We are convinced that threats, sanctions, and threats of pressure in the present situation are counter-productive.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov • Regarding the U.S. applying pressure to Iran for its nuclear program. Russia has not completely committed to towing the U.S.’ line on the issue, despite Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pushing for it. • source
They plan to MacGyver it. Great. You didn’t have enough other things to worry about, and now Iran has enough knowledge and data to make a nuclear bomb, United Nations members say. We’re going to hide in a bunker now. If you’re worrying about how we’re gonna update the site, don’t; we’ve managed to get wi-fi in there. source
By making anti-Israeli statements he is trying to shed any suspicions about his Jewish connections. He feels vulnerable in a radical Shia society.
Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies spokesman Ali Nourizadeh • Describing newfound evidence that Ahmadinejad was born Jewish. In 2008, a photo was shot of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad holding up his identity card. It lists his birth name as Sabourjian, which is a Jewish name that means “cloth weaver.” Furthermore, the card suggests his family may have changed to Islam after giving birth. Is it possible he’s overcompensating? Who knows, but this is a pretty good story if it’s true. • source
Iran will not discuss issues related to its nuclear ‘rights’ … in Geneva on Thursday. But we can discuss about disarmament, we can discuss about non-proliferation and other general issues. The new site is part of our rights and there is no need to discuss.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization head Ali Akbar Salehi • Discussing the country’s nuclear program – or actually, not discussing it. If Iran doesn’t hear something it likes on Thursday and America increases economic sanctions, the country may back out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Great. Our question: Why does Iran keep doing this to themselves? The rest of the world does not understand what you’re trying to prove with the random sword-waving. • source
The Iranian Green Movement does not want a nuclear bomb, but instead desires peace for the world and democracy for Iran. The Green Movement in Iran furthermore understands the world’s concerns and in fact has similar concerns itself.
Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf • Regarding the disclosure that Iran has another nuclear facility, and where it fits in with the Green Movement behind the Iranian election protests earlier this year. • source
