WarSclerotic

“Nefarious intentions”

The United States said that Iran’s unveiling of the new centrifuge for enriched uranium suggests Tehran “has nefarious intentions” in its nuclear program.

“If Iran wants the international community to believe what it says, that it has peaceful intentions with respect to its nuclear program, then Iran has no need for a third generation, or faster centrifuge,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.

Ahmadinejad’s comments signaled determination to press on with Iran’s nuclear work despite possible new U.N. sanctions sought by U.S. President Barack Obama.

Obama acknowledged that sanctions would not necessarily shift Iran’s behavior, but said sustained world pressure could eventually prompt it to revise its nuclear calculations.

The Iranian President said that any threats from the West against Iran will be met with more determination and reiterated that his government was not seeking an “inhuman” atomic bomb.

“We have said several times that we are honest. We are sure that we are on the right path. But they should know that those who sit in glass palaces are wrong to try to deflect Iran’s will,” the hardliner said.

UN sanctions

Ahmadinejad’s comments came a day after China joined five other major powers in agreeing to further talks on a new round of U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

“These kinds of actions will make Iranians more determined,” the president said.

“For example, four months ago we had no intention of making 20 percent (enriched uranium) fuel. But when they talked of threats, we went ahead.”

Ahmadinejad gave instructions on Feb. 7 for Iran to begin enriching uranium to the 20 percent level required for a Tehran medical research reactor after long-running talks on a deal for the major powers to supply the fuel failed to bear fruit.

Western governments slammed the move as a significant step towards the 93 percent level required for making an atomic bomb but Iran again strongly denied any military ambition for its nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad renewed the denial on Friday but again said Iran was now a nuclear nation.

“We are against nuclear weapons… we consider nuclear weapons to be inhuman,” he said.

“They know the path of the Iranian nation is a path of no return. Our experts have reached a point where no power can create hurdles in the way of Iran getting nuclear technology.

“Today, Iran is a nuclear nation. Whether the ill-wishers accept it or not, it is a nuclear nation and with God’s help it will remain one,” he said to chants of Allahu Akbar (God is greater) from the crowd.

Iran has pursued uranium enrichment at its main plant in Natanz in defiance of three sets of U.N. sanctions and threats of a fourth.