‘Sanctions can’t break our resolve’ Saturday, 21 August 2010 04:53

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during an interview with the Editors-in-Chief of The Peninsula and Al Sharq, Khalid Al Sayed (centre) and Jaber Al Harmi, respectively.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke to the Editors-in-Chief of The Peninsula and Al Sharq on a wide range of issues, from the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions to its relations with neighbours and political and economic issues confronting his government, in Tehran on Thursday. Excerpts ...

How do you view Iran-Qatar relations? How can they stabilise security in the region and what is the message of the Qatari Prime Minister’s visit to Iran?

My greetings to the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Qatar government on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. I hope the situation would further improve this month. Our relations are deep-rooted and are based on brotherhood, especially those with the Emir. We always consult on key issues and benefit from his advice.

This friendly relation between the two countries gives the opportunity to resolve regional issues in the best manner. Qatar’s initiative to solve the Lebanese conflict is praiseworthy and highly valuable. We always supported this and stood side by side with this mission.

Qatar played a key role in bringing about peace and brotherhood in the Gulf region and its efforts continue. This will help reduce foreign intervention.

What were the issues discussed during the visit of Qatar’s Prime Minister?

This visit came within the framework of our mutual relations. We have always been consulting and examining our stands to improve relations.

What is the impact of the latest sanctions imposed by the US and European Union on Iran? Don’t you think the Iranian people will pay a heavy price for the policy of the government, especially in the aviation sector?

The main purpose of the sanctions is to confront the Iranian people, but they are confronting a people who are very strong in their beliefs. The boycott targeted Iranian people but it does not have the expected impact. Iran has a strong economy and it has contacts with the whole world. They will be boycotted when they boycott Iran. They deprive themselves of ties with Iran. Iranian people will overcome the sanctions and they will be forced to withdraw them.

There is a rat race among countries for marketing their commodities. Then what is the meaning of the boycott? They are boycotting themselves.

What they are selling we are manufacturing in Iran. The worst thing is that they want to exploit business relations to impose their ideology on others.

For 300 years they have been practicing the colonialist behaviour and now it is difficult for them to get out if it. You have to give them a jolt to bring them back to their senses.

What is the response of Arab countries towards the sanctions and what is your view about your relations with these countries and the Gulf states in particular?

We have good relations. The latest development does not have an impact on this relationship.

The relations are strengthening and are normal. If there is any threat from outside the family members will respond to it quickly. This is my opinion. We are expanding our brotherly relations.

Do you think there is Western intervention to disrupt Arab-Iranian relations?

This is not a new intervention. They have been trying for decades to weaken our relations but they found them growing compared to the past.

This means they have failed. They try to pressure and are doing it immorally, but I think that the states in the region will withstand their plans. They are weak in making any serious impact on our countries. They are like old wolves whose teeth are broken, and are just howling.

Some are accusing you of interfering in Arab issues.

They are behaving like colonialists. Whenever they get the chance they intervene, but I believe the leaders of the Gulf states are intelligent enough not to allow them to implement their plot.

We see them as arrogant and immoral. They should talk like equals. Why should the countries of the region protect their interests? This is a serious question but they don’t have the answer.

What is the strategy of Iran towards Iraq? What is its role in solving the current problem regarding formation of the government? Does Iran have any plans to change Iraq into another Lebanon with the presence of Hezbollah in Iraq?

Iraq is our brother and neighbour. Iraq has a historical relationship with Iran and a number of Iranians were born in Iraq. A number of Iraqis are born in Iran. There are marriage ties between the two peoples. Iraq is united, strong and advanced. Iraq is a friend of the regional states and cooperating with them. We are in touch with all groups in Iraq and we have friendly relations with Iraq. We think Iraqis can administer their issues on their own.

Saddam was a dictator who did not allow Iraqis to interfere in the government. There are 100,000 foreign troops in Iraq and are they not interfering? There are problems that are floating on the surface but the Iraqi people will overcome them.

Any group should not say that we must exist and others should not. They should live together with others. Eight years of war was imposed by Saddam Hussein and after that the Americans interfered. Iraq is destroyed and deprived of development. All people should take part in rebuilding Iraq. The Iraqi people are good but they are suppressed and have suffered a lot. We are encouraging Iraqi groups to reach reconciliation and form a government to rebuild Iraq.

It is feared that after the withdrawal of American troops, Iraq might plunge into more instability. There is a demand for keeping the American troops for the coming years. What is your view on this? Will the presence of American troops in Iraq help security?

Is there security in Iraq when the American forces are there? Could they protect the Iraqi people? We believe the presence of American forces has created insecurity. American forces are helping to destabilise the country.

Shias and Sunnis have been living in Iraq for long years. They were getting married to each other. When the Americans and British interfered in Iraq, the Sunni-Shia rift emerged. Iraq will not be stabilised as long as they are there.

Now they are trying to create new hype about security to create the impression that the situation would worsen if they leave the country. I think Iraqi people will overcome this situation and they will be able to rule themselves. We are not worried about the future of Iraq.

But it is alleged that Iran is running Iraq?

The Americans entered with a huge number of troops. And now Iran is running Iraq? Do they acknowledge their failure? Instead of accepting their weakness, they have started putting the blame on others. We said in the beginning that your entry into Iraq is not justified. We came to know that the prime target was not Saddam but oil. The Iraqi people will not allow the oil to fall into the hands of the Americans.

From the beginning we have said that this policy will fail, like their policy in Afghanistan. Anyone who knows the history of the region knows that the occupation of Afghanistan has failed. The British and the Russians failed before the Americans. They are not learning from history. They are illiterates in this field.

If the Americans ask for your help in Iraq and Afghanistan would you help them?

Of course. We told them that their policy in Afghanistan is wrong and we are ready to tell them what they have to do. Respect the Afghani people and let the Afghan government do its work. They controlled all things and they took everything in their hands. The government could not do anything. The Afghani people know this and the president of Iran need not say this through the media. Everyone knows this fact.

What is happening now is the natural reaction from the Afghani people, who don’t like occupation. Bombs and missiles cannot change the ideology of the people.

I think the Afghan groups have reached a level where they can cooperate with each other to address the country’s issues. The differences have only broadened. Every day people are being killed. Who will compensate for these losses?

Regarding the nuclear issue, do you think the Brazilian initiative will succeed in exchanging enriched uranium? Do you believe the US and Israel can attack Iran?

The statement of Tehran is based on law and justice. This is the appropriate solution. I think the Americans and others should respect law and justice. We have announced our readiness to exchange nuclear fuel. This exchange is the beginning of cooperation. It is a good thing. They committed a mistake. President Obama asked the presidents of Brazil and Turkey to intervene to bring about a solution for the nuclear fuel exchange and they did this. But the Western countries mixed up the issues. We said we respect the negotiations.

They are trying to impose their ideas. They don’t know that times have changed,. The master and slave relation has changed. The government and people are equal now, everyone must be respected. We hope they understand this. If they don’t understand, time will make them understand. We are not worried about any attacks. We are ready for that. They know our response. I think those who think about attacking Iran, especially Israel, are now in a worse situation. They are building a wall to protect themselves. They think it is brave to attack unarmed people. They know Iran is strong and I don’t think their bosses in America would let them attack Iran. Everyone knows friendship is better than confrontation. We are not worried about a military attack.

But what is the option if Iran is attacked and if the US repeats what it did in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Options have no limits.

Regarding Lebanon, we know very well that Iran stands for supporting  the Palestinian cause and the Lebanese resistance. This is appreciated by the Arab and Islamic states. But Iran has a special relation with Hezbollah and people are accusing Hezbollah of receiving instructions from Tehran. Iran tries to arm Hezbollah with the weapons that the Lebanese army don’t have.

In the latest incident the Lebanese Army stood against the Israeli Army. The Lebanese president was the commander of the Army. His relations with Iran is very good and all groups in Lebanon are in touch with us. The most important thing is the unity and stability of Lebanon and its defence capability against Israel. The Lebanese people are defending their territories from Israel. We support it. Hezbollah’s presence in Lebanon helped the independence of Iran and making of the government and unity in Lebanon. Hezbollah is an independent group and we are supporting all groups that are resisting Israel. We are also supporting the Palestinian groups but this does not mean that we are imposing our orders. Our relations with others are clear. Lebanese people are independent and majority of them like Iran. Does it mean they are under our command?

Iranians also like the Lebanese.

Iran—Qatar relations are friendly in all fields. Qatar is also supporting us. Does this means they are our subordinates? Relations are friendly and we are supporting the autonomy of all countries. Does it mean they are our subordinates? They are also defending the autonomy of Iran and opposing any kind of attack against Iran. Does it mean that Iran is under their control? The American perspective is wrong. They think the relations should be under the basis of the rulers and the ruled or master and the slave. We have brotherly relations with all but the Americans don’t understand. They know only power, money and they don’t know brotherhood.

How is your relations with Saudi Arabia?

Islamic states should have good relations with each other, clashes between brothers will help the enemy. Every one should try to keep good relations. Our relations with Saudi Arabia keep changing due to foreign intervention.

You are one of the few leaders who attended the Gaza summit held in Qatar and your support is well known. But Gaza is now beleaguered. It was decided to send an Iranian aid ship but it was stopped. What kind of steps will Iran take to break the Gaza blockade?

We announced our stand several times and participated in the Doha Summit. We always maintain that the Iranian people will help the Gaza people. Public aid is continuing. It is not stopped. I think aid flotillas may move from different places of the world toward Gaza. We think that the blockade is illegal and is a war crime. Unfortunately people who talk about human rights do not utter a single word. What is the sin committed by the people of Gaza to keep them in their houses? The brutal dog is released to attack the people who do not have a stone to hit it and defend themselves. I think it will not continue. They will be forced to break it.

Your rivals accuse you of leading the region to a dark future. What could you say?

The situation created by America is well known. The same situation in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Is this a good thing they brought for the region? They should use their influence to solve the problem of the region. We say to every one to consult and make decisions. Palestine is independent. Iraq is independent. Iraq and its oil should be for the Iraqi people. Is it a bad thing? Afghanistan emerges as a secure and united state. Is it a bad thing? The crimes that are being committed in Pakistan should be stopped. Is it a bad thing? I think they brought new gifts for the region. I tell you the story. What does America want from this region? The relations were good with the region. There was business and tourism. People of the region are geniuses. They understand it. The enemy creates some thing to make justification of his activities. Everyone knew him and everyone hate them. We do not want this. We told them to change their behaviour. There are weapons in their hands. This weapons belong to the past when they occupied and killed Muslim people. Islam has given awareness to Muslims and great morality you are interfacing the in the issues of the region. The British entered this region before 100 years the Iraqi people were expelled them from their soil. The people of this region hate them when they say unreasonable things. We pray in this holy month of Ramadan to solve all problems of the Islamic World and other states. We are with the people of the United States. We do not want it to be bankrupt after expending all money in war. Convey my best regards to His Highness the Emir of Qatar.

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