Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

Iran's President Defends Nuclear Program

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (file photo) (AFP)

14 January 2006 -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said at a press conference today that his country has every right to have nuclear technology and rejected accusations that Iran was seeking to build an atomic weapon.

TEXT SIZE - +

January 14, 2006

Ahmadinejad said Iran would not limit its nuclear program even if ordered to do so by the UN Security Council.

He also noted that Iranian authorities have repeated on many occasions that the country does not need nuclear weapons, and "the people who are seeking to solve all equations with force and bullying are people who want weapons."

The Iranian president said there is no evidence to support charges that Iran was interested in acquiring such weapons but there were people who "think they have the power and want to deprive Iran of its rights."

It was only the second time Ahmadinejad has given a press conference since his election in June.

(AFP)

Iran's Nuclear Program

THE COMPLETE PICTURE: RFE/RL's complete coverage of controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program.

CHRONOLOGY

An annotated timeline of Iran's nuclear program.

A vendor in the central Bosnian town of Zenica sells heart-shaped cushions with proclamations of love for 1 euro each.

Love It (Or Hate It), It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the Western holiday celebrating love, has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades. The fall of communism and the emergence of the Internet have helped February 14 become something of an unofficial international day of romance. However, not all the passions the holiday stirs are related to love. While some countries have openly embraced the holiday, others are attempting to ban it or replace it with local customs. More

Many Iranians have been claiming that their access to social networks and Internet-based e-mail sites has been blocked in recent days.

Iran Tightens Internet Control

Iranians are reporting that their access to Facebook and Internet-based e-mail sites like Gmail has been blocked, without any explanation from the government. Not even the strongest antifiltering programs have penetrated the firewall, they say. Some speculate the move is related to Iran's plan to launch a national internet, which might sever Iranians' ability to access the World Wide Web. More

Web-savvy Iranian oppositionists are renowned for their ability to use proxies and other means to circumvent Tehran

Explainer: Iran's National Internet

Reports that Iran has stepped up its Internet censorship in recent days -- as evidenced by a general slowdown of the web, Internet blackouts, and the blocking of sites such as Google -- has raised speculation that the country might be testing its controversial "national Internet." More