Australia blocks Iran shipments over nuclear weapons fears
Australian PM: Iran nuclear aims pose a threat to global peace, pressure must continue.
By The Associated Press Tags: Iran nuclear Israel newsAustralia recently blocked several export shipments to Iran due to concern the cargo may have been destined for Tehran's nuclear weapons program, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Thursday.
The bans were ordered by Australia's defense minister under laws aimed at preventing the proliferation of material that could be used in weapons of mass destruction.
"In the case of Iran, the defense minister has on a number of occasions - I'm advised three - exercised his power under the act and has done so entirely appropriately," Rudd told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Rudd declined to say what the material in the shipments was or give details about when they were blocked.
Australian media first reported the blocked shipments and said one of them was understood to include pumps that could have been used to cool nuclear power plants. The report said there were up to three other shipments - one more than Rudd mentioned - but that no details were known about them.
Australia has imposed various trade sanctions on Iran as part of UN efforts to persuade the Middle East country to end its nuclear programs.
Rudd said that Iran's nuclear ambitions posed a threat to global peace and international pressure must continue to convince Tehran to abandon them.
"If you look at the status of Iran's nuclear weapons program and their consistent thumbing of the nose to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the international community more broadly and the continuation of their nuclear weapons program despite international condemnation, there are no alternatives other than to maintain a hard line," he said.
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Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
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allies demand . The US buys Aussie uranium, gas. Australia gets paid in part in arms, infrastructure investment and a pat on the back.
like Germany, Italy, Russia, or China for pumps.
It's always been thus. Australia has a long Poltical history of Labour & Anti Labour since federation in 1901. Most jews vote Labour most of the time - always have & hopefully always will. In the last 50 years it has had a bipartisan approach representing more than 80% of the electorate in support of Israel & support of an Independent Palestinian state (the latter is more recent). However Australia's support of an Independent Pal.state is conditional on a cessation of terrorist acts by Hamas et al. This too extends to Iran. Australia does not support religous fundamentalist crazies like those in Iran. Viper & Maureen Anne might be loud here but they're insignificant as with their views. Jewish Lobby - get over your self. Nice little self satisfying paranoia & conspiracy theory devoid of any merit - basis in reality = zero. Relevance of an election year = very little indeed. Rudds stance is bi-partisan & non contraversial despite M'Annes incorrenct musings.
If your post means anything it is a tacit admission that the majority of Australian voters support sanctions against the Iranian Dictatorship. This may be because, like the Australian government, they understand that terrorism and the threat of nuclear war are too serious to be ignored. I think you will find that there are many more countries where the voters understand this, while opposition to sanctions is largely limited to countries where there are no free elections.
"If you look at the status of Iran's nuclear weapons program and their consistent thumbing of the nose to the International Atomic Energy Agency," yes but why dont those same look at israhell protocols of zion talmud and their US NATO that just massacred two states and they all posses WMD? why dont this jewish set up puppet see that also?
for UNSCR seat. Australian- Arab League representative,Hashem Yousseff, said Australian support for Israel will be "taken into consideration" when Arab countries vote on whether Australia should take a temporary UN SCR seat in 2013-2014. They are obviously not satisfied with just running the UN GA and the NGO travesties.
There is still a country and a leader that can be respected for holding onto good principles! Recently the leader led the country in acknowledging their national mistake in the past. i think a leader and a country that has reached such transparency and willingness to learn, is a good sign of maturity & stability. i wish the Australians my best and pray that God will bless the people!
in Australia.
i think you might think the same as me on this, when he was voted in we hoped for a good change, instead we go a moron who has done worse, and whats even disappointing is that if liberal had a better leader like hocking, i'de vote for him, but hell, i aint voting for labor anyway, not as long as they bow to the jewish lobby.
trying to make himself like he's the king, hey rudd, how about israels illegal WMD's? what say you now, moron.
Sticking it to the mad mullahs and their Ahmadinejad glove puppet - again. I LOVE BEING AN AUSTRALIAN!
Send them foodstuffs. Anything but high pressure pumps et al. PM Rudd has shown the West that its time to act. Good day.
Until Mr Rudd discloses just what it was that Iran endeavored to purchase from Australia, I will presume Mr Rudd is wanting to look good to Jewish Australian voters... nuclear power plant cooling pumps? Wouldn't Iran already have such "cooling pumps?" Russia will this year start up Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. (Reuters January 2010) Interesting to note Mr Rudd is not pulling the reins on the uranium being dug out of Australian soil!