Iran Says It Is Not Developing Atomic Weapons and Will 'vigorously Pursue'

[Judi Lynn]

Iran Says It Is Not Developing Atomic Weapons and Will 'vigorously Pursue' Nuclear Energy Program
By Faiza Saleh Ambah Associated Press Writer
Published: Sep 26, 2003




UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Iran's foreign minister said his country will "vigorously pursue" its nuclear program despite renewed criticism from President Bush and reports that U.N. atomic experts have found traces of weapons-grade uranium at a second site in Iran.

Kamal Kharrazi said Thursday his country was able to enrich its own uranium but does not have the technology to develop nuclear weapons.

"Iran's nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. Iran will vigorously pursue its peaceful nuclear program and will not give in to unreasonable demands that are discriminatory, selective, and go beyond the requirements," of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Kharrazi told the U.N. General Assembly.
(snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAB554Y1LD.html

[Stella_Artois]

1. I may not be an expert on this

But why does a country that has huge energy resources in oil and natural gas need to spend huge amounts of money to develop nuclear energy ?

Ironically they need to sell more oil and gas energy than a nuclear power plant will ever create.

Does this strike anyone as odd ?

[Dogmudgeon]

2. It's understandable

Iran knows that they won't be able to meet the demand for oil in a decade or two. I suspect the Iranian policy-makers realize it may take them every bit of a decade to implement a reactor design that works.

Of course, if the world goes nuclear, the amount of fissionable material won't keep us going for more than another decade beyond that, but at least Iran should have enough energy to support its people, no matter who's in charge.

--bkl

[Stella_Artois]

6. They have more than that.

They just discovered another 38 billion barrels. Thats the second largest unexploited field in the world. The 3rd largest is also in Iran.

They are floating on a sea of oil. They have enough oil for domestic consumption for hundreds of years if they choose not to sell it. Thats why the "its for energy" story does not wash. They need to sell more energy to pay for the nuclear program than the nuclear program could ever generate.

Who is comfortable with an nuclear armed Iran ?

Not the Pentagon regardless of who is sat in the Whitehouse.

[Aidoneus]

3. a bit, but not necessarily so

I'm not sure I buy their "100% non-weapon" storyline (in their place, I would be pursuing all means of defense and deterrance at this time), but the idea of the nuclear power as electricity being needed is not an absurd suggestion. Iran has a large and growing population and an industrial economy, the oil & gas reserves that would be freed up by the supplemented power could be put into the economy as exports. There is also the matter that oil/gas supplies, while large in their case, are not an infinite resource and diverse/long-term planning is indeed wise. :shrug:

Then there is, of course, the shrill brigade that sees a dasterdly conspiracy, and the government needs to be overthrown 90 seconds ago so a new puppet regime can be installed and the profits put into western banks and businesses and the IMF's economic model adopted by force immediately.. but they see such conspiracies and necessity for intervention in just about everyone with the natural resource wealth that Iran has.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

4. Actually, I think this is a very crafty ploy...

"Iran's nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. Iran will vigorously pursue its peaceful nuclear program and will not give in to unreasonable demands that are discriminatory, selective, and go beyond the requirements," of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Kharrazi told the U.N. General Assembly.

Hmmm... discriminatory in what way? Could they mean Israel? I believe that Iran WANTS the world to believe it is trying to build nukes, because it is trying to force a disarmament of Israeli nukes.

Basically, they are saying treat us the same as Israel - either let us build nukes, or dismantle theirs. They have a very good point. Why should Israel be the only ME nation armed with nukes?

[robcon]

5. It would be stupid for Iran not to produce nuclear weapons

In the mono-polar world - where it's the U.S. and everyone else - it would make enormous sense for Iran (a putative member of the axis of evil) to develop the weapons as the only deterrent to U.S. attack or political subversion.

The Iranians are either liars or fools if they say they are not working on nukes. IMO, they are working on nuclear weapons.