US reaction to Mahmoud Alavi's statements about producing nuclear weapons
US State Department spokesman Ned Price called the Islamic Republic's intelligence minister's statements concerning. Price stressed that the US will use all its power to prevent the expansion of Iran's missile activities.
The unprecedented statements by Mahmoud Alavi, the Minister of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic, about the possibility of equipping Iran with nuclear weapons were one of the focuses of a press conference by Ned Price, spokesman for the US State Department.
On Tuesday, February 9th, US State Department spokesman Ned Price held a press conference. Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Al-Ahmad asked about Mahmoud Alavi's statements at the press conference.
The Islamic Republic's Minister of Intelligence said in an interview with Sima Channel 2: "The leadership clearly stated in their fatwa that producing nuclear weapons is against Islamic law and the Islamic Republic will not pursue it and considers it forbidden. But if a cat is cornered, it may behave in a way that a free cat would not."
"We still don't know for sure whether this is Mahmoud Alawi's personal opinion or not," Ned Price said in response to an Al Jazeera reporter's question. "We certainly take these comments seriously. These comments are concerning."
The US State Department spokesperson emphasized that "under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran will never, never, never be allowed to equip itself with nuclear weapons."
In another part of his speech, Price addressed a reporter's question about the UN report on Iran's cooperation with North Korea in the production of intercontinental missiles, and said that it is not correct to comment on a report that has not yet been published.
The US State Department spokesperson also emphasized that the country, along with its allies, will prevent the transfer of parts and technology needed to produce ballistic missiles.
Price emphasized that the United States, together with its allies, will use all its power to prevent the expansion of the Islamic Republic of Iran's missile program.
Source: DW
