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Iran: Obama's 'Sweet' Words Won't Score With Muslims

Supreme leader slams US before Obama speech

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 4, 2009 2:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama’s speeches may be “beautiful,” but it’s not enough to win over the Muslim world, Iran’s supreme leader said in his own speech today, Reuters reports. “The nations of this part of the world...deeply hate America because during many years they have seen violence, military interference, rights violations, discrimination" from it, said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Nothing will change with speeches and slogans,” Khamenei said. Instead, he called for a change in US behavior, the BBC notes. “The terrorists kill one, two or 10 people, but you kill 100 or 150 people,” he said, complaining that the US is occupying Iraq and Afghanistan under false pretexts. He also called Israel “a cancerous tumor in the heart of the Muslim world” and said Iran “does not want nuclear weapons.”

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaks.
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaks.   (AP Photo/Mehr News Agency, Sajjad Safari)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, stands during a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the death of the spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini, in his mausoleum just outside Tehran today.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, stands during a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the death of the spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini, in his mausoleum just outside Tehran today.   (AP Photo/Mehr News Agency, Sajjad Safari)
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, June 4, 2009.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, June 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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If you (Muslims) see that the Western world is talking more softly to you it is the result of public awareness and resistance in the Islamic world. - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Nwambe
Jun 4, 2009 8:09 AM CDT
Oh for God's sake... Why are they giving Khamenei ANY air time? The man hasn't done ANYTHING to help the world in decades, other than giving water containers to impoverished countries.
myvoice
Jun 4, 2009 7:50 AM CDT
its funny that he hates America when America is the reason he is there to begin with! Is that Irony?
Rob
Jun 4, 2009 7:21 AM CDT
That's how I understand it too.

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