Iran's President Disses Bin Laden

President Mohammad Khatami of Iran brands Osama bin Laden's version of Islam as extremist and says it doesn't represent the majority of the world's 1.2 billion Muslims.

"I don't believe that his message really resonates strongly in the Muslim world," Khatami said in an interview with The New York Times published Saturday. "Public opinion in the Muslim world in general wants peace, security and stability and the right to defend their religion and their freedom."

In a U.N. speech, Khatami called for an immediate halt to the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan.

And in a break with past Iranian statements, Khatami also used the Times interview to offer the clearest suggestion yet that his Islamic nation might eventually be prepared to recognize Israel.

Khatami said Iran continues to see the Israeli government as illegitimate because it was based on oppression of the Palestinians, but that the Palestinians themselves should have the last word on what they are ready to accept.

"While from a moral standpoint we believe that a government founded on oppression is not an acceptable government, we will respect the wishes of the Palestinian nation," he told the newspaper.

In an address to the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly In New York on Saturday,
Khatami said the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan, far from addressing the roots of terrorism, would probably lead to more violence.

Bluntly rejecting the U.S. response to the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, Khatami said: "We should be vigilant to avoid the pitfall of fueling rather than suppressing terrorism through unilateral practices stemming from pride and rage.

"Resorting to violence and revenge to counter such acts can hardly be justified under ethical and humane considerations."

In the Times interview, the Iranian president called for an end to the military campaign in Afghanistan "as soon as possible," warning that a long war would "lead to more suffering and pain for the people of Afghanistan."

But he made no attempt to deny Iran's military, logistical and financial support for the Afghan Northern Alliance, which the United States has backed militarily in its war against the de facto Taliban government.

Iran is opposed to Taliban rule, which it considers a perversion of Islam, and Mr. Khatami said the northern alliance was the "legitimate transitional government" that is recognized by the United Nations and has diplomatic representation in many countries.

Khatami also said a definition of terrorism should include Israeli practices against
Palestinians such as occupying Arab territory, expelling people from their homes and killing civilians.

He told The Times, "The horrific terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in the United States were perpetrated by cult of fanatics who had self-mutilated their ears and tongues, and could only communicate with perceived opponents through carnage and devastation." he said.

The Iranian leader, a mid-rank Shiite cleric who has studied philosophy, has harshly criticized those who portray Islam as a religion of hate opposed to the West.

Islam should not be blamed by what he called "extremist movements and terrorist movements around the world," Khatami said in the interview, adding that "Islam brings a message of peace for humanity."

He is also eager to promote Iran's Islamic republic as proof that Islamic government can be, in his words, "a good model for all Islamic countries."

"There are two ways to look at religion," he said. "One is the extremist, narrow-minded approach to religion which is inhumane, and the second is an interpretation of Islam based on wisdom. God willing, as God has wanted for us, all of us, Christians Jews, Muslims, everyone, can interpret religion in a free manner based on wisdom and foresight to protect our religion as well as to provide peace for our region."

But Khatami stressed that Iran had not been provided with proof of Mr. bin Laden's involvement in the terror attacks of Sept. 11.

Iran is itself listed by the State Department as the world's most active state supporter of terrorism, largely because of its arming of the Lebanese Shiite organization Hezbollah and its material support for the Palestinian groups Hamas and for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Khatami categorically rejected charges that Iran supports terrorism, as he has done consistently in the past. "This is one of the injustices of the U.S. against us," he said in the Times interview.

As for Iranian relations with the U.S., Khatami said America must "own up" to policy mistakes in the Middle East if it wants better relations with Iran.

The U.S. has been seeking official talks with Iran since Khatami won presidential elections in 1997. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton made a series of gestures but was
repeatedly rebuffed by the Iranians.

The Bush administration has made the same offer of government-to-government contacts but has not answered Iranian demands for an end to sanctions.

Khatami said the Clinton administration had taken "some positive steps ... Had they continued in some way, it could have been very positive for our relations," he added.

He said: "The expectation was that owning up to the fact that U.S. policy towards Iran and the Middle East was faulty would be the first step. This first step would then be followed up with practical steps, which unfortunately did not happen, and we are still under the same kinds of pressure and seeing the same accusations against Iran."

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