Iran to U.S.: No talks until you clarify stance on Israel nukes
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator suggested in a letter to the European Union's foreign affairs chief this week that talks could be held as soon as September on issues including Tehran's atomic program.
By Reuters Tags: Israel news Iran nuclear Barack ObamaIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that the United States must make its position on Israel's nuclear strategy clear before talks on Tehran's atomic program could resume.
Sanctions imposed by "arrogant" Western powers would not slow Iran's nuclear progress, he said.
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Technicians measuring parts of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant in this undated photo. |
| Photo by: AP |
The United States, Europe and the United Nations have imposed sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program. Iran says its aim is to generate electricity and rejects Western suspicions it is seeking to build a nuclear bomb.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator suggested in a letter to the European Union's foreign affairs chief this week that talks could be held as soon as September on issues including Tehran's atomic program.
Speaking in Nigeria after a summit of the D8 group of developing nations, Ahmadinejad said Iran supported dialogue but blamed the United States for the failure of previous talks.
Asked what conditions must be met for talks to resume, Ahmadinejad said Washington must make its position on Israel's nuclear strategy clear.
"The first condition is they should express their views about the nuclear weapons of the Zionist regime. Do they agree with that or not. If they agree that these bombs should be available to them, the course of the dialogue would be different," he said.
Israel is widely assumed to have the only nuclear arsenal in the region but it refuses to confirm or deny having such weapons. It has usually been spared scrutiny by its guardian ally but the Obama administration alarmed Israel in May by backing an Egyptian initiative for talks in 2012 on a Middle East free of weapons of mass-destruction.
However, hosting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama echoed Israel's veiled justifications for having the bomb and said Israel had "unique security requirements".
The White House said Obama had further pledged to keep Israel, which has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, from being "singled out" at a meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog in Vienna in September as well as at the Egyptian-proposed regional conference.
Ahmadinejad, speaking to reporters through an interpreter, said the United States must also clarify its own commitment to non-proliferation and its position on its readiness to "resort to force".
Iran is seeking closer trade ties with Africa and Ahmadinejad laced a speech to Nigerian academic, civil society and religious groups with parallels between African relations with ex-colonial powers and Iran's own standoff with the West.
"The wealth they stockpiled came from the pockets of others. They have plundered and looted all the mines in Africa. They have plundered the labor force for hundreds of years," he said.
It was a message that resonated with some of the audience at the gathering in Africa's most populous nation of 140 million people, roughly equally divided between Christians and Muslims.
"They call the leaders of America leaders of the free world. We call you the leader of nations struggling for freedom," said Shehu Sani, president of Nigeria's Civil Rights Congress.
"Dr, Ahmadinejad is a role model, he is an inspiration."
But Sani also tackled the Iranian leader about his public statements questioning whether the Nazi Holocaust in which six million Jews were killed across Europe had indeed occurred, comments which stirred tensions with Israel.
Ahmadinejad replied: "Why should they occupy the land of the Palestinian people. The people of Palestine committed no crime during World War Two."
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He always tries to dodge the issue. This is about his country and no other. Just more of the same BS. Let the people of Iran take care of him. It will happen in due time. I LOL every time this clown talks. He should just give up the presidency and become a comedian. And one other thing, he is a coward.
Bravo. No more of this double standard. Obama, if you and your allies can have nuclear power and arms, so should any onther nation, regardless if they are your allies or not. Obama, this world was not created to serve your interests only. America and Israel are not the only nations living on this planet that have the right to dictate who can and can not have whatever. As long as you and your allies can have, so can others. It is about time you practice what you preach. Democracy does not only apply to the USA and it's allies, it applies to all.
So let me get this right, Israel can claim 'ambiguitiy' over nukes but Iran who is publicly stating 'we're not intersted in nukes' is only good for a 'defensive' war started by yourselves? I've heard it all now. And as long as Israel defends nuclear ambiguity as 'strategic advantage', Iran can also defend it's nuclear ambiguity as 'strategic advantage'. So leave Iran alone as long as you allow Israel and any other country to defend it's nuclear ambiguity as 'strategic advantage'. If the US and Israel want Iranian nuclear transparency, then Israel better be just as tranparent. They started the ME arms race, now they have to live with it. Israeli exceptionalism is over.
Most of us in the free world are totally opposed to this disgusting campaign against Iran and the Iranian people. Just because Israel is paranoiac and wants to divert attention from its oppression of the Palestinians and human rights violations, doesn’t mean we have to support their quest for bombing a country that has done nothing wrong to them or anyone else. It is not Iran that’s the aggressive country in the ME. It is not Iran that has nuclear weapons in the ME. It is not Iran that should be boycotted but Israel
I totally agree with Ahmadinejad, the hypocrisy and double standards of the idiots in Washington leaves us no leg to stand on when it comes to Iran's nuclear program. Iran does not need a nuclear weapon to 'wipe Israel of the map,' they are quite capable of doing so with the missiles they already have; because of Israel's tiny size, a nuclear attack would be an overkill. You don't have to be a genius to figure that out.
What about Israel's nukes? Enough with the double standards, the whole world is sick of it.
If that were EVER to happen, the ME would be closer to stabilization, more so than having the nuke deterent that is a false sense of security given the belief that Iran would supply proxies with a crude device. The U.S. bargaining position is weakened by Israel's nuclear ambiguity. What is Israel's final plan for the 4mil. Pals living between the Jordan river and the Med? Israel needs to "create" peace for her sake.
peace is not of israeli interest. it wants piece to have greater israel.
Do the Pals need to warm relations with Israel?
Why is it only Israel's responsibility to find a solution? There were fewer than 1 million refugees but now there are closer to 5 million...not right that Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia also don't "need" to take steps towards peace.
its not fair,some have and others dont,i believe all states should have nukes,and if 1 is angry from the other he should nuke him,i nuke you ,you nuke me,screw the innocents....
This is real life.
I am against nuclear weapons period. But Israel’s hypocrisy on this issue will inevitably lead to one or several of its enemies to develop a deterrent to Israeli nukes”. Israeli leaders are Obsessive-neurotic-paranoid with delusions of grandeur
Israel was never a danger to anyone. It never threatened anyone with extinction. It never declared anything like: ""Why should they (Israel) occupy the land of the Palestinian people. The people of Palestine committed no crime during World War Two." This is a declaration of WAR told through the back door! And those on Ahmadinejad's side, are Israel's enemies too, how else? That includes Turkey ! Brazil ! Things will very soon become clearer to them, as clear as it is already now to Israel and the big powers. They wouldn't impose heavy sanctions if they wouldn't think so....They understand that Israel is only the first stage of declaring a Muslim state of the Earth! Neither Israel, nor America and Europe intend to wait for that to happen ....
David Ben Gurion once said, “If I were an Arab leader, I would never sign an agreement with Israel. It is normal; we have taken their country. It is true God promised it to us, but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been Anti - Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault ? They see but one thing: we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept that?” Are you somehow devoid of this history?
Is Iran evicting peoples from lands they have occupied for centuries and herding them into ghettoes? No, that’s what Israel has been doing to the Palestinians for more than 60 years. Most of the violence in the world today has its roots in Israel. Israeli leaders are Obsessive-neurotic-paranoid with delusions of grandeur
This isn't about Israel...what Ahamadinijad points to is the double standard in US foreign policy where Israel's nuclear arsenal is concerned...right now that policy seems to demand full exposure from Iran while ignoring the fact that Israel has had nukes for over 30 years...Tehran has no reason to believe that the US can be an honest broker on this issue...nor should they.
A very reasonable demand. Nukes are nukes and for decades now Israel has proven to be by far the most belligerent country in the entire region.
Maybe jake ya gotta go back to school and read your history books. When has ISrael ever been neligerent except and unless some arab state or terror group has attacked it. From 1948 to present, same old same old. Arabs must avenge their honour.. attack teh jewsish state get beat back and try again and again. Of course is beligerent only when it matter though. Kind of like teh UK during WW 2 what a beligerent nation or treh US etc Not france though it was a cheese eating surrender monkey
The most belligerent country in the entire region? Are you kidding? You would put israel over the suicide bombing, gun-toting madment that surround them?? Syria, Lebanon, Jordan....where do you get your facts from??
Israel should destroy its nukes before settlers control the bomb. Once that happens, the ME will become nothing but a glowing field of glass. Israel is the only country that has illegally nuclear weapons, so Iran has also right to have nuclear arms to stop Israel. Israeli leaders are Obsessive-neurotic-paranoid with delusions of grandeur
Not one centimetre. Israel is defined by the 1947 Partition Plan which gave up 55% of Palestine for the creation of Israel. They were stopped at 78%. Of course that all changed in '67 when Israel took all 100%. It's been in beligerent occupation of 23% of Palestinian land since 1948 and 45% since 1967. Which history book are you reading from?
What about when Iraq invaded Kuwait? What about Syria and Hama? What about Syria taking over Lebanon? What about Jordan and Black September? What about the Iran/Iraq war? Then move over a little and you have Afghanistan, Pakistan, India... And since when is this, "nukes are nukes" thing as important as one party signing a treaty and breaching it?
Arabs are actually no longer interested in revenge as they have come to realize that they need to live with the Jewish neighbor in peace hence why lots of Arab nations have direct economic and governmental relations. On the other hand, Israel is far from wanting to reconcile with the Arab world for a simple reason. They (Israel) always needs an enemy! Their very existence is based on playing the victimized role.
as it is the requirement of the time. Israel should keep all sorts of lethal weapons other wise these crazy Middle eastern Muslim countries will go Mad and will creat troubles for others. God of Israel has speciallly sent Jews to keep them in check. we have all sorts of right to punish Pals and Gazans or any other middle eastern if they voice against us.
Is that so? Did your God carve out in stone that only Israel can keep nukes? What if Iranians say that Allah too orders them to build nukes? Get real: whether you like it not, Iran is going to keep you company in the ME nuclear club, nothing Obama, AIPAC or the US can do to stop Iran. Only a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine that is genuinely fair and just to both will remove the Iranian threat against Israel.
I think it's time for Israel to go openly out as a nuke power. I cannot see any major consequences for Isreal in that matter anymore. Israel should go out with the "news" and act like a major power she is. They should even sign the NTP I think. The time for the hiding game has past. Sure, all the Arab , even Turky and surely Iran will protest and shout, but they do that allready.
Unless you are serious about enforcing it, including getting rid of Israel's existent stockpile of around 300.
But honesty has never been Israels strong point.
and they want the world to think they do have them.
Just look up at the big flash in the sky!
So being 'a light unto nations' means lighting up their skies with nuclear bombs, eh? 'Peaceful' That's what Israel said on its application for membership to the United Nations. Its membership should be revoked until it begins living up to it.
has turned you from a Jew loving Philanthropist into a Yid hating tyrant. See how easily it's done? maybe Chaim has a point after all. In other words, we die...you die.BTW "The light unto Nations" is well worn out. Time for page two of the Manual to be written.
ISrael should pull out of eh Un. After all it is run by eh Islamic states and other third world tin pot dictators, has lost its relevance in our time, serves no usefel purpose except to be a bloated overpaid bureaucracy, and its resolutions are bnebver backed up Look at Hizbuillah fluants 1701, UN looks other way., except and unless ISrael does something then ity looks for a reason to criticize. Un can hold its breath and die as far as most of the worl is concerened except of course those nations that suck on its teats, motlst muslim
I have to agree with Stephen. We are all tired of the belligerence shooting out of the mouths of ahmadinejad and bibi and their ilk. The macho and stupid mentality has only divided us (all of us as humanity & as a whole). And excuse yourself for failing to see the shining humanity out of Stephen's soul and your childish support of chaim's macho stance.
Israel is in violation of over 60 (SIXTY) UN resolutions and still taunting. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
All Israeli nukes and military superiority comnplex will not save them Radicals are the reason why israel is immoral, corrupt, brutal and frankly as revolting as it is today.Palestinians keep up the good work. All israei nukes and superiority complex will not save them from themselves
Yes Mr. Obama ... answer this simple question to the world ... clarify the US position .... or is Israel the untouchable !!!!
There is one standard for Israel which never signed the NPT and another standard for Iran, which DID sign and breach the NPT.
Israel's existence is under threat. Israel has the right to the bomb.
also under constant threat now, including the existential threat of being nuked off the face of the Earth, from both the US and Israel and cheered on by the Europeans. Israel wants to be the only country in the ME to possess nukes so it can continue to bully others in the region. If Iran has the bomb, Israel will be checkmated. There will balance of power as both Israel and Iran will be mutually assured that of nuclear destruction if the other is foolish enough to transgress beyond the line. And in the long run, peace and stability will be established in the ME.
Please, its existence has not been under threat for over 60 years. The Pals existence, however, has been under threat with numerous massacres the occupation. And Iran is in more of a threat than Israel with the whole west threatening their existence for developing themselves. Guess progress is punished in the crazy, paranoid world of the West!
Israel has been and still is under treat. Read Hamas charter which calls for the destruction of Israel and murder of all its citizens. Syria, Iran, Hezbollah and most Muslims regimes are still calling for genocide of Israel. The worst for Iran is regime change, no one is calling for destruction of Iran or for even the killing of one Iranian. Although I can tink of one who should be killed to bring peace to the region.
One glaring problem with your missive Esperlazi. Iran cannot be trusted with nukes. It funds and arms far too many terror organizatio9ns, tries to destabilize other countries (iraq comes to mind as a simple case) and what would prevent Iran from giving a suitcase bomb to some terror group that would visit another country and detonate it. Nothing at all. Unfportunately for us, Irans actions is why teh wporld cant trust her with nukes, even for peaceful purpose.
Iran has two times and a half of Iraq population and has a millitary stock and proxies five times more than Iraq. So just a rule of thumb claculation shows that 2-3 times more Iranians would die. SO what do you mean by saying that no Iranins is wanted to die? it would be a shame to human being, considering the killings that Iranian proxies would cause after attacking Iran. Israel would not also end this disaster with safety. So, try to stop every war, it is not going to be a better solution.
What planet have you been living on. Israels existence not threaTENED IN 60 YEARS. Pick up some history books and strat to read. They do know mhow to read in teh EU dont they. They do teach history there dont they. 1948 war, 1967, 1973, Lebanon, Lebanon 2. All started by enemies of teh state of ISrael. now go to the liobrary (if they have those in teh Eu) and read. then comment
This whole destruction and genocide narrative is just irritating to me. First of all, the one that is presumed to be the biggest threat, Iran, actually did NOT call for the destruction of Israel as a nation and people, BUT the wiping off of its GOVERNMENT, kind of the same what the whole west wants of the Iranian regime and what they did to Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebabon, etc etc. Its time to look beyond narratives and judge by actions. Stop playing the victim part, Israel has not been a victim for a long time and this is becoming annoying ad nauseum!!!!
"Iraq comes to mind as a simple case" The whole world knows that the US was the one to destabilize the region not Iran. Iran might have came into the picture later but the US is the one who started the war on Iraq!!!!
So maybe the Pals should be allowed to have nukes and the Israeli's boycotted and maybe bombed due to their possessing them? At least that is what your logic would conclude.
Israel started the "67"war and in "73"Israel was not attacked,the arabs attacked Israeli troops on occupied arab land,Siani,Golan,west bank.Israel inside the green line was not attacked they were paying for starting the "67"war for more land.
Check and mate.
But this is not a chess game and there is nothing new here. Ahmadi and his international crowd of cheerleaders can huff and puff all the they want but this does nothing to change Israel's alleged nuclear capability.
The point of no return is round the corner.
I don't think so! Iran is being checkmated for signing the NPT and breaching it.
i mean we (as in the us) can't really say "no more nukes in the middle east!" when we give israel nuclear fuel, can we? if we end up shunning talks with iran just to make israel happy then we are completely screwed. i hope the rest of the world takes over at some point, maybe europe, since iran said that they would consider negotiations with them after the sanctions. obviously (and sadly) my own country has been proven totally ineffective on this particular issue.
Its the president Barak Hussein Obama that is innefective , driving his socilaist asgenda. By teh time America wakes up it will be too late. Obama has two more years to screw America,
If Israel does indeed have nukes, and for all we know it really could be a very powerful bluff, they have them only as a last resort weapon. We know this because countries like France who have had nuclear weapons for fifty years are still testing them, whereas Israel has never had any nuclear weapons tests. It exists only as a deterent, though I personally wonder with how old that thing is if it'll actually blow.
Iran signed the NPT and benefited from it. Israel did not. Iran breached the NPT while it was benefiting from it.