Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis
TEHRAN, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General
Hassan Firouzabadi has said that his country's armed forces are ready to teach
the United States a lesson if it crosses the line, Iran's state-run Press TV
channel reported on Saturday.
"America's enmity towards Iran stems from the fact that they know Iran's
revolutionary ideology is against their quest for domination," Firouzabadi was
quoted as saying in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.
The senior Iranian general reiterated that Iran's nuclear program is for
peaceful purposes and challenged the United States to prove its accusation that
Tehran may be using civilian program as a cover to develop atomic weapons.
"We say that our nuclear energy is for peaceful purposes and we have proven
it," Firouzabadi said. "Those who allege that Iran is a threat have to prove
their claims."
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always endangered the illegitimate
accumulation of wealth by superpowers," he added.
The diplomatic standoff between Iran and the West began almost six years
ago over suspicions that Tehran's nuclear work is a cover for an atomic weapons
program.
So far, the UN Security Council has adopted two resolutions, one in
December 2006 and the other in March 2007, to force Iran to suspend its uranium
enrichment activities and give up its nuclear programs.
Ambassador: Iran's rocket test not for
military purposes
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A rocket takes off at from an
unidentified location in Iran in this video grab from Feb. 4, 2008.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
MOSCOW, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran has no military
purposes with its recent rocket test launch, Iranian Ambassador to Russia
Gholamreza Ansari said here on Friday.
"We do not pursue military goals within our space
research," the diplomat said. Full story
Russia voices concern over Iranian
rocket test
MOSCOW, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Moscow is concerned about
Tehran's tests of a Kavosghar-1 (Explorer-1) rocket, launched into space on
Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said on Wednesday.
"Any movements in the area of creating such potential arms
of course make others concerned, and moreover make one suspect that Iran could
possibly create nuclear arms," Losyukov was quoted by the Interfax news agency
as saying. Full story
U.S. labels Iran's rocket tests as
"unfortunate"
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States described
on Monday Iran's launching a rocket into space as "unfortunate," which, the
White House said, will isolate the Islamic republic from the international
community.
"I saw this morning that Iran, again, tested a ballistic
missile. It's unfortunate that they continue to do that because it further
isolates the country from the rest of the world," White House spokeswoman Dana
Perino said. Full story
Iran dismisses U.S. concern over space
drive
TEHRAN, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Tuesday dismissed
the U.S. concern over its drive to develop space technology, one day after
Washington described the Islamic Republic's launch of a rocket into space as
"unfortunate."
"The government is responsible for progress and
development of the country and is not responsible for others' concern," Iranian
government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham told his weekly press conference. Full story
Iran launches 1st space research
center
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
(2nd L) counts down to the launch of a rocket being tested to carry an
Iranian satellite into space, from the control centre for Iran's space
programme near Tehran Feb. 4, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
TEHRAN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran launched its first
home-built space research center on Monday in Tehran in presence of Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the official IRNA news agency reported.
"The launch of the first space research unit would be
great stride to serve the mankind and would lead to Iran's exaltation and
progress," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. Full story
