Tehran's substitute Friday prayers leader Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani on Friday held the US, especially CIA, and Zionists responsible for recent cold blood killings southeast of Iran, saying enemy has targeted the country's border security, economy, universities and science.
"The whole thing is planned in the disgraceful organisation, the CIA, and based on the difference between Shiites and Sunnis. They want to pit Shiites and Sunnis against each other as they did in Iraq," said the major cleric.
Ayatollah Kashani was referring to a series of deadly attacks on Bam-Kerman road southeast of Iran last week, which claimed lives of a group of 12 civilians.
"In Iraq too -- despite all the country's anxieties, troubles and occupation-- they (the US and Israel) received a blow and failed to meet their goals.
"The enemies had since triumph of the (1979 Islamic) Revolution (in Iran) overwhelmed the (Iranian) society and the world atmosphere with propaganda in the one-side road of the world media; the world people, however, do not have a mere belief in their claims because they (the enemies) are separate from their people."
"These idiots have not identified Shiites and Sunnis well; True, Shiites and Sunnis have differences inside but they share a common culture for protection of Quran and religion and they are all united in their basics."
He said Muslims do differ in ideology but the core issue for them is Islam.
"Alike all its wrong doings, CIA has this time too given its money to a number of thieves and criminals to come to the road and kill a number of innocent people, thinking falsely that they had done an important task."
Underlining peaceful coexistence of Shiites and Sunnis in Iran, the Ayatollah said, "In Iran where Jews and Christians have representative(s) and lead peaceful co-existence, the enemies have unjustifiably pinned their hopes on such measures."
He underlined, "Those helping the bandits should know that they are indirectly the agents of CIA and Zionists and they cannot do a damn thing."
He called on the Iranian officials, notably police, to be vigilant against such moves and instructed the judiciary to decide fate of the criminals in 24 hours without any prolongation, trial and clemency.
"All branches of government should nip such dirty moves in the bud," he added.
Elsewhere in his sermon, Ayatollah Kashani said Iran's peaceful nuclear energy is among other things that the enemy has targeted.
He emphasized that Iran's nuclear program is under the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) supervision and nuclear weapons have no room in Iran's doctrine.
"We do all works under the Agency's supervision and do not consider (having) nuclear arms as something wise; the West does know all things and is still continuing to insist.( on their false position)"
He mocked the Western approach towards diplomacy and terrorism and said, "They shed blood in Iraq and Palestine, calling it as establishment of diplomacy and terrorism campaign."
He called on the international organizations and the UN Security Council to prevent such practices.
"The international organizations and the UN Security Council should prevent such a trend if they wish to save their face; and they should know that nations know them today and they should regain their personality."
He concluded that Iran is steadfast in its resolve to defend its achievements and will not back down even an iota from its will.
"We fully protect our achievements and will not back down protecting it even a single moment and time," he noted.
