"Anybody who recognises Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation’s fury…"

[Dreamer128]

I guess Ahmadinejad will be remembered as a great diplomat... this will undoubtably lead to the further isolation of Iran.

28.10.2005 - 09:53 CET | By Mark Beunderman

UK prime minister Tony Blair has led European leaders in fiercely condemning the Iranian president’s call that Israel "must be wiped off the map", with Russia signalling it is set to back the EU in referring Teheran to the UN security council.

Mr Blair on Thursday (27 October) said he was "revolted" by president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comments, made on Wednesday at a student rally in Teheran.

"I have never come across a situation of the president of a country saying they want to wipe out - not that they have got a problem with or an issue with, but want to wipe out - another country", the British leader said.

"This is unacceptable and their attitude towards Israel, their attitude towards terrorism, their attitude on the nuclear weapons issue isn't acceptable," he added.

"If they continue down this path then people are going to believe they are a real threat to our world security and stability."

British media report the UK premier was even hinting at the use of military action.

The Telegraph quotes Mr Blair as saying: "I have been answering questions on Iran with everyone saying to me, 'Tell us you are not going to do anything about Iran'. If they carry on like this the question people will be asking is, 'When are you going to do something about it?'"

A senior government source quoted by the paper explaining the prime minister’s remarks said "The prime minister didn't use the 'm' word - but he is making clear that we have to think about these things very seriously indeed."

French and EU condemnations
The French president, whose country together with Britain and Germany is leading EU talks with Teheran over its nuclear programme, said, according to Reuters:

"I was profoundly shocked by the statements of the Iranian president, which are totally senseless and irresponsible. The Iranian president is taking the risk of his country being made an outlaw state".

EU leaders’ talks at an informal summit on Thursday were interrupted by Mr Blair – currently chairing the bloc - for the signing of a common EU statement on the issue.

The statement condemns the Iranian president Ahmadinejad’s remark as "manifestly inconsistent with any claim to be a mature and responsible member of the international community".

"Such comments will cause concern about Iran's role in the region, and its future intentions", the statement reads.

Russia moves to EU position
While Teheran’s ambassadors in European capitals were summoned to provide explanations, the Russian foreign minister signalled his country is considering giving up its resistance against a referral of Iran to the UN security council.

The EU and the US want the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to refer Iran to the UN security council following suspicions that Teheran is running a nuclear weapons programme.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is quoted as saying by UK media "I have to admit that those who insist on transferring the Iranian nuclear dossier to the United Nations security council have received an additional argument to do so".

The Iranian president’s words were "Anybody who recognises Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation’s fury… As the Imam [Ayatollah Khomeini] said, Israel must be wiped off the map. The Islamic world will not let its historic enemy live in its heartland".

(EUObserver)

[shamrock_uk]

Well, it's nothing particularly new for Iran, or indeed for the wider Middle-East, but it's yet another reason why a country led by nutters such as these shouldn't get their hands on nuclear weapons.

[Dreamer128]

Like you said, noting new. But I think it's the timing of these remarks that is important. With this nuclear crisis playing in the background, there are many countries looking for a pretext to take additional action against Iran. In other news.. Israel has called for Iran to be thrown out of the UN. A strange move, if you ask me, since they never seemed to care much for the UN themselves.

[shamrock_uk]

But what do you believe is the significance of the timing?

My gut reaction is its simply incompetence on the part of Ahmadinejad - making the mistake of allowing the "domestic consumption" propoganda to leak on to the international stage.

[shamrock_uk]

Incidentally, I was pleasantly surprised that the likes of Egypt and the PA spoke out against Iran - it sure impresses more than the shameful silence of the other Arab nations.

[Link]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: Incidentally, I was pleasantly surprised that the likes of Egypt and the PA spoke out against Iran - it sure impresses more than the shameful silence of the other Arab nations.

Easily a wolf in sheep's clothes. I, for one, do not wholly trust any official reaction from any governent. Call me untrusting if you like, but it's all diplomacy, never really a sincere apology, feeling of sympathy or disapproval of a situation.

What's the use of someone's disapproval anyway?

[shamrock_uk]

Sure, I don't think they particularly mean it, but it does take a certain courage to speak out against Iran especially when their comments would be so unpopular domestically.

[shamrock_uk]

Heh, and speaking of wolves in sheeps clothing, Iran withdraws Israel threats

[Dreamer128]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: But what do you believe is the significance of the timing? My gut reaction is its simply incompetence on the part of Ahmadinejad - making the mistake of allowing the "domestic consumption" propoganda to leak on to the international stage.

You are right. Incompetence in the area of diplomacy is what you are likely to get when you vote an ex-terrorist into office (although that hasn't actually been proven). The timing is significant because countries like Russia, that have always supported Iran, are suddenly reconsidering their position on such issues as refering the Iran-atomics case to the UN Security Council. Although I doubt they'll actually go through with it.

[shamrock_uk]

Pesky Ruskies though - even if they don't go through with referral it may make them rethink their policy of sharing nuclear technology - something good may come out of this.