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Turkey says Iran nuclear ambitions might be about threats it perceives

22 November 2011 [12:31] - TODAY.AZ
Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said empathy is required to see underlying reasons why Iranians are determined to continue with their suspected nuclear program despite sanctions that badly damaged Iran's economy Todays zaman reported

"It is important to put oneself in their shoes and see how they [the Iranians] perceive threats," Gul told The Guardian, referring to Israel's nuclear capability, which it has neither acknowledged nor denied.

Gul's questioning of Iran's nuclear aspirations came a week after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released its the most critical report on Iran's nuclear program, claiming that there are evidences that Iran might be on its way to develop a nuclear weapon capability.

Gul said there are different groups and concentrations of power in Iran and that it is impossible to see them as one single authority, without elaborating what elements he was referring to within the Iranian regime.

Turkey has spearheaded sustained efforts last year to revive nuclear diplomacy between Western nations and Iran and hosted a year ago talks regarding Iran's nuclear program in İstanbul. Turkey's efforts to bring Iran and Western powers together were at the expense of its image in the West and badly damaged its ties with the US.

Turkish president said for the sake of peace it is very important that the dialogue between Iran and the West progresses in a more frank and transparent way.

"When I say transparent I mean Iran, and when I say frank I mean the west," he said.

He added that Turkey is opposed to military options for dealing with the issue amid increasingly growing threats by Israeli officials that it could strike Iran's nuclear facilities if the Islamic republic does not relinquish its nuclear program.

"Looking at the Middle East, one has to have a comprehensive approach [to disarmament]," he added. "A piecemeal approach would not yield the same results."


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URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/98560.html

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