Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., September 04, 2009 Elul 15, 5769 | | Israel Time: 06:20 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
New Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi.
 (AP)
Share |
Last update - 21:36 03/09/2009
Ahmadinejad: Iran will not bow to Western deadlines for talks
By The Associated Press
Tags: Hamas, Iran 

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Thursday that Iran would not bend to Western deadlines for nuclear talks after his new government won broad backing from parliament - including a defense minister wanted by
Argentina for a deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center.

Lawmakers also gave approval to the nation's first woman government minister since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but rejected three nominees for the 21-seat Cabinet - the choice for the important energy ministry and two women proposed for the education and welfare-social security posts.
Advertisement
The wide mandate from lawmakers was a boost for the embattled president and considered a vote of confidence for his crackdowns on political opponents and tough stance against Western pressure for talks on the nation's nuclear program or risk possible tighter sanctions.

"No one can impose sanctions against Iran anymore. We welcome sanctions. We can manage ourselves (despite sanctions). But we have given our package of proposals," Ahmadinejad told reporters Thursday as the parliament was voting for his proposed Cabinet.

The U.S. and some allies worry that Iran seeks to develop nuclear weapons, but Iran's leaders say they only seek peaceful reactors for electricity.

Ahmadinejad also is struggling against a variety of internal rifts after his disputed re-election in June.

Opposition groups - that claim the outcome was rigged - have gained support from some influential Shiite clerics and even former Ahmadinejad backers who are troubled by the harsh postelection clampdowns and claims of abuses against detainees, including rapes.

But Ahmadinejad still counts on the support of the powerful Revolutionary
Guard and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters in Iran.

His battles to win parliament approval for his government displayed his
weakened political voice. He faced pointed questions about the experience and expertise of some choices, and made a final appeal to lawmakers to stand up to enemies by backing his government.

In the end, Ahmadinejad avoided a drawn-out tussle with parliament to revise his choices during a crucial period for Iran.

President Barack Obama and European allies have given Iran until the end of September to agree to talks on its nuclear program. Ahmadinejad also plans to make his annual trip to New York for the UN General Assembly later this month.

In the parliament vote, Ahmadinejad won approval for many key posts that
included the foreign, interior and intelligence ministries.

The new defense minister, Ahmad Vahidi, received overwhelming support. Also receiving parliament backing was Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi as health minister, making her the Islamic Republic's first female Cabinet member since the toppling of the Western-backed shah.

Vahidi gained support earlier this week when lawmakers said they would not bow to foreign pressures to reject him. Vahidi is wanted over charges of involvement in the bombing of the Jewish center in Buenos Aires that left 85 people dead.

Vahidi is one of five prominent Iranians sought by Argentina in the bombing. He was the commander of a special unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard known as the Quds Force at the time of the attack.

Among the 286 lawmakers attending the open session, Vahidi received 227 votes - the biggest show of support for any of the proposed ministers in a clear political snub against Argentina and other nations. Five parliament members abstained.

"Allahu Akbar" or God is great, the lawmakers chanted as parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani announced the vote for Vahidi.

Later, Vahidi told reporters that upgrading the country's defense capabilities "will be my first priority as defense minister." In May, Iran test-fired an advanced version of its ballistic missile that's capable of reaching Israel and beyond.

In a speech just moments before the vote, Ahmadinejad urged for a strong
backing for his government to rattle Western leaders and others who have
questioned the legitimacy of the June 12 election.

"Enemies made efforts to damage national might of the dear Iran. I believe it deserves a crushing response from lawmakers in order to disappoint them," he told the chamber before the vote.

One of the top leaders of the militant Palestinian group Hamas also urged Iran to remain united against its foreign enemies in a telephone call late Wednesday night congratulating Ahmadinejad on his re-election. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip, affirmed his group's warm ties with Iran, which Israel accuses of providing Hamas with money and arms.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hasan Qashqavi, said Iran would not bend to Western deadlines on the country's nuclear program set by threat and pressure. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will continue in the post in Ahmadinejad's second term.

On Wednesday, envoys from the five permanent members of the UN Security
Council and Germany urged Iran to agree to talks before the UN General
Assembly opens on Sept. 15.

The meeting took place a day after Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed
Jalili, said Iran would present new proposals and would be ready to open talks in order to ease common concerns in the international arena.

Under the constitution, Ahmadinejad has three months to name new nominees for the posts rejected Thursday but he is widely expected to submit new candidates to parliament sooner.

Related articles:
  • Ahmadinejad: West failing to halt our nuclear victory
  • Ahmadinejad vows to toughen stance toward West
  • Ahmadinejad: West must quit support of dying Israeli regime
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Our ladies of terror
    Faces of female Palestinian suicide bombers placed on paintings of Virgin Mary.
    Norway divestment
    Israel summons Norway envoy over divestment from arms firm.
      1.   The Perfect Storm Brewing Over Vahidi`s Head 03:25  |  Lavi 04/09/09
      2.   Barbarism and those Virgins in the Sky 05:18  |  allang 04/09/09
      3.   Don`t worry, old friend Ahamadi...Obama will bow to you. 05:21  |  Ami ben Abraam 04/09/09
      4.   the Iranian bomb will not be stopped with talk 05:24  |  abraham cohen 04/09/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Date Local Jewish Singles
    Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
    Holidays are here
    Minerals Aromatics Body Lotion for free! Click here.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Marina Royale
    Your Luxurious Suite While staying in Israel
    Table to Table
    Help to Israel food bank
    4XP
    Trading Platform Online Currency Trading
    More Headlines
    04:29 'Netanyahu to okay hundreds of new West Bank homes'
    03:37 Meshal expected to pay rare visit to Cairo for Shalit talks
    03:52 ANALYSIS / Israel-PA relations have never been so good
    05:04 IDF commander in Gaza war: Officers must set moral standards
    02:45 IAF bombs tunnel linking southern Gaza to Israel
    05:25 Yossi Sarid / Divide Jerusalem, before we lose it forever
    04:13 Ethiopian students finally enrolled in Petah Tikva schools
    23:52 TV ROUND-UP: Netanyahu 'ready for settlement freeze,' Ethiopian kids row continues
    21:36 Ahmadinejad: Iran will not bow to Western deadlines for talks
    05:34 Campaign against assimilation of Diaspora Jews gets mixed reaction
    04:29 Sa'ar: Netanyahu saving Israel from global isolation
    21:08 Russian expert in 'hijacked' Mideast-bound ship case flees country
    22:41 Israel union drops exhibit portraying terrorists as Virgin Mary
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved