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| Iran nearing potential to build nuclear bomb, says Medvede |
| 2010-07-12 |
| IRAN is close to having the potential to build a nuclear weapon, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in the clearest indication yet of Moscow's alarm over Tehran's atomic drive. "Iran is nearing the possession of the potential which in principle could be used for the creation of a nuclear weapon," Mr Medvedev said at a meeting with Russian diplomats quoted by Russian news agencies. Russia, traditionally a diplomatic and economic ally of the Islamic Republic, adopted a milder line against Tehran than Western powers in the past but has noticeably hardened its position in recent months. Over the past months, Iran announced steady advances in its nuclear program, in defiance of international calls for Tehran to freeze its sensitive uranium enrichment operations. Iranian atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi said on Sunday that Tehran had produced around 20 kilograms of 20 percent enriched uranium. Mr Medvedev said that Iran "is far from behaving in the best way." Russian last month joined other world powers in approving a new set of sanctions against Tehran. Mr Medvedev repeated his belief that sanctions often do not produce results but he said in this case they could stimulate talks. "Now what we need is patience and, as quickly as possible, to renew dialogue with Tehran," said Mr Medvedev. "This is what we see as the main aim of the U.N. Security Council resolution. And if diplomacy loses this chance then this will be a collective failure of all the international community," he added. Western powers accuse Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb under the cover of a civilian nuclear energy program, charges that are fiercely disputed by Tehran. The US and its Middle East ally Israel never ruled out the use of military force to end Tehran's defiance, but Russia always insisted that the standoff should be solved diplomatically. |
| Posted by:tipper |
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| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-07-12 23:55 |
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| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-07-12 16:45 |
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| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-07-12 16:13 |
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| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-07-12 14:33 |
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| Posted by: twobyfour 2010-07-12 13:49 |