Ahmadinejad: Iran Does Not Need Atomic Bomb

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran is not pursuing an an atomic bomb and that it is "unnecessary" in this day and age.

Published

6 months ago

Categories

US, World

Topics

Nuclear Security, Middle East & North Africa, International Relations, United States

People

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, George Little

Places

Iran, United States of America, Tehran

Transcript

On a trip to Indonesia, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had this to say about his country's nuclear ambitions. SOUNDBITE: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying (Farsi): "Americans know that the people of Iran are not after an atomic bomb and they don't have a need for an atomic bomb. Why would the people of Iran need an atomic bomb. The people of Iran have lived for seven thousand years without the need for a bomb. " He went on to say that in this day and age, bombs are "unnecessary." His remarks came as the Pentagon confirmed Tehran had fired on a U.S. drone. SOUNDBITE: U.S. Defense Department spokesman George Little saying: "November 1st at approximately 4:50 a.m. eastern daylight time, an unarmed, unmanned MT-1 U.S. military aircraft conducting routine surveillance over the Arabian Gulf, was intercepted by Iranian SU-25 Frogfoot aircraft (EDIT) Approximately 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coastline. The MT-1 was not hit and returned to base safely. The incident occurred over international waters approximately 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coastline. The MT-1 was not hit and returned to its base safely. We have briefed relevant members of Congress on the incident. Little says the U.S. has made clear to Tehran the U.S. will continue its surveillance missions, reiterating that the drone was in international air space.