Senior Cleric Reiterates Peaceful Nature of Iran’s N. Program

Tehran’s provisional Friday Prayers Leader Mohammad Emami Kashani once again underlined the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.
Addressing a large and fervent congregation of the people on Tehran University campus on Friday, Emami Kashani said, “In addition to the fact that Islam does not allow using nuclear weapons (by the Muslim states), Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has forbidden it in his fatwa and the Iranian nation also supports the same.”

He pointed to Iran’s recent diplomatic success in the talks with the major world powers in Geneva, and said, “The negotiations showed that Iran is after a peaceful nuclear energy program for pharmaceutical industries and scientific activities.”

Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) reached a final deal on November 24 after days of hard work and intensive negotiations.

After endorsing the agreement with the world powers, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined that the six world powers have recognized Iran’s enrichment program.

Ayatollah Khamenei has on many occasions said the Islamic Republic considers the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons “a grave sin” from every logical, religious and theoretical standpoint. On April 17, 2010 Ayatollah Khamenei issued a fatwa declaring that the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are all haram (religiously prohibited).

“Iran is not after a nuclear bomb. Why would Iran want a nuclear bomb? Moreover, when an atomic bomb is detonated, it does not just kill enemies. Rather, it kills innocent people as well, and this goes against Islamic beliefs and the principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

An atomic bomb does not discriminate between good and bad people, and it is not something that the Islamic Republic would use. The Islamic Republic is relying on something that is not affected by bombs, foreign invasions and other such things. Such things only strengthen what the Islamic republic is relying on. The Islamic republic is relying on the people,” a part of the fatwa said.

Analysts believe that the fatwa of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution can well serve as a beacon of light for Washington in order to find its way out of darkness and ignorance.