Ahmadinejad says no one can take away Iran's nuclear technology
Iran’s hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed today that “no one could make the Iranian nation” give up its nuclear technology.
The US, France and Britain say if Iran does not meet the UN Security Council’s deadline of tomorrow to stop enriching uranium, they will seek to make the demand compulsory.
Ahmadinejad also warned the US and its European allies that they would regret a decision to “violate the rights of the Iranian nation".
“The Iranian nation has acquired nuclear fuel production technology. It didn’t get assistance from anybody and nobody can take it back,” Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in western Iran.
His comments were broadcast live on state television.
Iran has rejected the Security Council’s deadline.
Ahmadinejad announced earlier this month that Iran had produced enriched uranium for the first time.
Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, will report tomorrow on Iran’s compliance with the Security Council demand.
Uranium enrichment can produce fuel for nuclear power or material for nuclear warheads.
“They must know that the Iranian nation will not give in one iota to oppression,” Ahmadinejad said.
Iran’s stand-off with the West is expected to dominate talks that open today between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her counterparts from Nato and European Union nations even though the Iran question is not on the official agenda.
The alliance’s Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the issue will be discussed at an informal dinner bringing together Nato and EU nations on the sidelines of the regular spring gathering of Nato foreign ministers.
Security Council members China and Russia, who are reluctant to impose sanctions on Iran, urged all parties to not act hastily.
“We hope the relevant parties can keep calm and exercise restraint to avoid moves that would further escalate the situation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Siberia with German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters, “It’s still too early to run ahead and say what decision we might take together.”
He reiterated Russia’s position in support of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy for power generation.
“Iran must have an opportunity to develop modern technologies and peaceful nuclear energy,” Putin said.
Merkel also highlighted Tehran’s obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.
“We are not talking about banning Iran from using nuclear energy for civilian goals, but it must keep to its obligations and agreements. And probably the report will say this clearly,” Merkel said.
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