Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei waves, while Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi is seen in the background during a meeting in Tehran, June 28.

TEHRAN, June 29--Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei commended the judiciary’s effective drive to stem financial corruption.
The leader made the remark in a meeting with the staff and chief of judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, on Thursday to mark the martyrdom anniversary of former Chief Justice Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti and 72 cabinet ministers and senior officials in a terrorist bomb blast in 1981.
Ayatollah Khamenei said a strong action to bring to justice those who break the law and use corrupt means would help develop a healthy and safe society, IRNA reported.
The leader paid tribute to the martyrs of 7th Tir (June 28) and said the crime committed by the terrorists revealed their animosity toward the Islamic Revolution. Families of the martyrs were present in the meeting.
He recommended that the judiciary punish the lawbreakers so that others do not dare to violate law and order.
“Confronting financial corruption will help other businessmen do their work with peace of mind and respect the law,“ he said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the leader said the judiciary should help the government enforce social justice and stand up to the lawbreakers and opportunists.
Ayatollah Khamenei rejected the belief that the campaign against financial corruption may cause insecurity for investment, stressing that such a campaign will put the business community on a healthy path.
“Those violating the law are in a minority and the campaign against financial corruption will help the majority of businesspeople benefit from the secure atmosphere for investment and economic activities,“ he said.
The leader also advised the judiciary to kick out corrupt elements from the judiciary to ensure that those resort to the law would get justice.
Prior to the leader’s remarks, Ayatollah Shahroudi presented a report on measures taken by the judiciary to uproot financial corruption.

Seyyed Abdullah Safiadeen

July 2006 reminds the world of the 33-day war launched by Israel against Hezbollah. The Zionist regime’s aggressions, which were supported by the US and its allies, destroyed southern Lebanon and killed hundreds of civilians. In fact, the American cluster bombs fired by Israel during the war continue to claim the lives of Lebanese civilians.
Lebanese Premier Fuad Siniora had asked the US not to sell cluster bombs to Israel and US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack confirmed Israel violated agreements with the United States governing their use.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later testified that he launched the 33-day war against Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon in line with a contingency plan he approved four months before the war.
Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz have seen their popularity slump since the war, in which 158 Israelis, including 117 soldiers and 41 civilians, were killed. In Lebanon, about 1,200 civilians were killed.
The Israelis criticized the failure of their government and asked for accountability of the Zionist officials.
Iran Daily’s Amir Tajik met Seyyed Abdullah Safiadeen, Hezbollah’s envoy in Tehran, to discuss the Zionist regime’s violations, defeat and other aspects of the 33-day war. Excerpts:

AMIR TAJIK: Hezbollah could target Tel Aviv during the 33-day war, but it didn’t do so. Why?
SEYYED ABDULLAH SAFIADEEN: Basically, all the military capabilities should not be used at the beginning of a war. Seyyed Hassan Nasrollah, Hezbollah leader, announced that Tel Aviv will be targeted by Hezbollah missiles if the Israeli regime targets Beirut, Lebanon’s capital. This has two implications: First, Hezbollah missiles can reach Tel Aviv and there is no doubt about it. Second, we restricted the Israeli regime to focus its attacks on some parts of Lebanon and, thanks to God, we succeeded. It is natural for both sides to bomb each other and kill people but the rules of the game are set when it starts. Hezbollah did not consider it necessary to use its full capabilities. It had capabilities that were kept for the next phase of the war. If Israel had made a mistake by attacking Beirut, Hezbollah would definitely have used its military capability.

Some critics say Hezbollah’s tactics during the war with Israel were Iranian tactics.
No. We study war tactics from all over the world. One of the advantages of Hezbollah is that it’s not only a military group. We studied all war options before the beginning of the 33-day war, because we are always in a state of readiness. We studied the Israeli soldiers’ morale, their capabilities and even Israeli public opinion and knew the weak points of the enemy. We studied all options and finally selected the tactics used in the 33-day war. Those tactics were also used in the 7-day war of 1993 and the 16-day war of 1996.
We selected the way of fighting Israel. If Muslim states offered us help, we would accept. We will never reject others’ help, but this does not mean that we would use special tactics.

Was Hezbollah weakened by the 33-day war?
No. With God’s Help, Hezbollah’s military and defensive capability has become ten times stronger since last year. It is a fact that Israel is considered the US military base in region and its weakness means the US has been weakened. Moreover, we can say that actually America was the one defeated during the 33-day war and this defeat opens the door to further defeats in the region and in the international arena.

Is there any possibility of Israel attacking southern Lebanon again in the near future?
All neighbors of Israel should always be aware and ready because Israeli nature is aggressive. Israel’s nature is to occupy lands of neighboring states and bear enmity toward the Islamic world. So, we believe that our enemy is always ready to attack us. You can see that Israel is intensifying its aggression against the Palestinians and continues to violate Lebanon’s airspace on a daily basis.
This is aggression and we are always in a state of readiness and we will give them an appropriate response when necessary. Israel was defeated during the 33-day war and it admitted its failure to the Winograd committee. That’s why you saw many resignations in its cabinet after the war.

Why didn’t Palestinians help Hezbollah during the 33-day war?
You should consider the resistance against Israel as Hezbollah (Army of God) and in this context all Muslims and Arabs who are against Israel will be known as Hezbollah. You could see it during the war with Israel. Hezbollah was fighting Israel, but all Lebanese, especially people in southern Lebanon, stood by it. The same were people of Palestine, Iran and Arab world. We believe that Hezbollah is fighting Israel on behalf of them. You could see massive rallies supporting Hezbollah in all countries and even in Washington. The fact that people poured into streets and supported Hezbollah shows that it was not just Hezbollah that fought with Israel. Hezbollah is honored to fight Israel and, with God’s Help, it succeeded. We believe that Hezbollah is not alone today and never was.

Was Hezbollah weakened by the 33-day war?
No. With God’s Help, Hezbollah’s military and defensive capability has become ten times stronger since last year. It is a fact that Israel is considered the US military base in region and its weakness means the US has been weakened. Moreover, we can say that actually America was the one defeated during the 33-day war and this defeat opens the door to further defeats in the region and in the international arena.

BEIT-UL-MOQADDAS, June 29--Israel’s disgraced president Moshe Katsav resigned on Friday after signing a controversial plea bargain that will see him convicted of sexual offences but escape jail for initial rape charges.
The father of five, who suspended himself from duty in January over the worst scandal to befall an Israeli leader, sent a letter of resignation by courier to parliament speaker Dalia Itzik, a senior aide to Katsav told AFP.
His resignation will take effect in 48 hours, when Itzik will be named interim president and the state prosecution will indict Katsav.
He was forced out of his seven-year term in office some two weeks before Nobel peace laureate Shimon Peres is officially sworn in as his successor, having been elected Israel’s ninth president this month.
He signed the deal, admitting to a series of sex offences, including harassment and indecent acts, but dropping two rape charges.
The plea bargain sparked a wave of outrage and Katsav will himself appear in the Beit-ul-Moqaddas district court on Sunday to admit guilt to the lesser charges.

TEHRAN, June 29--Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Friday his visit to Qatar provided him with an opportunity to exchange views with Qatari officials, particularly on the Palestinian issue.
After meeting Qatar’s top officials during his one-day visit, Mottaki told reporters that the fight against terrorism in the region is on Iran’s agenda, ISNA reported.
Mottaki reiterated that Iran is committed to restore political stability and security to both Iraq and Lebanon.
He referred to the imminent cooperation between Iran and member-states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council in the field of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Asked about talks with the European Union on Iran’s nuclear case, Mottaki opined that Iran will resume talks with EU in the coming weeks in order to find a way for resolving different issues.
Hailing Qatar for its support for Iran’s stance, he reiterated that Tehran and Doha are determined to consolidate their relationship in different areas.
The minister rejected allegations that Iran supports regional disputes, particularly in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, to pressure the US over Iran’s nuclear case.
He noted that Iran has always supported the Iraqi government and political measures taken by this government.
Mottaki also rejected the idea that Iran prefers the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas over Fatah.
“Iran favors an alliance of Palestinian forces, but we do not support one Palestinian group to act against another,“ he said.
Mottaki called on all political factions to take part in unconditional talks for resolving the Palestinian crisis.
“All Muslim countries should help alleviate the problems of Palestinians,“ he said.
Noting that a US attack on Iran’s nuclear sites is unlikely, he said Washington is not in a position to initiate a new war.
Mottaki also met with Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim Ben Hamad Al-Thani.
Referring to the determination of Iranian and Qatari officials for further enhancement of ties, Mottaki said this determination has paved the way for expansion of ties in different areas.
The Qatari prince, for his part, said the US made a big mistake by invading Iraq in March 2003.
“Iran-US talks on Iraq shows that Iran is willing to bring about political stability and security to Iraq,“ he said.

Floodwaters inflicted more than 200 billion rials in losses to KashanÕs rural areas on Thursday night.

KASHAN, Isfahan, June 29--An official said floods on Thursday night killed five people and inflicted more than 200 billion rials in losses to Kashan’s rural areas.
Mansour Shisheh-Foroush, the head of Isfahan Natural Disasters Headquarters, said parts of Qamsar and Barzak were damaged as a result of the torrential rains, IRNA reported.
Speaking during a visit to the flood-hit areas, he noted that utilities and sewage system, residential areas, rural roads, gardens and farms were destroyed.
“A total of 15 road construction aid workers are working hard to reopen rural roads,“ he said.
The official pointed out that 40 mm of rain poured over 20 minutes in the flood-hit areas.
“Rescue workers are making efforts to remove the electricity problems facing the affected areas,“ he said.
Shisheh-Foroush noted that 800 people will inspect the river estuaries to prevent problems in case new flooding hits the region.
“Five special groups comprising transportation, information dissemination, relief, housing and food distribution are presently providing relief assistance to people in the affected areas,“ he said.