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Iran Sends a Message of Defiance to the West |
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Written by Staff Writer
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Feb 11, 2008 at 08:48 AM |
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed a large gathering in Tehran, a week after Iran international interest generated by the test launch of a rocket designed to carry at the national level has made its first entry into orbit a research satellite.
"God willing, next summer the first 100 percent facts Iranian satellite will be placed in orbit," he said. The West fears Tehran is secretly trying to obtain nuclear bombs. Iran, the fourth largest oil exporter, says nuclear energy it needs to meet the demand for electricity booming.
The technology used to put satellites in space, could also be used to deliver weapons, analysts say, and both the United States and Russia have expressed their concern at the rocket test. Russia, which has long argued there is no evidence Tehran is seeking atomic weapons, which is the supply of fuel for its nuclear power plant in Bushehr, said that the test has raised doubts about the true nature of Iran's nuclear programme.
A senior U.S. official said of Iran rocket launch and reports it is testing an advanced centrifuge for uranium enrichment, which can have civilian and military uses, were "disturbing".
"It's hard to find a country in the world that is more isolated than Iran for the time being" under-secretary of state Nicholas Burns said in London on Monday.
But Ahmadinejad said Iran move forward with its satellite work, signage, it would carry out two more rockets tests in preparation for the actual launch.
State media last week, said the research satellite, called Omid (Hope), will be put into orbit in March 2009.
Ahmadinejad also said Iran would not return to the nuclear dispute with the West, despite the threat of a third series of Security Council sanctions by the United Nations on the Islamic Republic over its refusal to an end sensitive atomic work.
"They should know that the Iranian nation will not retreat one iota of its nuclear rights," he told the crowd which had gathered in the capital for the 29th anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the shah US - backed.
Leaders called on the Iranian people to turn out in large numbers to demonstrate their unity in the face to Western pressure. State television broadcast pictures of demonstrations across Iran.
The official news agency IRNA said Ahmadinejad sending a "million-strong rally, but it was not immediately possible to confirm this figure.
"America must understand ... that the Iranian nation will not back down from its rights," said demonstrator Leila Jafari.
Others at the rally burned effigies representing Uncle Sam
U.S. officials have accused Iran of aiming to equip its missiles with nuclear warheads. Iran says its nuclear program is only designed to generate electricity and preserve its oil and gas for export.
Burns said Washington hoped the 27-nation European Union would adopt its own sanctions resolution "which would obviously be far more difficult than what the Security Council would do." |
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Last Updated ( Feb 13, 2008 at 01:56 PM )
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