U.S. Should Apologize for Committing Crimes Against Iran-NEWS & VIEWS
January 22, 1998 - 0:0
TEHRAN Sounding a jarring note at the United States' irrational stance concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran, a prominent alim yesterday demanded that Washington should apologize Tehran for its long history of wrongdoings agai Islamic Propagation Organization's (IPO) President Hojjatoleslam Mahmoud Mohammadi Araqi scoffed at the U.S. proposed terms for the resumption of ties with the Islamic Republic that Iran should abandon terrorism.' No, it's not Iran but U.S. Administration that sponsors and supports terrorism, Araqi told the Tehran Times in an interview yesterday.
Referring to the CNN interview of President Seyed Mohammad Khatami in which he addressed the American nation, Araqi said, The American Administration always ignores the greatness of the Iranians and the Islamic authorities in Tehran. Soon after the culmination of the Islamic Revolution, the revolutionary people of Iran seized American diplomats and took them to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, late Imam Khomeini, Araqi recalled.
But, the Imam asked the revolutionary youth to release the American diplomats who were brought to his residence blind-folded, Araqi said, adding, It was really the greatness of the leader of the Muslim Ummah. It was surprising that despite the greatness of the Imam, the U.S. did not end its plots against the new-born Islamic Republic, Araqi said. The so-called U.S. Embassy in Tehran did all to undo what the Iranians had achieved by giving unprecedented sacrifices and then things crossed all limits, he noted.
It was then when the revolutionary youth seized the U.S. Embassy which was not a diplomatic mission but a den of spies, Araqi said. The documents are available which prove that the U.S. Embassy was plotting to topple the Islamic government in Iran, he said and referred to the documents printed by the Muslim Students Following Imam's Line. That was the reason the Imam dubbed the seizure of the U.S. Embassy as the second revolution, he said.
The United States which claims to be a champion of democracy and independence does not allow those documents to enter its country and even the media is barred from using that authentic printing material for the information of the American people, he st Interestingly, the American people do not have the least idea about the injustice and plots committed by their government against the Iranian nation, he said.
This is what the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei) explained during his first Friday prayer sermon of the holy month of Ramazan, Araqi recalled. There are more to be revealed about anti-Iran plots by the Americans from the very first day of the triumph of the Islamic Revolution to the day of seizure of the embassy, he said. The reality is that the Iranian nation has bitter memories of the U.S. conspiracies against them including the 1953 coup against the national government of Dr. Mohammad Moassadeq, he said.
I have no doubt that mass massacre on the 17th Sharivar was carried out on the orders of the American Army officials, Araqi said, referring to the tragedy occurred on Sept, 8, 1978 when the residents of Tehran had gathered to protest against th Things have still not changed, he said and referred to the recent statements of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Khatami. You see, they (American media and officials) tried their best to portray that there are differences among the officials in Iran, Araqi, imprisoned for four years by the Shah's regime for his revolutionary activities said.
The American Administration claims, Iran sponsors or supports terrorism. No, not Iran, but the U.S. administration sponsors and supports terrorism, Araqi said and listed a number of evidences in support of his claim. The headquarters of the terrorist Mojahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) is situated just 100 meters from the White House, he said and recalled that the MKO is on record claiming responsibility for several terrorist activities in Iran including the 7th The MKO members are Munafiqeen in Iran because of their nefarious and anti-Islamic activities.
They bombed the headquarters of the Islamic Republic Party (IRP) on 7th Tir or June 28, 1981 in which Judiciary Chief and a revolutionary stalwart Ayatollah Mo The same MKO claimed the tragedy of the 8th Shahrivar or Aug. 30, 1981 when President Mohammad Ali Rajai and Prime Minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar were martyred after the office of the Prime Minister was bombed.
The aspiration of the Iranian nation is to acquire justice, he said and referred to the ongoing mourning ceremonies for the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (AS), the First Imam of the Household of the Holy Prophet (S). Why the people are observing mourning ceremonies for Hazrat Ali (AS)? Araqi questioned and responded saying Because Hazrat Ali used to attach considerable importance to justice.
The United States is a symbol of oppression, he said and pointed out that Washington had been supporting all the acts of oppressions committed by Israel. They (Israeli forces) killed hundreds of civilians including men, women, old, young and children while they were in Cana, a UN refugee camp in South Lebanon in 1996, he said. It was America that vetoed several resolutions adopted by the Palestinians and the Lebanese, Araqi, former representative of the Leader at the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) told the Tehran Times. Also there are resolutions passed by the UN Security Council which were not complied by Israel because Washington never raised any objection," he said referring to Resolution Nos. 242 and 338 on Palestine and Resolution No. 425 on Lebanon. All these resolutions are still in cold storage and the U.S. never asked the Zionist entity to comply with these.
We were not the first to sever diplomatic ties with the United States, he said and recalled that when Washington announced a break in its ties with Tehran the Imam said, The only good thing the U.S. did so far was this (to cut the ties wit It's the policy of the United States which makes us against that country, he said and underlined that the Supreme Leader also said that Iran will continue this policy as long as Washington does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its poli He said, The Imam also had the same opinion and said that except Israel, Iran may have relations with all the countries in the world.
Recalling the Imam's belief, Araqi said, Imam used to say Iran may have relations with America if it behaves like a human being. But, said he, America will never behave like human beings.
Referring to the CNN interview of President Seyed Mohammad Khatami in which he addressed the American nation, Araqi said, The American Administration always ignores the greatness of the Iranians and the Islamic authorities in Tehran. Soon after the culmination of the Islamic Revolution, the revolutionary people of Iran seized American diplomats and took them to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, late Imam Khomeini, Araqi recalled.
But, the Imam asked the revolutionary youth to release the American diplomats who were brought to his residence blind-folded, Araqi said, adding, It was really the greatness of the leader of the Muslim Ummah. It was surprising that despite the greatness of the Imam, the U.S. did not end its plots against the new-born Islamic Republic, Araqi said. The so-called U.S. Embassy in Tehran did all to undo what the Iranians had achieved by giving unprecedented sacrifices and then things crossed all limits, he noted.
It was then when the revolutionary youth seized the U.S. Embassy which was not a diplomatic mission but a den of spies, Araqi said. The documents are available which prove that the U.S. Embassy was plotting to topple the Islamic government in Iran, he said and referred to the documents printed by the Muslim Students Following Imam's Line. That was the reason the Imam dubbed the seizure of the U.S. Embassy as the second revolution, he said.
The United States which claims to be a champion of democracy and independence does not allow those documents to enter its country and even the media is barred from using that authentic printing material for the information of the American people, he st Interestingly, the American people do not have the least idea about the injustice and plots committed by their government against the Iranian nation, he said.
This is what the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei) explained during his first Friday prayer sermon of the holy month of Ramazan, Araqi recalled. There are more to be revealed about anti-Iran plots by the Americans from the very first day of the triumph of the Islamic Revolution to the day of seizure of the embassy, he said. The reality is that the Iranian nation has bitter memories of the U.S. conspiracies against them including the 1953 coup against the national government of Dr. Mohammad Moassadeq, he said.
I have no doubt that mass massacre on the 17th Sharivar was carried out on the orders of the American Army officials, Araqi said, referring to the tragedy occurred on Sept, 8, 1978 when the residents of Tehran had gathered to protest against th Things have still not changed, he said and referred to the recent statements of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Khatami. You see, they (American media and officials) tried their best to portray that there are differences among the officials in Iran, Araqi, imprisoned for four years by the Shah's regime for his revolutionary activities said.
The American Administration claims, Iran sponsors or supports terrorism. No, not Iran, but the U.S. administration sponsors and supports terrorism, Araqi said and listed a number of evidences in support of his claim. The headquarters of the terrorist Mojahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) is situated just 100 meters from the White House, he said and recalled that the MKO is on record claiming responsibility for several terrorist activities in Iran including the 7th The MKO members are Munafiqeen in Iran because of their nefarious and anti-Islamic activities.
They bombed the headquarters of the Islamic Republic Party (IRP) on 7th Tir or June 28, 1981 in which Judiciary Chief and a revolutionary stalwart Ayatollah Mo The same MKO claimed the tragedy of the 8th Shahrivar or Aug. 30, 1981 when President Mohammad Ali Rajai and Prime Minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar were martyred after the office of the Prime Minister was bombed.
The aspiration of the Iranian nation is to acquire justice, he said and referred to the ongoing mourning ceremonies for the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (AS), the First Imam of the Household of the Holy Prophet (S). Why the people are observing mourning ceremonies for Hazrat Ali (AS)? Araqi questioned and responded saying Because Hazrat Ali used to attach considerable importance to justice.
The United States is a symbol of oppression, he said and pointed out that Washington had been supporting all the acts of oppressions committed by Israel. They (Israeli forces) killed hundreds of civilians including men, women, old, young and children while they were in Cana, a UN refugee camp in South Lebanon in 1996, he said. It was America that vetoed several resolutions adopted by the Palestinians and the Lebanese, Araqi, former representative of the Leader at the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) told the Tehran Times. Also there are resolutions passed by the UN Security Council which were not complied by Israel because Washington never raised any objection," he said referring to Resolution Nos. 242 and 338 on Palestine and Resolution No. 425 on Lebanon. All these resolutions are still in cold storage and the U.S. never asked the Zionist entity to comply with these.
We were not the first to sever diplomatic ties with the United States, he said and recalled that when Washington announced a break in its ties with Tehran the Imam said, The only good thing the U.S. did so far was this (to cut the ties wit It's the policy of the United States which makes us against that country, he said and underlined that the Supreme Leader also said that Iran will continue this policy as long as Washington does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its policy in respect to Iran.does not change its poli He said, The Imam also had the same opinion and said that except Israel, Iran may have relations with all the countries in the world.
Recalling the Imam's belief, Araqi said, Imam used to say Iran may have relations with America if it behaves like a human being. But, said he, America will never behave like human beings.