Iran: No Retreat From Nuclear Stance

Source: Alalam.ir, 9-8-2008
TEHRAN--Tehran's interim Friday prayers leader Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani reiterated Friday Iran would not back away from its nuclear position, saying foreign pressure to suspend the country's atomic program was useless.
Ayatollah Kashani delivered his sermon as the five United Nations Security Council permanent members plus Germany states held sessions to issue new sanctions against Iran over its refusal to cave in to Western demands.
Russia and China are reluctant to impose a new round of sanctions on Iran, touting Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency to find common grounds on the issue.
Ayatollah Kashani said: "China and Russia have so far defied the pressure in that connection but they should try more and avoid being influenced by the US and British plans."
"The world nations are well informed of dirty plans of the US and Britain and are mobilized to confront the two countries' plans," he said, noting that "they should stop the mischiefs themselves."
He also said: "The world expects China and Russia to stand firmly and seriously against the US and Britain and not to allow them to enforce their dirty plans."
Ayatollah Kashani said: "Leader of Islamic Revolution of Iran Seyyed Ali Khamenei and all Iranian officials and authorities are unanimously stressing that Iran's nuclear program is for peaceful, scientific, research and industrial purposes."
"Through such anti-Iran charges, they (westerners) only disgrace themselves," he added.
As for Iran talks with the so-called G5+1 group in Geneva, the Friday prayers leader said Iran managed to express its stances explicitly.
"Iran is ready for any talks and taking a legal and right move. If the US wants to be present in talks with Iran, its presence should be out of wisdom," he announced.
"Iran is ready for talks based on mutual respect and in line with rights of the Iranian nation. If the talks are not in favor of Iran's rights, the Islamic Republic of Iran will never reach agreement."
Referring to the G+1 group, Ayatollah Kashani said, "The countries should not threaten the Iranian nation. The nation will never retreat because of such threats. One should move logically. Do not make the world further turbulent."
He further touched on fluctuant state of affairs in crisis-hit Iraq and advised "the occupiers of the country not to bring more disgrace for themselves."
He asked Muslims to get united, because "under unity the enemy will never be successful to implement its sinister plans."