Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has slammed the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency and accused the group of subordinating itself to the will of the United States.
ISNA reports that in a speech in Shahrekord today, Ahmadinejad said: “They are all armed with atomic bombs and have the audacity to say that Iran wants to build the atomic bomb.”
He continued: “If our people wanted to build a bomb, they would not have been intimidated by you. You are nobody.”
Ahmadinejad added: “Our people have no need for a bomb.”
Despite Western concerns about a military dimension to Iran’s nuclear program, Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear activities are peaceful.
The IAEA expressed its concern yesterday about the possible military objectives of Iran’s nuclear program. Its new report was immediately condemned by Iran’s representative at the IAEA, who called it “prejudiced and politically biased.”
Ali Asghar Soltaneih accused IAEA head Yukiya Amano of “collaborating with the U.S.” following his recent trip to Washington.
He went on to say: “In the past eight years, more than four thousand mandatory inspections and more than 100 requested inspections have not led to the discovery of an ounce of uranium being used for military purposes, and, therefore, they have no concrete evidence.”
Several Western countries have called for tighter sanctions in the wake of the IAEA report.
Russia has said, however, that it will not support further sanctions, calling for the continuation of nuclear talks with Iran.
