None of this will shake the conviction of Iran and the mainstream media that the Iranian mullahcracy is now “moderate,” and the Iranians know it. They know they can act with complete impunity, and nothing will stop Barack Obama and John Kerry from granting them concessions and helping them attain their nuclear goals.
“Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei: I Am Not Optimistic about Nuclear Talks; US Will Continue to Be an Enemy,” from MEMRI, February 17:
The following are excerpts from a speech delivered by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which aired on IRINN TV [Iran] on February 17, 2014:
Ali Khamenei: The message of the revolution is that we shall not surrender to bullying and extortion. We shall not surrender to hegemonic order. Hegemonic order means that a few powers control all the weapons and money, and they want to rule the world. The United States is the manifestation of today’s hegemonic order.
The Iranian nation has said during the revolution, in the ensuing events, in the Iran-Iraq War, and on the recent Revolution Day, that we shall not surrender to American bullying and extortion.
Crowd: Allah Akbar. Allah Akbar. Allah Akbar. Khamenei is the leader. Death to those who oppose the Rule of the Jurisprudent! Death to America! Death to England! Death to the hypocrites! Death to Israel!
Ali Khamenei: Certain people, who try to conceal the true face of America, should not do so. They should not conceal America’s ugliness, barbarism, and violence against our nation. They try to portray its government as friendly. They should not do so. It is futile.
[…]
The American president, with utter insolence, supported the people behind the [2009] strike in Tehran, and he supported them recently once again.
[…]
On March 21, 2013, in Mashhad, I declared that I have nothing to say [about the nuclear issue]. Some officials in the previous government, and some in the current government, believe that the nuclear issue can be resolved through negotiations with the US. I said: If you insist on negotiation with them on this specifically – fine. But in the same speech, I said that I was not optimistic. I am not against it, but I am not optimistic.
Look, time after time, the Americans make stupid statements. One dishonorable American senator takes money from the Zionists in order to go to the Senate and curse the Iranian nation. He uses real curses, not just insults. He curses. Even their leaders have insulted Iran, but of course, our people punched them in the mouth on the recent Revolution Day.
[…]
The nuclear issue is merely a pretext for enmity. Even if the nuclear issue is resolved one day in line with US expectations – although this is impossible – they will seek something else instead. Note how the American spokespeople have talked about human rights, missiles, weapons, and so on. I am surprised at how the Americans are not ashamed to talk about human rights.
[…]
Iran will not violate its agreements and commitments, but the Americans are the enemies of the Islamic Revolution and of Iran. They are the enemies of the flag that you hold high, and these [negotiations] will not bring an end to this enmity.
Stephen Poole says
… Let’s talk about monkeys’ again … … Monkeys are territorial … The biggest, toughest male subjugates all o’ the other males (… by beating them up …), then, he gets all !! o’ the (… monkey …) chicks … … There is a kinda an odd parallel here, but, I’m not goin’ there … “Adam Resla” may want my “banana” (… pun NOT intended …) … Take care folks … SP OX …
mortimer says
Why doesn’t he say what he really thinks? Yes, negotiations aren’t as effective as ‘punching them in the mouth’…of course.
One day soon, may the Persians rise up like the Rumanians did and start to shout him down. He embarrasses his country with blabber like that. Time for the Persians to take their country back.
mariam rove says
we will take it back. It is a law of physics. Anything that goes up must come down. M
Christian A. Beltram says
The Persians will only take their country back when they have renounced and Islam and warn the world about the evil that will result if it is not suppressed by the world’s governments.
Wellington says
Islamic nut jobs (like those running Iran) + Western fools who are unfortunately in charge right now (like Obama, Kerry and Cameron) = (a la The Producers) Springtime for Khamenei and Iran; Winter for England and America.
But, trying to remain positive, think 1945 and not 1939. History does, after all, tend to show that bad guys with bad ideas don’t stand at the top at the end, but oh what a mess till that end comes, courtesy of fools and bad guys with bad ideas.
joeb says
When Rouhani became President, I saw Melanie Phillips on a UK panel show, in which she described Iran as an enemy country, and that Rouhani was even more of an extremist than the last bloke.
Well, the audience screamed and heckled for her blood, and the politicians from the present government and opposition on the panel scoffed, laughed and said she was mad. The Environment Secretary Ed Davey said “Rouhani is a moderate”.
Is it a laughing or crying moment? Both, I’d say…
duh_swami says
‘Khomeini, you magnificent bastard, I read your book’…’The Little Green Book’…It’s very interesting to see what you think about in your spare time…
Tommy Peters says
Phonetically, given that Khamenei does not possess the feral intensity of his predecessor, Farsi is as light to the ear as Mandarin is sweet. Beautiful tone but Memri, just has to spoil it.
Geppetto says
Not to worry! Obama and that handsome rogue, John Kerry have them shaking in their boots. Do they wear boots?
Walter Sieruk says
Be it “talks’ with the officials of IAEA or “negotiations’ with the leaders of the six world powers. The officials of the ruling clerics of Iran who are Rouhani, Ayatollah Khamenie and the mullahs, the point being the officials of these Islamic clerics who engage theses “talks” and “negotiations” will both have the outcome that will be at best actions of extreme futility. At the its worst it worst it will be a disaster. This is because the rulers of this regime have their own kind of Islamic agenda and will not respond to reason. For religious fanatics will not respond to reason and religious fanatics they are. Thus in any so called dialogue with either IAEA of of the six world powers, the officials of these Islamic clerics will be very disingenuous and will dissimulate. In other words they will speak the truth only when it happens to suite them. the rest of the time they will be lying and saying half- truths. To describe this in another way. Thomas Jefferson said it best when he explained “An enemy generally says and believes what he wishes.”
gravenimage says
Iran’s Supremo: Americans are “enemies of Islamic Revolution and of Iran,” negotiations “will not bring an end to this enmity”
…………………………………………………
Well, he said it. Is anyone in the West apt to take this seriously? I very much doubt it…
More:
Ali Khamenei: The message of the revolution is that we shall not surrender to bullying and extortion…
…………………………………………………
Projection. It is the Islamic Republic of Iran that is threatening “death to America” and to “wipe Israel off the map”.
More:
Crowd: Allah Akbar. Allah Akbar. Allah Akbar. Khamenei is the leader. Death to those who oppose the Rule of the Jurisprudent! Death to America! Death to England! Death to the hypocrites! Death to Israel!
…………………………………………………
“Death to those who oppose the Rule of the Jurisprudent!”—now *that’s* a spontaneous ejaculation from the crowd…sarc/off
More:
The American president, with utter insolence, supported the people behind the [2009] strike in Tehran, and he supported them recently once again.
…………………………………………………
The sickening thing was that Obama *didn’t* show any support or even sympathy here—in fact, he barely acknowledged the phenomenon at all.
Now, these protests were *not* quite the secular democratic rebellion against the Mullahs that some optimistic types hoped, but they were the best we were likely to see, and the White House was mostly silent.
More:
Even their leaders have insulted Iran, but of course, our people punched them in the mouth on the recent Revolution Day.
…………………………………………………
This sounds like peaceful rhetoric…sarc/off
More:
Note how the American spokespeople have talked about human rights, missiles, weapons, and so on. I am surprised at how the Americans are not ashamed to talk about human rights.
…………………………………………………
How shocking that the occasional American can bring up Iran’s horrific human rights record. Don’t the American’s know that human rights are un-Islamic?
Kepha says
@Tommy Peters: As a Mandarin speaker who has even made love in that language (heterosxual marriage 30+ years; two sons, one granddaughter), I think it is just as sweet as English.