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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Ahmadinejad under fire by fellow conservatives |
| 2009-09-27 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] A suggestion by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that his American counterpart should see Iran as a potential 'friend' has prompted criticism from his fellow conservatives. During an interview with Associated Press on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said should President Barack Obama decide to change US policy toward Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Mideast, he will find a friend in Iran. A prominent member of Iran's Parliament, Ahmad Tavakoli, on Saturday branded the president's comments as "harmful." "This particular sentence is exceptionally soft... and this softness is useless and harmful, as Obama is yet to show a change of heart towards Iran," Tavakoli told Mehr news agency. The Majlis member said he wished to see concrete change from the American president, arguing that "sheer talk is not enough." Conservative Iranian politician and former military commander Mohsen Rezai said that the president's remarks will only serve the interests of the Europeans. "I don't know why and based on what analysis did he make those comments, but this kind of wording is not in our interests," Rezaei added. US allies in the green continent, the former guard said, will try to exert more pressure on the Islamic Republic and to "take matters in their own hands." Iran and officials from the six world powers -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany -- are expected to meet in Geneva on the first day of October. While the Obama administration insists that the meeting will address Iran's nuclear program, Ahmadinejad has said that discussions on the nuclear issue were "finished." Iran on September 21 informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it is building a second uranium enrichment plant, allegedly near the central city of Qom. The new plant, a letter form the Islamic Republic said, will produce enriched uranium up to 5 percent, consistent with its nuclear energy program. During a press conference on September 25, the presidents of the United States and France said that all options were on the table with regards to Iran. British Prime Minster Gordon Brown said that Iran's "serial deception" in its nuclear work demanded a tougher action by the international community. This is while at another press conference on the afternoon of the same day, Ahmadinejad insisted that not only was the announcement an indication of Iran's transparency on the issue of nuclear program, but a sign of its willingness to comply with IAEA regulations. "According to the IAEA rules, countries must inform the agency 6 months ahead of the gas injection in their uranium enrichment plants. We have done it 18 months ahead and this should be appreciated not condemned," Ahmadinejad said. |
| Posted by:Fred |