insideIRAN | Turkey’s Prime Minister Warns Against Attack on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

Turkey’s Prime Minister Warns Against Attack on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

September 30th, 2009

Fars News Agency

During a press conference in New York, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, defended Iran, which has been accused of concealing secrets about its nuclear program.

“Those accusing Iran of trying to have nuclear weapons are the main possessors of nuclear arms in the world,” he said. Turkey has been a critical broker between Iran and Western governments and was one of the first states to recognize the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Erdogan added “We do not want any strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities. This would be a grave mistake.

In response to a question about Iran’s efforts to achieve nuclear weapons technology, Erdogan said, “So far, no offer has been made to us to mediate in the Iran issue. If Turkey is asked, we will say that we are always prepared to help. “

Erdogan added, “We are against nuclear weapons in the Middle East. There is a country that has nuclear weapons in the Middle East and that is Israel. There is, however, a difference. Israel is not a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, but Iran is. Let’s not get into Israel’s use of phosphor bombs in Gaza now.” He continued, “What are these bombs? Weapons of mass destruction. Fourteen hundred people were killed. We never discuss this but we go and talk about Iran.”

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