Iran says “change” was imposed on US by Islamic Revolution
Published: Friday, November 14, 2008
15:15GMT—10:15AM/EST
KHATAMI – FRIDAY PRAYER
Washington, 14 November (IranVNC)—During his Friday Prayer sermons in Tehran today, Hojjatoleslam Ahmad Khatami said that the “change” that the American electorate asked for in the US election, was really something that was imposed on them by a changing world situation that Iran’s Islamic Revolution had brought about.
“This slogan of change was in reality imposed on the rulers of America by the world situation, because America was defeated on all fronts, including economic, human rights, fight against terrorism, …” the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Broadcasting News reported Khatami as telling the congregation.
Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts added that
the US decline began “from the day when our great imam [Ayatollah Khomeini] said ‘America is the Great Satan and can’t do a damn thing’”.
Referring to Barack Obama’s landslide victory in the 4 November election, he said that this outcome would not change the overall US policy, and advised Obama not to follow “the wrong path that Bush had taken.” He defined the election results as “a big ‘no’” message by the American people to Bush.
But he cautioned against optimistic expectations of a real change, because he explained the decisions regarding US policy do not change with changes in administrations. And that talks of change were merely long-term “political ploys”.
In contrast, he said, Iran has remained consistent in its policy of fighting arrogance, “and that the slogan of this nation remains the same, our people have not change, and their slogan of contempt for America, which is ‘Death to America’, is still resonant.”
Khatami also spoke of the current global economic problems, as world leaders are meeting in Washington this weekend to determine what actions to take to tackle the worst financial crisis in 80 years.
Bush has brought financial ruin on the people of America, Khatami told the congregation, adding that every day banks and companies in the U.S. are going bankrupt, while more than 10 million Americans are unemployed.
But the financial crisis has not been limited to America’s shores, as more and more countries have entered a recession, including the euro zone.
Iran’s Labor Minister said yesterday that there were more than 2.2 million unemployed individuals in Iran, and that the unemployment rate was above 10 percent.
Falling oil prices have also impacted on the Iranian government’s budget plans. Oil revenues account for an estimated 80% of the state’s foreign exchange reserves.
Khatami called on Iran’s government to reduce the country’s dependence on oil and consider the country’s poor when drawing up the budget of next year [year beginning 21 March 2009]. The government should distribute oil wealth more realistically, he said.
Sources: IRIB News, ISNA
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