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Tehran threatens to withdraw from NPT
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hinted Monday Iran was considering withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and said he did not think the Security Council would impose sanctions on Iran.Amid increasing reports of a possible U.S. military action against Iran, Premier Tony Blair insisted Britain and the U.S. were not discussing that option, but said a "strong signal" needs to be sent to Tehran over its resumed nuclear program. In his latest vitriolic attack against Israel, the firebrand leader said the "fake" Jewish state "cannot survive" and called on migrants to the country to go back to where they came from. The Security Council has told its nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to report by Friday on its demands for Iran to halt enrichment and answer outstanding queries about its nuclear nuclear program. "I think it is very unlikely for them to be so stupid to do that," Ahmadinejad said at a rare news conference when asked about the sanctions. "I think even the two or three countries who oppose us are wise enough not to resort to such a big mistake," he said. "Those who are speaking of sanctions would suffer more harm." Asked about the Council's demands for suspension of uranium activities, Ahmadinejad said: "It's not like we just follow whatever they issue." Iran says it only wants to enrich uranium to make reactor fuel to generate electricity, as is authorized by the NPT. "Our policy is to work within the NPT and the Agency," Ahmadinejad said. "But if we see they don't want to accept our rights we will reconsider." The IAEA, he added, "hasn't done anything but cause a nuisance." Posted by: Fred 2006-04-25 |
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