Iran: Religious decree against nuclear weapons is binding

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei / AP Photo

TEHRAN, Iran Iran sought Tuesday to spell out in its clearest terms yet that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, highlighting a religious decree issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that bans nuclear weapons.

The latest reference to Khamenei's declaration is seen as a bid to close the door on debates that Iran may have carried out atomic bomb trigger tests as inspectors from the U.N. atomic watchdog were on their way to Tehran for a new round of discussions.

Iran authorities have often cited Khamenei's religious edict, made more than seven years ago, in attempts to counter Western suspicion that Iran could be moving toward nuclear arms. But Iranian leaders now appear increasingly desperate to reopen talks with world powers as a possible way to ease sanctions.

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Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast touched on a cultural rift between the Islamic Republic and the West, saying the United States and its allies don't understand the significance of the edict.

"There is nothing higher than the exalted supreme leader's fatwa to define the framework for our activities in the nuclear field," he told a press conference.

Mehmanparast could not be more definitive in dispelling suspicions that Iran may ultimately develop a nuclear weapon.

"We are the first country to call for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons," he said. When the highest jurist and authority in the country's leadership issues a fatwa, this will be binding for all of us to follow. So, this fatwa will be our top agenda."

Mehmanparast said Westerners "don't have an accurate understanding of Islamic beliefs and fatwas issued by great scholars," suggesting that the U.S. and its allies must take Khamenei's edit seriously.

To highlight its seriousness, he said Iran is willing to "register the fatwa as an international document."

Although Iran views Khamenei's 2005 fatwa as a binding declaration, the West and its allies have repeatedly accused Iran of using any tactic to prolong the standoff and possibly advance its nuclear capabilities.

The perception gap also strikes at the role of the supreme leader himself. The most ardent followers consider the post as divinely imbued and answerable only to God. For Iran's opponents, Khamenei is often seen as guiding a ruling system seeking to outwit the West and threaten Israel.

They want Iran to stop enriching uranium to a level that could be turned relatively quickly into the fissile core of nuclear arms. Iran denies such aspirations, insisting it is enriching only to make reactor fuel and to make isotopes for medical purposes.

Senior U.N. investigators trying for more than a year to restart a probe into Iran's alleged work on nuclear arms chose their words carefully Tuesday about hopes for success as they left for Tehran on a trip that sets the stage for separate talks between six world powers and the Islamic Republic.

Team leader Herman Nackaerts said the International Atomic Energy Agency hopes to "finalize the structured approach" that would outline what the agency can and cannot do in its investigation.

Yukiya Amano, the IAEA chief, has expressed doubt that Tuesday's trip would result in a deal, but Iran said it's optimistic.

"If there are any ambiguities or concerns, we are ready to clear these ambiguities. This can be done under a structured approach," he said.

Iranians say they have a bitter memory of allowing IAEA inspections and providing replies on a long list of queries over its nuclear program in the past decade. Now, Tehran says such queries should not be revived or remain open-ended once the IAEA has verified them.

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[katsy_peace8]

Too many countries possess nuclear weapons currently and the disarmament pacts involving those weapons seem to be rather weak or non-existent. Iran, being one of the hot spots in the world, with rather aggressive foreign politics, is certainly one of the last countries in which one would hardly tolerate nuclear weapons. From my point of view, it's a-priori against international law to try to investigate whether they have these weapons or not, yet the safety of the world is certainly worth it. A more detailed account on the situation with the nuclear weapons in the world, including what countries possess the status of nuclear-weapon holders is presented in "The Second Nuclear Age" by Paul Bracken (http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/facing-up-to-the-new-nuclear-club-by-paul-bracken). It also sends a very important anti-war message.

[katsy_peace8]

Too many countries possess nuclear weapons currently and the disarmament pacts involving those weapons seem to be rather weak or non-existent. Iran, being one of the hot spots in the world, with rather aggressive foreign politics, is certainly one of the last countries in which one would hardly tolerate nuclear weapons. From my point of view, it's a-priori against international law to try to investigate whether they have these weapons or not, yet the safety of the world is certainly worth it. A more detailed account on the situation with the nuclear weapons in the world, including what countries possess the status of nuclear-weapon holders is presented in "The Second Nuclear Age" by Paul Bracken (http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/facing-up-to-the-new-nuclear-club-by-paul-bracken). It also sends a very important anti-war message.

[Adam_Smith100]

I generally try to imagine myself in the position of the foreign leaders, including their ideology, and figure out what they would want to do. In the case of Iran I am inclined to believe that they really do not see either a moral or geopolitical case for nuclear weapons although they may have done some preliminary feasibility investigations at one time. Truly, nuclear weapons are not in Iran's interest. Whatever its faults, the current leadership knows this. The only way Iran would pursue nuclear weapons is if that leadership was overthrown by hot-heads frustrated by Western bullying who believed, wrongly, that such weapons would force the West to show respect to Iran.

[verysimplesimon]

adam-smith100 wow are you wrong! the only reason I see that Iran has not been already attacked and invaded is one the "west" knows the fight will be to hard right now two the Iranians already have some bombs and missles and the "west" is afraid of getting "winged" by even one or two missles; let alone a long firece battle with lots of "western" deaths. like Iraq the "west" is trying to wait for cowardly sanctions to halve or quarter Irainian military strenght before they attack. the stronger the opponent the LESS inclined cowards are to attack and take them on.same for N. Korea both small independant nations can be defeated but it will cost ALOT of FUR and HIDE including nuclear hay makers however few, a disasterous proposition in this ecomony.

[philipsmeeton]

They have lied, are lying and are going to continue lying, and will continue to develope nuclear weapons. What we are witnessing is the establishment of a new Islamic Empire across Muslim countries. This will then threaten us, The West, and our freedoms and values. The greatest threat to our democracies will come from the Muslims that already live amongst us.

[bobishot123]

hes a proven fibber

[ConservativeAmerican87]

I'll believe Iran before I believe the Israelis.

[Dandelwaver]

Unfortunately the Iranian Republican Guard may only pay lip service to what the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has to say.

[brixtoncalling]

I remember during the lead up to the Iraq war, it seemed the only one telling the truth about the WMD situation was Iraq. Remember? When they said they had none. For a country which mistrust our government on so many national issues, it amazes how many people buy every ounce of BS on the international ones.

[sneefa]

did he announce it on his Facebook page rofl

[Davachi24]

mehdi