Omar at Iraq the Model asks “Does the CNN [sic] have problems with translation from Arabic to English or is it a case of deliberate twisting of facts?”  This pertains to CNN’s reporting that Iraq’s Foreign Minister defended Iran’s nuclear program.

CNN reported:

Iran has a right to develop nuclear technology and the international community should drop its demands that Tehran prove it’s not trying to build a nuclear weapon, Iraq’s foreign minister said Friday.

“Iran doesn’t claim that they want to obtain a nuclear weapon or a nuclear bomb, so there is no need that we ask them for any guarantee now,” Hoshyar Zebari said after meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki.

This report was parlayed into reports the new Iraqi government would not be U.S.-friendly.  Well, it is a sovereign government and they can choose what to do and say.

But that’s not the crux of the matter as Omar lays out.  What exactly did Zebari say?

We respect Iran’s and every other nation’s right to pursue nuclear technology for research purposes and peaceful use given they accept [giving] the internationally required guarantees that this will not lead to an armament race in the region…

Now wait a minute.  That’s not what CNN reported.