Larijani. Hinted at nuke
Photo: Reuters
Solana: We expect answer soon
Photo: AP
Iran hints will develop nuke if attacked
Iranian parliament speaker warns Western powers it will develop nuclear bomb if provoked. 'You will face done deal blocking path of return to compromise with Iran,' Larijani says
Ali Larijani, Iran's parliament speaker, warned on Wednesday that the West may face "a done deal" if it provokes Iran, a hint that Tehran could build nuclear weapons if attacked.
Larijani, who was once Iran's top nuclear negotiator, says the West should take seriously a recent warning by Mohamed ElBaradei, the UN nuclear watchdog chief. ElBaradei said in an interview last week that a military strike on Iran could turn the Mideast into a "ball of fire" and push Iran to
develop a weapon.
Incentives
Tehran rejects Europe's 'carrot and stick' policy, says new sanctions won't stop Iran's 'pursuit to realize its nuclear rights'
In an open session of parliament, Larijani warned the West not to provoke Iran "or you will face a done deal that will block the path of your return to a compromise with Iran." The phrase he used in Farsi, "amal-e anjam shodeh," means literally "an accomplished act" or "fait accompli."
Larijani did not specifically say Iran might build a weapon if attacked, but his vague comment was the first hint at a threat it might do so. Iran has always denied wanting to build a weapons and says its nuclear program is intended only to generate electricity.
Carrots and sticks
Javier Solana, the EU's top diplomat, said on Wednesday that Western powers will continue a twin track policy of sanctions and diplomacy towards Iran over its nuclear program despite Tehran's warnings it could backfire.
Britain told Iran it will suffer growing economic and political isolation if it makes the "wrong choice" and fails to comply with UN demands on curbing sensitive atomic activities, but Solana told Reuters on Thursday Iran had still not replied to the incentives offer aimed at coaxing it into halting uranium enrichment.
"That is what we were told, that they would think about it and they would give us an answer soon," Solana said in Geneva. "In the meantime, we will keep the double track open," he said, referring to carrot-and-stick diplomacy towards Tehran. "We want to have a solution which is diplomatically negotiated."
Tehran said on Tuesday that new punitive measures imposed on it this week by the 27-nation European Union over its nuclear plans could damage diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute.
The dispute between the West and Tehran has sparked fears of a military confrontation that would disrupt vital oil supplies. Last week a New York Times report said Israel had practiced for a possible strike against Iran's nuclear sites.
