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by Joshua Levitt
An Iranian missile in front of portrait of the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader. Photo: Iranian Government.
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan on Thursday said the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities, including its ballistic missiles, will never be included in the ongoing nuclear negotiations with world powers, according to semi-official Iranian state news agency Fars.
“Our missile capabilities are related to us and we do not accept the interference and meddling of others,” Dehqan told Fars, adding that Iran’s “defensive” weapons have never been subject to talks and negotiations.
On allegations that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, Dehqan said Iran’s defense doctrine is based on the “Supreme Leader’s fatwa,” which, he said, declares nuclear weapons to be against Islam.
Dehqan said, “We have repeatedly declared that we are not in pursuit of the nuclear weapons as according to the Supreme Leader’s fatwa, pursuit and possession of the nuclear weapons is religiously banned and these WMDs, thus, have no room in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s defense doctrine.”
Fars claimed: “Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has on many occasions said the Islamic Republic considers the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons ‘a grave sin’ from every logical, religious and theoretical standpoint. On April 17, 2010. Ayatollah Khamenei issued a fatwa declaring that the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are all haram,” or religiously prohibited.
The fatwa said: “Iran is not after a nuclear bomb. Why would Iran want a nuclear bomb? Moreover, when an atomic bomb is detonated, it does not just kill enemies. Rather, it kills innocent people as well, and this goes against Islamic beliefs and the principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran. An atomic bomb does not discriminate between good and bad people, and it is not something that the Islamic Republic would use. The Islamic Republic is relying on something that is not affected by bombs, foreign invasions and other such things. Such things only strengthen what the Islamic republic is relying on. The Islamic republic is relying on the people.”
Fars wrote: “Analysts believe that the fatwa of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution can well serve as a beacon of light for Washington in order to find its way out of darkness and ignorance.”
Meanwhile, also on Wednesday, Fars reported that Iran will unveil five new radar and missile defense systems on the occasion of National Army Day on Friday. Arash radar system, Ghaffar missile-simulator system, and Posh and Qader missile-launcher movement system will be displayed during an Army Parade on Friday.
