'Now Europe Must Act'

[54anickel]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/21/international/europe/21SPIEGEL.html

Teheran's nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani discusses his country's controversial nuclear program, the conflict with Washington, and US President George W. Bush' Middle East initiative.

SPIEGEL: Hodjatolislam Rohani, in his most recent statement Mohammed al-Baradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, criticizes Iran, claiming its willingness to cooperate is, to some extent, "less than satisfactory." Why are you so opposed to inspections?

Rohani: In the name of merciful God! We have done everything to defuse the accusation that our nuclear activities are not for peaceful purposes. We voluntarily responded to the IAEA's many questions, gave the inspectors free access to all sites, signed the supplementary protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and submitted 1030 pages of documents. We have delivered the transparency demanded by Vienna. We expect the IAEA to acknowledge this effort and close our case as soon as possible.

SPIEGEL: The IAEA will not clear Iran until all doubts have been completely eliminated. This seems to be a long way off.

Rohani: Perhaps the expectations of the IAEA and the West simply exceed the limits of the law. There are always situations in which one disagrees. Moreover, some of the questions raised by the IAEA are highly controversial, such as asking us to provide detailed information about suppliers. The Vienna agency has no right to make such demands. Nevertheless, we have also answered these questions.

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[sam sarrha]

1. don't the Iranians know if there is a nuclear attack on us or "ours" that

we will probably use that as an excuse to vaporize every Muslim population center in the middle east...???!!!..

[KDLarsen]

2. Strange sentence..

"The Vienna agency has no right to make such demands"

I thought that the point of the IAEA was, that they are to be allowed to go everywhere & see everything?

[tkmorris]

5. What on earth gave you that idea? <nt>

[TolstoyAndy]

3. Iran has the same rights

Iran has the same rights to nukes as do the US, Israel, etc.

What's the fuss?

Either the US et al verifiably disarm, or they can look on as every other country in the world gets nukes in this century.

Simple.

Disarm, or fear death every minute.

[Laughing Mirror]

4. My thoughts exactly

And we can expect to see dozens more countries going nuclear in the coming years as the technology makes this easier, and as a deterrent against the ever-truculent and warmongering US.

[James T. Kirk]

6. Actually, Iran gave up that right by treaty.

http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/npt/text/npt3.htm

Iran is a party to the Nonproliferation Treaty. The US has special status under the treaty along with the other recognized nuclear powers.

[ElectroPrincess]

7. You didn't get the memo?

<tease> But didn't you know "the rules have changed?" Unfortunately the Bush Administration did not fully understand that NOW since we're bogged down, the rules have changed for everybody. Even Iran. :P

[Baclava]

8. Apparently...

Teheran has never heard of Operation Molten Glass