Tehran, June 5, IRNA – Substitute Friday prayers leader of Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, said here on Friday.
In his sermon today, Interim Tehran prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati praised U.S. President Barack Obama's address yesterday to the Muslim world from Cairo University about Iran, saying, "He showed green lights to us, speaking of changes. But can roots be ignored?"
Speaking to worshippers at the Tehran University campus, he said that Obama had acknowledged the civilian nature of Iran’s nuclear program, which can be taken as a token of change.
He added that however there are yet issues in the world of Islam towards which the U.S. should raise its stances.
He noted that Palestine, the Zionist regime's status, intervention in elections of Lebanon and Palestine, and the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are among issues towards which the U.S. should show its stances.
Also in his sermon, he stated that the Guardian Council, which he heads, will assure the fairness and health of the 10th president elections, slated for June 12. "All know that the Guardian Council is not affiliated to any party or group… It only abides by its divine duty, moving in the path of Imam (Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic) and of the leadership. It will ensure health of the 10th presidential elections.”
He added that Iran's fraud-free elections over the past 30 years attest to the successful performance of the Guardian Council, and that enemies of Islamic Revolution have raised unreal claims to show voter fraud in elections or that the next presidential elections are already decided – but that "their (i.e. the enemies') repeated vain claims will be neutralized thanks to public vigilance and leadership guidelines."
(To view the MEMRI TV page for Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, click here)
Source: IRNA, Iran, June 5, 2009
