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Iranian cleric: US must change policies towards Iran

Senior ayatollah says first step of new phase between Obama and Muslims must change in policy towards Israel

The United States must stop supporting Israel if it wants better relations with Iran, a hardline cleric said on Friday in the first Iranian reaction to US President Barack Obama's address to the Islamic world.

 

"Whatever Obama says about forgetting the past and starting a new phase (of relations with Iran), the first condition should be a policy change towards Israel," Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati told worshippers at Tehran University.

 

Jannati said Israel was the main problem between the two arch enemies.

 

"The rest of problems between Iran and America are basic and minor ones," Jannati said in a sermon, broadcast live on state radio. "If your support to Israel continues, then the same old story will be repeated again between Iran and America."

 

Jannati's words echo those of his superior.  Thursday, speaking ahead of Obama's speech, Iran's most powerful figure Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei railed against the United States, saying it was deeply hated by Muslim countries.

 

Khamenei said change and a new image would only come "through practical moves and compensating for U.S. injustice towards the Iranian nation and other nations in the region."

 

"Changes should be made in practice and not by making nice speeches to the world's Muslims," Jannati said to chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel".

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.05.09, 19:49
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