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U.S. says it seeks to end Iran's nuclear ambitions
By The Associated Press
Tags: Iran, nuclear arms, Obama 

The United States ambassador to the United Nations said Thursday that U.S. President Barack Obama's administration will seek to end Iran's nuclear ambition and its support for terrorism - comments that drew an immediate rebuke from Iran's UN envoy.

Ambassador Mohammad Khazee said Iran has never and will never try to acquire nuclear weapons and dismissed U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice's allegation that Iran engages in terrorism as baseless and absurd.

Rice brought up Iran at an open meeting of the UN Security Council on Iraq, saying the long-term U.S. commitment to Iraq and the reduction of the U.S. military presence in the country had to be understood in a larger, regional context that included Afghanistan, the Middle East and Iran.
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"The United States will seek an end to Iran's ambition to acquire an illicit nuclear capacity and its support for terrorism," Rice said. "It will aim to encourage both Iran and Syria to become constructive regional actors..." Her comments came as the Obama administration is reviewing U.S. policy toward Iran.

Obama has signaled a willingness for dialogue with Iran, particularly over the nuclear program. At his inauguration last month, the president said his administration would reach out to rival states, declaring "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded by saying Iran would welcome talks with the U.S., but only if there was mutual respect. Iranian officials have said that would mean the United States would need to stop making baseless accusations against the Islamic Republic.

On Wednesday, Iranian state radio said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's choice of Dennis Ross as her special adviser on the Persian Gulf signaled no change in the U.S. stance toward Iran. "Ross strongly backs stepping up sanctions against Iran ... [and] supports profound U.S.-Israeli cooperation to confront Iran's nuclear activities," the broadcast said.

In a letter to the Security Council immediately after Rice spoke on Thursday, Khazee called Rice's allegations baseless.

"Iran's nuclear program has been, is, and will remain absolutely peaceful, and Iran has never tried nor will ever try to acquire nuclear weapons," he said.

"It is unfortunate that, yet again, we are hearing the same tired, unwarranted and groundless allegations that used to be unjustifiably and futilely repeated by the previous U.S. administration, Khazee said.

Iran insists it is enriching uranium to produce nuclear energy for civilian purposes, but the U.S. and many European countries accuse Tehran of secretly seeking to build nuclear weapons.

The latest International Atomic Energy Agency report, which said Iran now
possesses 1,010 kilograms - 2,222 pounds - of low-enriched uranium, has raised concern that Iran now has sufficient uranium and the means to enrich it further to produce both nuclear fuel and the fissile core of nuclear warheads.

As for the U.S. accusation that Iran is promoting terrorist activities, Khazee said, as a victim of terrorism, we have always condemned terrorism in all its aspects and manifestations.

"Instead of raising allegations against others, the United States had better take concrete and meaningful steps in correcting its past wrong policies and practices vis-a-vis other nations including the Islamic Republic of Iran," Khazee said.

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  • Mohammad Khatami criticizes rival Ahmadinejad over Iran's isolation
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      1.   Looks like a Chamberlain answer 03:53  |  Lola 27/02/09
      2.   The "nuclear issue" needs addressed correctly. 05:05  |  James Hovland 27/02/09
      3.   Does Anyone Believe Ambassador Khazee? 05:05  |  Jeff Northridge 27/02/09
      4.   The Biblical Formula 05:13  |  Shimon Cleopas 27/02/09
      5.   Do we trust Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 08:10  |  Jean Van Daem 27/02/09
      6.   Iran`s Quest for Nuclear weapon 09:57  |  Bitter Truth 27/02/09
      7.   Tedious, endless and academic 10:00  |  Clickfool 27/02/09
      8.   Iran and its Nuclear Missiles. 10:26  |  Stephen. 27/02/09
      9.   Who will bell the Iranian cat? Only one mouse is asking. 11:17  |  Natallie Durson 27/02/09
      10.   US seeks..... 11:56  |  DT 27/02/09
      11.   @ Jeff Northridge, YES, I DO ! 12:10  |  HMX 27/02/09
      12.   Iran`s envoy-What a Liar! 13:53  |  Brod 27/02/09
      13.   # 3 Jeff Northridge 13:58  |  Bob 27/02/09
      14.   #9 Natallie Durson 13:59  |  Sarah 27/02/09
      15.   WHY can US have nukes and not Iran? 14:07  |  Gabriel 27/02/09
      16.   baseless propoganda 14:54  |  sam i am 27/02/09
      17.   What US will do if Iran detonate its first Nuke in a year ? 15:00  |  dsgb 27/02/09
      18.   Wrong target 15:02  |  Philip 27/02/09
      19.   US has failed with north korea and will fail with Iran!! 15:08  |  bsg 27/02/09
      20.   iranian bomb 15:10  |  DZ 27/02/09
      21.   Bitter Truth 15:50  |  Persian Kitty 27/02/09
      22.   DSGB 15:53  |  Persian Kitty 27/02/09
      23.   Iran UN envoy 17:05  |  Romy 27/02/09
      24.   #3 Jeff..I DO..#9 Natallie..Good Comment 17:27  |  Rayn 27/02/09
      25.   To seek like catholic wifes with protestant children 17:30  |  fritz t. 27/02/09
      26.   "Bin laden access to nuclear war heads." 17:35  |  fritz t. 27/02/09
      27.   #5.Jean..I do believe him.. 17:35  |  Rayn 27/02/09
      28.   U.S. seeks to end...... 17:37  |  The Teacher/Instruct 27/02/09
      29.   James Hovland # 2 Addressing The Issue Correctly (3rd try) 18:26  |  Jeff Northridge 27/02/09
      30.   Iran`s nuclear program is legal and open. 18:59  |  ManintheMiddle 27/02/09
      31.   For Jeff Northridge #3 - rancid zionist 19:08  |  Clickfool 27/02/09
      32.   dsgb # 13 What will US do? 19:29  |  American in NY 27/02/09
      33.   Obamerica is irrelevant, Putin`s Russia has key to iranian nukes 20:06  |  Voice of America 27/02/09
      34.   re HMX #11 20:11  |  JP 27/02/09
      35.   "dismissed U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice`s allegation 20:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/02/09
      36.   Nat Durson - more than one way to skin 20:43  |  Naftali Peerson 27/02/09
      37.   Fake Clickfool - A spot of T.E.A. 21:09  |  Clickfool 27/02/09
      38.   "we have always condemned terrorism in all its forms" 21:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/02/09
      39.   american in NY # 14 22:07  |  to american in ny 27/02/09
      40.   James Hovland # 2 Addressing The Issue Correctly (4th try) 22:25  |  Jeff Northridge 27/02/09
      41.   Cipora, Israel is up there with Iran supporting terror 22:53  |  Iranian-american 27/02/09
      42.   Natallie is right. 23:02  |  Antonio da Silva 27/02/09
      43.   Iran, a terrorist country! 23:36  |  Al 27/02/09
      44.   US would do better to end Israel?s Settements Enterprise ambition 23:39  |  Ivar 27/02/09
      45.   Fake "clickfool" (11th try) 23:53  |  Clickfool 27/02/09
      46.   To Clickfool (# 7). "Tedious, endless and academic"... 00:01  |  flyingdoc57 28/02/09
      47.   Boy ..... the Iranians are touchy, aren`t they 01:32  |  allang 28/02/09
      48.   Iran follows N. Korea`s footsteps 01:37  |  Marvin Gaye 28/02/09
      49.   Same old propaganda - same old response. 02:18  |  Damian Lataan 28/02/09
      50.   to # 18 try thinking before you post 03:31  |  American in NY 28/02/09
      51.   Stephen P1 03:50  |  TonyL 28/02/09
      52.   Stephen P2 03:54  |  TonyL 28/02/09
      53.   Stephen P3 03:57  |  TonyL 28/02/09
      54.   As a muslim living in Sweden 04:17  |  Hassir Haulat 28/02/09
      55.   How is that going to be accomplished? 05:27  |  Robert R 28/02/09
      56.   Olmert confirmed Nukes two years ago 05:50  |  alice 28/02/09
      57.   #34 As a Muslim Living in Sweden 05:54  |  Alice 28/02/09
      58.   #31, Iranian-American 06:30  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/02/09
      59.   OH, GOD 08:22  |  indrajaya 28/02/09
      60.   hollywood and ping pong 13:13  |  khairi janbek 28/02/09
      61.   ran`s nuclear ambitions 06:22  |  M.Miller 01/03/09
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