Many observers had expected Ahmadinejad to make a major announcement on thenuclear programme in a speech marking the 28th anniversary of the Islamic revolution but the president instead focused on Teheran’s continued defiance.
“If you are willing to negotiate why do you insist on a suspension (of nuclear enrichment)?” Ahmadinejad said, referring to the sensitive nuclear process the West wants Iran to halt as proof it is not seeking nuclear weapons.
“If we suspend our activities then what are we going to talk about? Why if your nuclear plants are working 24 hours a day why must Iran be pressured to shut them down?”
“We are ready to negotiate but under fair and even conditions,” he added.
Ahmadinejad boasted of Iran’s progress not just in nuclear energy but also in agriculture, industry and medicine. He said the Islamic republic would be making major announcements by April 9, without giving further details.
He also insisted that Iran would continue cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, despite a parliament law that gave the government the power to reduce its cooperation with the UN watchdog.
“We are willing to follow the regulations,” he said, referring to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of which Iran is a signatory.
Commentary :
Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, one of the leading foreign policy interests of powerful states has been to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. Leading powers that have nuclear capability -- or that are allied with nuclear-armed states -- have put pressure on non-nuclear states to prevent them from developing and acquiring nuclear weapons. While no one state has a global nuclear monopoly, nuclear-armed states want to preserve their power over non-nuclear states. The reason that nuclear-armed countries have more power over non-nuclear countries is that there are less risks involved in attacking non-nuclear states versus attacking nuclear-armed states.
Israel is raising hue and cry, because she fears that she would lose its nuclear monopoly in the Middle East and thus likely lose foreign policy leverage with other countries in the region.