Al-Manar04/06/2009 Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei lashed out at the United States on Thursday, saying it is deeply hated in the Middle East.
"The nations in the region hate the United States from the bottom of their hearts because they have seen violence, military intervention and discrimination," Imam Khamenei said. "The new US government seeks to transform this image. I say firmly, that this will not be achieved by words, speeches and slogans," he said on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of the Islamic republic's revolutionary founder Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Khomeini.
"They have done things that have deeply hurt the nations in the region... things are not going to be changed by speeches. He (Obama) has to do it in practice. Even if he delivers hundreds of speeches and talks very sweetly, there will not be a change in how the Islamic countries perceive the United States."
Imam Khamenei also accused the United States of "lying" about Tehran's nuclear program. "They lied about our intention; they concealed the truth about it. They stood against the legitimate rights of our nation," his eminence said.
"We have said several times that we want the nuclear energy for industrial and peaceful purposes. But they continuously say that Iran is seeking nuclear bombs. By doing this, they are hated by our nation.
"For many years, our nation and its officials have repeatedly said that we do not want nuclear weapon, it is haram (forbidden) in Islam. Even if they pay us to have it, we do not want it," the Imam said.
"But in order to justify their allegations they continue accusing us," he said as the crowd chanted "Nuclear energy is our undeniable right!"
Imam Khamenei also accused the US military of "bombing innocent civilians in Afghanistan. What is the difference between this killing and killing by terrorists?"
He said in Iraq, the United States was "supporting the Baathist elements", in reference to members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party, many of whom are returning to government jobs in the new regime of Iraq.
"He (Obama) has to change these things," said his eminence.
His speech to tens of thousands of Iranians and several foreigners at the Khomeini mausoleum on the southern outskirts of Tehran, came just over a week before Iran goes to the polls on June 12 to choose a new president.
It also come a few hours before Obama makes his speech in Cairo to address the Muslim world.
Obama: "Sweet Talk" Not Enough for Muslims
By Zahra Hosseinian and Fredrik Dahl
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader said on Thursday the United States was deeply hated in the Middle East and told U.S. President Barack Obama that "beautiful" speeches alone would not improve its image in the Muslim world.
Speaking on the same day Obama was due to give a major speech to the Islamic world in Cairo, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the hatred felt toward America could not be changed with "slogans" but that different U.S. action was needed.
In a break from the policies of his predecessor George W. Bush, Obama is offering improved ties with the Islamic Republic if it "unclenches its fist". Iranian leaders say they want to see a real shift in the policies of their old foe.
"The nations of this part of the world ... deeply hate America because during many years they have seen violence, military interference, rights violations, discrimination ... from America," Khamenei said in a televised speech.
"Even if they give sweet and beautiful talks to the Muslim nation ... that will not create a change," said Khamenei, Iran's most powerful figure with the final say on all matters of state. "Nothing will change with speeches and slogans."
He spoke at an event in Tehran to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
He also called Israel, which Iran does not recognise, a "cancerous tumour in the heart" of the Muslim world.
Obama's speech later on Thursday is aimed at more than 1 billion Muslims across the world but choosing Cairo underscores his focus on the Middle East, where he faces some of his biggest foreign policy challenges.
Obama wants to build a coalition of Muslim governments that will back his efforts to revive stalled Middle East peace talks and help the United States curb Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran says is peaceful but the West says is to build bombs.
"If you (Muslims) see that the Western world is talking more softly to you it is the result of public awareness and resistance in the Islamic world," Khamenei said.
Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear power, has repeatedly described Iran's nuclear activities as a threat to its existence and neither it nor Washington have ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the row.
Khamenei accused the United States, which Iranian leaders often refer to as the "Great Satan" guilty of "global arrogance", of lying about Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"The Iranian nation has repeatedly announced that it does not want nuclear weapons ... keeping nuclear arms would create a big danger and trouble and even if they pay us we do not want it," he said.
Khamenei said the United States had occupied two Muslim countries, Iraq and Afghanistan, under the pretext of fighting terrorism.
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader said on Thursday the United States was deeply hated in the Middle East and told U.S. President Barack Obama that "beautiful" speeches alone would not improve its image in the Muslim world.
Speaking on the same day Obama was due to give a major speech to the Islamic world in Cairo, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the hatred felt toward America could not be changed with "slogans" but that different U.S. action was needed.
In a break from the policies of his predecessor George W. Bush, Obama is offering improved ties with the Islamic Republic if it "unclenches its fist". Iranian leaders say they want to see a real shift in the policies of their old foe.
"The nations of this part of the world ... deeply hate America because during many years they have seen violence, military interference, rights violations, discrimination ... from America," Khamenei said in a televised speech.
"Even if they give sweet and beautiful talks to the Muslim nation ... that will not create a change," said Khamenei, Iran's most powerful figure with the final say on all matters of state. "Nothing will change with speeches and slogans."
He spoke at an event in Tehran to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
He also called Israel, which Iran does not recognise, a "cancerous tumour in the heart" of the Muslim world.Obama's speech later on Thursday is aimed at more than 1 billion Muslims across the world but choosing Cairo underscores his focus on the Middle East, where he faces some of his biggest foreign policy challenges.
Obama wants to build a coalition of Muslim governments that will back his efforts to revive stalled Middle East peace talks and help the United States curb Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran says is peaceful but the West says is to build bombs.
"If you (Muslims) see that the Western world is talking more softly to you it is the result of public awareness and resistance in the Islamic world," Khamenei said.
Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear power, has repeatedly described Iran's nuclear activities as a threat to its existence and neither it nor Washington have ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the row.
Khamenei accused the United States, which Iranian leaders often refer to as the "Great Satan" guilty of "global arrogance", of lying about Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"The Iranian nation has repeatedly announced that it does not want nuclear weapons ... keeping nuclear arms would create a big danger and trouble and even if they pay us we do not want it," he said.
Khamenei said the United States had occupied two Muslim countries, Iraq and Afghanistan, under the pretext of fighting terrorism.
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