14 Mar 2007

Singapore supports Iran on nuclear issue

Iran defiant with atomic banknote
Iran has put its determination to complete the nuclear fuel cycle on paper, with a bank note depicting an atomic symbol.
The 50,000 rial note shows electrons in orbit around an atom on a map of Iran.
medium_banknote-iran.jpg
The Islamic republic is fiercely proud of its nuclear programme, which has provoked alarm in the West.

The US accuses Iran of running a secret nuclear weapons programme. Iran denies this, saying its sole aim is the peaceful production of nuclear energy.

The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Iran for defying its call to stop uranium enrichment.

But Iran insists it has the right to run a nuclear programme.


Singapore seems to be aligning itself closely to Iran and Iran seems to be claiming that this means that they support their nuclear ambitions.

medium_goiniran.jpgWed, 14 Mar 2007 12:41:35
A top minister from Singapore has echoed comments by a former Iranian President that the international community must take more reasonable measures in dealing with Iran's nuclear issue.

Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said in his meeting Tuesday with the Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, that Iran is entitled to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, IRIB reported.

Tong said "Miscalculations and a lack of appropriate knowledge" over Iran's nuclear program could lead to what he termed were 'dire consequences'.

Singapore is member of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Rafsanjani said for his part that Iran has consistently offered confidence building measures over its peaceful nuclear program.

Iran's former president expressed his hope that the parties in Iran's nuclear file with the UN will take more effective steps in settling the ongoing dispute and in winning the 'confidence' of all sides involved.

Iran has repeatedly said that its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes intended for generating electricity for the country's ever-growing energy needs.

SO/MR/BG

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