Rohani: Iran nuclear aims not meant to be exposed.

Rohani: Iran nuclear aims not meant to be exposed.(JPost).

UNITED NATIONS - Years before he became Iran's president-elect, Hassan Rohani spoke approvingly about concealing his nation's nuclear program and said that when Pakistan got atomic bombs and Brazil began enriching uranium, "the world started to work with them."

The comments offer an intriguing window into the past thinking of Rohani, widely seen as a moderate or pragmatic conservative, whose surprise victory in weekend elections to succeed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was perceived by the United States and other Western powers as positive - at least at first glance.

Rohani has said he intends to pursue constructive interaction with the world and "more active" negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, after his predecessor's belligerence was met with painful international sanctions and military threats from Israel and the United States..

Rohani, who in later years criticized Ahmadinejad for his confrontational approach to the nuclear issue, spoke in 2004 in favor of a quiet and calculating strategy with the West. He recommended accepting an enrichment freeze as negotiated with Britain, France and Germany - the "EU3" - and ending it at some point.

"I think we should not be in a great rush to deal with this issue," he said. "We should be patient and find the most suitable time to do away with the suspension." "If we decide to start enrichment in the face of opposition by the West, we must find the best time and the most favorable conditions, and if we decide to work with the West, we must utilize all our capabilities and everything that is in our power to achieve our objectives," he said. "We should not rush into this. We must move very carefully, in a very calculated manner." In a 2006 speech quoted in Kane's article, Rohani described Ahmadinejad's move in that same year to begin enriching uranium against the wishes of Western powers as "some success," but noted that that "we have been forced to pay a hefty price."Hmmmm......Yup completely in line with 'the hidden imam' story.Read the full story here.

Iran soon to inaugurate the 'Imam Khomeini' space rocket launch base.

Ahmadinejad has volunteered to be the first iranian in space in a new career move.

Iran soon to inaugurate the 'Imam Khomeini' space rocket launch base.(TI).

Iran will inaugurate a space rocket launch base by the end of the incumbency of the current administration in August, the Mehr News Agency quoted Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi as saying.

A number of satellites are scheduled to be launched in the coming weeks, Vahidi added. The Emam Khomeini base will launch Iranian satellites as well as those of other regional countries.

Earlier this month, Iran inaugurated its first space survey and monitoring base with the goal of boosting security of Iranian space systems and surveying satellites which are passing over Iran, IRNA reported.

The base will help manage the traffic of satellites and share spatial information with other countries, said Iran Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi at the inauguration ceremony.

Iran will launch its own communications satellite in five years, head of country's Space Agency, Hamid Fazeli said, IRIB News reported.

Hamid Fazeli said Iran plans to send 'IranSat' into space via three stages. First would be sending 'IranSat 1' into space in two years, then 'IranSat 2' will be sent next in 17 months.

Fazeli noted the satellite's manufacture and design cost $70 million, the satellite launch will be $30 million, plus an additional $40 million for transferring function blocks.

Iran launched its first satellite, called the Omid (Hope), in February 2009. The Rasad (Observation) satellite was also sent into orbit in June 2011.

In February, 2012, Iran successfully put its third domestically manufactured satellite Navid (Promise), into orbit. On February 8, 2012, Iran received the first image sent by the Navid satellite.

As part of its space programmd, Iran also plans to launch the Fajr (Dawn) satellite in the near future.

The Fajr, which is a reconnaissance satellite powered by solar energy, will be Iran's first new generation satellite to be sent into space.Hmmmm.......Read the full story here.