Iran
Government of Iran
Press Statement that Iran is ready to join Anti-Terrorism Coalition
Embassy of Iran to Canada
Ottawa, Canada
September 28, 2001
Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Friday, “Iran is ready to take part in a UN-led anti-terrorist campaign despite our differences with the United States.” He described the September 11 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York as “a new sort of war and implementation of a new strategy for terror.”

Rafsanjani also stated: “The incident in the U.S. can help to an end to the insecurities and instabilities which currently hold a grip on the world, noting the world is replete with dirty and terrorist-breeding bases. From the very beginning, Iran adopted a clear stance with our officials and media adopting an anti-terrorism stand. We expressed sympathy with the Americans, while they have never shared our grievances and were even happy with our miseries. I know it is not any easy task, but since the future of humanity is in danger, we must strive to fight terrorism”. Rafsanjani criticized the states harbouring the Iraq-Based terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization (MKO) and said: “We have been suffering from terrorism for over 22 years, and we have tasted this bitter phenomenon”.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan discussed on the pone Friday an international anti-terror campaign as well as the latest developments in Afghanistan. Annan expressed gratification with the Islamic Republic for taking up an “active diplomacy” through conducting intense lobbies with the European Union.

Kharrazi reiterated the UN’s central Role in the campaign against international terrorism, saying “the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the United Nations should become the axis of the anti-terror fight so that the necessary unanimity for the campaign against this ominous phenomenon is achieved. The UN should attend to the fate of the Afghan people and provide the necessary assistance for them.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, condemned terrorism and called the fight against it a “holy war.” He stated: “It is true that American’s dignity has been badly damaged, but it is wrong to say that those who are not with us are with the terrorist. No, we are not with you, and we are not with terrorists”, he said.

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