The United States and its allies have embarked on a war of words with Iran over the country's disputed nuclear program. There is a belief among countries such as the United States, Germany, Britain and France that Iran could be using nuclear technology to create weapons. Iranian officials say that they are only using the technology to generate electricity. This claim has not stopped other countries from speaking out against the prospect of an Iranian atomic bomb. Israel, a country that could possibly own the only atomic arsenal in the Middle East, has also shown concern regarding the consequences of a possible Iranian bomb. A fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Iran will be considered if they do not accept nuclear program negotiations. These potential sanctions are not likely to curtail Iran's nuclear progress due to the fact that they have continually disregarded the threat of sanctions. According to The Washington Post, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi has responded by saying that Iran will seriously defend its nuclear rights.