Video - Khamenei Criticizes Top Political Rivals: Favoring Talks over Missiles Constitutes Treason

In two recent public speeches, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a pointed reference to a Tweet made by Expediency Council Chairman Rafsanjani, said that those who say that today is an era of talks, not of missiles, are committing treason. Khamenei rejected President Rouhani's call to instate an economic and cultural model – which he termed JCPOA 2, 3, and 4 – for the benefit of society, and said that this would constitute an abandonment of the principles of Islam and of the Islamic Revolution. He further criticized the U.S., saying: "the Americans have not upheld their commitments" in the JCPOA.

Iran - Interior Min to Announce Final Elections Results on Tuesday, partial results Saturday evening

Iran - Interior Min to Announce Final Elections Results on Tuesday, partial results Saturday evening.(Fars).

Iran's Interior Ministry said the final results of the Friday parliamentary and Assembly of Experts Elections will be declared on Tuesday, although results of final vote counts in smaller towns and cities will be declared on Saturday and Sunday.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told a press conference in Tehran on Saturday that the results of 70% to 80% of polling stations will be announced by Saturday night.

"We will start announcing the (partial) results of the Tehran electorate tonight," he said, but stressed that nationwide vote counting and declaration of the final results will take place on Tuesday as final elections results in Tehran will not end any sooner than Monday.

Ramani Fazli noted that over 60% of all eligible voters took part in the elections, and over 53,000 polling stations were set up for some 54,915,024 eligible people to vote.

According to the interior ministry, a sum of 6,229 candidates were cleared to compete for the 290-seat legislature but 729 of them withdrew from candidacy. More than 5,500 carried out the final registration to run in the race. Candidates from all the three major camps, the Principlists, Moderates and Reformists were present in the race.

The winning candidates of the Assembly of Experts' next term, lasting until 2024, possibly might have to choose the next Supreme Leader of Iran, or at the very least plan for it

Iran welcomes amicable relations with Canada's Trudeau admin.

Iran welcomes amicable relations with Canada's Trudeau admin. (IHN).

Iran would welcome reinforcing relations with Canada, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said here on Monday.

Hossein Jaber Ansari made the remarks at his weekly press briefing in Tehran.

Commenting on Canada’s severing diplomatic relations with Iran, he said the fresh stance of the new Canadian government has been announced in mass media.

‘The ex-Canadian government severed its relations with Iran and we hope the new Canadian government would practice proper political and diplomatic measures aimed at fostering relations with Iran,’ he added.

‘Iran did not cut its relations with Canada and naturally Tehran would welcome amicable relations with Ottawa,’ he added.

Canadian ex-Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s administration severed diplomatic relations with Iran in September 2012, citing, among other pretexts, what it described as continued threats from Iran to Israel.

Back then, the Canadian government closed its embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and demanded that Iranian diplomats leave Canada within five days.


The two countries maintain interest sections in the embassies of third countries.

Obama 'admin' accept Iran's conditions: 'Wed. talks 'strictly' on nuclear issue’ Zarif.

Obama 'admin' accept Iran's conditions: 'Wed. talks 'strictly' on nuclear issue’ Zarif. (Taz).

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides today in Tehran.

“Our negotiations with the US representatives on Wednesday will be strictly on issues only related to nuclear talks; we will try to see if we could speed up the negotiations and proceed forward,” said Zarif, noting that Iran would also host meetings with Russian and Chinese officials in the next few days on nuclear talks.

Zarif also touched upon the improvement of ties between Iran and Cyprus on cultural, archeological and scientific issues, adding that a major part of the talks with the Cypriot FM were related to the two countries’ cooperation in security, and counterterrorism particularly in relation to Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. “Cyprus, as a country close to Syria and Lebanon can play a positive role in combating this crisis,” said Zarif. (Warning to Turkey).


Zarif made references to the recent terrorist attacks across the world, stressing the need for an international coalition against violence and extremism as was proposed by President Rouhani in the UN General Assembly in Sep. 2013.

“Iran has condemned the recent terror attack in Paris; this attack bears no relation to Islam and in fact harms Islam and the Muslims around the world,” he said.

Iranian FM stressed in the end that the Islamic Republic is strongly against nuclear weapons and follows the Leader’s Fatwa which prohibits any kind of mass destruction. Hmmm.....So no more talks about missiles, human rights ...and nearly forgot about the 'invisible and non existing Nuclear Fatwa'

Iran- Ayatollah Ganje’i: “Supreme Leader Khamenei’s Nuclear Fatwa a Lie”

Iran- Ayatollah Ganje’i: “Supreme Leader Khamenei’s Nuclear Fatwa a Lie” (NCRI).

In an article published on October 15th on Townhall.com, a political commentary website in U.S., Ayatollah Jalal Ganje’i a well-known religious figure and Chairman of the NCRI's Committee on Freedom of Religions and Denominations denounced Khamenei’s Nuclear Fatwa as an irrefutable lie.

Referring to the Iranian regime’s vocabulary for expansion of regional influence – “Eqtedar” [might] he wrote: “On September 4, mullahs’ Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared that the way forward for his regime is to ramp up its “eqtedar” [might].”

“ 'Eqtedar' is achieved by one of two ways. One is to expand regional influence through the export of terrorism, officially described as 'export of revolution.' It is this policy that has led to the establishment of Lebanese Hezbollah, propped up the Assad regime, and most recently contributed to the rise of Islamic State. The other is development of nuclear weapons to obtain international leverage.”

Referring to the Tehran's clandestine nuclear program that was exposed by the main Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), Ganje’i said: “The Iranian regime has claimed that a religious decree (fatwa) by its Supreme Leader had previously declared the use of WMDs as “haraam” [religiously forbidden]. 

Just prior to the UN General Assembly, Hassan Rouhani once again cited this as proof of the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. However, a bit of scrutiny shows that such a fatwa likely does not exist and that even if it did, foreign powers cannot rely on it as evidence of peaceful intentions. In either case, the regime knows the truth and uses tales of this fatwa purely for purposes of propaganda and deceit.”

Ayatollah Ganje’i continued: “It is a fact that there was no such fatwa until May 1998, when the first Pakistani nuclear bomb was revealed. At the time, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president of Iran and second in command only to the Supreme Leader, welcomed Pakistan’s weapon, saying that Muslims have a greater chance to overcome Israel and other enemies when they have such weapons.”

“At the time, Khamenei did not contradict these statements, and there has never been any written document against nuclear arms in Khamenei’s handwriting and carrying his stamp. It is standard practice for all fatwas to be produced in this way and distributed via the press or official websites. Furthermore, not all prohibitory fatwas are binding for the government or officials.”

The Chair of the NCRI's Committee on Freedom of Religions and Denominations, analyzing the religious value of the regime’s supreme leader’s Fatwa said: “(…) even if taken as face value, (The Fatwa) is just a political gimmick and not a fatwa. A fatwa never refers to one’s personal understanding of the Quran or another text. 

Here, Khamenei states that destroying mankind has been condemned by Quran. Even in referring to Quran, we see that this verse has no such meaning and Khamenei’s interpretation of the verse in question is simply inaccurate. No reputable religious scholar or interpreter of Quran has interpreted this verse in this manner.”

“The credibility of a fatwa may be assessed on three grounds: its correctness, utility, and the competence of the one who issues it. The solidity of the reasoning behind a fatwa largely hinges on the religious expertise of the one issuing it, and Ali Khamenei is not considered a jurisprudent in Iranian and Shiite religious centers.”

He continued: “As the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini declared the Jawaher al Kalam (a 50-volume collection written by Sheikh Mohammad Hassan Najafi in 1850) to be the only credible source of Islamic jurisprudence.”

“As the leader of the regime, Ali Khamenei must adhere to this text in his own pronouncements, but Jawaher al Kalam quite clearly contradicts him: ‘In the battle with the enemy it is permitted to stage a siege, prevent anyone from entering or leaving; use catapults, guns, gunpowder; rain down deadly and poisonous snakes, scorpions and other deadly animals; destroy walls and houses; cut off trees; rain down fire and guide floods [to the enemy site]; and anything else that would increase the chance of overcoming the enemy’.”

The author in Townhall’s article goes on to say, ‘In these matters there is no difference between the scholars.’ (…) ‘Poisoning of the enemy water or food is considered ‘haram’ by some… and is reluctantly accepted by some… But if this is the only way to defeat the enemy, it is permitted without qualification.’

“In this logic, the essence is victory over enemy and as such, even mass killings that some would consider “haraam” in normal circumstances are “permitted without qualification” if it would be the only way to defeat the enemy.

Now, is it that in his hypothetical fatwa, Ali Khamenei is saying that “what matters the most is not victory”? Neither he nor any of his cohorts dare to say so.”

Ayatollah Ganje’i who was known as a religious expert and had held many speeches both during the time of the Shah and after the 1979 revolution, revealed that “even if Khamenei was serious about issuing a contrary fatwa, it would not matter for two reasons.”

“First, a fatwa is only binding for the followers of the religious scholar who issues it, and any officer or commander who follows another religious scholar or considers himself to not need the fatwa, is not required to follow it. In addition, there is no punishment for failing to adhere to a fatwa.”

“Second, and more importantly, any fatwa issued by anyone may be declared void by “secondary decrees.”

The most imperative cases of “secondary decrees” are “emergency circumstances.” Moreover, any decision about the need to use the “poison” namely a nuclear bomb is not up to the scholar who has issued the fatwa.”

Townhall concluded the article with: “It is more than evident that there is no fatwa to back up the regime’s senior officials when they claim that Iran has only honorable intentions for its nuclear program. And certainly, there is nothing to back up any decision by the international community to appease the criminals ruling Tehran. The only value that the supposed fatwa has in the Islamic Republic is as grounds for such appeasement. And the mullahs are counting on it.”

“As such, President Obama and other Western leaders cannot set policy according to non-binding and easily reversible remarks by Khamenei. Doing so would put the world in great peril on the basis of a fantasy.”

Related:  Don’t Misunderstand Khamenei’s Nuclear Fatwa.

"Israel's Stauchest Ally" - John Kerry says his sister used to teach in Iran before Islamic Revolution.

"Israel's Stauchest Ally" - John Kerry says his sister used to teach in Iran before Islamic Revolution.(Taz).

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has said he was already exposed to Iranian culture through his sister who used to live and teach in Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, IRNA reported.

Speaking to VOA, Kerry also admired his son-in-law who is of Iranian origin.

This is the first time ever the US state secretary publicly talks about Iranian origin of his son-in-law and his sister's experience in Iran.

Kerry expressed hope that Iran and the United States could solve their differences and find a settlement to the dispute over Tehran's nuclear activities.

When asked to comment about a Fatwa issued by Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei banning the production and use of nuclear weapons, Kerry said he shows a lot of respect for this Fatwa as it is a religious message and is highly respected by people.

Kerry said that he and the US President Barack Obama welcome such a Fatwa.(*Non Existent).

He said that Iran is entitled to pursue its nuclear program for peaceful purposes, but he went on to say that such a program needs to be transparent and under international regulations as it is normal for nuclear programs of other countries.

(*Non Existent).

Don’t Misunderstand Khamenei’s Nuclear Fatwa.

Related:  World Powers Accept Ayatollah Khamenei's Fatwa against N. Weapons as Criteria, please inform Pakistan.

Iran - Fatwa against nuclear weapons political milestone

Iran says Khamenei’s ban of nuclear weapons binding

Hmmm.......Fatwas are issued in response to specific circumstances and can be altered in response to changing conditions. Ayatollah Khomeini modified his position on a number of issues during his lifetime—for instance, on taxes, military conscription, women’s suffrage, and monarchy as a form of government. Thus nothing would prevent Khamenei from modifying or supplanting his nuclear fatwa should circumstances dictate a change in policy.
Shiite tradition permits deception and dissimulation in matters of life and death, and when such tactics serve the interests of the Islamic umma (community).The context surrounding the original, rather expansive, nuclear fatwa and subsequent formulations that only prohibit the use of nuclear weaponsdemonstrates an important point: fatwas arise in response to specific circumstances and can be amended or reversed as circumstances change. Khamenei’s original fatwa was probably issued to deflect international pressure following the revelations regarding the Natanz centrifuge enrichment plant, and in response to concerns that after invading Iraq, the United States might invade Iran. Fatwas are not immutable, and no religious principle would prevent Khamenei from modifying or supplanting his initial fatwa if circumstances were to change.

Iran admits: May have worked on designing nuclear weapon....Didn't read Khomeini's 'invisible Fatwa'.

Iran admits: May have worked on designing nuclear weapon....Didn't read Khomeini's 'invisible Fatwa'.(Jpost).

Iran moves to cooperate in UN nuclear bomb probe, UN says progress has been made but: "There are still a lot of outstanding issues."

Tero Varjoranta, the UN nuclear agency's chief inspector, spoke to reporters on Monday, after Iran agreed to start addressing suspicions that it may have worked on designing an atomic weapon, a potential breakthrough in a long-stalled investigation into Tehran's atomic activities.

Iran and the UN nuclear agency have made progress in talks on the country's disputed nuclear program but there are still many outstanding issues, the watchdog's chief inspector. Varjoranta said progress had been "good" but added: "There are still a lot of outstanding issues."

The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had agreed during talks in Tehran to take seven new practical measures within three months under a November transparency deal with the IAEA meant to help allay concern about the nuclear program.


For the first time, one of them specifically dealt with an issue that is part of the U.N. nuclear agency's inquiry into what it calls the possible military dimensions to Iran's atomic activities. Iran has repeatedly denied any such ambitions.


It said Iran would provide "information and explanations for the agency to assess Iran's stated need or application for the development of Exploding Bridge Wire detonators".Although such fast-functioning detonators have some non-nuclear uses, they can also help set off an atomic device.

Suggesting that more difficult matters would have to wait a while longer, there was no mention in the IAEA's statement of its long-sought access to the Parchin military site, where it suspects explosives tests relevant for nuclear bombs may have been conducted a decade ago. Iran denies this.

The IAEA had hoped to persuade Iran in the talks finally to start addressing its suspicions. While denying them, Iran has said it will work with the IAEA to clear up any "ambiguities".


The issue of detonator development was mentioned in a report that the IAEA prepared in 2011 containing a trove of intelligence information about alleged activities by Iran that could be used in developing atomic arms.

"Given their possible application in a nuclear explosive device, and the fact that there are limited civilian and conventional military applications for such technology, Iran's development of such detonators and equipment is a matter of concern," the IAEA said in the 2011 document.


It said Iran had told the UN agency in 2008 that it had developed such detonators for civil and conventional military applications. "However, Iran has not explained to the agency its own need or application for such detonators," it said.Hmmm.....I guess they didn't get the memo on The 'INVISIBLE NUCLEAR FATWA' of Khomeini.Read the full story here.

Related:

Don’t Misunderstand Khamenei’s Nuclear Fatwa. 

Proof that Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Denied the Holocaust.

Proof that Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Denied the Holocaust.HT: Memri.

Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Denied Holocaust – MEMRI Disproves Iranian FM Zarif's Claim To ABC That Khamenei's Statements About Holocaust 'Myth' Were 'A Bad Translation'; Khamenei Also Praised French Holocaust Denier Roger Garaudy

In a September 29, 2013 interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, in which Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was questioned about Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's statements that the Holocaust is a "myth," Zarif claimed that Khamenei is not a Holocaust denier and that the statements – which can be found in English on his official English-language website – were a "bad translation" and "out of context." Khamenei had made the statements in a February 2006 speech to Iranian Air Force officers.[1] 

However, a MEMRI investigation reveals that FM Zarif's claim is false; in Khamenei's original statements, which can be accessed on Khamenei's official Persian-language website, Khamenei did indeed call the Holocaust a "myth."

Furthermore, in mid-December 2013, Khamenei's office re-released Khamenei's 1998 statements of praise for the work of the late convicted French Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy, on the occasion of the anniversary of Garaudy's 1998 trial in France.

Zarif: Khamenei's Persian Statements Were Mistranslated Into English

Asked by Stephanopoulos about Khamenei's February 7, 2006 statement that the Holocaust is a myth, which appears on Khamenei's English-language website, Zarif said that in discussions of the Holocaust in Iran, no one refers to it as a myth, and that the statements attributed to Khamenei on the website were an English mistranslation of his statements in Persian.
Zarif told Stephanopoulos: "The Holocaust is not a myth. Nobody's talking about [it as] a myth... "If it's there [in Khamenei's website]... it's a bad translation, and it's translated out of context... This is the problem when you translate something from Persian to English, you may lose something, as the film goes, 'Lost in Translation,' you may lose some of the meaning."[2]

Khamenei Refers To "The Myth Of The Jewish Slaughter Known As The Holocaust"

Despite Zarif's claim that Khamenei's statements had been mistranslated from the Persian, MEMRI found that not only does Khamenei's original Persian statement appear on his Persian-language website, but that the English version on his English-language website is indeed an accurate translation – he did indeed refer to the "myth of the Jewish slaughter known as the Holocaust" (see Appendix for photo of the Persian statement).

The following is MEMRI's translation of Khamenei's statements on February 7, 2006 to Iranian air force officers:

"A more important topic is one that shames Western culture in terms of freedom of speech... This same freedom of speech – which they [i.e. the West] constantly champion – does not permit anyone to question the topic of the myth of the Jewish slaughter known as the Holocaust. On this topic there is no freedom of speech!"

Khamenei Supports Holocaust Denier Roger Garaudy On Facebook, Twitter

On December 16, 2013, Khamenei's office posted, on its Facebook and Twitter accounts, Khamenei's Persian-language statements of praise for the late Roger Garaudy, the convicted French Holocaust denier, which Khamenei had made when the two met in 1998. The occasion for the republication of the statements was the anniversary of Garaudy's 1998 trial; in its release, the office referred to Garaudy as "the Muslim French warrior."

Hmmm.....You think they would lie about that 'Nuclear arms fatwa'?

Iran: 'Moderate' Ali Khamenei bans chatting between unrelated men and women.

Iran: 'Moderate' Ali Khamenei bans chatting between unrelated men and women.(NCRI).

The Iranian regime's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has issued a religious decree banning online chatting between unrelated men and women on Monday.

The ruling was published on his Website when he responded to question saying that: "Given the immorality that often applies to this, it is not permitted."

The ruling came days after the Iranian regime has blocked WeChat.

The authorities in Tehran are sensitive to social media and have blocked access to many social networking websites, including Facebook and Twitter.

Ironically, many Iranian regime's officials, including President Hassan Rowhani, have active Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Recently, an Iranian regime official declared Facebook as the “enemy” of the regime, and a cause of “public disorder” which with "hundreds of millions of pages of criminal content" is a threat for the regime's "national security."

In an interview with state-run Fars news agency on Sunday, December 8, a government official claimed that one of the problems about Facebook is that it has turned into a tool to support the dissidents in Iran.

Abdolsamad Khoramabadi, official from the board overseeing Internet in Iran, added that the Facebook was used for the “overthrow” of the regime in 2009.

The moral and security police chief also reported of hard controls over all social websites including Instagram and WeChat.

He said that the security forces are present in the virtual world of internet and monitor websites such as Facebook, Instagram and WeChat.

Ayatollah Khameini tweets: Zionists are just like the Nazis

Ayatollah Khameini tweets: Zionists are just like the Nazis.(Jpost).

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei compared Zionists to the Nazis in a Tweet on Monday; a comment that was ignored by most of the Western media.

Khamenei posted a picture to mark the anniversary of the trial of French Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy, who had converted to Islam.

Quotes from a speech Khamenei gave in a meeting with Garaudy in 1998 are placed above Garaudy’s picture stating: “The Zionists are just like the Nazis.”

Garaudy wrote a book in French, Les mythes fondateurs de la politique israélienne, with the English version, The Founding Myths of Modern Israel. The book contained Holocaust denial.

His book was banned in France after a trial in 1998. Iran and much of the Muslim world threw its support behind him.The Arabic version of his book was a hit.Khamenei met with him on his visit to Iran.

On Khamenei’s Facebook page, more lengthy quotes from his speech with Garaudy are posted.
“Fighting the #Zionists and their supporters is a great spiritual and divine duty and your courage and tirelessness on the path of this resistance is admirable,” it stated.

“We hold no prejudice and negativity against the Jews and the #Jews are living in Iran in #peace and comfort. The issue of Zionists is different from that of the Jews; the Zionists are just like the #Nazis and display the same #racist behaviors,” it said.

Brandon Friedman, a lecturer at Tel Aviv University and a researcher at its Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, told The Jerusalem Post that the conventional wisdom in Washington and Brussels seems to be that the West should be empowering Iran’s political moderates so that a deal can be reached.

“In essence, the claim by those looking for any diplomatic compromise with Iran is that drawing attention to Khamenei and the Islamic Republic’s ideology is undermining support for President Hassan Rouhani’s more moderate administration,” he said.

“The more the Western media focuses its criticism on Khamenei, the more pressure it puts on Rouhani, making a deal more difficult to reach.”

Friedman continued, stating that Khamenei supporters in Iran would put pressure on Rouhani “by arguing the West will never accept the Islamic Republic for what it is.”

“At the end of the day, the West is self-censoring its views on Khamenei for fear of undermining Rouhani’s internal political position,” he said.

“The risk and assumption embedded in this view is the belief that Rouhani and Khamenei see the nuclear issue differently, and that the West will be better off for ‘empowering’ Rouhani,” he said.

Iran's Khamenei controls vast financial empire worth some $95 billion.

Iran's Khamenei controls vast financial empire worth some $95 billion.(Jpost).

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei controls a business empire worth around $95 billion - a sum exceeding the value of his oil-rich nation's current annual petroleum exports - a six-month Reuters investigation shows.

The little-known organization, called Setad, is one of the keys to the Iranian leader's enduring power and now holds stakes in nearly every sector of Iranian industry, including finance, oil, telecommunications, the production of birth-control pills and even ostrich farming.

Setad has built its empire on the systematic seizure of thousands of properties belonging to ordinary Iranians - members of religious minorities, Shi'ite Muslims, business people and Iranians living abroad.
The Reuters investigation, which is detailed in a three-part series, documents how Setad has amassed a giant portfolio of real estate by claiming in Iranian courts, sometimes falsely, that the properties are abandoned. The organization now holds a court-ordered monopoly on taking property in the name of the supreme leader, and regularly sells the seized properties at auction or seeks to extract payments from the original owners.
Reuters reporters identified nearly 300 properties that Setad put up for auction in May alone, many worth millions of dollars.

The organization's full name in Persian is "Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam" - Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam. The name refers to an edict signed by the Islamic Republic's first leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, shortly before his death in 1989. His order spawned an entity intended to manage and sell properties abandoned in the chaotic years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

According to one of its co-founders, Setad was created to help the poor and war veterans and was meant to exist for just two years.
Almost a quarter-century on, Setad has morphed into a business juggernaut with real estate, corporate stakes and other assets. While Setad controls a charitable foundation, it's not clear how much money goes to charity.
Under Khamenei, the organization has expanded its corporate holdings, buying stakes in dozens of Iranian companies, both private and public, with the stated goal of creating an Iranian conglomerate to boost the country's economic growth.

In June, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Setad and some of its corporate holdings, calling the organization "a massive network of front companies hiding assets on behalf of ... Iran's leadership."

The Iranian president's office and the foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment for the series. Iran's embassy in the United Arab Emirates called Reuters' findings "scattered and disparate" and said that "none has any basis" but did not elaborate.

Setad's director general of public relations, Hamid Vaezi, said by email in response to a detailed description of this series that the information presented is "far from realities and is not correct." He did not go into specifics.

In a subsequent message, he said Setad disputes the Treasury's allegations and is "in the process of retaining US counsel to address this matter." He added: "This communication puts you on notice that any action by your organization could prejudice our dispute in the United States and harm our position for which we hold you responsible."

Setad's total worth is difficult to pinpoint because of the secrecy of its accounts. Reuters estimates it at around $95 billion, made up of about $52 billion in real estate and $43 billion in corporate holdings. The estimate is based on an analysis of statements by Setad officials, data from the Tehran Stock Exchange and company websites, and information from the US Treasury Department. The amount is roughly 40 percent bigger than Iran's total oil exports last year, which totaled $67.4 billion, according to the International Monetary Fund.
There is no evidence that Khamenei is tapping Setad to enrich himself. But Setad has empowered him. Through Setad, Khamenei has at his disposal financial resources whose value rivals the holdings of the shah, the Western-backed monarch who was overthrown in 1979.

Video: Iranian misunderstanders of moderates chant for death to Israel and the US.

 Video: Iranian misunderstanders of moderates chant for death to Israel and the US.HT: IsraelMatzav

Iran should isolate global Zionism: Iranian 'moderate' official.

A good thing we're dealing now with 'Moderates'.

Iran should isolate global Zionism: Iranian 'moderate' official.(Presstv).

Iranian President Hassan Rohani’s chief of staff says the Islamic Republic should isolate “global Zionism.”
The cruel and illegal sanctions against Iran should be lifted and those who intend to isolate Iran should themselves be isolated, Mohammad Nahavandian said on Saturday.

He added that “global Zionism” has now changed its speaking tone and fears isolation.

“Through [our] active and logical presence in the international arena, we should tighten the noose on those who utter irrational words as if they are the words of the entire world,” Nahavandian pointed out.

He urged Iranian academicians as well as scientific and civil institutions to shed light on the cruel nature of the sanctions for the whole world to see.

He said Iran’s rights can lead to sustainable development for the country, adding that modern technologies can play an effective role in that regard.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and the European Union using the unsubstantiated claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.

The bans come on top of four rounds of US-instigated UN Security Council sanctions against Iran under the same pretext.

Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a member of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

The Official Iranian Version Regarding Khamenei's Alleged Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa Is A Lie.

The Official Iranian Version Regarding Khamenei's Alleged Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa Is A Lie.HT: Memri.By: Y. Carmon and A. Savyon*

Introduction

Iran's official position on the publication of the alleged fatwa by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei regarding nuclear weapons is expressed in two main open sources:
1) In mentioning the alleged fatwa in an interview, Iranian President Hassan Rohani referred to a 2004 Friday sermon by Khamenei (see Appendix: Iranian President Rohani's May 2012 Reference To Khamenei's Alleged Fatwa, in which he refers to the publication of the fatwa which he claims Khamenei issued in November 2004) and explained that he himself had initiated the presentation of this fatwa to the EU3 as a guarantee that Iran is not striving to produce nuclear weapons.
2) In March 2012, Supreme Leader Khamenei was asked by an Iranian group to issue a fatwa on nuclear weapons, and subsequently announced his answer.
Below is an analysis of these two sources proving that the Iranian regime's claim that such a fatwa exists is a lie:

Khamenei's November 5, 2004 Friday Sermon

First of all, it must be clarified that when Iranian President Rohani mentions the alleged fatwa, he refers to a November 5, 2004 Friday sermon in Tehran by Khamenei, and not to a fatwa (see Appendix). The same is true for all references to the fatwa by members of the Iranian regime, who claim that they are referring to a fatwa by Khamenei but in fact are referring to speeches, sermons, statements, or communiques sent to foreign elements by Khamenei. There is never, and in no case, any reference to a fatwa. 

Khamenei maintains two websites (here and here), both of which include a special section devoted to fatwas that he has issued. Sermons, statements, and communiques are not included in either of these fatwa sections.
Furthermore, the content of this 2004 sermon must be analyzed to see whether Khamenei's reference to nuclear weapons in it includes a jurisprudential ruling that nuclear weapons are forbidden.
In the sermon, Khamenei said about nuclear weapons: "They see that the Islamic Republic [of Iran] has held its head high under all these pressures, and, contrary to their expectations – [i.e. that they would] strangle it under these pressures – [Iran] now stands fast, chest swelled, by means of the living nation, and all the youth, and it disregards the threats.
"Accordingly, the enemy is stressed, and for that reason levels accusations [against us] that 'they [i.e. we] want to develop nuclear weapons.' No, we are not thinking about nuclear weapons. We have said several times that our nuclear weapon is this [Iranian] nation. Our nuclear weapon is this youth. We do not want nuclear weapons. The regime that has all this believing youth and this united nation needs no nuclear weapons.
"Nuclear weapons, their production, storage, and use – each of these is problematic. We have also expressed our jurisprudential opinion. It is clear, and everyone knows. The argument is not about this [issue]. They [the enemy] only say this [i.e. that we want nuclear weapons]; they themselves also know. They are embittered by the fact that the Islamic Republic has achieved such progress. That is the issue."[1]

From the above statements, it is clear that Khamenei is not referring to the issue of nuclear weapons as a jurisprudential prohibition, but as "problematic" issue (eshkali). It should also be noted that the fatwa of a jurisprudent is in essence the setting out of what is forbidden and what is permitted from the jurisprudential standpoint, and that it is not the mere depiction of any matter as "problematic."
It should further be clarified that in the regime's records of sermons by Khamenei, there is a clear differentiation between the jurisprudential ones – that is, the fatwas – and the political ones; the regime has placed this particular sermon in the political section, not the jurisprudential section, of the records. 
Indeed, this political statement, which includes no ban of any kind, is not found in the fatwa section of either of Khamenei's websites – neither as a fatwa in itself, nor in any reference whatsoever to the sermon.

Khamenei's Response To The 2012 Request For A Fatwa On Nuclear Weapons

In 2012, Khamenei was asked by an Iranian group called The Light of Freedom (Cheragh-e Azadi) to issue a fatwa on the topic of banning nuclear weapons, but he refrained from doing so. Had Khamenei issued any such fatwa on this topic in the past, it is logical that he would have mentioned it in response to this request.
Khamenei also refrained, in the context of the request for a fatwa, from mentioning any of his statements, sermons, and communiques on the matter – even though he had spoken of them on previous occasions. That is, he refrained from linking them in this context to the issuing of a fatwa.
Khamenei's answer to Cheragh-e Azadi was that the issue on which their question was being asked had no jurisprudential aspect – and that when it did have a jurisprudential aspect, he would give an answer. His concluding jurisprudential opinion stated: "No answer was given."
The following is a translation of Cheragh-e Azadi's request and of Khamenei's reply (emphasis MEMRI's):
"Q: Your Excellency has announced a ban on the use of nuclear weapons, and considering that nuclear weapons are a requirement for deterrence and that the aim of obtaining them is to intimidate the enemies in order to prevent them from acting aggressively, and in light of what is written in Surat Al-Anfal, Verse 60... is it also forbidden to obtain nuclear weapons, as per your ruling that their use is prohibited?
"A: Your letter has no jurisprudential aspect. When it has a jurisprudent position, then it will be possible to answer it.
"Summary: No answer was given."[2]

Other Explanations For The Absence Of Khamenei's Fatwa On Nuclear Weapons

A number of observers in the West have made various claims in an attempt to explain the absence of Khamenei's fatwa on nuclear weapons, including the following: 
1) Khamenei's statements in and of themselves constitute a fatwa
2) A fatwa can be given orally
3) According to studies examining medieval fatwas, a fatwa has no fixed format; it does not always involve someone asking a question, but is initiated by the jurisprudent himself.
Again, it must be clarified that Khamenei maintains two websites with sections devoted to his fatwas, where he publishes his jurisprudential rulings. What is relevant here is how Khamenei himself publishes his jurisprudential opinions – not how it was done centuries ago. This is the standard by which the issue of a fatwa banning nuclear weapons must be measured.
It is inconceivable that Khamenei would diligently adhere to a fixed, accepted format for all fatwas that he issues on all topics except for a fatwa on the topic of nuclear weapons, which is of such tremendous international importance. There is nothing to prevent him even today from drafting a brief jurisprudential ruling on this topic and publishing it on either of his websites – in addition to publishing his political statements. Moreover, it would be perfectly appropriate for all of his political statements on the issue of nuclear weapons to appear on his fatwa websites, if he wanted to imply that he himself considers them to be fatwas. But he does not even do this; his political statements are found in other sections of his websites, not the sections dedicated to his fatwas, and no fatwa that he has published includes any reference to nuclear weapons (see MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 5406, Release Of Compilation Of Newest Fatwas By Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei – Without Alleged Fatwa About Nuclear Bomb, August 13, 2013).
The claim that Khamenei's oral statements themselves constitute fatwas nullifies the meaning of the concept of the jurisprudential fatwa. If every one of Khamenei's statements, speeches, or sermons is considered a fatwa, then so is his 2012 criticism of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi for handing over all his secret nuclear installations to the U.S. in exchange for favors from the West. This statement by Khamenei came later than his previous statements on the issue of nuclear weapons, and therefore nullifies them. Khamenei said in his March 20, 2011 (Mashhad 1390) Persian New Year address: "This gentleman [Qadhafi] wrapped up all his nuclear facilities, packed them on a ship, and delivered them to the West and said, 'Take them!' Look in what position our nation is, and in what position they [i.e. the Libyans] are [now]."[4]  Read the full story here.
*Y. Carmon is President of MEMRI; A. Savyon is Director of the Iranian Media Project at MEMRI. 


Hmmm.....I've posted many times here on MFS on this topic here's a summary: 

Don’t Misunderstand Khamenei’s Nuclear Fatwa

Ayatollah Khamenei: Iran doesn't trust US, but has faith in its own diplomats.

Ayatollah Khamenei: Iran doesn't trust US, but has faith in its own diplomats.(Taz).

Iran doesn't trust the United States, which doesn't keep its promises, yet we have faith in our own diplomats, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, Fars news agency reported.

Khamenei made the remarks during his speech at the graduation ceremony of Iran's military students.

"We support president Hassan Rouhani's diplomatic moves, as diplomacy is important," Khamenei said. "We support the developments of the New York visit, despite that some issues were not very suitable."

Khamenei went on to add that Iran trusts the diplomats of Rouhani's administration, underscoring that the U.S. administration is "under influence of international zionism".
Some forces in Iran were negative towards Hassan Rouhani's approach to talks with the U.S. president and its stance on country's nuclear program.

For example, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari called Rouhani`s phone conversation with his US counterpart, a tactical mistake.

Later, extremist groups in Iran, held protests against Rouhani, upon his arrival in Tehran from New York. The protesters threw shoes at Rouhani.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei: "Islam and West have heavy encounters, The West never feels sorry for its victims,"

Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei: "Islam and West have heavy encounters, The West never feels sorry for its victims,"(TAZ).

Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the West and Islam have had many heavy encounters during the last several centuries, ISNA reported on Sep.9.

Khamenei, during a meeting with clerics, said that this confrontation has been ongoing and continues today.

"If there is not a powerful authority and the West finds a venerable point, they will never pity anyone, such as with the killing of millions of people during World War II and of Iraqis, Afghanis and Pakistanis. The West never feels sorry for its victims," he said.

Khamenei : "The U.S. is not a real mediator, it stands by the Zionists,"

Khamenei : "The U.S. is not a real mediator, it stands by the Zionists,"(UOI).

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today that the United States is not a good mediator in Mideast peace talks because of its ties with Israel. Khamenei made the comments ahead of the second round of U.S.-brokered Israeli-Palestinian peace talks next week. The talks resumed after a five-year freeze.

The Islamic Republic has traditionally been against the principle of the two-state solution, the eventual goal of the Palestinian-Israeli talks. Ideologically, it prefers a single Palestinian state encompassing Muslims and the Jews. Pragmatically, it has said it would accept whatever solution the Palestinians agree with.

“The U.S. is not a real mediator, it stands by the Zionists,” said Khamenei. “Definitely, it is against the interests of the Palestinians.” (IRNA/AP, 9 August)

Khamenei added that the current U.S.-sponsored talks will damage the Palestinians and force them to “abandon their rights and encourage the occupier.” He did not offer any alternative to the current peace talks.

The Palestinians seek to establish a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, lands Israel captured in 1967. 

The Iranian "Elections"--The Real Winner.

As the moderate Rouhani was being allowed to become president, he proudly posted that his site is no longer blocked (by the cyber security police).

The Iranian "Elections"--The Real Winner.HT and read the full story here @ UskowiOnIran.

Western official: "Iran yet to give 'concrete response' to nuclear offer," Iran claims it did offer new proposal.

Western official: "Iran yet to give 'concrete response' to nuclear offer," Iran claims it did offer new proposal.(HD).Iran has yet to give a clear response to a proposal from world powers for ending the decade-long dispute over its nuclear programme, Western officials said on Friday after a first round of talks in Almaty.

"There has not yet been a clear and concrete response to the E3+3 Almaty I proposal" that the powers made at the last nuclear negotiations at the same venue in February, a Western official said in a statement to AFP also backed by a second source.

"Their presentation was pretty much a repetition of what they put forward in Moscow ( at talks last year). There were some not fully explained general comments on our ideas," said the official, who requested not to be named.

"We have insisted that at this afternoon's plenary at 4:45 pm (1045 GMT) that they respond in the kind of detail that will enable us to make progress," the Western official said.

[…]

"This morning, Dr. Jalili (Iran's chief negotiator) presented the opposite side with Iran's specific proposals for the start of a new round of cooperation between the G5+1 and Iran," Jalili's deputy, Ali Baqeri, told reporters in a press conference in Almaty on Friday.

"These proposals have been regulated within the framework of Iran's overall plan presented in Moscow," added Baqeri, who is an Undersecretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and the second man in the Iranian team of negotiators.

"On the very same basis, the proposal that Jalili offered to the representatives of the G5+1 countries this morning presented a specific framework to the opposite side," the Iranian negotiator added.

According to Baqeri the talks will continue this afternoon and, if necessary, tomorrow in a bid to provide both sides with an opportunity to exchange their views to pave the ground for cooperation.

Baqeri had also on Thursday informed the media that the Islamic Republic would enter the new round of talks with the G5+1 group with clear, groundbreaking proposals. Hmmmmm.....Iran: Tehran has offered the six world powers a set of specific proposals for the start of a new round of cooperation. So Who's LYING?Read the full story here, more here.

Updated: More here.

Don’t Misunderstand Khamenei’s Nuclear Fatwa.

Don’t Misunderstand Khamenei’s Nuclear Fatwa.HT:Arms Control and Regional Security. By Ariane Tabatabai.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reiterated a number of times that the use of nuclear weapons is prohibited under Islamic law. One declaration in particular has received a lot of attention and has become known as the fatwa (a fatwa is a religious edict, which is traditionally issued by a mujtahid - a Shiite scholar who is competent to interpret sharia - to provide an answer to a religious question).

Khamenei’s fatwa prohibiting ‘nuclear weapons’ has once again gained international attention as various Iranian officials are pushing for it to become an ‘international document.’ The former spokesman for Iran’s nuclear negotiators, Seid Hossein Mousavian, currently a research scholar at Princeton and viewed by Westerners as a moderate voice on nuclear issues, has adopted the fatwa discussion as his leitmotif, calling for it to be taken ’seriously’.

There are several issues with the ‘fatwa‘ itself, its wordings, its binding nature, its date of issuance, in addition to questions arising from giving a key role to a religious edict that could have direct implications on the ongoing international negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

First, the Iranian authorities have never presented the text of this ‘crucial’ document and the term fatwa is in fact only used by other parties (including the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its nuclear negotiators, and U.S. officials) and never by the Ayatollah himself. 

The Supreme Leader’s website, which is extremely comprehensive and includes the texts of all of his teachings, statements, and speeches, has not uploaded this piece, which is referred by others as the ultimate rule regarding the nuclear issue by Iranian officials.
If this decree is indeed the key legal document regarding the most important issue in the country’s foreign policy, as it is claimed, then the fact that its exact wordings or date of issuance has not been disclosed (and does not seem to be known by the authorities) is peculiar.

Second, if such a fatwa exists, its scope has seemed to change overtime.

The most relevant statement by the Supreme Leader that could be considered as the fatwa, stipulates:

According to our faith, in addition to nuclear weapons, other kinds of WMD, such as chemical and biological weapons also constitute a serious threat to humanity. The Iranian nation, which is a victim of the use of chemical weapons itself, feels the danger of the production and stockpiling of such weapons and is ready to employ all its means to counter them. We consider the use [کاربرد] of these weapons as haram [prohibited under Islamic law], and the attempt to immunize human kind from this great disaster the responsibility of all.

According to the Iranian 2005 Communication to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the wording of the fatwa was as follows: ‘the production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons are forbidden under Islam.’

Yet, in Ayatollah Ali Khamenei message, which was read at the opening of the International Conference on Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation in 2010 , the Supreme Leader’s explicit prohibition has merely encompassed the ‘use’ of these weapons.
Recent statements, by the Ayatollah himself, merely highlight a ban of the use, with philosophical and ethical discussion about the production and stockpiling of these weapons, rather than a concrete prohibition. The possession is not mentioned in his statements, leaving a grey area in what is the key issue in Iran’s nuclear debate.
The fact that the only concrete line is drawn for the ‘use’ of these weapons raises a question regarding the stance of the Supreme Leader on nuclear deterrence. Indeed, he has made it clear that he does not believe the ‘possession’ of weapons of mass destruction is in the interest of the country and raises ethical and philosophical issues with these weapons. Yet, he falls short of taking a clear legal position on the production and possession of these weapons, which may hint at his wish to.
This narrowing of the scope of this prohibition was later limited to the ‘use’ of such weapons, creating some confusion in the West, mainly due to inaccurate translations, which did not highlight this shift in the leadership’s discourse. Hence, if a fatwa was, infact, issued by Khamenei, it no longer seems to reflect his current stance on the issue.

Third, there are also a number of pending questions regarding the significance of the fatwa itself. 

Mousavian argues: ’[t]he validity of the fatwa should not be underestimated. Because of the strong bond between religion and politics in Iran, the supreme leader’s religious fatwas carry both legislative and religious importance.’
This is not the case. Whether or not the Supreme Leader can even issue such a decree is debatable, as he is not a marja in the traditional sense, but rather a member of the Shiite clergy, who has received much of his authority not from his religious education and status but from his political power. It is important to note that until his presidency in 1981, Khamenei was merely a hojjat al-Islam and has, until now, not received the approval of any major marja. 
In fact, the requirement set by the first Constitution of the Islamic Republic, according to which, the Supreme Leader needed to be a marja was removed in the second version of it, as the founder of the regime, Ayatollah Khomeini, knew well that otherwise no one would be able to succeed to him, as among his followers were no prominent religious authorities.
For this reason, an institution was established under the Islamic Republic, called shora-ye fatwa or the Fatwa Council is in charge of issuing fatawa. Hence, the Supreme Leader’s fatawa (plural of fatwa) only have a political and ideological weight and no religious grounds. one.

Fourth, despite the growing consensus built around the fatwa being the key to solving the nature of the Iranian nuclear program among the various Iranian officials and former officials, there is no information regarding the date it was issued.

Some sources cite a fatwa dating to 2003, while according to Hassan Rouhani, his ‘first negotiation with the European ministers was on December 13, 2004, a month after the fatwa.’ Yet, the country’s Foreign Minister, Aliakbar Salehi, states in his 2012 opinion piece that ‘[a]lmost seven years ago, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a binding commitment. He issued a religious edict - a fatwa - forbidding the production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons.’ This would mean sometime in 2005.

Fifth, a fatwa is not an absolute and irreversible rule.

Furthermore, the idea of maslahat-e nezam, the rough equivalent of Raison d’Etat in the Islamic Republic’s Shiite political ideology (the notion in its modern, abstract form does not exist in the Islamic tradition), enables the Supreme Leader to overrule any religious rule, including temporary suspension of explicit Qur’anic prescriptions - even in the cases of the foundations of the faith - in order to safeguard the regime, let alone fatawa.
Indeed, the Supreme Leader’s ultimate goal is to preserve the Islamic state and the notion of maslahat-e nezam provides him the tool to do so.

It was with this idea in mind that the founder of the regime, Ayatollah Khomeini, had formulated this notion: the preservation, at all costs, of the Islamic state. In other words, should Iran be attacked, threatening the Islamic Republic, it could resort to not only producing but also using nuclear weapons.

Sixth, the fatwa seems to have been created to convince a western audience of Iran’s peaceful intentions, rather than a domestic one.

This is why the fatwa is hyped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former officials in the west, while it has remained virtually absent in domestic debates in Iran. Indeed, while the Supreme Leader, Ahmadinejad, and other officials address various aspects of the Iranian nuclear program (including national pride and technological progress) at length in their speeches, they do not put as much emphasis on the legal issue. The Supreme Leader has addressed it in passing but the fatwa discourse has never been a central element of any of his speeches regarding the nuclear program for several reasons. First, after the 2009 presidential elections and the subsequent wave of protest and unrest, many in the country began to question the regime’s true commitment to Islamic law. Indeed, many Iranians saw the actions perpetrated by the regime, including alleged rape, torture, and killing of members of the opposition, as against the faith. Hence, many believe that the regime will do whatever it takes to survive, regardless of its ethical and religious implications. Second, with the backbreaking sanctions increasingly affecting the population, the main problem for Iranians is not whether their nuclear endeavors are military or civilian in nature and are scarcely preoccupied with its accordance with Islamic law. Rather, the main issue is how the international community perceived it and the implications of this perception for the country. The west, however, in an attempt to take steps toward Iran, and to find a common ground with the Islamic Republic, has acknowledged the fatwa, which has inspired the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former officials to shape the nuclear discourse around it to a great extent.
The Iranian campaign for the international community to take the fatwa seriously is based on the Islamic Republic’s ideology and strategy: the portrayal of international law and the will of the international community as that of few ‘arrogant’ and ‘imperialist’ powers that need to be overcome.
International law and institutions are often depicted by the Islamic Republic as obstacles to overcome, rather than means of promoting international peace and security. Therefore, the fatwa is an extension of this worldview, a way of defying the international community and undermining its will and norms.
In the words of Hassan Rouhani, ‘[t]his fatwa is more important to us than the NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] and its Additional Protocol, more important than any other law.’
Iran’s invocation of its religious stance to justify its compliance with international law is similar to a private citizen invoking his faith in court to support of his case. Indeed, as one’s faith cannot constitute evidence of one’s guilt or innocence, a state actor’s official religion cannot be seen as viable evidence supporting its claim to compliance with its international obligations. Additionally, a private citizen’s case cannot be supported by a religious decree as evidence of his good will in court. Likewise, a state actor’s good will cannot be measured with such a decree, may it be issued by a town cleric or its highest political power.

Some current and former Iranian officials have tried to give an international dimension to the fatwa. For instance, in January 2013, Ramin Mehmanparast, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairssuggested the country was ‘ready for this fatwa being registered as an international document.’
This statement made ahead of the meeting between the IAEA and Tehran showed once again the country’s bizarre attitude toward international law and institutions such as the IAEA. It shows that Iran’s leaders expect the international community to take steps toward them rather than the opposite, and, rather than prove their compliance with international law, find it easier to create their own norms. This attitude toward international law and institutions indicates that the leadership is less than ready to accept and implement said law and cooperate with said institutions. International law is supposed to take precedence over domestic laws, yet a statement, which has not even been adopted as a piece of domestic legislation, is considered as superior by Iranian diplomats. To some extent, it demonstrates Iran’s lack of commitment to its international obligations and should Khamenei decide to take the extra step and weaponize, this decision would take precedence over the NPT.
Ariane Tabatabai is a Ph.D. candidate at King’s College, London, researching nuclear proliferation. She specializes in Iran and the ongoing nuclear negotiations with the P5+1. 


Related: Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Iran does not need atomic bomb

Hmmmm......Perhaps you have heard of taqiyya, the Muslim doctrine that allows lying in certain circumstances -- primarily when Muslim minorities live under infidel authority. Now meet tawriya, a doctrine that allows lying in virtually all circumstances—including to fellow Muslims and by swearing to Allah—provided the liar is creative enough to articulate his deceit in a way that is "technically" true.

Deceit and lying may be far more ingrained in the culture than previously thought.
The authoritative Hans Wehr Arabic-English Dictionary defines tawriya as, "hiding, concealment; dissemblance, dissimulation, hypocrisy; equivocation, ambiguity, double-entendre, allusion." Conjugates of the trilateral root of the word, w-r-y, appear in the Quran in the context of hiding or concealing something (e.g., 5:31, 7:26).
As a doctrine, "double-entendre" best describes tawriya's function. According to past and present Muslim scholars, several documented below, tawriya occurs when a speaker says something that means one thing to the listener, although the speaker means something else, and his words technically support this alternate meaning.
For example, if someone declares "I don't have a penny in my pocket," most listeners will assume the speaker has no money on him—although he might have dollar bills, just literally no pennies.
This ruse is considered legitimate according to Sharia law; it does not constitute "lying," which in Islam is otherwise forbidden, except in three cases: lying in war, lying to one's spouse, and lying in order to reconcile people. For these exceptions, Sharia permits Muslims to lie freely, without the strictures of tawriya, that is, without the need for creativity.
As for all other instances, in the words of Sheikh Muhammad Salih al-Munajid (based on scholarly consensus): "Tawriya is permissible under two conditions: 1) that the words used fit the hidden meaning; 2) that it does not lead to an injustice" ("injustice" as defined by Islamic law, which mandates any number of things -- such as executing apostates, subjugating non-Muslims, pedophilia, amputating limbs for theft, stoning for alleged adultery, death for homosexuality, and so on—that are by Western standards, considered total injustices). Otherwise, it is permissible for a Muslim even to swear when lying through tawriya. Munajid, for example, cites a man who swears to Allah that he can only sleep under a roof (saqf); when the man is caught sleeping atop a roof, he exonerates himself by saying "by roof, I meant the open sky." This is legitimate. "After all," Munajid adds, "Quran 21:32 refers to the sky as a roof [saqf]."More here examples here.

Related:  World Powers Accept Ayatollah Khamenei's Fatwa against N. Weapons as Criteria, please inform Pakistan.

Iran - Fatwa against nuclear weapons political milestone

Iran says Khamenei’s ban of nuclear weapons binding

Hmmm.......Fatwas are issued in response to specific circumstances and can be altered in response to changing conditions. Ayatollah Khomeini modified his position on a number of issues during his lifetime—for instance, on taxes, military conscription, women’s suffrage, and monarchy as a form of government. Thus nothing would prevent Khamenei from modifying or supplanting his nuclear fatwa should circumstances dictate a change in policy.
Shiite tradition permits deception and dissimulation in matters of life and death, and when such tactics serve the interests of the Islamic umma (community).The context surrounding the original, rather expansive, nuclear fatwa and subsequent formulations that only prohibit the use of nuclear weapons demonstrates an important point: fatwas arise in response to specific circumstances and can be amended or reversed as circumstances change. Khamenei’s original fatwa was probably issued to deflect international pressure following the revelations regarding the Natanz centrifuge enrichment plant, and in response to concerns that after invading Iraq, the United States might invade Iran. Fatwas are not immutable, and no religious principle would prevent Khamenei from modifying or supplanting his initial fatwa if circumstances were to change.