Aug 16, 2004, 8:21 PM

Iran's foreign policy unchanged: Leader

TEHRAN, Aug. 16 (MNA) -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said here on Sunday that confronting hegemonistic policies, defending oppressed nations and the world’s Muslims, and supporting Islam are some of the main points of the Islamic Republic's foreign policy.

Addressing a gathering of Iranian ambassadors and envoys stationed abroad, Ayatollah Khamenei added that the Islamic Republic's strategic goals and the general framework of the country's foreign policy are the same as those of 25 years ago and have been followed up in Iran’s regional and international diplomacy.

   

The Supreme Leader pointed to the progress the Iranian nation has made in the political, economic, social, cultural, and scientific spheres and said even the enemies admit that the Islamic Republic has become more powerful.

   

“They are aware that the Islamic vigilance of Muslim nations throughout the globe is a result of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in

Iran,” he added.

   

On the recent fundamental changes in international diplomacy, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the world’s nations are opposed to modern Western liberal democracy, U.S. diplomacy is in the abyss of political failure, and the United States has become isolated internationally.

   

"The Islam we believe in is based on the three principles of spirituality, rationalism, and justice and it is completely different than the liberal or petrified Islam," he noted.

   

Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei urged Iranian officials responsible for foreign policy to make use of all the potential and capabilities of the Iranian nation in order to make Iran’s diplomatic apparatus more efficient.

  

The Supreme Leader expressed his appreciation of the country's diplomats and called on officials to make efforts to give the country a more active role in regional and international affairs.

   

Calling the Islamic Republic's positions on various issues logical, Ayatollah Khamenei said that in regard to issues such as human rights, the rights of minorities, the campaign against terrorism, women's rights, the ban on weapons of mass destruction, and every nation’s inalienable right to gain access to nuclear energy, Iranians should be recognized as the champions in such matters and not the Westerners.

   

As to Iran's legitimate right to make use of nuclear energy, the Supreme Leader underlined the need for confidence-building between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

   

Referring to the clamor raised by Westerners over Iran's nuclear activities in the past few months, Ayatollah Khamenei said they are doing the same thing with regard to Iran’s manufacture of nuclear industry centrifuge components, even though manufacturing such parts is not a violation of any treaty.

   

The Islamic Republic of Iran is paying no attention to such tumult and continuing to pursue its logical objective of developing nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes, he added.

   

Prior to the Supreme Leader's remarks, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi briefed Ayatollah Khamenei on the performance of the Foreign Ministry and the numerous challenges the country is currently facing.

 

MS/HG

End

 

MNA

News ID 7410

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