At a July 12, 2009 conference on promoting the mentality of self-sacrifice among women, convened under the auspices of the Martyrs Foundation in Tehran, Iranian Vice President Parviz Davoudi stated that Iran was making progress in nuclear technology as well as in the field of ballistic missiles, and that it currently was operating over 12,000 centrifuges. Davoudi stated that the struggle between Iran and its enemies was essentially cultural and ideological, and that the religious democracy of the Islamic Revolutionary Regime would prevail over Western democracy. He threatened that if Iran's enemies continued their efforts to destabilize the Iranian regime, Iran would undermine the stability of the Middle East and of the entire world, because it has a presence in all European countries and in the Americas. He also conveyed a warning message to opponents of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran.
Following are excerpts from Davoudi's address [1]:
"The Islamic Republic of Iran… Has Demonstrated Its Power to the World by Means of Its Great TechnologicalAchievements"
"If there is aggression against the Islamic Republic's regime or violation of the Republic's borders, the [Iranian] nation will hurl them [the enemies] to the ground through [the sheer passion inspired by] the 'Ashura [ceremony], [2] and crush their bones…
"Eighty-five percent of the Iranian people voted [in the recent elections], surpassing [turnout] in Western countries. Despite the lies, plots, and sanctions against the Iranian nation, the people displayed the utmost purity and truth, demonstrating that even 30 years after [the Islamic Revolution], they put their trust in the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran…
"Owing to the guidance of the leader [Ali Khamenei], to the efforts of the Ahmadinejad government, and to the steadfastness of the people, today Iran is operating over 12,000 centrifuges. We are conquering technological areas one after another, and advancing towards [new] heights. Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is unprecedentedly strong, and it has demonstrated its power to the world by means of its great technological achievements - especially in the areas of satellites and the military, including the Sejil missile. Following the testing of the Sejil-2 missile, the terrorist and murderous Zionist regime acknowledged that it is powerless to withstand the Islamic Republic of Iran…
"This is a Defeat of Western Democracy vis-à-vis the Religious Democracy of the Islamic Republic of Iran"
"Today, a young man from the lowest social class has become president of Iran, and has shattered the Holocaust myth [before the entire] world. He stood steadfast in the face of plots and plans of the arrogant at Columbia University, and at the 2nd Durban Conference against Racism, thanks to the path of the Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini] and the leader [Khamenei], as well as with the help of the word of Allah. He crushed the enemies and exposed to the world the specious slogan of the struggle against racism. In August 2008, the leader [Khamenei] laid out the virtues of the Ahmadinejad government, including efficiency, indefatigableness, modest lifestyle, lack of self-interest, and courage…
"[Iran's] enemies have invested great thought and funds in launching a velvet revolution in Iran, using all their strength. But their policy will bring [only] defeat, since they are losing to the Iranian nation no matter what. This is a defeat of Western democracy vis- à -vis the religious democracy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"If they [Iran's enemies] decide to isolate and destabilize Iran, they must realize that not only will the entire region be stabilized, but the entire world will be destabilized - because today Iran has a presence in all European countries, in America - including Latin America - and in the Middle East. Iran plays an important role in America, and therefore they [the enemies] will have no success in destabilizing the Islamic Republic [of Iran]…
"Some [in Iran] have been led astray by the enemies [i.e. Mousavi and his followers]. My advice to them is not to believe that the crises in the West will end - because it is not only economic. They are facing crises and problems in all areas. The [world] order on which these [misled Iranians] pin their hopes has reached an impasse. Therefore, they must mend their ways…"
Endnotes:
[1] Fars (Iran), July 12, 2009.
[2] Ashura ceremonies are central in promoting the culture of martyrdom in Iran. During them, Shi'ites engage in self-flagellation as well as the flagellation of their sons, drawing blood, as an expression of their rage over the death of Hussein, Muhammad's grandson and the Third Imam, in the battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE).
