Listening to Ahmadinejad's speech last night, as well as his previous campaign speeches, I don't remember him ever advocating the development of nuclear weapons. In fact I remember him distinctly stating that nuclear weapons "are against Islamic values." At the same time, every news analyst on CNN International and BBC News keeps reiterating that Ahmadinejad has "stated" or "advocated" the development of nuclear weapons. Mind you, this is different from advocating the development of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including an self-run nuclear cycle which every candidate, including reformists, were advocating and is heavily supported by the Iranian population.

I've been doing searches in Persian newspapers but can't find any statements by Ahmadinejad supporting the development of nuclear weapons. I was wondering whether anyone knows whether Ahmadinejad has stated at any time during his presidential campaign, or before, that he supports development of nuclear weapons; or, if this is simply an assumption many journalists are making because of his militarist background.