In his October 9, 2009 Friday sermon in Tehran, interim Tehran Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami threatened a "third Intifada" in Israel, said that "Israel, not Iran" should be a cause of nuclear concern, called this week's talks in Geneva "a great victory" for Iran, and reiterated that the U.S. " should know that Islamic Iran is powerful and strong."
Following are reports on and excerpts from his sermon, from the Iranian media. [1]
Threat of a Third Intifada
Regarding recent clashes near Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Ayatollah Khatami condemned what he termed the Israeli attack on Al-Aqsa mosque, saying it was in line with "Tel Aviv's" attempt to Judaize Al-Qods (Jerusalem). He said: "Nine years ago, Ariel Sharon's profaning of Al-Aqsa caused the second Intifada... With [this] crime (the Zionists' recent aggression on Al-Aqsa Mosque) the third Intifada will be shaped. The Intifada will put an end to the dirty existence of the forged Zionist regime."
Obama's Statements, and "Israel, Not Iran," Should Be "Source of Concern for the World"
Khatami also rejected claims about Iran's nuclear work. He urged the "arrogant powers" and the international media to be worried about the illegitimate Zionist regime, saying that "it is Israel, not Iran," that should worry them, as Israel is in possession of 200 nuclear warheads and remains a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
He also stated that U.S. President Barack Obama has said that the U.S. does not intend to force the Zionist regime of Israel to abandon nuclear activities, adding, "Such statements, and not the sacred establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in which logic and ration[ality] rule, should be the source of concern for the world."
5+1 Talks - Great Victory for Iran
Khatami termed the Geneva talks between Iran and the 5+1 a "great victory" against the West and for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"The meeting was a great victory for the Islamic Republic of Iran to such an extent that even the Western and Zionist media had to admit defeat," Ayatollah Khatami told the crowd of worshippers.
He said, "Prior to the talks, they (Westerners) used to speak of suspension and sanctions against Iran, but after the talks, there has not been any word of suspension or sanctions, rather, Iran's package of proposals was the axis," and added, "[T]his is the result of the Leader's [i.e. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei] hard efforts, accompanied by the 9th and 10th cabinet."
"Islamic Iran Is Powerful and Strong"; The "Arrogant States" Should Not Think of Harming Iran
Khatami slammed those who try to imply that a powerful Iran is a threat to world peace, saying, "The world has found out that this is an imperialistic lie."
He added that a powerful Iran sends messages to the world, a message of friendship to our neighbors, and a warning to the world of imperialism, and that Iran follows a defensive policy while deterring the arrogant powers from attacking it.
He said: "The world arrogance [i.e. the U.S.] should know that Islamic Iran is powerful and strong. Our doctrine is deterrence and not aggression. They (the arrogant states) should not erroneously think of harming the (Islamic Republic) system, because they know pretty well that if they wish inflicting the least damage on the system, they will be slapped in the face so heavily that will never be able to rise up again."
No Divisions Between Hardliners, Moderates in Iran's Assembly of Experts
Khatami also referred to a recent meeting of Iran's Assembly of Experts, calling it fruitful and adding, "Despite false implications, there are no divisions such as hardliners or moderates among the members. They all are the sages of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
He said that the nation's representatives in the council recognized the enemies' plot to undermine the Leadership, and unanimously expressed their support of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
"Enemies put much effort to imply that there were divergent views in case of the Leadership, but as one who has been a member of the council for 10 years, I can assure you that games of politics have no place in the council," Khatami said.
Endnote:
[1] Press TV, IRIBnews, Fars, Iran, October 9, 2009. Parentheses inside quotes are in the original Iranian reports. For the MEMRI TV page on Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, visit http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/380.htm .
