Khamenei denies Iran seeking 'anti-Islamic' nuclear weapons

[Judi Lynn]

WAR.WIRE

Khamenei denies Iran seeking 'anti-Islamic' nuclear weapons

TEHRAN (AFP) Nov 05, 2004
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei repeated Friday Iran's denial of US charges it is seeking to develop the nuclear bomb, and insisted that such weapons are contrary to Islam.
In a rare event, Khamenei was delivering a weekly Friday sermon only three days after US President George W. Bush was re-elected and on the same day Iranian and EU negotiators were discussing Tehran's controversial atomic program.

Addressing himself to Bush live on national television, he said: "No sir, we are not seeking to have nuclear weapons.

"Our nuclear weapon is this country, and the youth of its people."

As for the arms themselves, he said that to "manufacture, possess or use them, that all poses a problem. I have expressed my religious convictions about this, and everyone knows it."
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http://www.spacewar.com/2004/041105111955.6htrb8mw.html

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Britain Sees No U.S. War Over Iran Nuclear Plans
Thu Nov 4, 2004 05:42 AM ET


By Mike Peacock
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain, Washington's main ally in Iraq, ruled out on Thursday that the United States was preparing to resolve the standoff over Iran's nuclear program with military force.

"The prospect of it happening is inconceivable," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told BBC radio. "I don't see any circumstances in which military action would be justified against Iran, full stop."

Straw's predecessor, Robin Cook, said on Wednesday that those in the Bush administration who pressed for invasion of Iraq were now lobbying for action against Iran.
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http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6712859