Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaminyu
A few problems with this:
1) Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapons program.
2) Iran never threatened to "wipe Israel off the map".
As part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran is well within its rights to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. Furthermore, the NIE report confirms that Iran does not have any nuclear weapons program.
|
Iran leader defends Israel remark
Protesters in Tehran burned Israeli flags
Iran's president has defended his widely criticised call for Israel to be "wiped off the map".
Attending an anti-Israel rally in Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his remarks were "just" - and the criticism did not "have any validity".
His initial comment provoked anger from many governments, and prompted Israel to demand Iran's expulsion from the UN.
Egypt said they showed "the weakness of the Iranian government". A Palestinian official also rejected the remarks.
Defiant rally
Tens of thousands of Iranians took part in the rally in Tehran which Iran organises every year on the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan to show solidarity with the Palestinian struggle.
Shouting "Death to Israel, death to the Zionists", the protesters dragged Israeli flags along the ground and then set them on fire.
Palestinians recognise the right of the state of Israel to exist and I reject his comments
Many carried posters and placards sporting the slogan "Israel should be wiped off the map".
Joining the protest, Mr Ahmadinejad said: "My words were the Iranian nation's words.
"Westerners are free to comment, but their reactions are invalid," Mr Ahmadinejad told the official Irna news agency.
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iran leader defends Israel remark