Iran’s president announced that the country would soon reveal a new nuclear achievement. The West fears Iran is attempting to create atomic weapons. However, Iran claims that their focus is only for peaceful purposes (i.e. energy production). What do you think Iran will announce? If it is a nuclear weapon, what action should the United States/World take?
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures as he deliver his speech at an Iranian President rally mark the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that toppled the country's pro-Western monarchy and brought Islamic clerics to power, Tehran, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Ahmadinejad says Iran will soon reveal "very big new nuclear achievements." (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran will soon unveil "big new" nuclear achievements, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday while reiterating Tehran's readiness to revive talks with the West over the country's controversial nuclear program.
Ahmadinejad spoke at a rally in Tehran as tens of thousands of Iranians marked the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that toppled the pro-Western monarchy and brought Islamic clerics to power.
Ahmadinejad did not elaborate on the upcoming announcement but insisted Iran would never give up its uranium enrichment, a process that makes material for reactors as well as weapons.
The West suspects Iran's nuclear program is aimed at producing atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies, insisting it's geared for peaceful purposes only, such as energy production.
Four rounds of U.N. sanctions and recent tough financial penalties by the U.S. and the European Union have failed to get Iran to halt aspects of its atomic work that could provide a possible pathway to weapons production.
"Within the next few days the world will witness the inauguration of several big new achievements in the nuclear field," Ahmadinejad told the crowd in Tehran's famous Azadi, or Freedom, square.
Iran has said it is forced to manufacture nuclear fuel rods, which provide fuel for reactors, on its own since international sanctions ban it from buying them on foreign markets. In January, Iran said it had produced its first such fuel rod.
Apart from progress on the rods, the upcoming announcement could pertain to Iran's underground enrichment facility at Fordo or upgraded centrifuges, which are expected to be installed at the facility in the central town of Natanz. Iran has also said it would inaugurate the Russian-built nuclear power plant in the southern port of Bushehr in 2012.
Iran's unchecked pursuit of the nuclear program scuttled negotiations a year ago but Iranian officials last month proposed a return to the talks with the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany.
"Iran is ready for talks within the framework of equality and justice," Ahmadinejad repeated on said Saturday but warned that Tehran "will never enter talks if enemies behave arrogantly."
In the past, Iran has angered Western officials by appearing to buy time through opening talks and weighing proposals even while pressing ahead with the nuclear program.
Washington recently levied new penalties aimed at limiting Iran's ability to sell oil, which accounts for 80 percent of its foreign revenue, while the European Union adopted its own toughest measures yet on Iran, including an oil embargo and freeze of the country's central bank assets.
Israel is worried Iran could be on the brink of an atomic bomb and many Israeli officials believe sanctions only give Tehran time to move its nuclear program underground, out of reach of Israeli military strikes. The U.S. and its allies argue that Israel should hold off on any military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities to allow more time for sanctions to work.
Before Ahmadinejad spoke Saturday, visiting Hamas prime minister from Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, also addressed the crowd, congratulating Iranians on the 1979 anniversary and vowing that his militant Palestinian group would never recognize Iran's and Hamas' archenemy, Israel.
Also at the Tehran rally, Iran displayed a real-size model of the U.S. drone RQ-170 Sentinel, captured by Iran in December near the border with Afghanistan. Iran has touted the drone's capture as one of its successes against the West.
The state TV called the drone is a "symbol of power" of the Iranian armed forces "against the global arrogance" of the U.S.
The report broadcast footage of other rallies around Iran, saying millions participated in the anniversary celebrations, many under heavy snowfall.
1. Based on the question at the top of the article, i don't and i wish that is a peaceful nuclear development like energy production. If this new energetic development has been produced, it will make a big progress to the whole world. And there is a speculation which can prove it to be a peaceful invention. We can see that the president announced this news to the whole world in public. If it is unclear weapon, the president should not announce it, instead, he should carry it out in the dark.
ReplyDeleteIf it is a real unclear weapon, the whole world should restore it properly and make positive research toward it. We should not start war because of it.
1.) I believe that Iran is trying to be sneaky with their actions involving their nuclear weapons. A country wouldn't just spend a lot of money creating nuclear weapons which are so expensive to just have to sit around. The testing of the weapons is also very dangerous, and I don't think that their country would want to risk the lives of their civilians. If Iran is able to come up with the development of the nuclear weapons, the rest of the world is going to want the same knowledge in order to be able to create the same weapons in case they would ever need them. Unfortunately, once they figure it out, they are not going to say, "Here you go US, take what we've spent our money and time on." Iran is going to want things in return for their intelligence; they are going to feel powerful. I believe that the US should be aware of Iran's intentions, but no war is necessary unless we are threatened. It would only cause more debit, and harm to our armed forces.
ReplyDelete1-What boggles me the most is why would the president announce news that he is iffy about? It just doesn't add up. For him to give a speech he must know what he is talking about. So they must be trying to secretly educate their people in what they had concocted up by trying to keep outsiders like the U.S. oblivious. If they want to make atomic bombs, let them. We don't run their country. Just because they are creating weapons does not necessarily mean that they are using them, they could be trying to make technological advancements and be prepared for for anything. Without weapons what will stop the chaos? Definitely not a speech. Why invade or become involved in something we're not entirely sure on. It would be pointless and create friction between the U.S. and Iran.
ReplyDelete1- I believe Iran will announce either enrichment facilities or the inauguration of the Russian-built nuclear power plant in Busherh. The reason being if, they had indeed reached nuclear capacity I don't they would publicly announce it. They would want to keep it secret so as not get other countries to impose further sanction and send the world into panic. However, if it is a nuclear weapon I believe the U.S. should take actions along with other countries to impose sanctions on the nuclear weapons. The reason other countries should correlate with the U.S. to impose these sanctions is so if indeed it came to the point where we had to invade the full burden wouldn't be on America.
ReplyDelete1. I would have to agree with the previous comments, in that it is suspicious that the President of Iran revealed such information to their citizens. Maybe Iran did this with the intention of scaring the rest of the world into thinking that they have an elaborate plan to destroy the world, who knows? If the U.S. hears talk of uranium enrichment, reactors, and atomic weapons, of course that's going to raise a HUGE red flag. I'm pretty sure we would be just as concerned if we heard of any country making such a statement. These potential nuclear weapons are everyone's concern because they could destroy everything and at anytime, which is extremely scary. So the U.S. and allies should definitely keep an eye on this situation and take proper precautions at the right time if necessary.
ReplyDelete1.I think Iran will announce more details about the new nuclear program, but all details must imply or directly emphasize that it aims to peaceful use. If it is a nuclear weapon, I believe US could have plans corresponding to Iran’s next step, but I don’t think US should do any action publicly and immediately. In other words, US can take precautions and prepare solutions, but also be sneaky with that; because after all, Iran’s present made announcement about their decent aim, if US react soon, that will be passive and ridiculed.
ReplyDeleteActually, this is very ironic because a high-reprehensive and high-reputation person, the present of Iran, stood out to make an announcement that they their focus is only for peaceful purpose; but instead, that seems more suspect to the world. It is like a guilty person conspicuously protests his innocence.
What’s more, they announced that it is for a “peaceful purpose”, and it might be true; because improving “weapons” confronting other countries’ attacks can make Iran feel better, no matter in war or psychology. That is, the peaceful purpose is not merely energy production but more about their sense of security. Another possibility is that they, the purpose is to some energy production use, but they in fact is explore and experiment new weapons through the “peaceful-purpose” program.
1. I believe first off that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and therefore it can not be looked at negatively that the West thinks Iran is plotting for nuclear weapons. It is interesting that the President makes the announcement that the system is to create peace with nuclear developments and people are not accepting that. Why would the President lie in this announcement? If he was doing something wrong he would not make a production about it. By this announcement, others are obviously going to draw conclusions and the US is going to most likely brainstorm their involvement in the situation. Since the nuclear developments are not officially believable by many there are going to be many groups of people carefully evaluating Iran's every move. The US should remain low key in my opinion until more information is revealed.
ReplyDelete1. I agree with the previous comments that it is peculiar that the president would make such an announcement without giving further details; an announcement of nuclear technology isn't something that the world takes lightly. I believe Iran is attempting to maintain their power and status through this ambiguous announcement; it is keeping the rest of the world on their toes and in fear of a possible attack. If there are any indications that these nuclear technologies are in fact nuclear weapons, the United States, International Atomic Energy Agency, and the United Nations will take action. Until there is any evidence of nuclear weapons or further announcements are made, the United States should tread carefully as it may in fact be a peaceful technological breakthrough.
ReplyDelete1. I agree with all of the comments above. I think they sum up everything pretty well. The fact that it is odd for the president to even broadcast such a touchy subject without any exact or thorough details. I also believe that Iran is being sly with their engagements concerning nuclear weapons. They wouldn’t just make nuclear weapons for “peaceful purposes.” I think Iran is also trying to keep their authority through the uncertainty and confusion of the broadcast. It is definitely keeping us skeptical and on the edge. The United States should definitely keep up with everything and continue to find out more information on their nuclear weapons.
ReplyDelete1. I agree with the comment above that stated a question in which he/she didn't understand why the President would announce news that he is not so sure about. I agree with this because for him to announce something that is very important but be very vague with the information seems to be a little scary for the world. Also, for him to say they are for peaceful purposes but once again is vague with his information also seems to make everyone involved in it very unsure. I also think that Iran is doing this to show the power they have because of these new nuclear weapons.
ReplyDelete1. I agree with the comment above that stated a question in which he/she didn't understand why the President would announce news that he is not so sure about. I agree with this because for him to announce something that is very important but be very vague with the information seems to be a little scary for the world. Also, for him to say they are for peaceful purposes but once again is vague with his information also seems to make everyone involved in it very unsure. I also think that Iran is doing this to show the power they have because of these new nuclear weapons.
ReplyDelete1) I personally don't trust Iran at all. Iran has proved themselves to be dangerous to the United States in the past, and I don't think anything has changed. The president of Iran called all this attention to their nation. If Iran has truly been working on Nuclear weapons, it is definitely the United States' job to take action. As Americans, we all hate war. War drags on and on. Parents lose their children and wives lose their husbands. However, Iran is a dangerous nation with much hatred towards America. A nuclear attack on this country would be an incredible devastation, and a world war would break out. We need to stop this before it happens. If it is a nuclear accomplishment relating to peace, then good for them. I just personally don't think it is.
ReplyDelete-Joe Bilardello
1) I do not believe it is a nuclear weapon, but that does not mean we shouldn't be cautious. It seems to me he is just trying to scare the World because he knows he can. However, the US and World should prepare a defense just in case. Better be safe than sorry, they have surprised us before. We should prepare them but give them a chance to at least attempt a reveal. If it turns out to be a peaceful technological advance, then we should respect them and not take any action.
ReplyDelete-brad
1) I believe that it is a nuclear weapon, and that the world should take much caution. Iran has been trying to create nuclear weapons for awhile now and it is only a matter of time before they become that technologically advanced and finally produce one. I believe we need to take serious caution along with the rest of the world. Iran's leader is a crazed man and I think he would be capable of doing something bad with his nuclear weapons. That being said, we need to devise a plan to stop his advancement, or else come up with safety preparations.
ReplyDelete1. I belive that Iran will announce enrichment vaclities, this beacuse Iran's nuclear programn has had plenty of time to work on there nuclear program without interference. With this Israel will want to get very agressive and attempt to take out the parts of Irans nuclear program that they know about. As stated in the artical, Obama will not directly support this motion and will favor a more diplomatic route, one that has failed in the past few years. Hopefully it will turn out that Iran is only bringing online a Russian reactor, but even with that they would only be an enrichment vacility away from producing weapons grade urainum and providing that to terrorists. This announcement has been a long time coming and what ever it may be, it is not a positive thing. This is because Iran has been blatenly ignoring the warnings and threats that we have posed to them about what would happen if they developed nuclear capabilities.
ReplyDelete1. I believe that they will announce some sort of advancement in their enrichment program that will soon allow them to harness nuclear power. I agree with the above comment that it will ve a while before their program gives them a nuclear bomb. Furthermore I don't think that the western world would allow Iran to aquire the bomb and would likely go on the offensive before they could ever have an A-bomb. I sincerely hope that it will never come to that and that Iran will back down and not pursue the bomb after acheiving reactor capability. I doubt that Iran under the current regime and leadership will back down which could lead to yet another conflict in the Middle East.
ReplyDelete