iran stands up

they do make a point

Iran 'won't bow to bullies'
6 January 2006
gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=131924&Sn=WORL&IssueID=28292

TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday reiterated his tough stance on pursuing the country's controversial nuclear programme, after plans to resume fuel research were criticised by the international community.

He said Iran would not bow to Western "bullies" which already have nuclear arsenals.

"Those who have nuclear weapons and have used them in the worst way against people in the world, have no right to prevent nations from achieving peaceful nuclear energy," the ultra-conservative president told a cheering audience in Qom.

"Some of them lately have even gone so far as to say that the Iranian nation has no right to conduct nuclear research. All nations should know that if we give these bullies a chance, they will next say that you don't have the right to have universities."

Tehran on Tuesday announced plans to restart research for its "programme for peaceful nuclear energy" which was suspended two years ago, a move that prompted International Atomic Energy Agency director Mohamed ElBaradei to seek "clarifications".

ElBaradei said on Tuesday that the IAEA's board of governors wanted Iran to refrain from activities linked to enrichment of uranium as a key confidence-building measure.

Ahamdinejad, however, stressed that Iran would master the technology "in the near future, to serve in medical, agricultural, industries and energy sectors, God willing." ...

The Europeans and the United States are backing a compromise offer from Moscow to enrich Iranian uranium on Russian soil, guaranteeing Iran's access to nuclear fuel but for peaceful purposes only.

Iranian officials are to discuss the proposal with Russian officials tomorrow.