Posted on 07/21/2002 6:10:37 AM PDT by Gemflint
"IRAN MUST STRIKE AT THE HEART OF THE UNITED STATES": RAFSANJANI
TEHRAN 17 July (IPS) One of Iran’s most powerful officials menaced Wednesday the United States of terrorist attack in its "very heartland".
***"The Islamic Republic must get ready for confrontation against the enemy’s attack by answering its offensive right in its heartland", Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told the hard line "Jomhoori Eslami" (Islamic Republic) newspaper, which belongs to Ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i.
It was the second time in as many days that the Chairman of the Expediency Council was attacking the recent statement by President George W. Bush, inviting Tehran to abandon its "destructive and belligerent policy".
Informed Iranian political analysts said considering the position of the former president, who is also considered as the closest aid, friend and adviser of Ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i, the lamed leader of the Islamic regime, his threats must be taken "very seriously".
"Mr. Hashemi Rafsanmjani’s declaration is very dangerous, for it might provoke the United States to launch a military attack on Iran, at a time that Washington considers regimes such as those of Iran and Iraq a threat for its own, and the world’s security", commented Mr. Ali Keshtgar, the Editor of the Paris-based monthly "Mihan".
Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani termed as "impudent and insolent" President Bush’s 12 July statement in which he openly expressed support for Iranian "elected officials" and reformers against the "non-elected ones who continue to stick to power", a clear reference to Ayatollah Khameneh'i and the conservatives he led.
"The importance of Mr. Bush’s statement is that not only he rejects any secret or open deals and relations with the authoritarian wing of the leadership represented by the Khameneh'i-Rafsanjani couple, but also for the first time in the past 50 years, the United States overtly backs the Iranian people’s aspirations and demands for democracy and freedom. Contrary to the conservative’s accusations and outcries, this is not an interference in Iranian domestic affairs", he told the Persian service of Radio France Internationale.
Ayatollah Khameneh’i also attacked President Bush, whom he accused of "sowing discord and division" between top Iranian officials.
"Having understood nothing and not realising how much the Iranian people hates America, the impudent, opportunist, hated and insolent American president continue to repeat same old mistakes, but he was slapped in the mouth by our respected president", the unpopular Khameneh'i told Education Ministry officials.
"US president's latest remarks are a lesson for the Iranian nation to see how the enemies are seeking to sow seeds of division among our officials, saying they accept one segment and do not accept another. This also is a lie, for they do not accept anyone", he said in an angry and chocked tone.
***Analysts said what has angered much Mr. Khameneh'i is that some Iranian reformers have actually supported President Bush’s last statement.
"Today, Iran is not the only place where the US flag is being set ablaze and the slogan of death to America is a pivotal principle of the nation", he added, quoted by the official news agency IRNA, promising a big anti-American show on Friday.
Nationwide rally will be held on Friday to denounce the US president's interventionist statements about Iran, IRNA confirmed.
The United States has accused Iran of sponsoring international terrorism, seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction and sheltering Taleban and al-Qa’eda fighters fleeing neighbouring Afghanistan -- all charges Iran strongly denies.
In his diatribe, Mr. Khameneh'i did not spare the Islamic Iran Participation Party (IIPP), saying some "narrow minded people" were after the creation of a "single party rule".
The harsh remarks coincided with the start the third Congress of IIPP, which is Iran's largest pro-reform political organisation and is led by Dr Mohammad Reza Khatami, the younger brother of the embattled and powerless President.
In his opening address, Dr Khatami, who is also the Majles’ first Deputy Speaker, launched a strong attack on the country's ruling conservatives, warning against the "return of despotism and dictatorship" if changes are not allowed to succeed.
Mr. Khatami accused the conservatives of trying to kill the reform process, and forecast the collapse of the Islamic regime if nothing is done to calm public fears.
"If the reforms don't bear fruit, it will lead to a return and re-establishment of despotism and a dictatorship" in Iran, the IIPP’s General Secretary told the packed audience, at which were present the leaders of several pro-reform parties and groups.
"How can we face the world when our Judiciary let terrorists walking freely in the streets but place thinkers, journalists and intellectuals in prison because of their believes", he pointed out.
Khatami accused the conservatives, whose control of the courts and other levers of power hamper the work of the pro-reform parliament and the government, of "resorting to all political and institutional means" to bring the "reform process to failure."
"The conservatives are utilising state bodies for partisan aims and to widen the gap between the people and the regime," he said. They were "knowingly or unknowingly looking to create tension" in the political landscape.
He expressed concern over the future of the regime, warning that totalitarian governments were bound to collapse. "Iran is not an exception to that principle", he added.
He described the present situation as "chaotic" and "critical", and observed that political, social and economic crises have led to very serious concerns among the population.
"If nothing is done, the regime will face the threat of collapse", he warned.
"The crisis is present and it is growing with every day. That is why the people have lost their confidence in the regime", Khatami further added.
A total of 290 delegates were attending the three-day meeting, which began Wednesday to define a "plan for action" for future elections in the remaining three years of President Khatami's second and last tenure.
The Party, which serves as an organ for the President, came under an unprecedented attack Tuesday after a moderate conservative daily accused it to prepare a "subversive plan of action" for retain power "once the clergy is finished". ENDS BUSH KHAMENEH'I 17702
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