Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at Columbia University in New York, September 24, 2007. Ahmadinejad reiterated on Monday that his country's nuclear program was for peaceful purposes and not to develop weapons.
Photo: Reuters
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A Ban On Nuclear Cooperation with Russia
The House of the U.S. Congress voted for the bill toughening sanctions against Iran and extending their effect also to Russia.
The House voted 397 for the bill that blocks foreign investment in Iran, particularly the energy sector, and bans President George Bush from waiving U.S. sanctions. One of the items of the bill supported by the lawmakers bans nuclear cooperation with the states that back up even the civil nuclear program of Tehran. So, the prohibition also extends to Russia that constructs a nuclear plant in Bushehr.
Regardless, the highlight was not some nuclear cooperation with Russia, but the effect of the sanctions on foreign firms with the U.S. interest that invest in oil and gas sector of Iran’s economy as well as on any other companies investing over $20 million in Iran’s development.
In addition to the economic blow, Washington lawmakers also committed authorities to find out whether the Iranian Revolutionary Guard could be designated a terrorist group and if it promotes proliferation of mass destruction weapons.
The House voted on the bill on September 25, 2007, i.e. the next day after Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke at Columbia University in New York. Ahmadinejad reiterated that his country's nuclear program was for peaceful purposes and not to develop weapons, Iran has nothing to do with killing U.S. soldiers in Iraq, Israel is an aggressive state and Iran has no sexual minorities at all.
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