S. Leader’s Fatwa Banning Nuclear Arms Ultimate Guideline For Iran

Tehran, Jan 16, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the religious edict issued by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei banning production, proliferation, use and stockpiling of nuclear arms is the ultimate guideline for Iran. He made the remarks while talking to reporters on Tuesday during his weekly press briefing. He was asked to comment on a recent interview of Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi with the ”Foreign Policy” in which he had voiced readiness to register the religious edict (Fatwa) issued by Ayatollah Khamenei as a binding document with the United Nations and whether the proposal was made to the G5+1. He said Iran has repeatedly stressed its opposition to use of any kind of weapons of mass destruction. Highlighting that Iran was the first country in the region to demand a Middle East void of nuclear arms, the spokesman said that Tehran believed the countries possessing nuclear arms violated laws and have to act upon their commitment regarding non-proliferation of nuclear arms. He said nothing was more important for Iran than the Supreme Leader's Fatwa which sets the framework for the country’s nuclear activities. Noting that western countries have no clear understanding of what a Fatwa means for Muslims, he said all feel obliged to act accordingly when the highest ranking religious scholar and the Supreme Leader issues his views in the form of a Fatwa. Turning to Iraq, he said the majjority of groups and religious figures there seem to regard respecting the government and backing the democratic process as the best way to maintain unity. Referring to a plan by Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on settlement of Iraqi crisis through peaceful ways such as formation of committees to examine the demands of different groups, he believed the plan could help get the country out of its present situation, stressing that enemies of regional countries especially enemies of the Iraqi nation did not want to see stability and unity in the country. Asked to outline the agenda of the Islamic Unity Conference given the present regional and international developments, he said the forum which was established to promote unity in the Islamic world is a proof of Iran’s attempts to foster unity among Muslim countries and encourage them to discard religious differences./end