Iran seems to be talking tougher on its nuclear ‘rights’

Iranian Heavy Water Nuclear Reactor (Nanking2012)

Iran wants enough nuclear materials at one of its plants that the West fears it could turn into nuclear bombs:

May 18, 2014

(Reuters) – Iran appeared to take a harder line in its nuclear dispute with world powers on Sunday by dismissing as “ridiculous” one idea that could allay Western concerns about a planned atomic research reactor.

The fate of the heavy-water reactor at Arak, which has not yet been completed, is one of several thorny issues in talks between Iran and six powers aimed at reaching a long-term deal on Tehran’s nuclear program by an agreed July 20 deadline.

“It is ridiculous that the power of the (Arak) reactor would be cut from 40 megawatts to 10 megawatts”, nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi said, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Western powers fear the Arak plant – 250 km (150 miles) southwest of Tehran – could provide a supply of plutonium – one of two materials, along with highly enriched uranium, that can trigger a nuclear explosion – once operational.

Iran says it would produce isotopes for medical treatments, and denies any of its nuclear work is aimed at making a bomb.

If operating optimally, Arak could produce about nine kg (20 pounds) of plutonium annually, enough for about two atom bombs, the U.S. Institute for Science and International Security says. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/18/us-iran-nuclear-talks-idUSBREA4H05Q20140518?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=71&google_editors_picks=true

In should perhaps be mentioned that there are some, like Dr. Gareth Porter who wrote the following, who deny that Iran has nuclear ambitions:

Demonising nuclear Iran

How did a false Iran nuclear narrative come to dominate global politics?

As the crucial phase of the nuclear negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran began in Vienna recently, the fate of the agreement hangs by a thread. A wide chasm separates the declared positions of the two sides in regard to the enrichment capabilities that Iran would be permitted to keep, as has been widely reported.

What has gone unnoticed, however, is that the US negotiating demand for a deep cut in Iran’s enrichment capabilities has been shaped by Obama administration’s firm belief that Iran has been deceiving the world by hiding its firm determination to obtain nuclear weapons. That view of Iranian nuclear policy has come to dominate the international politics of the Iran nuclear issue over the past decade. But it has not emerged as a result of straightforward evidence.

As documented in my book, Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare, the narrative of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme is the net result of a combination of strong political predisposition in US administrations and the intelligence community to believe it and a falsified intelligence dossier that has been foisted on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – and on world opinion. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/05/demonising-nuclear-iran-2014517195752572663.html

Having followed a lot of events in Iran for a long time, I believe that Gareth Porter is being a bit naive. Iran does have militaristic and nuclear ambitions.

Many in the international community are justifiably concerned that Iran has a militaristic agenda. It was reported that many years ago, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei endorsed getting nuclear weapons to help set the way for a leader commonly referred to as the Imam Mahdi to arrive (Khamenei Has Claimed Iranian Nuclear Weapons Need for the Arrival of the 12th Imam).

Iran put out a video a few years ago, basically telling the Arab world that it intends to takeover Jerusalem and give it to this Imam Mahdi. The video indicates that this will be by military conquest by the Iranians against the Israelis and that it wants the Arab nations to back it (see Iran’s Ahmadinejad to Conquer Jerusalem?)

Last week, the United Nations voiced concerns that Iran may be circumventing sanctions and agreements in order to procure materials that could potentially be used to make nuclear weapons (see UN: Iran may still be procuring nuclear materials).

Iran also recently announced that it had its own stealth drones as it allegedly copied a US stealth drone that it captured a couple of years ago (see Iran announces drone and claims ‘America’s nightmare has become reality’).

The top leadership of Iran has a Shi’ite Muslim agenda, which they have concluded includes causing chaos and war. Iran’s last president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, publicly stated that the purpose of the Iranian revolution was to prepare the way for an Islamic leader, the Imam Mahdi (also called the the 12th Imam) to rise up (this was several years ago, but he still seems to believe it) and, amongst other things, control Jerusalem. Year ago Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that the Imam Mahdi was behind the ‘Arab Spring’ revolutions in the various Arab lands as well as other events in the world (see Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: World Order About to Collapse, Mahdi Behind it). Iran’s current president, Hassan Rouhani, even credited the Imam Mahdi for his own election last Summer (see Iran’s President-elect wants to negotiate with the USA and credits the ‘Islamic messiah’ for his election).

This Imam Mahdi sounds a lot like the final King of the South that the Bible warns against (though the actual one that many Shi’ites expect from “suspended animation” is not likely to be that King, but a Mahdi belief will likely be a factor in getting the final King of the South).

I, for one, do not believe that Iran’s leaders have given up on their goals of Islamic domination–and they do want nuclear and other weapons. But if they significantly act militarily with them (cf. Isaiah 22:1-14), it ultimately will not turn our well for Iran (e.g. Jeremiah 49:34-38).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi. Another article related to Iran translated into the Spanish language is: Irán y líderes israelíes discuten las intenciones nucleares de Irán.
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results?
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language video The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.