I’m on my way back from Grafenwohr, and so in lieu of the Iran News Round Up, I pass along this find and translation by Ali Alfoneh. It is quite relevant now that the Bush administration has decided to abandon its red lines and negotiate directly with Tehran on the nuclear issue:
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: “In order to preserve its honor and integrity, the Iranian nation must strengthen its resolve, just like the way it has resisted bullying for the past thirty years…This method (of intimidation) only works against governments which do not rely on their nations. It’s not possible to threaten and intimidate a regime and a government which relies on the votes, emotions and belief of the people… Nuclear achievements of the Iranian nation have been reached through the hard work, enthusiasm and happiness of the Iranian youth, along with the wisdom of authorities…This achievement belongs to the entire nation, and no one can bereave the nation from this great technology…
The Iranian nation distinguishes between those who like America out of enmity deny others nuclear science, and those who respect the Iranian nation and their rights and those who recognize the red lines and desire negotiations on different matters such as the nuclear issue… Advancement in negotiations is only possible if there is no atmosphere of threats. The Europeans must understand that their negotiation partner is the Iranian nation, and the Iranian nation is a courageous nation which dislikes threats and will not capitulate to threats…
The responsible party in the advancement of the nuclear issue is the Supreme National Security Council headed by the honorable president. What is said by the president and authorities is shared by all authorities of the country and heads of the three branches of the state and representatives of the Supreme Leader in the Supreme National Security Council, which follows this issue in a committed manner…
The positions of the Islamic Republic and the red lines of the Iranian nation are very clear and if the parties of negotiation negotiate within this framework, the authorities will engage in dialogue. But the condition is that no one threatens the Iranian nation…If any one commits any stupidity against the Islamic Republic, the practical answer of the Islamic Republic would be crushing…The Iranian nation will cut the hand which is raised against the dear Islamic Republic…It does not make a difference for the Iranian nation if this hand is governmental or non-governmental…
There are those who say that the American president would do something in his final months of presidency, and will make trouble for the next administration are wrong. The Iranian nation will punish him, even if he is out of office and no longer has any official responsibility…”