Propaganda War: Iranian, Syrian Officials Blame Israel for Bombing Iraqi Mosque

Iranian Officials, President Continue Diatribe Against West

Following the bombing of a Shiite mosque in the Iraqi city of Samarra Wednesday, Iranian leaders and their allies were quick to call the blast an Israeli conspiracy. The comments were just the latest in an escalating series of verbal assaults by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against Israel, Jews and the West.

Since being elected to power in June, Ahmadinejad has stated Iran's intentions to develop nuclear capabilities and the country already has begun enriching uranium. The president also has said that Israel should be "wiped off the map" and that the Holocaust was a "myth."

Feb. 23, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a speech broadcast live on state television following the Feb. 22 bombing of a Shiite mosque in Iraq:

"These heinous acts are committed by a group of Zionists and occupiers that have failed. They have failed in the face of Islam's logic and justice," Ahmadinejad said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

"But be sure, you will not be saved from the wrath and power of the justice-seeking nations by resorting to such acts," Ahmadinejad said as thousands of supporters cried out "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."

"Ahmadinejad warns Israel over blast in Iraq Mosque," Reuters/Haaretz, Feb. 23, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/686650.html

Feb. 23, statement by Iranian First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi, during a visit with Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Utri in Damascus, following the bombing of the Shiite mosque in Iraq:

"As the Supreme Leader has said in his message, this is a political crime which can be traced to the occupiers and Zionist regime as well as its intelligence organizations."

"Iran, Syria senior officials condemn Samarra blast," Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Feb. 23, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-24/0602239783085434.htm

Feb. 23, statement by Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Utri in Damascus, following the bombing of the Iraqi mosque:

"Zionist hands and the occupiers' conspiracy are visible in this crime."

"Iran, Syria senior officials condemn Samarra blast," IRNA, Feb. 23, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-24/0602239783085434.htm

Feb. 22, statements by Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, to Iran state radio:

"The United States proved that it would not support democracy after it cut its aid to the Palestinian government after Hamas won the elections. We will certainly help the Palestinians."

Barakat, Amiram, "Iran pledges to finance a Hamas-led PA government," Haaretz, Feb. 22, 2006, http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/685642.html

YNET, "Russia Offers Emergency Aid to P.A.," Feb. 21, 2006.

Feb. 21, statements by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Head of the Political Office of Hamas, Khaled Mashaal:

"Today the Palestinian nation's will is the greatest power in the Middle East and by voting in favor of Hamas the Palestinians emphasized their ideal of resistance till the liberation of their country and the enemies cannot confront that will."

"The Palestinians' vote in this election was to the liberation of the entire occupied territories through continuation of resistance and the establishment of an independent Palestinian country."

"The Palestinian nation's will annulled the Oslo Agreement, the Road Map project, and all previous plans for Middle East."

"...Hamas would never retreat from its basic stand of not recognizing the legitimacy of the usurper Zionist regime."

"Ahmadinejad: Palestinian nation's will greatest power to solve Mideast crisis," IRNA, Feb. 21, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0602216916005528.htm

Iranian students register for the "martyrdom seeking operations" training courses on suicide attacks during a gathering in Tehran. A small hardline Iranian group launched a fresh suicide bomber recruitment drive, hoping to lure volunteers ready to die in the fight against Israel, Salman Rushdie or foreign invaders.(AFP/Behrouz Mehri)

"Iran group stages new suicide bomber recruitment drive," AFP, Feb. 18, 2006, source

Iranian women register for the "martyrdom seeking operations" training courses on suicide attacks. A small hardline Iranian group launched a fresh suicide bomber recruitment drive, hoping to lure volunteers ready to die in the fight against Israel, Salman Rushdie or foreign invaders.(AFP/BehrouzMehri)

Yahoo News Photo, AFP, Feb. 18, 2006, http://news.yahoo.com/newstmpl=story&u=/060218/photos_
wl_me_afp/060218195238_lbvdcxvd_photo1

Feb. 20, statements by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with the Head of the Political Office of Hamas, Khaled Mashaal:

"That victory of Hamas in parliamentary election of Palestine was a sweet surprise and sign of God's promise coming true."

"That Palestinian people and liberation fighters were not disappointed when all the doors were closed to them."

"They [Hamas] continued their campaign and at last they saw that God's promises come true one after the other. After liberation of Gaza, Hamas won a landslide victory."

"All these victories are results of resistance to the occupation forces of the Zionist regime. On the other hand, the Palestinian people showed that they are intelligent and politically mature, because they knew that voting in favor of Hamas means opting for resistance to the Zionist regime and campaign against occupation."

"The Islamic governments and nations have heavy responsibility towards the issue of Palestine and they are expected to adopt a plan through which all the Muslims could make their contributions to the Palestinians."

"Supreme Leader terms Hamas election victory as a 'sweet surprise,'" IRNA, Feb. 20, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0602216930090317.htm

Feb. 20, Government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham, speaking to the media in his weekly briefing:

"Iran's support for the Palestinian Resistance Movement (Hamas) is legal, spiritual and political in nature."

"The country's [Iran's] support for the movement [Hamas] mainly aims to materialize the Palestinian ideal."

"Iran's support for the Palestinian combatants is a reality accepted by the human conscience as well as the world expectation of the people who have been unfairly deprived of their rights."

"If the West stops supporting the Zionist regime, there will be no need to support the Palestinian Resistance Movement, given that the Palestinian people are determined to restore their legal rights."

"Elham: Iran's support for Palestinian movement, a political move," IRNA, Feb. 20, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0602204044160036.htm

Feb. 18, statements by the director of Tehran-based Department for Iranian Studies, Abbas Salimi Namin, from a letter to the head of the Iranian Jewish community, Haroon Yashayee:

"Large sums in compensation are being channeled from Europe and the U.S. to the racist Zionists to continue their crimes against humanity."

According to IRNA, Namin said that "The Holocaust is being used by the Zionists for a series of intertwined and targeted objectives."

"Holocaust misused for the systematic genocide of Palestinians," IRNA, Feb. 18, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0602183288183304.htm

Feb. 17, statements by visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to the press after meeting with Lebanese Hizbullah Leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrollah in Beirut:

According to IRNA, Mottaki praised "the effective role of Hizbullah's military wing, the Islamic Resistance," and said that in "liberating a vast part of the occupied lands in Lebanon, the Islamic Resistance succeeded to break the myth of Zionist regime's invincibility."

"The landslide victory of Hamas in the recent legislative elections in Lebanon was indeed the victory of Palestinians resistance."

"FM meets Nasrollah of Lebanese Hizbullah in Beirut," IRNA, Feb. 17, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0602172532114814.htm

Feb. 13, Editorial in the Iranian paper, Kayhan International, in response to the Feb. 11 Tehran rallies:

The paper commented that "the rallies were actually a referendum for the system in the face of threats by Global Arrogance."

"The message was clear from a nation that had rubbed the nose of the Great Satan into dust in pursuit of its inalienable rights."

"The marchers and officials made it clear to Global Arrogance that the days of the colonial past are long over and the ummah including Iran is no mood to bear the insult to the sanctities of Islam as some sections of the Zionist-controlled press in Europe have indulged in, in another feverish effort to hurt Muslim feelings worldwide."

"Confirms the Iranian president's Saturday's remarks that the Zionists are holding the West hostage. It also goes on to verify his comments a couple of months ago that denial and mockery of such realities as God, the prophets and religion, is permitted in the West but academic research on fables like the holocaust are strictly taboo."

"Zionists are taking the Christian World for a ride and are using it as a tool to fan the flames of Islamophobia."

"Uncle Sam is living in a fool's paradise if it thinks that a people with such firm faith in God Almighty can be cowed down to relinquish their legitimate rights including the peaceful use of nuclear energy, or be dissuaded from exposing the myth of the holocaust."

"Iranians send a clear message to West on Saturday: Paper," IRNA, Feb. 13, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0602136987140952.htm

Feb. 12, Resolution decreed by Iranian protestors outside of the French Embassy:

"We believe the move of European press in insulting holy prophet of Islam is a gesture designed by Zionist lobbies and supported by governments of the countries in line with the West's warmongering policies; we notify the European states not to let the students' patience run thin in dealing with those behind the conspiracy."

The students chanted, "Nuclear energy is our inalienable right," "Death to the US," "Death to France," and "Death to Israel."

"Protesters say Zionists behind insulting cartoon publication," IRNA, Feb. 12, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0602123299185858.htm

Feb. 11, remarks by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Tehran Azadi Square in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Iranian Islamic Revolution:

"The Zionists are about to be annihilated and that the era of occupation of Palestine is over."

"The destruction of colonial and Zionist culture is quite obvious."

Ahmadinejad called on the Western states to "resume worshiping God Almighty rather than selling the glory of enlightenment to the disgrace of being subject to the Zionists."

"Some western governments, in particular the US, approve of the sacrilege on the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), while denial of the `Myth of Holocaust', based on which the Zionists have been exerting pressure upon other countries for the past 60 years and kill the innocent Palestinians, is considered as a crime."

"Today, a decree has been issued about the occurrence of holocaust and that it has to be accepted by others, which marks the Middle Age culture and thinking trend."

"President: Real holocaust to be sought in Palestine, Iraq," IRNA, Feb. 11, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0602115001164557.htm

Feb. 11, a 9-article declaration issued by Tehran rally-goers to mark the 25th anniversary of the Iranian Islamic Revolution:

1. The Islamic Revolution is a glimmering beam of the ever shining sun of Ashura, the movement of Imam Hussein (AS) and a fateful move, which became victorious by relying on the leadership and wise guidelines of the late Imam Khomeini and thanks to the unity and general will of the nation from different walks of life; With the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it quenched the thirst of the Muslim and oppressed nations through the genuine truth that Islam is a perfect religion which can address all the needs of human community in all junctions of the history, guaranteeing prosperity of nations both in this world and hereafter. This divine light, which brought about the global movement of Islamic awakening in its reviving manifestation, will continue to proceed honorably and powerfully by relying on the genuine thoughts and ideology of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and on the loyalty of the nation to the aspirations and ideals of the revolution and martyrs and under the nation's full adherence and devotion to and obedience of the wise guidelines of the Vali-e Faqih of the time, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei (May God grant him longevity); It will also offer a practical model of the Islamic community to the world people by building a developed, free, independent and progressive Iran.

2. The brave nation of Iran, by relying on the Almighty, and by its love for Imam Hussein's school of thought and objectives, has chosen its path and will not surrender to the selective and political approaches as well as false claims of countries, which by possessing the highest number of nuclear warheads, have openly jeopardized the world peace and security.

Hence, while voicing our explicit opposition to their illegitimate demands and monopolist decisions, we are resolute not to give up, even slightly, our inalienable and undisputed right of producing and using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; While fully backing the the will of the esteemed government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to defend the national rights of Iranians, the Iranian nation strongly rejects any kind of blackmailing by any country or organization aimed at depriving it from its legitimate right.

3. The Muslim and zealous nation of Islamic Iran does not consider desecration of Islamic sanctities and insult to the Holy Prophet of Islam (Peace Be Upon Him) as an accident or something originating from superficial attitudes or press illusion; We rather take this as a sign of hostility and hardheartedness towards Islam and the majesty and vigilance of Muslims; Hence, while voicing hatred and resentment towards and condemning this impudent insult, we believe boycotting the products of Denmark and of the countries supporting such a nasty move would be the least response to the insult against the brilliant culture of Islam and the beliefs of Muslims worldwide; We call on all Muslim governments in general, and the esteemed government of the Islamic Republic in particular, to deal with the issue effectively, cut diplomatic ties (with Denmark) and expel its ambassador.

4. The serious attention of the president, who has been elected by the nation, to promote justice and eradicate poverty as the pivotal slogan of the revolution has given the nation the hope for materialization of the ideals of the Imam and martyrs, promising a bright prospect for the future of the country in light of speedy settlement of the present problems and implementation of the national documents of the 20-year vision plan. The grateful nation of Iran, appreciating the special efforts of the beloved president and respected government for promotion of justice, serving the people, campaign against poverty and discrimination, creating employment, campaign against economic corruption and promotion of culture of simple life and democracy, voices its support for the efforts of the three branches of government to solve the problems and address the true needs of the people.

Considering the present conditions when the united camp of blasphemy is standing against Islam, Muslims and the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian nation invites all groups, factions and currents to adhere to the unity existing in the strong ranks of the nation and to massively and strongly defend the national interests and objectives.

5. The year 1384 (March 21, 2005- March 20, 2006), designated by the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution as the year of national solidarity and public participation, has turned into a glorious stage for solidarity and unity among Iranians thanks to the massive and praiseworthy turnout of the people in two rounds of presidential elections. And now, on the 28th anniversary of the culmination of the Islamic Revolution and while all parts of the beloved Iran is filled with the scent of wise presence of the nation in the scene, we announce to the world people: The national unity of Iranians, which has been the key to the victory of the Revolution and progress of Iran, and the main factor behind success against all sorts of plots, hatched by the "global front of sedition and mischief" - with the help of God and in light of general consciousness and insight as well as the wise presence of the nation in all the scenes of defense of the revolution and Iran - will continue honorably and till the last drop of its blood.

6. The victory of the brave Hamas resistance forces in the Palestinian parliamentary elections is the latest manifestation of the global movement of Islamic awakening and a sign of the general demand of Muslim nations for materialization of Islam in all state affairs.

The explicit opposition of the false advocates of democracy and human rights to the victory of Hamas and the vote of the Palestinian people shows that wishes of nations and rights of people have no position in the culture and ideology of the hegemonic powers and they are only tools in the hands of the West to beef up pressure on the independence-seeking nations, such as the Iranian nation. While condemning the West's double standards and its abuse of such concepts as democracy and human rights, we reiterate our support for the brave Palestinian nation; and by condemning the US statesmen's support for the disgraceful crimes of the Qods occupiers, we warn that supporters of Zionism should sooner or later respond to their unwise measures before the world public opinion as accomplices in the crimes of this "origin of corruption" in the region, as should the terrorists ruling in Tel Aviv.

7. The occupiers of Iraq, who after the vigilant turnout of the Iraqi people in the parliamentary elections have no other pretext - even in appearance - for continuing their occupation of Iraq, are busy doing mischief, sowing discord and causing insecurity in the region.

While inviting the Muslim and brotherly nation of Iraq to continue its obedience to Marjaiat (religious authority) and maintain their vigilant presence in the scene, we strongly condemn continuation of occupation of Iraq by the American and British forces and emphatically call for their immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Iraq.

8. The main philosophy behind Ashura and the movement of the Lord of Martyrs is "enjoining to good and prohibiting from the vice"; and the Great Iranian nation, that is considering the divine duty of enjoining to good and prohibiting from the vice as a sort of general and logical monitoring mechanism, and a guarantor for national prosperity as well as the main condition for spiritual survival of the revolution, calls for practical attention to this great religious duty, as the general demand of Iranian people.

9. The Muslim and grateful nation of Iran considers the strength and majesty of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran indebted to Jihad and self-sacrifice of the selfless war veterans, especially the noble martyrs of the Islamic Revolution; and on this auspicious day, which coincides with the third day of the martyrdom anniversary of the Lord of the World Freedom Lovers, Hussein Ibn Ali (AS) and the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Zeinulabedin (AS), the fourth Imam of the infallible household of the Prophet (PBUH), we renew our allegiance to the exalted spirit of the late Imam and all the dear martyrs, and while obeying and building ever solid bonds with the wise Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution, we will whole-heartedly follow their blessed path."

"Marchers issue Bahman 22 resolution," IRNA, Feb. 11, 2006, http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-24/0602116351175324.htm

Source: The Israel Project

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