SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Iran says UN nuclear chief is American pawn
Published in Daily News Egypt on 08 - 11 - 2011

TEHRAN, Iran: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday criticized the head of the UN's nuclear agency as an American pawn, in the run-up to its expected release of evidence which purports to document Tehran's nuclear weapons program.
Ahmadinejad also said that Iran's nuclear budget was roughly $270 million a year, in a rare official declaration of a monetary figure. He said that Iran will not withdraw from its controversial nuclear activities, which Tehran says are not geared toward weapons production.
The Iranian leader seemed to be striking a defiant stance in the face of increased pressure put on Tehran from traditional adversaries like the US, as well as the more sympathetically-inclined China. The UN Security Council hopes that Tehran will suspend nuclear enrichment and start negotiations on its nuclear program — which it refuses to do.
In remarks broadcast on state television Ahmadinejad said that International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano was simply repeating US allegations. "He delivers the papers that American officials hand on him," Ahmadinejad said.
"I am sorry that a person is heading the agency who has no power by himself and violates the agency's regulations, too," the Iranian president said.
He again reiterated Iran's claim that it is not involved in making a nuclear weapon. "They should know that if we want to remove the hand of the US from the world, we do not need bombs and hardware. We work based on thoughts, culture and logic," he said.
Ahmadinejad said the US has recently added $81 billion to its current budget on nuclear weapons, some 300 times the entire Iranian nuclear budget. These numbers would put Iran's nuclear budget at roughly $270 million per year.
US officials say the government will use the International Atomic Energy Agency report as leverage in making its case to other countries that sanctions against Iran should be expanded and tightened and that the enforcement of current sanctions should be toughened.
Israel has also reiterated in the run-up to the report's release that it may at some point conduct a military strike against Iran's nuclear program.
Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio Tuesday he is skeptical the international community would impose crippling sanctions on Iran after the report's release, and that Israel will continue to recommend that no option be taken off the table.
In an apparent answer to Barak, Iran's defense minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi on Tuesday said Iran would strongly respond to any strike.
"Any adventurous and hostile act against Iran will face a strong, swift and stern response by the Iranian armed forces," Gen. Vahidi was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying.
Also on Tuesday China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said that while Beijing is firmly opposed to any use of force, "the Iranian side should also show flexibility and sincerity."
China is Iran's biggest trading partner but has supported previous UN sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program.
The report, which is expected to be issued Wednesday, will suggest that Iran made computer models of a nuclear warhead and include satellite imagery of what the IAEA believes is a large steel container used for nuclear arms-related high explosives tests, diplomats told the AP.
Iran denies that it has a weapons program and has called the report fabricated.


Clic here to read the story from its source.