Iranian president: nuclear issue closed

[Steve Gardner]

As if it wasn't already obvious, Ahmadinejad ain't budging.

Source: China View

DOHA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here on Monday that the disputed Iranian nuclear issue was "closed" from Iran's perspective and that his country had the right to develop new energy.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the 28th annual summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Ahmadinejad said "In our opinion, the nuclear issue is now closed."

Iran does not feel threatened at all and any pressure on Iran concerning the issue is useless, he said, adding that "we are prepared for any conditions."

Highlighting the legitimacy of Iran's nuclear program, Ahmadinejad asserted that the Iranian people would not abandon their right to produce new, clean and cheap energy.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian president addressed the GCC's opening ceremony, saying that the Gulf region needs various security and economic pacts without foreign intervention.

Ahmadinejad became the first Iranian president invited to attend the gathering of the GCC, which groups the world's six top oil exporters, namely Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The GCC has always called for a nuclear-free Gulf while keeping a close eye on the developments of Iran's nuclear case.

The UN Security Council has imposed two sanctions resolutions against Tehran's nuclear program since last December, demanding a halt of the uranium enrichment work. Iran's senior officials, however, have repeatedly denied the request.

The United States and Western countries have accused Iran of developing atomic weapons under a civilian cover, but Tehran said it only wants to generate electricity.

The White House has never ruled out the possibility of a military attack against Tehran's nuclear facilities.

Putting to one side the question of whether Iran is or is not attempting to develop a weaponised nuclear capability, is it entitled to?

[RedRepublic]

admin said:

Putting to one side the question of whether Iran is or is not attempting to develop a weaponised nuclear capability, is it entitled to?

No. No country should own any nukes, at all. I know I sound like a peace-crazy hippie, but I really think that every single country should destroy every single one of their nuclear missiles. We've already seen what had happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki....total waste of human life and resources.

[Steve Gardner]

redrepublic said:

...I really think that every single country should destroy every single one of their nuclear missiles.

If this were feasible, I'd definitely agree.

But, since we - by which I mean the brainiacs in labs around the world - have the technology, there's absolutely no chance it's going to be given up.

Which brings us back to countries like Iran and, perhaps more relevantly, to leaders like Ahmadinejad.

He has a nuclear Israel in his midst, and a belligerent America cuckooed-up in Iraq and showing every indication of wanting to stay there long-term. It can't have escaped his notice that North Korea has managed to avoid being threatened militarily, almost certainly because it has a nuclear weapons capability.

If I were him, with my national interest a key priority, I might decide that I'd be better off with nuclear knowledge than without it.