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Apr 10, 2015
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Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei following Lausanne Declaration: Nothing Has Been Achieved So Far

#4894 | 13:47
Source: Al-Alam Network (Iran)

In a speech delivered following the Lausanne declaration, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said: "Our officials and those in charge of the nuclear portfolio tell us that nothing has been achieved in this respect. Nothing binding has been reached between the two parties."


Following are excerpts from the speech, which was broadcast on the Iranian Al-Alam TV channel on April 10, 2015.


Ali Khamenei: Some people have asked why one has not yet declared one's position on the nuclear issue. The answer is that there is no point in taking a position. Our officials and those in charge of the nuclear portfolio tell us that nothing has been achieved in this respect. Nothing binding has been reached between the two parties. So why take a position? If I were asked whether I am in favor or against, I would say that I am neither, because nothing has happened yet and nothing has been achieved. All the problems pertain to the details, which need to be discussed one by one.


All the problems pertain to the details, which need to be discussed one by one. The officials have said this as well, both to me and to the people. All the problems will come later. The opposite party is very stubborn. They violate agreements, make pretexts, change their minds, and stab you in the back. If they do such bad deeds – when we reach the details, they might lay siege to our country, our people, and our negotiators. So far, we have achieved nothing. Nothing binding has been achieved. So it is meaningless to congratulate me or anyone else on the agreement.


Crowd: Allah Akbar


Allah Akbar!


Allah Akbar!


Allah Akbar!


Khamenei is the leader!


Death to those who oppose the Rule of Jurisprudent!


Death to America!


Death to England!


Death to the hypocrites!


Death to Israel.


Ali Khamenei: What has been achieved so far does not guarantee that the negotiations will lead to an actual agreement, and does not guarantee the content of the agreement. It does not even guarantee that the negotiations will culminate in an agreement. This is what has happened so far. Everything depends on what is yet to come. Let me make several points about the nuclear issue. I was never optimistic about the negotiations with America.


Crowd: Say: "Allah Akbar!"


Allah Akbar!


Death to America!


Death to America!


Death to America!


Death to America!


Death to America!


Death to America!


Khamenei is the leader!


Ali Khamenei: I was never optimistic about the negotiations with America. This is based not on delusions but on our past experience.


[…]


Even though I was not optimistic about negotiations with America, I did not oppose these negotiations. I wholeheartedly supported them, and I continue to do so. I am 100% in favor of reaching an agreement that will guarantee the interests and preserve the honor of the Iranian people. Everybody should know this.


[…]


Of course, it is better to have no deal than to reach a bad deal. I have said this before, and so have the Americans. This is the correct formula.


[…]


I have serious concerns, because the other party has a strong tendency toward deceiving, lying, violating agreements, and taking the wrong direction. That is what the other side is like. We have just had an example of this. A few hours after the negotiations were over, the White House issued a statement in order to clarify the negotiations. Most of what they said in what they called a "fact sheet" runs counter to the reality.


What they said about the negotiations and about the understandings was an altered version. It was wrong, and it contradicted reality. They brought me this statement. It is four or five pages long. It could not have been prepared within two or three hours. They prepared it while they were still negotiating with us. This is what the other side is like.


[…]


They do not keep their commitments, and they deceive others. They make declarations, but in private, they say that this was only in order to save face, and that it was directed, for example, to the opposition in their own country. It has nothing to do with us.


[…]


Of course, they say the same thing about us. They said that after the negotiations, the Iranian leader, in an effort to save face, might declare his opposition [to the framework deal]. It's the pot calling the kettle black.


[…]


Perhaps [the Americans] will say to us that only three months are left [in order to reach an agreement]. [We must respond]: What is the problem if three months turn into four? They themselves postponed negotiations for seven months on one occasion. The current negotiations, which are partly with the Americans, deal exclusively with the nuclear issue. We are not negotiating with the Americans on any other issue right now. Everyday should know this. We are not negotiating about domestic, regional, or international issues. It is only the nuclear issue that is being negotiated.


This will be an experience for us. If the other side gives up its regular despicable behavior, we will have a different experience, and we will be able to negotiate other issues. But if we see that they are continuing with their regular despicable conduct, it will just strengthen our experience. You should know that the other side does not represent the whole world.


Sometimes we hear the term "international community" being used, and I have even complained to some of our friends about this. "International community" is the term used by [the West]. It is not the "international community" that is opposing us. It is just America and three European countries.


[…]


If some backward country says that since Iran enriches uranium, it wants to do so too – fine, go ahead and enrich uranium yourself. Go ahead, if you know how. We did not obtain our enrichment capabilities from anybody. We have this aptitude. If your people has this aptitude – go ahead and enrich uranium. These are the childish complaints used by some countries.


[…]


Some criminal countries, like America, have used nuclear bombs against peoples, and some, like France, have conducted nuclear experiments. 10-12 years ago, France conducted three consecutive nuclear tests in the ocean. These tests destroy the marine habitat. France conducted three very dangerous nuclear experiments. There was an uproar worldwide, which was short-lived. They silenced the criticism, and that was that.


[…]


We are not planning any nuclear explosions or experiments, and we are not trying to obtain nuclear weapons – no because we have been asked not to do so, but for own reasons, because of our religion and our reason. We have a fatwa of the shari'a and a fatwa of the reason. Our fatwa of the reason tells us that we do not and will not need nuclear weapons, and that a nuclear weapon is a source of trouble for a country like ours.


[…]


Today, an initial understanding has been reached, and has been declared in a statement. So far, nothing has been implemented on the ground, and both sides say that there is nothing obligatory. Even so, as soon as this much was accomplished, the U.S. president appeared on TV, gesticulating.


Another demand that I discussed with the officials, as well as with the people, is the demand that the very important negotiations with regard to the details, which will take place in the months to come, must achieve the complete and immediate lifting of the sanctions.


Some say that they may be lifted after six months, others say that it might take a year, and some say that it might take even longer. These are their usual games, which are insignificant and unacceptable. If the two sides reach an agreement, God willing, the sanctions must be lifted completely on the day of the agreement. That is what must happen.


Crowd: Allah Akbar!


Allah Akbar!


Khamenei is the leader!


Death to those who oppose the Rule of Jurisprudent!


Death to America!


Death to England!


Death to the hypocrites!


Death to Israel.


[…]


Ali KhameneiAnother point about which I warned the honorable officials – and I am telling you now – is that they must not agree to let anyone have access to our security or defense sites, under the guise of monitoring.


Crowd: Say: "Allah Akbar!"


Allah Akbar!


Allah Akbar!


Allah Akbar!


Khamenei is the leader!


Death to those who oppose the Rule of Jurisprudent!


Death to America!


Death to England!


Death to the hypocrites!


Death to Israel!


[…]


Ali KhameneiAnother thing that I would like to mention is that it is totally unacceptable for the monitoring to exceed the norm, which would turn Iran into a special case in terms of monitoring. Iran should undergo the same monitoring that is acceptable worldwide and no more. The final point is that [Iran's] scientific and technological nuclear development, in its various aspects, must not stop. Technical development must continue. There is nothing wrong, however, with some acceptable restrictions. We are not opposed to that, but technical development must continue full force.


[…]

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