Iran Expands Nuclear Program despite Penalties
The Obama administrations stellar track of negotiations continued this week when Iran and its leader, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, announced plans to expand the country’s nuclear program. The United States has painted itself into a grim picture by neutering its ability to successfully wage a physical campaign against the rogue country. In my opinion, the next shoe to drop will be an Israeli air strike in an effort for self preservation.
Iranian official says decision to expand nuclear program is response to IAEA rebuke
A top Iranian nuclear official said Monday that the country’s decision to build 10 more uranium-enrichment sites is a direct result of last week’s move by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). To make thinks worse, the facilities will be built and housed inside mountains to protect them from military attack.
The head of Iran’s parliament, former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, accused Western nations of “haggling,” “lying” and “cheating” during talks over Iran’s nuclear program. Larijani also questioned the usefulness of the IAEA, the U.N. international watchdog agency, and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which calls for curbing the spread of nuclear weapons but encourages member countries to share peaceful nuclear technology.
The plan to build 10 new enrichment sites was announced Sunday by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The move, which was broadly condemned in Europe and by Russia, would constitute a dramatic expansion of Iran’s nuclear program and would inevitably fuel fears that Iran is attempting to produce a nuclear weapon.
Iran not Concerned about Isolation due to Nuclear Activities
U.S. officials reacted cautiously to the announcement on Sunday. White House press secretary/spin wizard Robert Gibbs said that Iran’s plans, if carried out, “would be yet another serious violation of Iran’s clear obligations under multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and another example of Iran choosing to isolate itself.” However, what Mr. Gibbs didn’t explain was how the United States and its allies would retaliate, as the isolation of Iran doesn’t seem to phase the rogue country.
“Who can isolate Iran? This is something that’s impossible,” Ahmadinejad said in an interview on state-run Press TV late yesterday. “The most strategic part of the world is the Middle East.”
Iran, with the world’s No. 2 oil and natural gas reserves, is already under three sets of United Nations Security Council sanctions over its nuclear program. Ahmadinejad’s Cabinet has ordered scientists to begin building 10 uranium-enrichment sites within two months in defiance of UN demands, state-run media reported earlier this week.
