Terrorism and WMD Proliferation, Main Threats to Humanity: Khatami
Speaking before an annual military parade on the first day of Iran's Sacred Defense Week, which marks the anniversary of the beginning of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, Khatami said Iran will never be diverted from its path by the clamor of other states and that Iran will diligently continue to pursue its policy of peace, justice, freedom, and progress for all nations.
He said that the propagandists are the ones who should change their behavior, not Iran.
Khatami called terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction the two main threats to humanity.
"Today, our region has become the center of aggression, terrorism, and stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction, and the center of all this is the Zionist regime.
"Iran has always advocated peace and justice and its military strategy has always been only defensive. Iran has repeatedly declared that it has taken no steps to developing weapons of mass destruction but is still under pressure," Khatami said. President Khatami emphasized that Iran would continue following its policy of détente despite the current pressure, saying, “As long as we defend peace and justice and are the real defender of human rights, enemies make efforts to find a pretext for exerting pressure on the Islamic Republic, but we have never given them a pretext.”
We should always be ready to defend our principles, independence, and freedom wisely and prudently by relying on our correct policies, Khatami said.
“Our justice-seeking nation, which has only adopted a defensive strategy, has always declared that acquiring weapons of mass destruction is not its goal.
“Israel is the center of terror and WMD and is supported by those who are exerting pressure on Iran. Stressing that Iran still believes in its ideals, Khatami said, “We say Palestine belongs to its people and the Palestinian vote should be the determining factor.”
He said that Israel is practicing state-sponsored terrorism against the Palestinians, but stressed that the Islamic Republic is advocating peace, stability and a nuclear-free Middle East.
"Israel, which does not respect any international law, enjoys the support of certain states, but many powers want to put pressure on Islamic Iran as a result of Israel's provocation," the president said.
Khatami stated that Iran will never attack any country but will also not allow any state to attack it, either.
He said that the Iranian armed forces are ready to defend Iran's independence, dignity, and territorial integrity, adding that Iran's military are the defenders of peace and security in the region.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Khatami advised the occupiers of Iraq to withdraw from the country and to transfer power to the Iraqi people.
He said, “We demand the establishment of peace and security in that country. Our national security depends on Iraq’s security and that security can only be realized through the establishment of a popular and democratic government.
“We are opposed to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but we don’t ignore our inalienable right to make use of nuclear technology.
"Iran advocates peace and security in Iraq, and the first step in promoting peace and security in the country is allowing Iraqis to run their own affairs. I hope Iraq's occupiers listen to the advice of the Islamic Republic. "Today, the occupiers are struggling in a crisis that they themselves have created, and we predicted this situation. We warned about it, but no one lent an ear. Now, Iraq and the occupiers are paying for this mistake."
On the Sacred Defense years, Khatami said that the Islamic Republic was attacked by aggressors 23 years ago and the country was full of fear and hope; fear of losing peace, tranquility, and all the revolutionary achievements, and hope of the triumph of faith over blasphemy and oppression.