Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh

TEHRAN, July 6--Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency said a team of high-ranking IAEA officials will arrive in Tehran next week, stressing that the agency has confirmed Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh added that Ollie Heinonen, deputy head of IAEA and director of protocols department, will head the team, Mehr News Agency reported.
“The IAEA team will arrive in Tehran on July 11 and hold talks with Iranian officials on the pending issues,“ he said.
He noted that a framework and a timeline are among the objectives of the next week’s negotiations.
Stressing that Iran is continuing its cooperation with IAEA as per international rules and has not deviated toward making weapons, Soltaniyeh said, “Iran will never ignore its legitimate rights and is determined to continue its peaceful nuclear activities. Uranium enrichment is part of our legal activities and we will continue it under the IAEA supervision.“
The Iranian envoy pointed out that Iran’s position will not change while it continues its cooperation with the international body under its Non-Proliferation Treaty commitments.
Noting that more than 2,000 man-days of inspection in three years and a half indicate Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA, he said, “During the last three years and a half, Iran voluntarily implemented the additional protocols and accepted unplanned inspections. We even suspended enrichment activities for two years, but we could not remove concerns of the West.“
Soltaniyeh added that Iran has 1,300 centrifuges working and IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei has confirmed the peaceful nature of Iranian activities.
“The IAEA is the only authorized body to confirm Iran’s peaceful activities and it did so,“ he said.

TEHRAN, July 6--Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said enemies are trying to sow seeds of discord among Muslims in order to attain their goals.
The leader made the remark in a special ceremony on Thursday to commemorate the auspicious birth anniversary of Hazrat Zahra (AS), the distinguished daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), IRNA reported.
The leader warned that conflicts among Palestinian and Lebanese groups only serve the interests of the US and the Zionist Israeli regime.
“The enemies of Islam try to sow seeds of discord among Muslims and religious sects, and they will never abandon this tactic to achieve their goals,“ he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the world arrogant powers are after expanding their hegemony by undermining people’s religious beliefs through its propaganda machine.
Also on Thursday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said inspired by the lofty spirit of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (AS), Muslim women are the focal point of resistance against the world arrogant powers.
Ahmadinejad made the remark in a meeting with a group of elite women known for their scientific, social, economic, political, cultural and artistic achievements.
He also expressed his felicitation on the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA).
“The victory of resistance movements in Lebanon and Palestine as well as the struggles of Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan is the sign of the final triumph,“ he said, adding that the world should believe that by relying on God Almighty and under the leadership of Imam Mahdi (the 12th infallible imam living in occultation), the oppressed people will triumph over global hegemony and infidelity.
“To conquer the peak of success, all should abide by the lofty goals and spirit of Hazrat Zahra (AS),“ he said.
Ahmadinejad noted that Iranian women have taken a leading role in scientific, cultural and social arenas.
“We should all stand united in tackling the arrogant world powers because final victory based on justice will materialize in the world very soon,“ he said.
Women from Lebanon, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkey were also present in the meeting.

Bandar bin Sultan

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 6--A Lebanese official said on Wednesday the Fatah Al-Islam group is founded and supported by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, former Saudi ambassador to the US.
Speaking on Al-Jazeera channel, Nasser Ghandil, head of Lebanon’s Center of Research and Information, added that the Saudi prince also interferes in Lebanon’s internal affairs, QODSNA reported.
“Prince Bandar has secret activities in Lebanon and is supporting the terrorist groups he founded earlier,“ he said.
He noted that the Saudi prince was bribed by a British company in an arms deal with Saudi Arabia, which led to differences between him and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal.
“Mohammad Dahlan, advisor to Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, was the main agent of Prince Bandar in Gaza but he was forced to leave by Hamas fighters,“ he said.
Pointing out that the prince has told Americans that he can found a new Al-Qaeda group in the region like the one he founded in Afghanistan in 1980, Ghandil said Dahlan and a US colonel named Dayton staged a coup in Gaza with $65 million from the US Congress but the plot was foiled by Hamas.
“Fatah Al-Islam was organized to fight Lebanon’s Hezbollah but failed,“ he said.Fatah Al-Islam, formed in November 2006, has been described as a militant Jihadist movement inspired by Al-Qaeda. It came to the fore in May and June 2007 after clashing with the Lebanese Army in the Nahr Al-Bared refugee camp.

Hossein KanÕani-Moqaddam, secretary-general of IranÕs Green Party, (l) talks with Iran DailyÕs Amir Tajik in Tehran.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the holiest Muslim sites targeted by the Zionist Israelis since they entered the Holy Land. Israeli officials have invariably called for its destruction such that in April 1981, the United Nations Security Council convened to discuss the attacks and desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Zionists. The US vetoed the resolution and Israel continued its desecration of this holy place. Its recent excavations were condemned by Muslims around the world, but Israelis ignored the protests and continued their destructive operations.
Iran Daily’s Amir Tajik met Hossein Kan’ani-Moqaddam, political secretary of Iran’s Hezbollah Movement, to discuss Israel’s desecrations of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its 33-day war against Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Kan’ani-Moqaddam, 48, is secretary-general of Iran’s Green Party and secretary of the International Anti-Zionism Assembly. He holds degrees in civil engineering, English literature and management. A founding member of Islamic Revolution’s Guards Corps, he also served as IRGC’s former chief training commander. Excerpts:

Hossein KanÕani-Moqaddam

AMIR TAJIK: What is the reason behind the Zionist regime’s desecrations of Al-Aqsa Mosque?
HOSSEIN KAN’ANI-MOQADDAM: Al-Aqsa Mosque is at the heart of Islam. It was Muslims’ first Qiblah (the direction to which they turn for prayers) and is part of the Muslim identity. The Zionist regime wants to destroy this holy place and settle Jewish people in it. They want to erect Solomon’s Statue at the site. Recently, neoconservatives in the US joined hands with the Jews in the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and decided to bring all the Jewish people to the Holy Land.
They want to settle a new generation there. The Holy Land has become a part of their global scenario. That’s why they’re building a wall around Beit-ul-Moqaddas and want to push Muslim Arabs out. If you look at the policies of Israel since its establishment, you will find the regime always destroyed Muslim holy sites. They have, in fact, a long-term plan for Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Holy Land on the whole.

Israel and the US are both aware of Muslim sensitivity toward the place. Why do they continue these insulting acts?
There are two factors behind this: one is resistance of Palestinians and Muslims against the Israeli occupation. They believe that Islam is the main reason behind this resistance. The other factor is that Israelis cannot establish their desired state if they do not have any land. They want to keep the areas that they occupied in the past with the final objective of establishing their government.

What are the Zionist regime’s plans for destroying Muslims’ first Qiblah?
They have different social, economic, political and military plans. They have imposed sanctions on Palestinians living in Beit-ul-Moqaddas. Palestinians are facing lots of economic problems. They’re poor and suffer from lack of water, food and unemployment. As for political plots, the Israeli regime inflames differences between Hamas and Fatah, which are the two leading political factions. The current disputes among Palestinians were plotted by Israel and the US in order to make them kill each other and make it easier for Israel to rule Palestine.

As for the social plots, I should say Palestinians do not have a good educational system. They are experiencing many social problems that are increasing on a daily basis. Israel wants to divert Muslim attention from Al-Aqsa Mosque and make them focus on solving the disputes among Palestinians. They want to rule over one of the holiest Muslim sites and this is very important for them. If Al-Aqsa Mosque is destroyed, nobody will remember it in future. That’s the long-term plan of Zionists.

What measures have Muslims taken to foil the plots of Zionists?
Defending Al-Aqsa Mosque is not the only objective of resistance in the region. The main purpose is to fight international Zionism in the Middle East. The resistance movement intends to remove this ’cancer’ which was how it was referred to by Imam Khomeini.
While defending Al-Aqsa Mosque is very important, the resistance movement aims to fight back hegemonic powers from the region. Israel has now become a military base of the United States. The Israeli people are soldiers or live like soldiers because they are always afraid of being targeted by the neighboring states. Israel has become the US military base in the region and helps it continue its hegemonic policies. The ’roadmap’ proposed by the US is based on the same premise. Its final purpose is to make Arab states compromise with Israel on the one hand and suppress resistance on the other.
The Zionist regime needs some factors for its existence. Security is the first factor because the economy of countries depends on their security. Secondly it needs the support of western countries to continue its hegemonic policies. The third factor is market. The Israeli regime wants to control the region’s energy market because energy will rule the world in future. The fourth factor is land. Zionists are after expanding their lands and that’s why they have occupied territories of Golan Heights in Syria, some parts of Jordan, Egypt and southern Lebanon.
If Israelis give control of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Beit-ul-Moqaddas to Muslims, the problem will not be solved. Israel itself is the problem.

What measures should be taken to secure the holy sites of Muslims in the occupied territories?
The first step is to inform the young generation. If we don’t inform them of the past achievements, the next generation might forget the existence of Beit-ul-Moqaddas or Al-Aqsa Mosque. Transferring the culture, ideals and principles to the young generation is very important. We should also make the international community sensitive about the issue.
We should also ask the Arab states to react to the Zionist regime’s insults to Al-Aqsa Mosque. They should discuss it as a principle in their talks with Israel. Many Arab states have now relations with Israel, but they do not discuss these important issues.
Cultural activities can also put pressure on the Zionist regime to stop insulting Muslims.

Are regional nations and states reacting differently to Israel?
After the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, we have seen a new vigilance among Muslim nations. This vigilance makes people of Muslim countries put pressure on their governments and make them isolate Israel.
As for other states, I should say they consider Islamic Revolution in Iran and the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine as a model. This is valuable. We should ask the Arab Muslim states to defend Palestinian rights and Beit-ul-Moqaddas, as a whole.
Basically, the Organization of Islamic Conference was formed with the same objective, but unfortunately since some Muslim countries are blind allies of the US policies in the region, they support Israel. We think this vigilance is growing and it is pressuring these governments to sever ties with Israel.

As for the 33-day war of Israel against Lebanon’s Hezbollah, do you agree that the Sunni Palestinians did not help Shiite Hezbollah during the war?
No, that’s not correct. Palestinians are suffering from the attacks and pressures of the Zionist regime. They continued their missile attacks during this 33-day war and as a result, the Zionist regime did not move all of its forces to the northern areas of the occupied Palestine. They only took one brigade out during the war. It shows that they were worried about Palestinian fighters in West Bank and Gaza.
One of the objectives of Israel’s attack on Hezbollah was to occupy some areas in southern Lebanon and move Palestinians from West Bank and Gaza Strip to these areas between Lebanon, southern occupied Palestine and Jordan. Some Arab states had agreed to the plot before the war.
Zionists wanted to inflame sectarian differences inside Lebanon and started the war based on this scenario. They did not succeed because the Lebanese people, whether Muslim or Christian, supported Hezbollah’s resistance during the war.

Did Iran directly help Hezbollah during the 33-day war?
Lebanon, Palestine and some other countries are Iran’s fields of influence and that’s why we say Iran’s national security depends on the resistance in Lebanon and Hezbollah. Some might criticize Iran’s help to Lebanon or Palestine. We actually help those on the front line of fighting Zionism because if this front is broken, we will be the next target.
We should, therefore, strengthen our fields of influence before the enemy comes closer. The US has recognized this very well and wants to destroy our fields of influence before directly attacking us.
Israelis and Americans want to imply that Hezbollah is not independent and that it’s fully supported by Iran. This is not true. Hezbollah has developed in many fields, especially in using asymmetrical war tactics, and I believe Iran needs to learn Hezbollah’s tactics.

NEW YORK, July 6--Iran’s mission to the UN on Wednesday said a call made by two US representatives to take more political advantage of the terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization (MKO) against Iran was a “giant leap in the wrong direction“.
The mission made the statement in a letter written in response to an article by Reps. Tom Tancredo and Bob Filner published by ’Washington Times’ on June 15, IRNA reported.
The two Republican representatives called on the Bush administration to make more use of the MKO against Iran.
The mission expressed regret over the wrong approach toward the terrorist group.
“The MKO is recognized as a terrorist group that has committed atrocities in Iran and in the region for more than four decades. It has a dark history of aligning itself with the Baathist regime of (executed Iraqi dictator) Saddam Hussein, which used it as a mercenary army against the Kurds and to attack Iran from its bases in Iraq,“ the letter said.
It pointed out that even prior to September 11, 2001, the MKO was in the initial stages of aligning itself with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda but its plans to set up bases in Afghanistan vanished with the developments in Kabul.
“The authors have not done a proper scrutiny of MKO’s violent record, which includes the assassination of a president, a prime minister and 80 lawmakers as well as thousands of innocent Iranian civilians,“ it said.
“At a time when the Iraqi government has demanded the expulsion of the MKO terrorists from their territory, the authors’ call for the use of the group as a political tool against a democratic, elected government is a giant leap in the wrong direction,“ the letter said.