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Khatami: Iran against WMD proliferation

IRNA

Tehran, Sept 22, IRNA -- President Mohammad Khatami said here on 
Monday that Iran is against the proliferation of weapons of mass 
destruction, but stressed that the Islamic Republic will persist on 
its legitimate right to become strong based on science, technology and
a capable economy. 
Khatami, speaking before an annual military parade to mark the 
beginning of Iran`s Sacred Defense Week, said Iran will never be 
misled from its path by the ballyhoos of other states and that Iran 
will strongly continue to pursue the policy of peace, justice, freedom
and progress for all nations. 
"This is the ballyhoo makers who should change their behavior," he
said. 
Khatami termed terrorism and the expansion of weapons of mass 
destruction as two major threats that are threatening the whole 
humanity. 
"Today, our region has become the center of aggressions, terrorism
and storing of weapons of mass destruction and the center of all these
is the Zionist regime," he said. 
"Iran has always been advocating peace and justice and its 
military strategy has always been merely defensive. Iran has 
repeatedly declared that it has taken no step toward developing access
to weapons of mass destruction but is still under pressure," Khatami 
said. 
He said that Israel possesses the largest arsenal and is 
exercising the state terrorism against the Palestinians, but stressed 
that the Islamic Republic is advocating peace, stability and a 
nuclear-free Middle East. 
"Israel, which is not respecting any international law, enjoys 
the support of certain states, but many powers want to put pressure on
the Islamic Iran as a result of Israel`s provocations," the president 
said. 
Khatami recalled Iran`s policy of detente, stressing that Iranians
will never attack any country and will neither allow any state to 
attack it. 
He further 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 that the occupiers of 
Iraq withdraw from the country and leave its affairs to the Iraqi 
people. 
"Iran advocates peace and security in Iraq, and the first step in 
promoting peace and security in the country is to enable the Iraqis to
run their own affairs. I hope Iraq`s occupiers would listen to the 
advice of the Islamic Republic," he said. 
"Today, the occupiers are struggling in a crisis that they 
themselves have created and we had predicted this situation. We warned
about it but there was no listening ear. Now, Iraq and the occupiers 
are paying for this mistake." 
AA/211 
End