Imam Khamenei’s Fatwa against Nukes Sets Iran’s Course of Action – Iran Nuclear Chief

By Staff, Agencies

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran [AEOI], Ali Akbar Salehi, has once against dismissed claims that the country seeks nuclear bombs, saying the fatwa [religious decree] issued by Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei against weapons of mass destruction sets Iran’s course of action.

In interview on Tuesday with the Public Broadcasting Service [PBS], Salehi was asked whether anyone in the Iranian government ever raises the issue of the benefits of nuclear bombs as “effective deterrence” against nuclear-armed powers, despite the country’s official assertion that its nuclear works has no military dimensions.

“You see, the final wording on this is by the Supreme Leader. Once the Supreme Leader has issued the fatwa, that fatwa is not only a religious fatwa, but it is something, a decree,” he replied.

“It’s not that no one can say. You can speak your mind. I mean you can you speak whatever you wish. But, in reality, when it comes to action, we do what the fatwa says. We do what the decree says.”

Imam Khamenei’s fatwa bans the production, possession and stockpiling of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

Iran’s nuclear chief also drew a distinction between a nuclear bomb and a long-range missile, saying the latter is used to “hit the places that you wish to hit.”

“But nuclear bomb, as it was used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, inflicted harm on innocent people; 200,000 lives were evaporated in matters of seconds,” he added.