Saturday, March 21, 2009

Iran responds to Obama's video appeal with nuclear pledge.

From the Telegraph:

In an unusually swift reaction to Mr Obama's overture, Aliakbar Javanfekr, an aide to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Iran welcomed "the interest of the American government to settle differences".

But he said that the US government "should realise its previous mistakes and make an effort to amend them".

In an almost simultaneous announcement, from Iran's energy minister, Parviz Fattah, said that the country would "finish and operate" its controversial Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant by the end of the year.

"Iran has chosen a direction for achieving peaceful nuclear energy. We have mainly reached this aim," he said at the World Water Forum in Istanbul.

"Exactly 20 days from now we will have another celebration for celebrating the achievements we have gained for peaceful nuclear energy. You will hear about the news," he said.

"Iran will finish and operate the Bushehr nuclear plant by the end of this year."

He added that while Mr Obama's message to his country on the occasion of the Iranian New Year was "positive", it had to be followed by "positive action".

"Absolutely this message is positive ... although it might also have negative points in itself as well," he said.

2 comments:

airJackie said...

I went on the website Al Jazeera to read the comments from the people of Iran. Everyone was positive and looked forward to the talks. I think a nice touch was speaking the Iran language. Iran is big on respect, yes I know the US doesn't deal much with that but the culture of the Middle East does. I remember when the US was big on respect and manners. Those days are gone now, but I see it once in a while and it's nice to see. I guess it's easy for me as I was raised to respect others even if you disagree. But as my Dad said to get respect you have to give respect. Foreign counties know the division in the United States. President Obama just has to stay focused and keep doing what he's doing and leave the wing nuts to fight among themselves.

airJackie said...

I forgot to add I saw the video of Israel's message to Iran. Now it was interesting as Israel will be charged with War Crimes in the Palestine Holocaust but the President knows the US will no longer support the corrruption nor bow to the corrupt Israel Govenement. Things change so fast. the President of Israel is charged with rape and the PM is charged with corruption. The Foreign Minister is charged with War Crimes as well as the Military. I know they really wish McCain/Palin had won the election so the Bush Plan could continue. Now the United Nation will have to charge the Bush Administration with War Crimes as Israel used the same plan Bush used.