President in an interview with CNN: Iran not to accept restrictions on peaceful nuclear technology

President in an interview with CNN: Iran not to accept restrictions on peaceful nuclear technology
President Hassan Rouhani once again underlined that Iran will not accept any limitations in the context of peaceful nuclear technology.
news id: 74321 - Saturday 25 January 2014 - 20:37

“In the context of R&D and peaceful nuclear technology, we will not accept any limitations,” said President Rouhani in an interview with CNN on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

President Rouhani insisted that Iran had a right to peaceful nuclear technology, including enrichment, as "part and parcel of the inalienable rights of states."

ˈNuclear energy is part of Iranians’ national pride,” the Iranian president added.

"It is part a part of our national pride, and nuclear technology has become indigenous," he said. "And recently, we have managed to secure very considerable prowess with regards to the fabrication of centrifuges," he added, explaining that "not under any circumstances" would Iran destroy any of its existing centrifuges.

President Rouhani said that Tehran is ready to finalize a nuclear deal with six major world powers if they have the necessary political will for it.

Sanctions against Iran are illegal

President Rouhani said sanctions against Iran are illegal and are undermining international law.

"When it comes to sanctions, have they been successful so far? Sanctions first and foremost are illegal," said Dr. Rouhani. "And a Congress which claims to be making laws should not contravene international laws."

"These sanctions translate into the weakening of the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons), the weakening of international laws and regulations. No other country can decide for another country."

"We are not afraid of threats," President Rouhani said. "And the language of threats is ineffective when it comes to Iran. The language they need to choose should be a legal one, a respectful tone of voice when addressing the Iranian people. ... It benefits our region and the interests of other countries."

Still, Dr. Rouhani said there is "full readiness" on the part of Iran "to take the final step" on the nuclear issue

President Rouhani said that though the last step would be more difficult than the first, "the conditions allow us to take the final step.' Dr. Rouhani arguing that Iran's need for medical isotopes necessitated a heavy water reactor.

President Rouhani insisted Arak heavy water reactor would be used for "nuclear medicine," not nuclear weapons.

"We are standing on our own two feet. Iranian scientists have designed this. We have constructed it. It's nearly finished. So when it comes to medical concerns, we cannot accept limitations."

"Israel knows very well what the response would be. Israel knows well our regional capability," he said. "When it comes to practice, the Israelis cannot do that. If they do such a crazy thing, our response will make them rue the day."

On the Syrian issue Dr. Rouhani said elections were the key to resolving the issue.

He said. “If the people have some grievances, they need to go through legal channels, engage in free elections, for everyone to find out what the people need."

"All of us should ... work together to bring about appropriate conditions inside Syria and help with elections. Everyone should respect the vote of the Syrians. Whatever the Syrians say, that should be enough. If outside countries want to decide for Syria, they are wrong. It's impractical. It's illegal."

Presidency of The Islamic Republic of Iran
http://www.president.ir/en/74321

Zahra Rahnavard: Associating the Green Movement with Foreign Powers is Denying the Facts

Zahra Rahnavard: Associating the Green Movement with Foreign Powers is Denying the Facts
By Banooye Sabz
January 4, 2014

The Leaders of the Green Movement remain steadfast despite the recent wave of attacks by the regime’s propaganda machine.

January 4th, 2014 [Kaleme]- Despite the severe and unprecedented recent wave of attacks by the media outlets associated with Iran’s ruling establishment against the detained leaders of the Green Movement, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard’s daughters were reportedly allowed to visit with their parents this week. As customary, the visit took place in the building next to Mousavi and Rahnavard’s residence.

Although Rahnavard’s medical condition remains untreated, and Mousavi himself had expressed concern over his wife’s physical ailments last week, their daughters report that both Rahnavard and Mousavi are in strong spirits and they were allowed to call Rahnavard’s mother and Mousavi’s sister during the visit that lasted slightly over an hour.

Upon hearing the concern expressed by her daughters over her deteriorating health, Rahnavard responded: “The peace, happiness and well being of our people is more important than our health and our lives. We are hopeful that the myriad of challenges facing our nation are resolved so that our country can stand tall and continue to prosper.” While reiterating the fact that those who have been detained are the mothers and fathers of the Revolution and parents by nature are therefore never strangers to their offspring, Rahnavard once again described the Green Movement as a reform and justice seeking movement that arose from within the Islamic Republic, rejecting claims that associate the Green Movement with foreign powers and inflammatory conduct, adding that this type of propaganda is nothing but denying the truth.

The detained opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi who has followed the biased propaganda and slander dominating the Islamic Republic’s National Radio and Television (the IRIB) made references to his statement number 17 describing the true events that occurred on Ashura of 2009, adding that despite the false propaganda and contradictions, the level of social awareness has only continued to increase.

Mousavi and Rahnavard’s family members continue to object to the fact that they have been deprived of the basic rights afforded any prisoner including the legal right to weekly telephone calls.

Source: Kaleme: http://www.kaleme.com/1392/10/14/klm-170221/

Poster Designed by: Doost Sabz

Banooye Sabz
http://banouyesabz.wordpress.com/2014/01/04/zahra-rahnavard-associating-the-green-movement-with-foreign-powers-is-denying-the-facts/

Zahra Rahnavard’s Warm & Heart Felt Letter To Two Voices of Freedom Sara and Leyla Tavasoli

Zahra Rahnavard’s Warm & Heart Felt Letter To Two Voices of Freedom Sara and Leyla Tavasoli
By Banooye Sabz
July 24, 2010

Translator’s Note: I decided to translate this piece because it touched my heart. As an Iranian woman, I grew up in a family that was neither particularly religious, nor did it adhere to the traditions of Islam or any other religion for that matter. Yes, Zahra Rahnavard and I grew up with very different influences and probably have very different backgrounds, and yet, this brave and courageous Green women’s words resonate with me on so many levels. As different as we may seem on the outside, like many other Iranians we believe in human dignity. I am proud of Rahnavard’s tireless fight and steadfast stance when it comes to human rights, women’s rights and prisoner’s rights in Iran. Over the past year, she has never been afraid to speak her mind and to stand up for those who are voiceless, regardless of the pressures upon her by the oppressive and tyrannical government of Iran. Zahra Rahnavard is an Iranian lioness and though I’ve never met her in person, I am proud to have had the opportunity to get to know her a little better through translating some of her statements over the past year.

Thursday 22nd July 2010 – As per Kalame, Zahra Rahnavard, who had recently sent letters to Fatemeh Shams and Jila Bani Yaghoob (the wives of two brave prisoners Mohamad Reza Jalalipour and Bahman Ahmadi Amoui), has now also sent a warm and heart felt letter to two sisters, one of whom has been sentenced to six years prison and is married to the political prisoner Farid Taheri and another who personally witnessed the martyrdom of one of our citizens on Ashura last year in Tehran.

As per Kalame, the full content of Zahra Rahnavard’s letter to Sara and Leyla Tavasoli is as follows:

I have known you both for some time now. Your courage, innocence, purity, social activism, your sense of faith and morality have not gone unnoticed by me. Neither has your defense of justice, fight for freedom, human dignity and self esteem. All these characteristics are traits I have seen in both of you for years. I did not make your acquaintance through this Green movement, nor did I meet you on the blood filled day of Ashura.

I have known you for over thirty years, from your childhood days when our families met to recite the Quran and have political discussions; when you would both enter the room like delicate butterflies, sometimes even uttering a short Sura from the Quran in your dainty and childlike voices, welcoming all those present to your house, with your sweet offer of tea and sweets. Yes, I have known you for what seems like an eternity, from the days when you were immersed in the learning of the Quran and were beginning to spread your wings.

My loving Sara and Leyla, I have known you both from before your university days when you were both exemplary honor students. I don’t just know you through your mother who was a dear and cherished friend to all of us. I don’t know you just because you are related to your uncle, Dr. Abrahim Yazdi, who used to represent Imam Khomeini in the United States. I don’t even know you through your brave and courageous father, Mr. Tavasoli who was the first mayor of Tehran after the revolution, a mayor whose efforts and initiatives, not with standing the efforts of Mayors that succeeded him, are still present all over Tehran.

As we artists would say, I have not only observed you from afar, but also examined you up close.

My dear Sara and Leyla, you are present throughout this great nation of ours. Every breath taken by the Saras, Leylas, Shivas, Jilas, Mastanehs, the Shirine Ebadis, Mofidis, Mansouris, Baharehs, Parastoos, Samiyehs, Nargesses, the Mahboobe Karimis, the Mahdieh Golroos, the Atefeh Nabavis, Hengamehs and so many other countless, courageous women, symbolizes the thoughts and cries of protest throughout Iran’s glorious yet ancient history; the patience and perseverance of women who have sacrificed either a child or a husband in their quest for justice. And yet, despite the absence of their loved ones, either martyred or imprisoned, remain triumphant in this journey called life.

Yes, I have experienced both of you. I have stood by you and with you. We have experienced the same trials and tribulations and have common concerns for stability in Iran; a proud and glorious concern that has led to us coming together and knowing each other all too well.

My dear Sara and Leyla; you who have withstood so much, I feel your presence in the ancient Elamite [translator's note: Elamite is an extinct official language of the Persian Empire from the sixth to fourth centuries BC.], in the inscriptions of those who lived with love in Hegmatan and Pars, in those beautiful cuneiform inscriptions; I see you in Iran’s breath taking nature and in the great glory and civilization of this land. I have experienced your essence over and over again, each time more vibrant and those memories will remain with me for ever.

Everyone is aware of your [Iranian women] blessed presence in the anti-colonial tobacco movement, in the fight for freedom during the Constitutional Revolution, during the nationalization of our country’s oil, our national independence movement, our freedom seeking Islamic Republic and Islamic revolution, and now in this Green movement, your proud presence that has witnessed our martyrs and served as a voice for freedom and human dignity.

My dear and proud Sara and Leyla, I am thankful to God that Iranian women were not cheated of their right to carry the burden of our civilization and thousands of years of history; a civilization and history so eloquently exemplified in you two sisters.

I request that the nation of Iran and in particular our courageous women ask the power mongers loudly and clearly: Where are the rights of Iranian women, rights that were nurtured through our values and faith? What have you done to the rights of the Saras, Leylas, Shivas, Baharehs, Mehdiyes, Jilas, Badris and Mahboobe’s? Why were they threatened, tortured and imprisoned rather than appreciated and befriended? Why did you not extend an olive branch to those forsaken rather than tarnish the glorious history of the great nation of Iran?

Zahra Rahnavard – Tehran

Source: Kaleme: http://www.kaleme.com/1389/04/31/klm-26450

Banooye Sabz
http://banouyesabz.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/zahra-rahnavards-warm-heart-felt-letter-to-two-voices-of-freedom-sara-and-leyla-tavasoli/

Zahra Rahnavard Visits Mansour Osanloo’s Family

Zahra Rahnavard Visits Mansour Osanloo’s Family
By Banooye Sabz
July 23, 2010

Friday July 23rd, 2010 – According to Jaras, Zahra Rahnavard met with the family of Mansour Osanloo, imprisoned leading trade union activist and former head of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. During her visit with the Osanloo family, Rahnavard expressed her deep sympathy to Osanloo’s wife, mother and other members of his family present, wishing Mr. Osanloo and his family patience and good heath as they continue to wait for his safe return home.

Rahnavard reiterated her conviction that circumstances change, that life has a tendency to evolve and in the end, those who have endured hardship yet have remained hopeful, strong and patient, will always overcome.

Rahnavard expressed harsh criticism regarding the recent inhumane and unlawful treatment of political and civic prisoners, expressing hope that an end will finally be put to this type of behavior as soon as possible.

During this visit, the Osanloo family described the pressure, difficulties and hardship that both Osanloo and his family members have had to endure during the past few years. Mansour Osanloo, the 51 year old head of the Syndicate of Workers in Tehran has been repeatedly arrested and violently accosted by security forces due to his civic activities. He was last arrested during the summer of 2007 and has been in prison since.

Osanloo, along with other political prisoners arrested after the rigged elections on June 12th, 2009 including Isa Saharkhiz, Ahmad Zeydabadi, Heshmatallah Tabarzadi, Mehdi Mahmoodian and Masoud Bastani is being held at Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj.

Source: Jaras: http://www.rahesabz.net/story/20011/

Banooye Sabz
http://banouyesabz.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/zahra-rahnavard-visits-mansour-osanloos-family-%d8%af%db%8c%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%b2%d9%87%d8%b1%d8%a7-%d8%b1%d9%87%d9%86%d9%88%d8%b1%d8%af-%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d8%ae%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%af%d9%87/