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Prayer Time (Tehran)
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Dawn: 3:35
Sunrise: 5:09
Noon: 12:01
Evening: 19:14
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Identification
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Published by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA)
Address:
Iran Cultural & Press Institute, #212 Khorramshahr Avenue Tehran/Iran
Managing Director: Mohammad T. Roghaniha
Executive Editor: Amin Sabooni
Editorial Dept. Tel: 88755761-2
Editorial Dept. Fax: 88761869
Advertising Dept. Tel: 88501499, 88737250
Internet Address:
www.iran-daily.com
E-mail Address:
iran-daily@iran-daily.com
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Ahmadinejad Pledges Mass-Production
Of Atomic Fuel
Adversaries Must Respect Iranians
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President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2nd l) addresses an ECO meeting in Baku on Friday, while Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki (l) looks on. (Mehr Photo)
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5--President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed on Friday that Iran would pursue its contested nuclear program until it could mass-produce atomic fuel, and branded those trying to stop it as ’bullies’.
“We intend to continue our activity...until we manage industrial-scale production of nuclear fuel for our atomic power stations,“ Ahmadinejad said, according to a text of his speech at a regional summit in Azerbaijan, AFP reported.
Ahmadinejad told leaders from the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)--which includes five of Iran’s neighbors--that “certain bullies are insolently trying to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries“.
Ahmadinejad hailed his country’s nuclear power drive as “a great achievement for the whole region and the Islamic world“.
He stressed Iran’s desire to work within the international law and under the scrutiny of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which last week reported that Tehran had failed to comply with a demand to halt uranium enrichment.
“Our scientific progress serves the interest of peace and does not threaten a single state,“ he said. “All the unfounded statements against Iran cannot influence the will of the Iranian people.“
Ahmadinejad told the summit that Iran’s adversaries must “begin respecting the people of Iran“ and repeated his nation’s assertion that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
The Iranian leader said his country’s “adversaries are waging a psychological war and trying to establish nuclear apartheid to prevent our people from exercising their inalienable rights“.
“I advise them not to repeat the experiences of the past and begin respecting the people of Iran,“ Ahmadinejad said.
Ahmadinejad said the ECO countries--which also include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan--should step up their efforts to cooperate “under the present circumstances mainly characterized by the efforts of the big powers to consolidate their domination and influence“.
Later speaking at a press conference, Ahmadinejad said Iran would change its policies if asked to do so by the IAEA.
Ahmadinejad stressed that Iran would pursue its civilian nuclear program within the framework of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and in coordination with the IAEA framework.
“It is natural if they want to put limitations on us (that), corresponding with those limitations, we will change our policies,“ he said.
See Page 2
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UNSC Reviewing Binding Draft
Iran Rejects Threats, Intimidation
UNITED NATIONS, May 5--The UN Security Council on Thursday mulled a binding Franco-British draft resolution demanding a halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment work, as Paris ruled out using force to end the standoff with Tehran.
Envoys of the council’s five permanent members--Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--met behind closed doors to review the text as technical experts of the full 15-member council met separately to pore over it for possible changes, AFP reported.
Council ambassadors, meanwhile, awaited instructions from their capitals ahead of a vote which US officials now say is not expected before Monday’s New York meeting of foreign ministers of six major powers working on the Iran nuclear issue.
The six countries are Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--the five veto-wielding council permanent members--plus Germany.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday warned against any sanctions on Iran over its peaceful nuclear case.
“Our policies on the nuclear activities have until today been within the framework of regulations and if any sanction is issued, our behavior will change accordingly,“ said Ahmadinejad in a press conference on the sidelines of the ninth ECO summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Ahmadinejad said the UN decision should be based on the law, otherwise it will not be legitimate.
In his first public reaction to the draft, Iran’s UN envoy Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “If it is an attempt to get Iran to agree, it is not a good one ... Iran does not respond to threats and intimidation.“
Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are strictly peaceful, but Washington and its European allies accuse Tehran of using its civilian program as a cover to build atomic weapons.
The draft needs at least nine ’Yes’ votes and no veto from any of the council’s five permanent members to pass.
Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said on Thursday that military action is not a “magic wand“ that can be used to resolve the international community’s standoff with Iran over its nuclear program.
Also on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Washington should enter into direct talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear program to help defuse the growing international crisis.
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Raisi: Press Ambience Positive
TEHRAN, May 5--A judiciary official said the governing press ambience is acceptable and positive, stressing that the judiciary does not want press violations to be referred to it.
Deputy head of judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, also said on Friday that there are press violations, but the overall ambience is positive and the framework of freedom is being utilized for constructive criticism, ISNA reported.
Commenting on interactions between the judiciary and the press corps, he noted that freedom of expression is underlined in the constitution.
“In fact, one of the sources of pride for the Islamic state is freedom of expression, but it is clear that there are limits to freedom and if these limits are not observed, different sections of print media will be harmed É The people of the pen must abide by the existing laws and regulations. This will benefit the literati as well as the society,“ he said.
Raisi stressed that the judiciary does not want press violations to be referred to it.
“We are never happy when a press offense is referred to us and we prefer that the print media observe the existing laws and regulations so that there arise no violations. But if the sanctities are violated, it is natural that the judiciary would be obligated to interfere,“ he said.
Referring to the judiciary’s performance in confronting cases of economic corruption, the official said, “In the leader’s decree on fighting economic corruption, which was issued some six years ago, all three branches of power were addressed and the judiciary is not the only body in charge of this task.“
Raisi stressed that the judiciary has prioritized cases of economic corruption and special bureaus have been established in Tehran for this purpose.
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Pakistan Rallies
In Support of
Nuclear Program
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 5--A large number of people on Friday staged rallies supporting Iran’s nuclear program in various cities, including Islamabad, upon the invitation of the alliance of Pakistani political-religious groups, known as Muttahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA).
According to IRNA, one of the MMA leaders, Miyan Mohammad Aslam, told the ralliers in Islamabad: “Muslims must revolt against the US and Israel. If the infidels can form an alliance against the Islamic world, why shouldn’t Islamic states forge an alliance against the problems created by the Jews? It is clear that America intends to invade Iran and then other Islamic states in the region, after it has occupied Afghanistan and Iraq. If Islamic leaders stand united, we can thwart the enemies’ plots.“
He underlined that Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities should continue like those of Pakistan so that Muslims can withstand Israel, America and the infidels.
Husnain Kazemi, another Pakistani activist, told the Islamabad rally, “Muslims and the Pakistani government support Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology. The Islamic world and international institutions must fully support Hamas and Iran.“
The ralliers carried placards proclaiming, ’Death to America’, ’Death to Israel’, ’Long Live Iranians and Palestinians’ and ’Iran’s Nuclear Program Is Peaceful’.
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Blair Sacks Straw, Clarke
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Jack Straw
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LONDON, May 5--British Prime Minister Tony Blair sacrificed two top ministers in a major cabinet shakeup on Friday after his Labour Party recorded one of its worst defeats in a local election since coming to power in 1997.
The overhaul comes after accusations of government sleaze and incompetence over the past few weeks as well as the poor local election results, which put huge pressure on Blair to give his government new impetus or step aside, Reuters reported.
British Foreign Minister Jack Straw and Interior Minister Charles Clarke lost their high-profile jobs while John Prescott, who is Blair’s deputy and has been embroiled in a sex scandal, was stripped of his ministry.
Besides diverting attention away from the election results, Blair’s promotion of key allies of finance minister Gordon Brown should keep his expected successor happy for now, analysts said.
But it also showed Blair had no intention of leaving yet.
“The fact that he has decided to reshuffle his cabinet is a sure sign he is intending to hang around for a while,“ said John Curtice, political analyst at Strathclyde University.
Brown is tipped to replace Blair before the next general election, due by mid-2010, but the prime minister has yet to give a handover date and relations between them have been tense.
Sacked Clarke had repeatedly backed Blair to see out a full term while the new defense minister, Des Browne, is a key ally of the finance minister and takes on a high-profile role with British troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Environment Minister Margaret Beckett replaced Straw whose move came as a surprise, while John Reid, a loyal Blair backer, switched from defense into the important home affairs position.
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US Senate Passes
$108b War-Funds Bill
WASHINGTON, May 5--The US Senate approved funding on Thursday for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and hurricane-recovery efforts, ignoring President George W. Bush’s threat to veto the $108.9 billion bill as loaded with extra spending he did not seek.
By a vote of 78-20, the Senate approved an emergency bill that would spend $14.4 billion more than Bush requested, Reuters reported.
The House of Representatives passed a bill in line with Bush’s request and the two chambers will try to work out their differences by the end of this month.
Before completing the bill, the Senate cut $47 million in foreign aid this year to Egypt. Of that, $35 million would be reassigned for famine and disaster relief in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and possibly Somalia.
The emergency bill would provide a new injection of nearly $66 billion the Pentagon says it needs by early summer to help replenish combat equipment and recruit soldiers for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Another $28.9 billion would be used for rebuilding Louisiana, Mississippi and other southern states after last summer’s devastating Hurricane Katrina and other storms.
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Difficult Choice
By Mohammad Reza M. Karimi
Talks to establish the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline recently gained momentum after their political leaders and oil ministers expressed strong commitments to finalize an agreement. Whether it will actually bring them to Tehran in June to sign the framework agreement depends more on political than on economic factors.
In view of Iran’s enormous gas reserves and Pakistan’s offer to provide security guarantees, the $7 billion pipeline’s feasibility is a foregone conclusion. But the fact that these talks have continued since 1993 shows that the pipeline is facing strong hurdles.
While tensions between the South Asian rivals constituted the biggest hurdle in the past, the recent US meddling has only exacerbated the situation. Despite three rounds of Indo-Pak dialogue on implemening confidence-building measures, the American nuclear deal with India once again attempts to rekindle mistrust and trigger a regional arms race.
So the Indian declarations of support for the Iran pipeline could be a tactical move to make the reluctant US Congress concede approval to the nuclear deal.
And India showed that they are willing to bow to the US for being anointed the regional power by casting anti-Iran votes twice at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Indians could also be waiting to see which way the wind blows as far as Iran’s nuclear standoff with the UN Security Council is concerned.
However, everybody, including the gas-guzzling Americans, is groaning under the weight of the oil price hike and any sanctions against Iran will most likely not touch oil and gas.
But in the event of an American ultimatum to either take the nuclear deal or forsake the Iran pipeline, the Indian decision is not difficult to anticipate. They will grab the former and opt for the riskier Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline option or the nonviable Burma-Bangladesh-India pipeline.
The Indians would have to display great political acumen to get the nuclear deal as well as the Iran-Pakistan pipeline.
Nevertheless, the rising energy demand of regional countries calls for more than one pipeline.
Half of the total incremental energy demand is forecast to emerge in Asia in the coming decades. Hence the region cannot afford to ignore the immense Iranian gas reserves, despite American objections.
A cost-benefit analysis of the pipeline will show that regional conciliation is more beneficial than confrontation. Apart from the economic prospects of the win-win proposition for all the parties concerned, the pipeline will help boost regional cooperation and stability.
Both Pakistan and India are being pitted against each other by the US to pursue its own regional agenda against China. They should prioritize their shared perceptions and long-term interests to defeat the American con game.
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