Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 01, 2008 Sivan 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 22:30 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 13:57 01/07/2008 Iranian official: 'Provocative' speeches harm nuclear cause By Reuters Tags: Ali Khamenei, nuclear program  A senior adviser to Iran's top authority said "provocative" speeches could damage the country's nuclear cause in its row with the West, a thinly veiled criticism of outspoken President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ali Akbar Velayati, reflecting rare public criticism from a politician so close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told the daily Jomhuri-ye Eslami that the government should tread more careful in its comments on nuclear issues. "The government is responsible for the nuclear issue," Velayati said in remarks published on Tuesday. "Officials... should avoid illogical and provocative sloganeering." Advertisement Velayati, foreign affairs adviser to Khamenei, did not mention the president by name but it was a clear reference to Ahmadinejad. Some of Ahmadinejad's staunchest opponents say his speeches on the nuclear issue have exacerbated Iran's isolation. But Khamenei, who has the last word on nuclear and foreign policy, has praised Ahmadinejad for his uncompromising nuclear views. Iran is embroiled in a dispute over its nuclear program. Western nations have led an effort to isolate Iran, resulting in three rounds of UN sanctions, because Tehran has refused to halt work they fear is aimed at making atomic bombs. Iran says it will not halt work it insists has peaceful aims but has yet to give a formal response to a package of trade and other incentives offered by world powers for Tehran to stop. "The P5+1 counts on every word of such speeches and slogans. We have to speak out with more care," Velayati said. Velayati, echoing other top Iranian officials, brushed off the impact of sanctions, even though analysts say the penalties are deterring investors and adding costs for Iranian businesses. Iran, the world's fourth largest oil producer, is however benefiting from record oil earnings as crude prices have surged, which officials say is giving them a cushion of cash. "We should use the time and continue our talks with the P5+1 and other European countries," Velayati said. "America and Israel want to isolate Iran in the world by saying that Iran does not want to resolve the (nuclear) issue through talks," he added. But he ruled out the world powers' central demand that Iran halt uranium enrichment, the process that Tehran says it is mastering to make fuel for power plants but which Western capitals say will be used to make bomb material. Speculation has mounted that Israel, whose demise is regularly predicted by Ahmadinejad, could attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Such talk was heightened by a U.S. newspaper report this month saying it had practiced such a strike. Velayati said, even it went ahead, it would not stop Iran. "Our technology is native and it cannot be eliminated... nothing can destroy our technology because it is inside our scientists' brains," he said. Tehran has repeatedly said Israel was not in a position to attack Iran over its nuclear program and has warned Israel over the consequences of such an attack. Related articles: Iran military chief says Israel can't stop nuclear program Official in Tehran: Israel is incapable of threatening Iran Iran: Ahmadinejad was target of foiled U.S. 'X-ray plot' Bookmark to del.icio.us   Death penalty Iran hands down death sentence to man who spied for Israel. Robot hospital The place where IDF treats droids wounded in the line of fire.   1.   DO I SENSE A BIT OF NERVOUSNESS??? 15:18  |  Robert 01/07/08   2.   1.Robert,too late for israel,not even the U.S. its senior partner 17:40  |  lakshmi 01/07/08   3.   Is Ahmadinejad afraid ? 17:43  |  jean Van Daem 01/07/08   4.   Technology..inside the Fiddler scientists brains..! 18:35  |  Stephen. 01/07/08   5.   Does not sound nervous to me 18:45  |  Dave Duncan 01/07/08   6.   IRAN TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL 20:18  |  Clickfool 01/07/08   7.   Sensational news! Supreme Leader`s adviser attacks Ahmadinejad 21:43  |  Realist 01/07/08   8.   iran 21:50  |  azad 01/07/08

Read & React U.S. State Department denies report Israel likely to strike Iran this year Responses: 280 New law: Israel to cede land only by referendum Responses: 184 Poll: 76% of Israelis feel safer as Jews in Israel than Diaspora Responses: 79 Palestinians who approach Gaza fence will be shot, says IDF Responses: 127 Haaretz.com TV / Kiryat Gat tells its girls: No romancing with Bedouin Responses: 96 Rosner's Domain Why do Arabs support Hamas over Fatah? The possibility of an Israeli air strike on Iran (WTR) New poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? Israel's image still under renovation Is Time's Joe Klein being honest when he criticizes Joe Lieberman? More Headlines 20:21 Olmert: Don't interpret Israel's restraint in Gaza as weakness 20:53 State Dept. denies report Israel likely to attack Iran this year 18:47 Historic handshake: Barak meets Iraq's president in Athens 21:21 Palestinians: Settlers fire mortar shells at West Bank village 19:27 The French-Israeli fairytale 15:58 IN PICTURES: Snake meets mouse for lunch in Eilat 21:10 Israeli museum returns Nazi-looted artifacts to Polish owners 22:27 Education Min. proposes plan to curb violence against civil servants 14:50 Lebanon: Hezbollah prisoner swap marks 'failure' for Israel 19:59 VIDEO / Kiryat Gat tells its school girls: No romancing with Bedouin 18:32 Kadima MK calls on press, politicians to cease talk of Barak investigation 17:57 Israeli Arab MKs petition court against law banning travel to enemy states 15:18 Former cellmate says Samir Kuntar never meant to kill anyone 13:57 Iranian official: 'Provocative' speeches harm nuclear cause Previous Editions Select Day 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun

Special Offers Advertisement SAVE TALIA! and hundreds of cancer patients around the world Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright 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