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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40934680
Iran's president has warned that it could restart its nuclear programme "within hours" if the United States imposes any more new sanctions.
Hassan Rouhani also said the programme would be more advanced than in 2015, when Iran curbed its nuclear activities as part of a deal with world powers.
Iran says unilateral US sanctions targeting its ballistic missile programme breach the agreement.
But the US says Iran's missile tests have violated a UN resolution.
The resolution endorsed the nuclear deal and called upon Iran not to "undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology".
Iran says the missiles it has tested are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.
(Score: 4, Informative) by n1 on Tuesday August 15 2017, @07:35PM (3 children)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/world/middleeast/trump-iran-nuclear-agreement.html [nytimes.com]
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2017/07/trump_may_soon_try_to_kill_the_iran_deal.html [slate.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 16 2017, @07:38AM (1 child)
Illegal? Did they actually sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty? And do they still consider it valid, because Mr. Trump has shown that a country can leave any agreement they dislike any time.
And it's not just Trump either, the US has also left the convention that bans torture - and I don't even think it notified anyone of doing so.
(Score: 2) by fnj on Wednesday August 16 2017, @04:38PM
Yes. Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty. North Korea also ratified the treated in 1985, but withdrew in 2003. India, Pakistan, Israel, and South Sudan never signed. South Africa is the only country in the world to have developed nuclear weapons indigenously and then disarmed. Libya signed and then secretly undertook a nuclear weapons program anyway.
You can't wish away nuclear weapons effectively with pieces of paper any more than you can guarantee security with pieces of paper.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday August 16 2017, @05:36PM
Disturbing echoes of the run-up to the Iraq war...
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Sulla on Tuesday August 15 2017, @07:36PM (16 children)
A nuclear Iran does more to promote world peace than a non-nuclear Iran does. It would certainly help them in maintaining their nations sovereignty, and unlike Pakistan I am not nearly as concerned about Iran's weapons falling into the wrong hands.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 5, Insightful) by n1 on Tuesday August 15 2017, @07:55PM (2 children)
This is indeed worth remembering, Pakistan, a strategic ally that does have a fully developed nuclear weapons program is also a nation that has ungovernable tribal regions, a porous border with a totally failed state in Afghanistan, continual regional tensions with another nuclear power in India... On top of that elements within the military are known to provide support for 'radical terror groups' in the region. This includes being complicit in providing safe harbour for the world's most wanted man for an unknown peroid.
Yet there is very little concern about the dangers of the Pakistan nuclear capabilities, because of a general understanding of political and economic cooperation, even if internal politics and military alignment on both sides continually undermine the general spirit of cooperation and any meaningful progress to regional stability.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 16 2017, @07:19AM
Problem is, that orange clown is probably the best person for the job right now
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 16 2017, @09:19AM
Pakistan is run by its army. Since its inception in 1947 it has not seen a single democratic ruler last its full term of 5 years. You know what is the quality of military? It is a dog. Earlier its master was USA now it is cosying up to China. It is open secret that Pakistan's nuclear capabilities, just like that of North Korea, are mostly funded by China.
I wonder who has more failure written all over their foreign policy:
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 15 2017, @09:42PM (7 children)
Yes, what could possibly go wrong with a country whose SENATE openly chants "Death to America" during political meetings? Come on, you can trust them. Sure, Obama's own State Department called them the #1 State Supporter of Terrorism, but that's no reason not to send them billions of dollars in cash!
(Score: 4, Insightful) by julian on Tuesday August 15 2017, @09:54PM
It was money we owed them. We seized assets decades ago, the $1.7B was us returning those funds plus interest. It was a deal sweetener to get them to release some prisoners and negotiate their nuke program.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday August 15 2017, @09:56PM (3 children)
When Iran signed the "peaceful" nuclear deal in order to develop "peaceful" nuclear energy, Iran's senate shouted "death to America, death to Israel". But you really shouldn't infer anything from that. I mean really, Iran wants nothing but peace. That's why they fund terrorists.
Young people won't believe you if you say you used to get Netflix by US Postal Mail.
(Score: 2, Touché) by gawdonblue on Tuesday August 15 2017, @10:10PM
And the Israeli Knesset keeps telling the world it wants peace with its neighbours.
Actions speak louder than words.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 16 2017, @01:06AM
The US promotes democracy and peace, which is why it's allied with Saudi Arabia, a country that also funds terrorism. I'm sure Iran would be even more unstable had the US not overthrown their democracy a long time ago.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 16 2017, @01:40PM
I hope you don't expect us to believe that you'd sing _Kumbaya_ to honor a state that overthrew your democratically elected leader, propped up a terrible dictator for decades, then enforced crippling sanctions for more decades in response to you finally getting rid of said dictator.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 15 2017, @10:05PM
Those terrible Iranians, I can't even imagine such behavior would even happen in our civilized nation much less by our Senators.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 16 2017, @07:46AM
They did the same with Israel back in the days, while building a secret runway in the desert for the Israeli presidents plane to land without anyone noticing. Because the religion is Islam and thus by definition they hate Israel (and the USA), but politically they considered Israel to be their friends. Both are non-Arab countries surrounded by Arabs, and thus in the same situation.
Unfortunately, that runway hasn't been in use since the then-president of Israel was killed. His successor had a different view on Iran, and took the chanting seriously rather than accepting that it's for the cameras.
You can find the runway on Google Earth if you look carefully, look for the airport just south of Teheran, and then a bit south of that.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday August 15 2017, @09:50PM (1 child)
I disagree.
Comparing the security of Iran's weapons to the security of Pakistan's weapons does not make your point about making the world more peaceful.
If Iran had zero nuclear weapons, then it would have zero chance of its (non existent) weapons falling into the wrong hands -- lower chance than Pakistan's weapons falling into the wrong hands. So using that argument for a more peaceful world, I could argue that having BOTH Iran and Pakistan have zero nuclear weapons even further promotes world peace.
As for the argument about maintaining sovereignty, the best way you do that is to try to have good relations with all your neighbors. Or have good relations with allies that will help you maintain your sovereignty, both in the UN and in actual battle if need be. Sort of how the US preserved Kuwait out of our generous altruistic kindness. (*cough* oil *cough*)
Iran having nuclear weapons greatly increases the chances that Iran will launch them against Israel (the little satan), and against the US (the great satan). Not having nuclear weapons decreases the chance somewhat.
Finally, despite what The Great Orange Clown has said in the past about use of nuclear weapons being acceptable or even desirable, it is not. Even if two countries A and B, have a conflict that is unrelated to the US, or to any other country, their use of nuclear weapons affects us all. Nuclear weapons affect the environment and habitability of the entire planet.
Young people won't believe you if you say you used to get Netflix by US Postal Mail.
(Score: 4, Touché) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday August 15 2017, @11:58PM
Iran has experience with doing exactly that, but the CIA overthrew their democratically elected Government, and installed a brutal dictator who stayed in power for the next 25 years or so by repressing any dissent.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday August 16 2017, @12:01AM (2 children)
"I am not nearly as concerned about Iran's weapons falling into the wrong hands."
So, the fact that Iran has suffered two regime changes within living memory means nothing? Three times if you can find a really old man/woman. What happens if the current ayatollahs are all executed for being to moderate? Then what?
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Wednesday August 16 2017, @01:00AM
I assume you meant 'too moderate.' Not only does it look very unlikely at present (the country has been consistently electing moderate-reformists and liberalizers) but the only way that it would seem plausible in the future would be if the country becomes significantly poorer. That's what sanctions are supposed to do, though of course quite often they wind up doing little to nothing anyway.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Sulla on Wednesday August 16 2017, @03:49AM
Pretty sure if we stop fuckin with them they will stop havig revolutions.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 15 2017, @07:37PM (2 children)
SoyztainSpewz should invoke the Nuclear Option to rid our Fine Site of all these Racist Trolls.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday August 15 2017, @09:59PM (1 child)
I will have you know that not all trolls are racist. And I resent the association.
Young people won't believe you if you say you used to get Netflix by US Postal Mail.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 16 2017, @06:45PM
So do the trolls.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 15 2017, @07:53PM (2 children)
https://galacticwanderlust.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/heyiran1.jpg [wordpress.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 15 2017, @08:31PM (1 child)
Iran, Iran, so far away.
Iran, could not get away.
(Score: 2) by gawdonblue on Tuesday August 15 2017, @10:16PM
Get the Flock outta here!
.
.
.
(Apologies to all, couldn't resist.)
(Score: 3, Troll) by Bot on Wednesday August 16 2017, @12:08AM (2 children)
> Iran says the missiles it has tested are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.
Iran needs energy. They have no oil, nor sun. All that remains is nuclear. Hence the peaceful nuclear programme. The expertise needed to develop missiles is completely different when the payload is nuclear. Hence the peaceful missile program.
And, about nukes getting in the wrong hands, just make the panels big enough that no man with tiny hands can operate it and you are golden. Because luckily that other lunatic, HRC, does not have the codes.
Nukes are in the trusted hands of Russian, Chinese, Israeli, Indian politicians. This is why the robot apocalypse may primarily consist in a radioactivity cleanup operation.
If I were a meatbag I would be voting NASA and the other space agencies out of existence. The elite must be contained here. It is the only way you will possibly not fuck up.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 2) by fnj on Wednesday August 16 2017, @04:48PM (1 child)
Iran has no sun? Are you insane? As for oil, proved oil reserves in Iran, according to its own claim, rank fourth largest in the world at approximately 150 billion barrels.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Wednesday August 16 2017, @08:57PM
In case you are not trying to troll the troll, I will leave it here. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sarcasm [merriam-webster.com]
Account abandoned.
(Score: 4, Informative) by jelizondo on Wednesday August 16 2017, @12:54AM (1 child)
In general it seems that governments, particularly the U.S., forget that actions have consequences. In 1953 Mohammad Mosaddegh [wikipedia.org] was overthrown at the instigation of U.S. and U.K. intelligence services.
Then in 1979 the revolution came and who is in power? The Ayatollah Khomeini, who hates the U.S. What reason would the Ayatollah have, eh? We’re great friends willing to lend a hand! Now Mosaddegh is a great hero and the U.S. the enemy.
You reap what you sow, not anything different.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 16 2017, @07:44AM
The middle east is messed up because of the USA.
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Wednesday August 16 2017, @04:20PM
Typo.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @08:35AM
Good Saudi gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood