TEHRAN, Feb. 16 (UPI) — Iran’s supreme ayatollah said Saturday his nation was not developing nuclear weapons and was in favor of banning the bomb worldwide.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei told an audience in Tabriz Iran would already have a nuclear capability if it was actually pursuing one.
“We believe that nuclear weapons must be obliterated, and we do not intend to make nuclear weapons, but if we had not had this belief and had decided to possess nuclear weapons, no power could have ever been able to stop us,” Khamenei said in remarks carried on Press TV.
Khamenei, who holds the title Leader of the Islamic Revolution, also said allegations about Iran’s supposed nuclear ambitions leveled by the United States and Israel were only aggravating tensions and violated Iran’s rights as a nation.
Iran has insisted its secretive nuclear program is aimed at developing peaceful energy sources; however the United States, Israel and other Western nations suspect it is a military program.
Iran’s former chief negotiator with the West added Saturday the whole matter could be settled through serious international talks held without the pressure of economic sanctions.
“Iran has always said that it is ready to hold serious negotiations,” Hassan Rohani told the Tehran Times.
“When the West is increasing pressure and at the same time is talking about negotiations, then negotiations mean surrender,” Rohani said. “If negotiations are serious and based on mutual understanding, there is no need for such tough actions.”
Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).
I recall reading somewhere that according to the Koran it is ok to lie to ones opponents as long as it in pursuit of Islamic dominion.
It is important that we keep that in mind when listening to their leadership.
@4ever-well their track record so far certainly shows you are right. So far they have lied about everything and you can throw in their Korean buddy too. The U.S. must have sucker written all over it.
I agree that we need to keep Israel as a close ally. You just can’t trust a muslim nation, at least not to the point you turn your back on them. It’s the muslim religion that perpetuates the evil in that region. If Israel really wanted to it could take a lot of land from neighboring countries in a short amount of time. The six day war is proof of that. i guess Iran feels left out from all the previous wars with the Jews and need to make a name for themselves.
Right! He expects us to actually believe him?
The sanctions are working and it seems like it is starting to hurt them if they send this goofball out to be a spokes man.
We need to trust Israel on this. Nobody in Iran can be trusted including this nut.