Home > Tehran Warns US Against Military Action Over Nuclear Program
Tehran Warns US Against Military Action Over Nuclear Program
by Open-Publishing - Monday 15 August 20052 comments
By Stephanie Ho
Iran is warning the United States that any military attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities would backfire. At the same time, Tehran says it will not suspend conversion of uranium ore, days after the International Atomic Energy Agency appealed for the country to halt all nuclear activities.
In a news conference in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said any U.S. military action to stop Tehran’s nuclear program would be a mistake.
Mr. Asefi said, if Iran were attacked, it has what he described as "options for defending the country."
The Iranian comments came after President Bush told Israeli television the United States is keeping all options on the table to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The U.S. leader said these options include the use of force, but only as a last resort.
Speaking on the U.S. television program Fox News Sunday, Republican Senator John McCain said he supports efforts to resolve the issue diplomatically, but he added that he agrees with President Bush’s position.
"I guess my point is, for us to say that the Iranians can do whatever they want to do, and we won’t, under any circumstances, exercise a military option, would be for them to have a license to do whatever they want to do," he said. "So, I think the president’s comments that we wouldn’t take the [military] option off the table was entirely appropriate."
Meanwhile, Senator McCain expressed disappointment with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who on Saturday urged the United States not to threaten force against Iran, saying he believes such threats have not worked in the past.
Iran last week rejected a proposal from Britain, France and Germany that offered economic and political incentives in return for suspending all nuclear activities.
At the same time, Iran re-started conversion of uranium ore into uranium gas at its Isfahan plant. Iranian spokesman Asefi said Europe’s behavior in the next few days will affect his government’s decision on whether to resume uranium enrichment at the Natanz nuclear plant. Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for reactors or atomic bombs.
Following last week’s International Atomic Energy Agency appeal to Iran to halt its uranium conversion, Tehran now runs the risk of possible U.N. Security Council sanctions.
Western nations suspect Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran says its nuclear program is peaceful and for electric power generation only.
Forum posts
15 August 2005, 18:49
"I guess my point is, for us to say that the Iranians can do whatever they want to do, and we won’t, under any circumstances, exercise a military option, would be for them to have a license to do whatever they want to do,"
Since USA can’t be bothered with UN or any international clauses or agreements, they take the freedom for themselves to do what they want to do. So can Iran. That’s final. It’s a fight to death now.
15 August 2005, 22:09
Iran will never develop a nuclear weapon. Pakistan - a muslim state - was allowed to develop nuclear weapons with support of the Americans. The Mujaraf regime is going to break down soon. They recently received F16 Fighters from the U.S.
If the Mujaraf regime comes down the nuclear weapons will be available to the Talibans or other extremist groops. The Bush Adminstration acts like a bunch of gangster and they have no honesty.
For some reason America had to go into Iraq an kill innocent unarmed people. If the face resistance, because the American torture, murder and steal they call foul and name the defenders insurrgents or terrorists.
America tries to construct now a war with Iran by accusing Iran to support Iraqi restistance groups - this is a to obvious manipulation. The U.N. security council is also in the wrong place! America is a rogue state which not only has already used the nuclear bomb, but also threatens other countries to do it again.
This is not acceptable.
American knows to well once they start a convential war against Iran they will have to fight against armed soldiers and the American coward Nazi troops will suffer from losses as they did in the other unjust war against Vietnam.
We remember also that the Gas which was used against Iran in the Iraq/Iran war was delivered by American companies.
Shame on you America! Stop Genocide in Iraq and Palestina!