World

Rahbar sets out the Islamic State’s response to US plans for the region

Crescent International

Rajab 14, 14222001-10-01

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Ayatullah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, called on Wednesday for a serious campaign against terrorism, and said that US officials’ definitions of terrorism are unacceptable.

Addressing the families of martyrs of the Iraqi-imposed war (1980-1988), Ayatullah Khamenei said that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not regard the US as sincere in fighting terrorism and will not join in any move orchestrated by the United States in this respect. The Leader pointed to the “arrogant” statements by US officials and said that the humiliation the US has suffered (by the attacks on the Pentagon and WTC on September 11) cannot excuse such arrogance, adding that the people of the world will not accept such claims.

He also ruled out the idea of either siding with the US or with terrorism, and said that this demand is based on a wrong perception, because today some governments, which are allies of the US, are more dangerous than the ‘terrorists’. “Those at the helm of the Zionist regime have taken part in the most heinous and brutal terrorist attacks and are continuing their actions,” he said; “we are not with you, and not with the terrorists either,” he added.

“By American logic, massacre of the people in Sabra and Shatila (in 1982) and Qana (in 1999) and the legislation to assassinate the Palestinians cannot be regarded as terrorism, but the legitimate defense of the Palestinians to liberate their lands is called terrorism,” Ayatullah Khamenei pointed out. “The American officials say there is no good or bad terrorism, but they have practically classified terrorism to good and bad. An example is the shooting down of the Iranian airliner over the Persian Gulf (in 1988) which caused loss of life of hundreds of innocent people by a US warship [the Vincennes]. The US [President Clinton] awarded the navy commander responsible for downing the airliner instead of offering an apology to Iran,” he went on.

The Leader condemned the US media propaganda campaign against the Muslims from the early hours of September 11, and asked how the US intelligence agency immediately concluded that the terrorists were Muslims. If intelligence could identify the terrorists in a matter of hours, why had they not discovered a plot which probably took a few years, or at least several months, to plan, he wondered. The Leader also criticized the US president’s statement calling for a “crusade” against terrorism, and asked why, if the wording was not deliberate, the US official spoke so carelessly.

“You have embarked on a propaganda campaign against the Muslims. You announce names of the Muslim suspects while you do not release the names of the US or western suspects. Then you ask the people not to attack Muslims,” Ayatullah Khamenei said. He condemned the approach US officials have taken since the attacks against US interests, and said that such an attitude leads to hatred for the US and its policies.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not help the US and its allies in any attack on Afghanistan,” the Supreme Leader said. “You have always dealt blows to Iranian interests in the past 23 years. How do you expect us to help you in attacking the war-stricken people of Afghanistan in our neighborhood?” the Leader said in response to the US’s request to Iran. He also said that the United States is using the situation to gain influence on Iran’s eastern borders, in the region, in Central Asia and the South Asian subcontinent.

The struggle against terrorism should be initiated by the United Nations without the influence of the US and western powers, the Leader said; Muslim states and the Organization of the Islamic Conference should also shoulder the onerous task of fighting terrorism.

The Afghan people are not different from other people in the entire world, so they should not be made victims for any reason, the Leader concluded. (Tehran, Sept 26, IRNA.)

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