147.   #19-Indrajaya how quickly you turn against BO who you`ve praised 03:44  |  PK 10/11/08
      148.   Rights of a nation 04:18  |  Larry 10/11/08
      149.   to swiss (Martin) 145# 10:31  |  Daniel 10/11/08
      150.   #19 Ha Ha Ha you toad 14:17  |  PETRA 10/11/08
      151.   # 20 Stephan, YES! 14:21  |  PETRA 10/11/08
      152.   # 25 O Henry, Obama might be Muslims worst nightmare. 14:26  |  PETRA 10/11/08
      153.   # 39 Realist AMEN! Indy got bitch slapped, lol. 14:30  |  PETRA 10/11/08
      154.   # 39 Indy, lol can you count? 14:32  |  PETRA 10/11/08
      155.   # 124 LYNN PREACH LADY PREACH!!!! 14:53  |  PETRA 10/11/08
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