Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressing Iranian people
during a live TV appearance. Tehran. 1 December 2009. IRIB Photo
The following are the highlights of President Ahmadinejad's TV address to the Iranian people on Tuesday night:
"Iran's nuclear issue has been resolved ... We will hold no talks [with major powers] over this issue. There is no need for talks."
"Talking about isolating Iran [over its nuclear work] is a psychological war launched by the West ... Iran is a unique country ... and no country can isolate it."
“No one can isolate Iran because global interactions and Iran's unique characteristics in the Middle East will not allow such a move.”
no one can tell us to bend over!
ReplyDeleteWhat is this hang up with bending over, politically speaking? An important country as Iran should be a rational actor in world's politics. Emotions cannot and should not substitute for rationality (at least not in international politics).
ReplyDeletebut this "rationality" is based on alot of double standards, and Iran doesn't want to play because of that,which is a fair point. its just very ironic that western powers always seem to have isues with countries blessed with resources-iraq,iran,russia,etc
ReplyDeleteKemjika,
ReplyDeleteRationality does not necessarily mean Western way. But a major country's president cannot address the world based on his emotions and anger. And I am amazed that on this issue you separate Russia from the West. Please note Russia voted to censure Iran.
Hi Nader,
ReplyDeleteI think Kemjika is right, why is it that when the US invades Afghanistan in the wake of 911, killing countless civilians, acheiving nothing, and giving no explanation other than 'we weren't going to do nothing', or arranges a walkout of white countries on a conference on racism, these is considered a completely measured and rational actions. But whenever Iran calls the US' obvious bluff on an issue such as the recent resolution, it is portrayed childishness?
Nader, the bottom line is that the US especially, has lost its credibility as an international mediator. Also, don't fall for how Ahmadinejad talks in public or the emotions he displays. what people say can be written off-look at the actions. at the end of the day, iran did go into negotiations with the UN security council, but realized it had more leverage on the issue, so the UN security council is now a toothless tiger. the bottom line is that Khomeini taught Iran to depend on itself more for its need, and not on the west, like Saddam, because it wil ultimately lead to your downfall when you run out of their favors. As for russia censuring Iran, it seems to be a bluff so far-lets see them actually approve further sanctions. besides, russia still needs iran to control the world's gas markets and caspian resources, so russia is only doing this lip service for the US, and remember, russia still knows NATO is encroaching on its territories,so it will only play this game for so long or get marginalized very soon.well if rationaliton doesnt mean "western waay" the what exactly does it mean/ you tell me pls! bcos it seems to be western countries telling everybody how to "behave". the US is almost spread too thinly in the world, and iran knows it, so the more US pushes iran in ways that it doesn't like or deems disrespectful, iran will drain the US in ways it knows best-in afghanistan and Iraq and i guarantee you the US will lose its goal in both countries.the bottom line is this- in the world we live in, if you don't play fair, others will not play fair with you in their own way, even if they are weaker.
ReplyDeletefor The Official Record, anonymous December 2, 2009 5:57 PM was me.
ReplyDeleteMasoud
Guys,
ReplyDeleteWe need to judge the behavior of the Iranian government on its own merits, we should support or oppose it based on how if affects the national interests of Iran. Those who oppose US policies should not automatically support Iranian positions just because they are anti-US or anti-West. This does not make sense. If Ahmadinejad reacts with anger and emotion to IAEA censure, we should not call it “rational” just because the content of his speech is anti-Western. A lunatic could be anti-Western for his or her own reasons. Doesn’t mean you need to support him/her. This is the problem I have with your rationale. Instead of looking at Iranian policies on its own merit, you look at it in the context of its anti-US position. With that rationale, you will be forced to support North Korean regime no matter what it does and similar governments.
I agree that countries actions should be measured on their merits and effectiveness. But simply labelling such an action in a derogatory manner is not meaningful. Western propaganda regularly tries to paint Iran as childish, defiant,difficult,paranoid or recaltricant. These labels have nothing to do with any course of action taken by Iran but rather they are an attempt to establish a power relationship in the minds of readers, with the western countries playing the part of parental figures whose patience is running thin, and Iran playing the role of some kind of spoiled brat. This is an image that is meant to grant moral agency to western nations to pursue further illegal measures against Iran. I think this is a trope that objective observers should steer clear from.
ReplyDeleteBut regarding the actual substance of what has happened, what are the negative ramifications of this announcement for Iran? If the US was able to get meaningful sanctions through the security council, it's doubtful they would have bothered with the IAEA board of governors. By uping the ante, Iran is forcing the US put up, which they can't, or to shut up and return to the negotiating table. Is this action really as childish as the mass hysteria that breaks out among US politicians just before international conferences about what would happen if Obama meets Chavez or Ahmadinejad in hallway, and a handshake breaks out?
masoud
also nader, i hope you don't think the iranian "nuclear issue" is independent of other issues in the middle east? because its not. they are all intertwined,and because the other issues are not talked about doesn't mean they don't factor in. Afghanistan, iraq, middle east oil, ISraeli nukes are all playing in this "nuclear issue", but they are just not actively talked about.at the end of hte day, the US has created alot more enemies than it intended to, and they will support iran.
ReplyDeleteWhat Iran must understand is that the New World Order means to subjugate the planet in a huge modified UN fascist superstate. Not fiction, they are actually quite open about it. Iran ( and it's military capabilities ) is an impediment to this. In their eyes, it must be neutralized.
ReplyDeleteAll Iranians, indeed the entire world should realize that the NWO is non-religous. People who belong to the "superclass" ( Soros,Gates,Rockefeller ) do NOT care about religion or christianity or God. They worship Money and Power, in that order.
ReplyDelete