Ayatollah Kashani: Iran steadfast on nuclear energy
Iran-Regional, Politics, 4/21/2006

Iran's substitute Friday prayers leader of Tehran Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani today said that Iranian nation is steadfast in the peaceful and scientific nuclear activity.

"Nuclear energy in Iran is a scientific and peaceful activity, being of high significance for the nation," Ayatollah Kashani said while delivering his second Friday prayers sermon to large groups of worshipers at Tehran University campus.

Ayatollah Kashani criticized double-standards in Iran's nuclear issue. "As far as Iran's peaceful nuclear activities are concerned, the world people say something, while the arrogance mouthpieces say something else," said the Ayatollah.

He said, "The arrogance suppose that what they say is a reflection of the world people's words."

He went on to say that certain international fora have turned into White House's decision making room. "In these fora, decisions are made against nations," he added. Kashani questioned the world silence against manufacturers of nuclear weapons, especially Israel.

He said about the economic importance of nuclear energy "The energy will play a high economic role for us in future." The major cleric said independence has been one of the pivots of Iran's endeavors to master peaceful nuclear technology. He said the energy source will be needed once oil is finished. "According to Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, they (the Westerners) want formation of a bank, called the fuel bank, in the Middle East in order to say that any country demanding fuel should get it from us (the West)," said Ayatollah Kashani, adding, "This is a kind of captivity," he added.

Iran's ambassador to Brussels, Ali Ahani met the new head of the foreign relations committee of the Belgian parliament, Hendrick Daems, stressed that although Iran poses no threat to any country and is playing a positive role to preserve peace and security in the region and seeks diplomacy to resolve problems, it is ready to defend its national interests. Ahani underlined that peaceful nuclear technology is the natural right of Iran and others who have signed the NPT.

Ayatollah Kashani said the call by the West means exploiting and colonizing nations adding "You cannot let a foreigner decide your fate and dominate you; and this is what our fathers and mothers were entangled with."

Kashani advised the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Security Council to act wisely, behave based on democracy and justice, and defy provocations of the West.

Previous Stories:
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