Obama remarks on Iran nuclear issue come under fire

REMARKS CRITICISED: Larijani has slammed Obama (pictured) for saying Iran's nuclear programme is 'unacceptable'. (AFP)

Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani slammed US president-elect Barack Obama on Saturday for saying Tehran's pursuit of nuclear weapons was "unacceptable", the official IRNA news agency reported.

"This signifies a pursuit of the same erroneous policy as in the past," Larijani said when asked about Obama's comment on Friday.

"If the United States wants to change its standing in the region it should send good signals," he said.

"Obama understands that change does not only mean a change of colour and superficial differences, change must also have a strategic basis," the agency quoted Larijani as saying.

Obama told his first news conference since winning the US presidential election on Tuesday that Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons was unacceptable and also that he would "respond appropriately" to a congratulatory letter from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"Iran's development of a nuclear weapon I believe is unacceptable. We have to mount an international effort to prevent that from happening."

Obama added "Iran's support of terrorist organisations, I think, is something that has to cease".

IRNA also quoted Larijani as saying Iran's leaders had chosen to pursue the country's nuclear programme "having calculated the risks" and was well aware that they would come under international pressure.

"But this was necessary for the future of Iran," he said, adding that the Islamic Republic would not suspend its controversial programme of uranium enrichment despite UN Security Council resolutions and sanctions against it.

Enrichment is at the heart of Western fears that Iran could be seeking nuclear weapons as it can be diverted to make the fissile material for an atomic bomb as well as fuel for nuclear power plants.

Tehran insists that its nuclear ambitions are strictly peaceful and solely aimed at generating electricity.

Six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - have put forward the possibility of a package of technological, economic and political incentives if Iran suspends uranium enrichment.

Early in his election campaign, Obama said he favoured unconditional direct talks with Tehran, but he has since hardened his position.

Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic relations since Islamist students took American diplomats hostage for 444 days following the 1979 Islamic revolution which toppled the US-backed shah.

But in an unprecedented move, Ahmadinejad on Thursday sent a letter to Obama congratulating him on his election victory.

Conservative dailies also criticised Obama.

Kayhan headlined "Obama's men pro-Israeli", in reference to his appointment of Rahm Emanuel, a Jew, as White House chief of staff. It called him "a member of a terrorist Zionist group".

Jomhuri Islami's headline read: "Obama gives green light to the Zionist regime."

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READERS' COMMENTS

OBAMA'S PRIORITIES
Posted by RAJENDRA ANEJA, DUBAI, UAE on Wednesday 12 November 2008 at 11:36 UAE time

This has reference to the comments made by Mr.Obama about resolving the Kashmir issue, as a pre-requisite to Pakistan focusing more sharply in dealing with the Taliban.

Mr. Obama should get his priorities right. Resolving economic issues in USA should be his first priority. USA's GDP is about USD 13 Trillion pa , and its debt to the world is USD 11 Trillion. Put simply, Americans have to work free for a full year, merely to pay their outstanding debts to the world! USA is living on borrowings, with no savings of its own. On average, every American owes USD 35,000 to external agencies, in terms of over-expenditure in the past. This is a highly precarious situation, for any family or a country.

Moreover, the situation is getting worse. Auto manufacturers in USA like GM, Ford, Chrysler have asked for a government bail-out!! The down-scaling/closure of the auto industry in USA could result in a reduction of 2.5 Mn jobs and a loss of USD 150 Bn., in personal incomes. DHL has just closed its domestic operations in the USA, which will cause a loss of about 25,000 jobs.

Not only has the USA been living beyond its means, but the expenditure is principally on consumption items, with meager investments in improving productivity.

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