Ahmadinejad on Islam and the West and related matters:
Religious extremism and martyrdom:
"We don't shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world." 1
"The wave of the Islamist revolution will soon reach the entire world." 2
"Our revolution's main mission is to pave the way for the reappearance of the Twelfth Imam, the Mahdi." 3
"Soon Islam will become the dominating force in the world, occupying first place in the number of followers amongst all other religions."4
"Is there a craft more beautiful, more sublime, more divine, than the craft of giving yourself to martyrdom and becoming holy? Do not doubt, Allah will prevail, and Islam will conquer mountain tops of the entire world." 5
"What is important is that they have shown the way to martyrdom which we must follow.'' 6 [President Ahmadinejad's comments on an aircraft crash in Tehran that killed 108 people in December 2005].
middle-east-analysis.blogspot.com
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expecting an Israeli attack in the Middle East in the coming months.
“According to information we have they [Israel] are seeking to start a war next spring or summer, although their decision is not final yet,” the Jerusalem Post quotes Ahmadinejad as saying. “But the resistance and regional states will finish them if this fake regime does anything again.”
The newspaper said Ahmadinjead did not stipulate what country Israel was allegedly planning to attack, but his remarks came only days after he reportedly told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that Israel “must be resisted” and “finished off once and for all” if it launches an attack on a Middle Eastern country.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was reported to have assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Russia would put on hold a decision to sell an advanced air defence system to Iran. The truck-mounted S-300PMU1 (SA-20 Gargoyle) has a range of 93 miles and would help Iran protect its nuclear facilities from any Israeli or US attack.
Russia signed a contract with Iran for the supply of at least five of the systems in 2005. However, there has been no indication of when the contract will be implemented. Earlier this month Tehran said that failure by Russia to deliver the system could provoke ill feeling between the two countries. “All countries should honour their commitments,” an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said. “Failure to fulfil one’s obligations will leave a negative imprint in the memory of the Iranian public.”
According to the Iranian FARS news agency, Russia’s security council is still committed to the delivery of the air defence systems. “There is the signed contract that we must fulfil, but supplies have not started yet,” the agency quoted Russian Security Council deputy Vladimir Nazarov as saying. “This deal is not restricted by any international sanctions, because these are merely defensive weapons.”
Russia has said sanctions against Iran were still an option if Iran did not co-operate with the UN’s nuclear watchdog.
Ahmadinejad has also hit back at US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who suggested Iran is becoming a military dictatorship. “If anyone does anything against Iran, then our response won’t be the same as in the past,” he said. “No, we will definitely react and make them regretful.”
world.caledonianmercury.com
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has praised Hezbollah and fiercely criticised Israel, the US and the UK in a televised speech in north-western Iran.
Here are some key excerpts from Mr Ahmadinejad's speech.
ON THE CONFLICT IN LEBANON
Mr Ahmadinejad is a regular critic of Israel and the West
The corrupt powers like America, the criminal Britain and the shameful and humiliated Zionist regime were armed up to their teeth with laser bombs, advanced aircraft, advanced tanks, an accurate artillery and a wicked and vicious army... On the other hand a group of faithful, pure, divine youth stood against them and with the help of God trusted God's pledge and resisted against the enemy.
They could defeat these idolatrous powers within 33 days with the help of God and fly the flag of victory in the proud Lebanon.
ON THE 'NEW MIDDLE EAST'
Those people who... wanted to... create a new Middle East... when they say a new Middle East, they mean a Middle East which will be a captive in the hands of America, Britain and the Zionist regime.
I want to announce here that they should not assume that ceasefire means an end to the crisis
The nations in the region are alert. In fact our nations also want a new Middle East. The Middle East that our nations want is a free Middle East, free from the hegemony of America and Britain.
They attacked Lebanon as an introduction to the new Middle East plan. They were under the assumption that they can stabilise their power by breaking the unity and resistance of the Lebanese nation and expand their influence on the rest of the Middle East. I want to announce here that they should not assume that ceasefire means an end to the crisis.
ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
It is quite clear that Britain and America, which claim to be the supporters of human rights, freedom and democracy, are not... We saw how presumptuously they resorted to tricks so as to postpone the ceasefire for at least three weeks. And they blatantly declared that they should allow the Zionist regime to smash the [Hezbollah] resistance and occupy some land.
I would like to announce it here... these two countries are not fit to be the members of the UN Security Council. These [two states] have disgraced the Security Council. The main duty of the Security Council is to establish peace, tranquillity and ceasefire. When there are some in the Security Council that oppose ceasefire and peace, they do not deserve to be there.
ON THE NUCLEAR ISSUE
We're very interested in talks. We're interested in having problems solved through talks. We support peace and calm. We're opposed to tension. But it seems that these gentlemen have misinterpreted our stances. Every time they hold talks with us, they say some bullying thing. They say: if you don't accept what we say, we will take you to the Security Council and condemn you there. Well, of course the Security Council is a tool in your hands. A tool in your hands has no dignity. It has no legality to want to make decisions.
news.bbc.co.uk |
