June 4 reminds us of the sad demise of a benevolent humanitarian admired by millions worldwide.
Imam Khomeini’s departure was marked by an immense gloom.
People cherished the Imam’s selfless endeavors to change the Muslim situation across the world and uphold their dignity in the adverse contemporary conditions by virtue of faith in God and the will of nations.
Iranians believe that the Imam was a political leader who espoused spiritual and ethical values. He is also known as a capable and courageous leader who was determined to rid Iranians of the yoke of imperialism.
This unique personality brought about a new approach to rulership and influenced many parts of the planet. In light of his efforts, officials were reminded that they should serve the people without any expectations, as a duty entrusted upon them by God. We express our heartfelt condolences to our readers on the anniversary of his demise.
The next issue of Iran Daily will reappear on June 6 due to the public holidays.

TEHRAN, June 2--Majlis Research Center has urged the government to take serious measures for protecting Iran’s littoral waters.
The center’s Political Studies Office conducted extensive studies on security issues related to Arvand River and said in a report that Iran should address the Iraqi government and not the occupying forces for border issues, IRNA reported.
“Iraq has its own constitution. Its sovereignty and elected government have been recognized by the international community while resolutions of the United Nations also stress the same,“ the report said.
It said the Iraqi government is responsible body at the time of differences related to borders because the UN resolutions say the occupying forces are in Iraq at the behest of the Iraqi government. Hence, the Iraqi side is responsible for any aggression of the occupying forces against the Iranian littoral waters.
“In order to strengthen the legal regime of Arvand River, it is necessary for Iran to follow unimplemented articles related to the border in the 1975 Algeria Convention,“ it said.
The center has called for compiling a joint strategy for securing shipping and establishing a joint cooperation office based on the convention for shipping and environmental controls on this river.
“Iran’s economic role in Basra will challenge the occupying forces in southern Iraq. This strategy is not in contrast with Iraq’s economic policies and will help promote economic development of Khuzestan province,“ the report said.

Zahra Mostafavi

The ideological features of the movement led by Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, continue to arouse interest and debate in cultural and political think tanks worldwide. Imam’s success in overthrowing an autocratic regime backed by the western world and establishment of the Islamic Republic that had no predecessor have been the subject of numerous studies.
On the occasion of the 28th anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s demise, Iran Daily interviewed Zahra Mostafavi, Imam Khomeini’s daughter and head of International Union of NGOs Defending Palestinian Rights. Also a professor with a PhD in philosophy, she illuminated different aspects of the Imam’s thoughts and movement. Excerpts:

IRAN DAILY: To what extent Imam’s ideals have materialized after the 1979 Islamic Revolution?
ZAHRA MOSTAFAVI: Allow me to first condole all followers of the Islamic Revolution on the occasion of the anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s demise. When we study Imam’s thoughts, it becomes clear to us that he devised a specific path with regard to political and social issues. We can consider him neither an idealist who only thought about unachievable mottos nor a personality who only pursued short-term and small objectives. For achieving long-term objectives, the late Imam showed a path that can be taken in the short run.
Firstly, Imam says that for awakening people one should begin by properly propagating Islam and informing humans about their unfavorable conditions.
Secondly, he says it is necessary that people resist the oppressions of puppet and oppressive regimes.
Thirdly, the people should revolt and topple the corrupt regimes and establish Islamic governments in their own countries. The Islamic government in Iran is an Islamic Republic and many thoughts of Imam have been summarized in its constitution.
Fourthly, the Islamic government is entitled to materialize social justice in the society.
Fifthly, for establishing social justice, pious people should be nurtured in the society. It’s clear that Imam begins by training humans and creating awareness. He ends his mission by training God-seeking people, which is the final and ideal stage of the society.
Imam has expressed short-term objectives of the society such as vigilance, determination, revolution, Islamic government and social justice to avoid his ideals from appearing unrealistic. Therefore, by establishing the Islamic system in Iran, some of Imam’s thoughts have been materialized.
Moreover, Imam believes that as long as the Islamic Republic has not strengthened its pillars and gained real independence, the Islamic Revolution will not succeed. Hence, according to Imam, we are still at a stage between the revolutionary state and the Islamic state.
As per the concept of social justice, Imam proposes an idealist theory according to which social justice is materialized when people gain access to their social rights. He believes that the path of social justice is by becoming independent of foreign countries.

Have his thoughts been sidelined after his demise?
It does not appear that after his demise, Imam’s ideals have been sidelined. All mottos in Iran are derived from Imam’s thoughts and all political groups consider themselves as Imam’s followers. After the Imam’s demise, at times the focus was on Iran’s reconstruction process as a successful model, which was one of Imam’s mottos. Because Imam said that one of the enemy’s plots is to announce to the world that Islam is not capable of administering the society and that the Islamic Republic has also failed to do anything useful for its citizens. (Imam’s Will explains this issue.)
It was on this basis that the motto of construction was taken up as the materialization of one of Imam’s objectives.
At one stage, the motto of freedom as a basic motto of Imam and Islamic Revolution was proposed, because promotion of freedom, which is the cornerstone of realizing the Islamic Republic in the society, will pave the way for criticizing the mistakes of others, especially those of officials. The Imam always believed that freedom should prevail to such a degree that if officials do something wrong, the people are able to correct their mistakes through Islamic means.

How close are political parties with the views of Imam Khomeini?
Political parties in Iran have different understanding of Imam Khomeini’s thoughts. They consider themselves followers of Imam and believe they’re close to his views. The Imam always said that as long as people remain faithful to Islam and the Revolution, they’re within the bounds of Islam and Revolution. What is important is that differences among political parties do not harm principles of the Islamic Revolution. The Imam referred to differences among parties as “divergent opinions“ because the main objective of political parties is to spread the message of Islam and Islamic Revolution. As long as the objectives of Islamic Revolution, namely independence, freedom, supporting the oppressed, social justice and implementation of Islamic law, are observed by political parties, they will be in line with the Islamic Revolution. But when they differ on these principles, they will divert from Imam’s views.

What are the ways of introducing Imam’s thoughts?
The main strategy is to encourage questioning by Muslim nations and making youth sensitive about different issues. Imam Khomeini valued people’s sensitivity over political issues and their fate. We should free people of monetary restrictions and motivate them regarding political and social issues. This is the first step.
Imam Khomeini extracted this strategy from Islam’s educational method and its practical Gnosticism. The first step for those who want to go through spiritual self-fulfillment is to awaken and realize how they have parted from humanity and the divine path. Imam’s consideration is that human beings can find answers to social and political questions by relying on their divine nature. Discussions among scientists will help reform and stabilize the society.

What has the International Union of NGOs Defending Palestinian Rights done to support the Palestinian people and fight Zionism?
Palestine’s liberation is the obligation of all human beings, whether Muslim or not, from the Islamic point of view. This obligation was the main reason for the formation of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world with the main objective of Palestinian freedom. This objective led to the establishment of this international union. This union consists of 24 NGOs active in Asia, Europe and Africa.
They have diverse responsibilities such that each organization follows particular obligations. Some NGOs are looking for companies that directly help fund the Zionist regime of Israel. After introducing these companies to other NGOs, they inform their region about imposing a boycott with the purpose of choking the source of funds for Israel’s economy.
Some NGOs are working to release the Palestinian youth who are in Israeli prisons. Unfortunately Palestinian women face numerous problems that I find it embarrassing to recall here. In Iran there are three NGOs working on the Palestinian issue: Society for Defending the Palestinian Nation (SDPN), Neda Institute and Navvab Safavi Institute. The Iranian NGOs have focused on boycotting the Israeli regime through publications and introducing the real face of Zionists to the people. Identifying Israeli goods and broadcasting TV programs are among the activities of Iranian NGOs.
SDPN is one of the most active members of the union. It publishes books, holds conferences in Tehran and other cities, and invites experts and professors to introduce the history of Palestine to students. It also distributes CDs revealing the crimes of the Zionist regime and has established the Qods News Agency. This NGO is continuing its constructive and extensive activities with a high morale.

TEHRAN, June 2--A total of 50,000 people are killed every year in accidents across the country.
About 28,000 people are killed in traffic accidents while other causes of death include fire and drowning, Fars News Agency reported. Alireza Moghisi, the head of the Department for Prevention of Accidents, said on Saturday 600,000 people are injured every year as a result of car accidents.
He noted that car accidents inflict losses amounting to $6 billion on the country which equal 5 percent of Gross National Product.
“Twenty-five percent of these accidents pertain to motorcyclists and 70 percent are related to those who do not wear helmets. These accidents inflict losses worth $1.5 billion on the country,“ he said.
Moghisi pointed out that long-, short- and mid-term programs have been devised for controlling and preventing such incidents.

TEHRAN, June 2--Iranian dentists objected to a recent measure by the International Dentistry Federation for designating Iran as an Arab country.
Ali Yazdani, the head of Iranian Dentists Association, said on Saturday that although Iranian dentists have applied for attending international dentistry seminars, by enlisting Iran as an Arab country, FDI requires Iranian dentists to register a company in Dubai (UAE) for attending the seminar, IRNA reported.
Noting that while dentistry associations directly communicate with FDI, Yazdani said the issue of registering Iranian dentists through an Arab country should be scrutinized.
Referring to Iran as an old FDI member from Middle East, he pointed out that enlisting Iran as an Arab country and beside countries lagging behind in the field of dentistry is taking place while Turkey, Afghanistan and Egypt register independently.
“Why can’t Iran that ranks higher than Arab countries in terms of dentists, dentistry colleges and faculty members independently communicate with FDI?“ Yazdani asked.
Noting that Index Company has an office in Tehran and intends to engage in information dissemination activities by holding press conferences, he pointed out that Iranian dentists also intend to boycott FDI meetings and seminars as a sign of objection to FDI decision.
“International Dentistry Federation is a non-governmental organization entitled to act within a professional and scientific framework worldwide on the basis of its articles of association,“ Yazdani said.
The 47th Congress of Iranian Dentistry Federation will be held in the permanent hall of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Tehran on June 12-15. It will provide dentists with an opportunity to protest the FDI move.

TEHRAN, June 2--Tehran City Council will establish a research center, a member of the council’s Cultural Commission announced on Saturday.
Referring to the single-urgency plan in the council’s commissions for establishing the research center, Morteza Talaei told Fars News Agency that the main purpose of launching this center is to use all scientific potentials of the elite for the city’s administration.
“Utilizing the potentials of social and cultural elite is a serious program pursued by the council for promoting public culture,“ he said.
Talaei, also a member of the council’s Development Commission, noted that funds for establishing the research center will be included in the council’s annual budget.
“The plan proposes that the research center should be administered by a board of trustees and the center’s chief should be chosen from among scientists and by the chairman of Tehran City Council,“ he said.
Talaei said that the center should examine different aspects of plans and bills submitted to Tehran City Council.
“A major task of the center can be establishing close relations with the elite, making use of their potentials for identifying the needs of the society,“ he said.

ZANJAN, June 2--A senior archeologist said on Saturday the sixth saltman was found in the salt mine of Chehrabad in Zanjan province.
Abolfazl Aali added that the remains were found accidentally following seasonal rains, IRNA reported.
“When the studies are complete, we will announce the age and cause of his death,“ he said.
The death of the fifth saltman was linked to the fall of a 2.5 ton stone.
The discovery of the first saltman and his belongings in the Chehrabad Mine of Zanjan province dates back to ten years ago. It was estimated at 1,700 years.
Iranian saltmen are among rare mummies discovered around the world, which have been mummified by natural conditions.

Abdelaziz Belkhadem

ALGIERS, Algeria, June 2--Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem supported Iran’s right to pursue a peaceful nuclear program.
Belkhadem was speaking in a meeting with the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Saturday, IRNA reported.
The Algerian premier said the right to seek peaceful nuclear energy has been given to all signatories of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“Based on the treaty, the NPT signatories may not be deprived of their right to make peaceful use of nuclear technology,“ he said.
Mottaki said relations between Tehran and Algiers are very good and the two sides are determined to further broaden the scope of their activities from the economic viewpoint.
Mottaki made the remark on the sidelines of the ceremony to inaugurate a branch office of Iran Khodro Car Manufacturing Company in Algiers where he said the two countries share common standpoints on international issues such as those related to Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Palestine.
“Algeria plays a key role in North Africa, Middle East and the world,“ he said, adding that there are high political and economic capacities in the country.
The Iranian government attaches special importance to Algeria and fully supports the country in regional and international fora.
Mottaki leading a political and economic delegation arrived in Algiers on Friday for a two-day visit.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 2--At least one US warship bombarded a remote, mountainous village in Somalia where Islamic militants had set up a base, officials in the northern region of Puntland said Saturday.
The attack from a US destroyer took place late Friday, said Muse Gelle, the regional governor. The extremists had arrived Wednesday by speedboat at the port town of Bargal, AP reported.
Gelle said the area is a dense thicket, making it difficult for security forces from the semiautonomous republic of Puntland to intervene on their own.
A local radio station quoted Puntland’s leader, Ade Muse, as saying that his forces had battled with the extremists for hours before US ships arrived and used their cannons. Muse said five of his troops were wounded, but that he had no information about casualties among the extremists.
A taskforce of coalition ships, called CTF-150, is permanently based in the northern Indian Ocean and patrols the Somali coast in hopes of intercepting international terrorists. US destroyers are normally assigned to the taskforce and patrol in pairs.
CNN International, quoting a Pentagon official, also reported the US warship’s involvement. A Pentagon spokesman told The Associated Press he had no information about the incident.
The US has repeatedly accused Somalia’s Council of Islamic Courts of harboring international terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda and allegedly responsible for the 1998 bombings of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.