Iran restarts nuclear program

[Talon]

DEFIANCE IN FACE OF FEARS

Iran is to rebuff global concern of its nuclear intentions by processing dozens of tonnes of raw uranium.

Tehran insisted it would do everything possible to calm international fears but refused to bow to US demands to abandon the programme.

A confidential report released by United Nations inspectors to diplomats listed several unresolved sticking points about Iran's intentions.

The inspectors also said Tehran told them it would convert 37 tonnes of crude uranium into a gas which can be used as either fuel for nuclear power stations or for weapons use.

Manouchehr Mottaki, head of the Iranian parliament's foreign affairs and national security committee, said the country's aim was not to alarm the world.

He said: "We completely understand the West's concerns.

"We are concerned about the non-peaceful use of nuclear technology as well and that is why we are sensitive about Israel's nuclear activities."

The US, though, claims Iran may be hit by sanctions and will ask the UN to impose them, although Washington admits backing is unlikely.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13211356,00.html

[Velikovsky]

Iran must watch the news and know America's troops are stuck in Iraq. No worries about the UN of course. So they can pretty much do what they want.

[Stellar]

Iran must watch the news and know America's troops are stuck in Iraq. No worries about the UN of course. So they can pretty much do what they want.

252554[/snapback]

Theres still Isreal though.

[Velikovsky]

Iran must watch the news and know America's troops are stuck in Iraq. No worries about the UN of course. So they can pretty much do what they want.

252554[/snapback]

Theres still Isreal though.

252601[/snapback]

But does Israel have a large enough military to maintain a long term battle? I know they have great equipment but Iran isn't as bad off as Iraq was with its equipment.

[Stellar]

Does Iran have a large enough military to maintain a long term battle? This is all assuming that Iran would retaliate, which Im not so sure they would. I think a large amount of what they say are bluffs. Eitherway, I think Isreal is better equipped than Iran. No one ever said Isreal would have to take over Iran like what the US did to Iraq. Isreal could strike and then just defend themselves until Iran is tired or too weak to attack anymore. The US would no doubt provide support for the defense of Isreal.

[Velikovsky]

That's true, Israel took care of Iraq quickly enough with no retaliation. Would Iran retaliate? Personally I have no idea. Israel seems to have scared the middle-east enough so that they don't want to have to directly face them. You're probably right though that Iran wouldn't do a single thing.

[doomgirl]

if Iran wants to restart it's nuclear program, then that is their right to do so. What give the US government to the right to say who can and can't have them, when they themselves have nuclear weapons

[Asterix]

That's true, Israel took care of Iraq quickly enough with no retaliation. Would Iran retaliate? Personally I have no idea. Israel seems to have scared the middle-east enough so that they don't want to have to directly face them. You're probably right though that Iran wouldn't do a single thing.

252683[/snapback]

Finally, some voice of logic.. We may not feel very comfortable seeing ex-terrorist (or even maybe not so "ex") countries to make progress in nuclear technology, but that doesn't give us the right to point fingers and accuse. Recent example, France and its nuclear tests in..where was it? Mururoa? Imagine the world outcry if e.g. Iran was to held some test in some desert of theirs (not to mention the pacific ocean).

Preoccupation is a bad thing for world relations. Then again, so is being blind and non-vigilant. That's what led to WW2

[wunarmdscissor]

look im pretty anti iran , i think theyre human rights are appalling, as with most muslim countries.

But if we are allowed nuclear weapons then why should they not have them , i mean really what right do we have to tell them they aint allowed to defend themselves, as stellar said israel ha sthem so why shouldnt they.

Last time i checked we were the ones doing invading all over the place , we aint exactly shrinking violets.

[Stamford]

Last time i checked we were the ones doing invading all over the place , we aint exactly shrinking violets.

Ah, but Wun, we are the protectors of World Freedom.

We wear the white hats, so we can pretty much do what the hell we want.

[Erikl]

But if we are allowed nuclear weapons then why should they not have them , i mean really what right do we have to tell them they aint allowed to defend themselves, as stellar said israel ha sthem so why shouldnt they.

The difference is, that Israel isn't threatening to destroy other countries (like Iran does), and Israel reportedly has nuclear weapons as long as France does (we allegdly developed our nuclear weapons together in the 50s), and didn't use it although we were almost destroyed in '67 and '73.

[Stamford]

Whilst I agree with you Erikl, that the thought of Iran with nukes is worrying, as Wun stated we have no right to complain if a country goes nuclear.

To be honest, as fundamentalist as Iran may be, I don't think that they would ever be foolish enough to use them on Israel, because the reprocussions would be immense.

Edited September 3, 2004 by Stamford

[alis]

To be honest, as fundamentalist as Iran may be, I don't think that they would ever be foolish enough to use them on Israel, because the reprocussions would be immense.

my view exactly. Iran will not attack another nation with its technology, but like any other nation, it would use them as defense. if it decided to attack Israel, then the USA would allie with the Israelis, and so too possibly Britain. i dont even think Iran thinks it can take on that many powerful nations. however if Israel were to attack, i do think Iran would defend itself, it wouldnt not do a single thing, im very sure of that.

[Stamford]

however if Israel were to attack, i do think Iran would defend itself, it wouldnt not do a single thing, im very sure of that.

And, to be fair, it would have a right to defend itself.

I think that it is in the US's interest to BIG UP the threat Iran poses to the region, but I think they simply want nukes as a deterent.

It is the same with Pakistan and India, both have nukes and a pathological hatred of one another, but the fact they both have nuclear weapons mean that neither are likely to use them due to the reprocussions.

Fingers crossed all round.

[Erikl]

Stamford, although I largely agree with you on this subject, I do not agree on some points you've made.

For example, although Iran has the right to defend itself against any agressor (as any other soveirgn state has), it doesn't have the right to call for the destruction of other country daily, use terrorism against other country daily, and expect that country to let the Iranians have a weapon which can really accomplish their wish to destroy them.

Iran is sponsoring terrorism against Israel for many years now - Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, etc. - are all directly under the control of the Iranian regime.

Currently, 75% of the terrorism in the west bank are planned by Hezbollah - aka Iran.

Iran not only calls for the destruction of Israel daily - they also act to accomplish it by terrorism on a daily basis.

Israel has never ever attacked Iran, or used any kind of agression again Iran.

All this hatred is purely ideological - the current Iranian regime hates Israel simply because it's there.

So you can understand why Israel is terrified of the possibilty of Iran getting the a-bomb - this is an insane regime wer'e dealing with here, that wants us destroy for no rational reason - only hate.

[Velikovsky]

The problem with Iran having a nuclear weapon is the scare factor. In the news we always here about some Middle Eastern leader who wants to unite the Middle East under their leadership. So then you wonder if Iran has Nuclear weapons would they make a try to be the ones to unite the nations?

[alis]

i still dont think other countries who have them can talk about Iran not being allowed to have them. Iran may feel and has good reason to feel threatened at the moment, both side of Iran, afghanistan and iraq have been attacked in recent years. it seems obvious that they are just preparing themselves for any future attack/invasion. it wouldnt be in their interest to attack, simple.

[Velikovsky]

Intellectually I agree with you Alis but emotionally it just makes me nervous. I would prefer if no country had nuclear weapons. After we came so close to a nuclear war in 1983, I would really prefer if countries stopped trying to develop nuclear missiles.

[LoPar]

i still dont think other countries who have them can talk about Iran not being allowed to have them. Iran may feel and has good reason to feel threatened at the moment, both side of Iran, afghanistan and iraq have been attacked in recent years. it seems obvious that they are just preparing themselves for any future attack/invasion. it wouldnt be in their interest to attack, simple.

253788[/snapback]

It's sad to think that in order to prevent a nuclear war we must all have nuclear weapons.

It's like saying "Prevent War - Arm Yourself".

[wunarmdscissor]

its sad but true.

There can only be world peace when there is true world equality.

Meaning no one nation has the complete control of the rest.

[Seraphina]

It's sad to think that in order to prevent a nuclear war we must all have nuclear weapons.

It's like saying "Prevent War - Arm Yourself".

I think Black Adder summed up this idea of war best...

"You see, the idea was to have two vast opposing armies, each acting as the other one's deterent. That way....there could never be a war. There was however, one small flaw in the plan."

"What was that Sir?"

"It was b******s."

I must admit, the idea of a fundamentalist country like Iran having nuclear weapons scares the crap out of me....but so does Israel...hell, so does America I'd much rather see the world moving closer to universal disarmament of nuclear weapons, rather than getting more and more of them.

[wunarmdscissor]

ha sera until we could actually believe that humanity had reached the stage where we wouldnt lie about having them and pretend to have destroyed them all then we have to wait for that.

I think we'll be waiting for a while.