Ahmadinejad says ready to be sent into space

Monday, 4 February 2013 4:12 PM

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (AFP/Getty Images).

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday he was ready to be the first human sent into orbit by Iran's fledgling space programme, Iranian media reported.

Iran declared last week that it had successfully launched a monkey into space and retrieved it alive, which officials hailed as a major step towards their goal of sending humans into space.

The launch added to Western concerns about Iran's space programme because the same rocket technology could potentially be used to deliver a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.

"I am ready to be the first human to be sent to space by Iranian scientists," Ahmadinejad said on Monday, on the sidelines of an exhibition of space achievements in Tehran, according to the Mehr news agency.

"Sending living things into space is the result of Iranian efforts and the dedication of thousands of Iranian scientists."

Ahmadinejad is known for provocative public comments and it was unclear whether the suggestion was a serious one.

His second and final term as president ends in June, and his political star has been on the wane since he fell out with parliament early in his second term and appeared to lose the support of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Sunday he stood up in parliament to play a tape recording that he said provided evidence of corruption by the family of parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, his political arch-rival and a likely frontrunner to succeed him as president. Larijani and his brother Fazel denied the accusations.

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Posted by: Chuck U Farley Wednesday, 6 February 2013 1:04 PM[UAE] - Kuwait

Nothing like one way tickets!

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Posted by: World for the People Wednesday, 6 February 2013 10:26 AM[UAE] - UK

Send Obama, Netinyahu et al into space, the world would be a better place.

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Posted by: Rikki Erhart Tuesday, 5 February 2013 4:28 PM[UAE] - S Africa

I feel that would be the best place for him to be and to remain.

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Posted by: Jihad Jaljouli Tuesday, 5 February 2013 12:37 PM[UAE] - Jordan

Regardless whether we agree with their foreign policy or not but the scientific achievements during his rule are to be respected,,, while we Arabs are still buying our head cover from Germany & France.

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Posted by: Mike Mattace Tuesday, 5 February 2013 9:00 AM[UAE] - Malaysia

I think most of us would also be ready to have him sent to space.

Posted by: Doug Tuesday, 5 February 2013 9:44 PM[UAE] - UAE

It's probably more to do with the fact he gives orders for the army to shoot his own people the moment they dare suggest they want someone else other than him as their leader.

Posted by: anyone but him Tuesday, 5 February 2013 4:28 PM[UAE] - uae

no Zoro man not because of that.

Because he did not win the election fairly and squarely and deprived Iranians of the very real possibility of a future.
Now we have none.

So you might want to be at the front of the queue saving his face, but ask an Iranian going through the mess we have today with the exchange rate, price rises, shortages in food etc.

Posted by: Mark of Zoro Tuesday, 5 February 2013 11:33 AM[UAE] - Argentina

Why? Just because he speaks about the ARROGANCE of the WEST - which is 100% TRUE

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