LONDON (Reuters) -- Iran wants the ability to build nuclear weapons to gain a reputation as a major power in the Middle East, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog has said in a BBC interview broadcast.
Muhammad el-Baradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said on June 17 Iran sees nuclear weapons as an "insurance policy" against perceived threats from neighboring countries or the United States.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's disputed reelection has cast doubt on Western powers' hopes of a new dialogue with Iran over its nuclear program, which Iran says is peaceful rather than military.
"My gut feeling is that Iran definitely would like to have the technology...that would enable it to have nuclear weapons if they decided to do so," el-Baradei told the BBC.
"It wants to send a message to its neighbors, it wants to send a message to the rest of the world: yes, don't mess with us, we can have nuclear weapons if we want it.
"But the ultimate aim of Iran, as I understand it, is that they want to be recognized as a major power in the Middle East and they are.
"This is to them the road to get that recognition to power and prestige and...an insurance policy against what they heard in the past about regime change, axis of evil."
Ahmadinejad indicated on June 14 that there would be no change in nuclear policy during his second term, saying the issue "belongs in the past."
Six countries, including European Union members Britain, France and Germany, have offered Iran economic and other incentives if it stops enriching uranium, a process that can make fuel for power plants or weapons.
Iran says it wants nuclear technology to generate electricity.
Supporters of Iran's defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Musavi plan a fifth day of protests on June 17 over the legitimacy of the election.
Muhammad el-Baradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said on June 17 Iran sees nuclear weapons as an "insurance policy" against perceived threats from neighboring countries or the United States.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's disputed reelection has cast doubt on Western powers' hopes of a new dialogue with Iran over its nuclear program, which Iran says is peaceful rather than military.
"My gut feeling is that Iran definitely would like to have the technology...that would enable it to have nuclear weapons if they decided to do so," el-Baradei told the BBC.
"It wants to send a message to its neighbors, it wants to send a message to the rest of the world: yes, don't mess with us, we can have nuclear weapons if we want it.
"But the ultimate aim of Iran, as I understand it, is that they want to be recognized as a major power in the Middle East and they are.
"This is to them the road to get that recognition to power and prestige and...an insurance policy against what they heard in the past about regime change, axis of evil."
Ahmadinejad indicated on June 14 that there would be no change in nuclear policy during his second term, saying the issue "belongs in the past."
Six countries, including European Union members Britain, France and Germany, have offered Iran economic and other incentives if it stops enriching uranium, a process that can make fuel for power plants or weapons.
Iran says it wants nuclear technology to generate electricity.
Supporters of Iran's defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Musavi plan a fifth day of protests on June 17 over the legitimacy of the election.