BBC: Iran mulled nuclear bomb in 1988

[Taxloss]

A letter from 1988 in which Iran's top commander says Iran could need a nuclear bomb to win the war against Iraq has come to light in Tehran.

The commander is quoted in the letter, written by the father of the Iranian revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, to top officials in the final days of the war.

It has only now been made public - by former President Hashemi Rafsanjani.

The letter seems at odds with Tehran's statements that Iran is not seeking a bomb because it is against Islam.

More:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5392584.stm

Khomeini a hypocrite? Surely not.

[independentpiney]

1. The fatwah against nuclear weapons was issued by Khamenei

in 2005, well after this letter. Ayatollah Yazdi, Ahmadinejads spiritual leader later issued one saying it was acceptable based on self defense against nuclear armed countries (US & Israel). However, he's much lower on the clerical totem pole than Khamenie.

[daleo]

2. That was 18 years ago

That's 18 years that the U.S., Britain, Russia, France, Israel, China, India and Pakistan have had to give up their atom bombs, as per the NPT (nuclear powers are supposed to get rid of their own weapons, in return for other countries not developing nukes).

[VegasWolf]

3. Bush is dredging up ancient history trying to get folks riled up about

Iran. If the world wants to keep religious nut case leaders from acquiring nuclear weapons, then they should disarm Bush first.

[sutz12]

4. Reminds me of Iraq....

Remember? Saddam gassed his own people!

Yeah, 20 years ago. Sounds like more revisionist history and spin to me. :shrug: