According to multiple sources, Iran has marked the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution by announcing Iran is now a "nuclear power."
Reuters has reported it, but oddly that's not even the headline of the story: "Clashes reported as Iran marks Revolution Day."
"Iranian opposition websites said security forces clashed with protesters and arrested at least 30 as huge crowds flocked to central Tehran on Thursday to mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
"Official media made no mention of clashes or arrests and state television said "tens of millions of people" attended rallies in support of the revolution across the country of 70 million.
"The Islamic state is facing its worst domestic crisis in three decades as opposition supporters have rallied round the reformists who lost to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a disputed election last June.
"Ahmadinejad told a vast, flag-waving crowd of government supporters that Iran was now able to enrich uranium to more than 80 percent purity, coming close to levels experts say would be needed for a nuclear bomb, although he again denied it had any such intention.
"'The Iranian nation is brave enough that if one day we wanted to build nuclear bombs we would announce it publicly without being afraid of you,' Ahmadinejad said, addressing Iran's Western enemies.
"But he told the crowd in Azadi (Freedom) Square: 'When we say that we don't build nuclear bombs, it means that we won't do that because we don't believe in having it.'"
"Iran is now a 'nuclear state', President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced this morning.
He spoke as tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Tehran to mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
He spoke as tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Tehran to mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
"There are fears of violence as opposition and pro-government supporters are expected to meet at rallies in a show of popular strength unmatched since the revolution itself.
"Today Ahmadinejad told scores of cheering Iranians that the Islamic Republic is capable of producing weapons-grade uranium.
"'When we say we do not manufacture the bomb, we mean it, and we do not believe in manufacturing a bomb,' he told the crowd. 'If we wanted to manufacture a bomb we would announce it.'
"Thousands of supporters had been brought in on buses to hear Ahmadinejad speak.
Security forces have threatened to crush any opposition protests as Iran marks the anniversary of the revolution today.
"Witnesses say security forces fired paint balls to disperse anti-government protesters in one of the first clashes during today’s ceremonies.
"The unrest began after protesters began to chant opposition slogans in Sadeqieh Square, which is about a half-mile (one kilometer) from a huge pro-government gathering where President Ahmadinejad delivered a speech."
Doesn't Ahmadinejad realize we have bigger fish to fry in the US? I mean Sarah Palin wasn't wearing a black bracelet but the Left blogs thought she was!
Well, I'm sure Obama's "Happy Nowruz" message will bring about a peaceful resolution to all this. I mean just look at that picture from the Iranian protests at the top of this post...
Obviously Iran is running scared, indicated by the way Ahmadinejad issued the message. I mean, he's saying "we could make nuclear weapon-- but we just don't want to." It's like an elementary school yard taunt. However, I'm also pretty sure that this is not an idle boast.
Whether Obama likes it or not, he is going to have to address the Iranian issue soon. This could mean more toothless diplomacy that elicits only meaningless promises from Iranian negotiators. I hope not, but that's my prediction. I wonder how many days Obama will let pass before he condemns the violent crackdown on Iranian protesters...
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