Region | Iran
West is unfair to Iran, says Erdogan
Erdogan: Fears of Tehran seeking to build nuclear arms are gossip
- Reuters
- Published: 00:00 October 27, 2009
- Image Credit: AP
- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has accused the West of treating Iran unfairly over its nuclear programme, in comments that come as world powers await Tehran's response to a UN-drafted plan.
"We are not in favour of there being weapons of mass destruction in Iran and in our region," Erdogan told Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera.
Erdogan, who was due in Tehran on Monday, also said in the interview broadcast on Sunday it was "unfair and unjust" to pressure Iran when other countries have such weapons.
He did not mention any particular country, but Israel is believed to be the only nuclear-armed Middle East state.
Erdogan, meanwhile, told Britain's Guardian newspaper that Western fears Iran wanted to build the bomb were "gossip".
His comments come as a team from the UN nuclear watchdog continues its inspection of a previously secret uranium plant near the city of Qom.
Erdogan is due to hold talks in Tehran with both President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the country's Supreme Leader. He suggested that there was a dual standard in the West's approach towards Iran.
He said any military strike against Iran would be "crazy".
Erdogan also said many of the states which objected to any move by Iran to build a nuclear arsenal — including all the permanent members of the UN Security Council — possessed one themselves.
"There is a style of approach which is not very fair because those [who accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons] have very strong nuclear infrastructures," Erdogan said.
What is the significance of Erdogan's statements? Does this signal Turkey shifting away from the West or is this just a tactical move? Post your comments by clicking on the link below.
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