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Excerpts from Khamenei's speech
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressed the nation on Sunday in a speech marking the 17th anniversary of the death of his predecessor and the leader of Iran's Islamic revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini.Here are excerpts from Mr Khamenei's speech, which was broadcast live on state television. US ENERGY SUPPLIES In order to threaten Iran, you [America] say that you can secure the energy flow in the region. You are wrong. Beware that if you make the slightest mistake over Iran, the energy flow through this region will be seriously endangered. You will never be capable of providing energy security in this region. You are not capable and you should know this. NUCLEAR WEAPONS We have no problem with the world. We are no threat whatsoever to the world and the world knows it... The other suggestion is that Iran is seeking a nuclear bomb. This is an irrelevant and wrong statement, it is a sheer lie. We do not need a nuclear bomb. We do not have any objectives or aspirations for which we will need to use a nuclear bomb. We consider using nuclear weapons against Islamic rules... We think imposing the costs of building and maintaining nuclear weapons on our nation is unnecessary. Building and maintaining such weapons is costly. In no way do we deem it correct to impose these costs on the people. MILITARY ACTION We will never start a war. We have no intention of going to war with any government. US ADMINISTRATION Your government today is the most hated government in the history of the United States. They announced it to the world in their own opinion polls... Compare this with our own government. Our government is one of the most popular governments since the [1906] constitutional revolution. US AND THE MIDDLE EAST In Iraq, you failed. You say you have spent $300bn to bring a government into office that obeys you. But it did not happen. In Palestine, you made every attempt to prevent Hamas from coming to power and again you failed. EUROPE Our government has healthy and good relations with European countries. These relations with Europe will be even better in the future, when gas plays a more important role as a source of energy. They need our gas. THE ARAB WORLD We have friendly and good ties with the Arab world. The most important issue in Arab society is the Palestinian cause. On this issue, we speak openly about whatever they have in their hearts. We have a very clear and transparent position on the Palestinian cause and Arab nations like this position wholeheartedly. They feel proud when we voice that position. RUSSIA We also have good ties with Russia. The Russians know very well what would happen to them if a pro-American government was in power in Tehran. We [Iran and Russia] have common interests in Central Asia, the Middle East and this region. NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT Some 116 non-aligned countries supported Iran in its bold move to acquire nuclear technology. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference has voiced support for Iran. Independent governments all support Iran. All those people who have acted as middlemen to repeat America's words to us, under American pressure and out of courtesy, have told us in secret that they have been asked by the Americans to say so and that they do not think the same way. Posted by: Dan Darling 2006-06-05 |
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