Iranian Official Voices Fresh Criticism Of UN

Ayatollah Jannati (file photo) (CTK) August 4, 2006 -- The head of Iran's Guardians Council, an unelected body that oversees elections, today reiterated criticism of the UN Security Council, saying it should be closed down for its failure to obtain a cease-fire in Lebanon.
Addressing worshippers at a Friday Prayer ceremony on the Tehran University campus, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati also renewed calls for Muslims to support Lebanese Hizballah in its fight against Israel.

He said providing political and financial assistance to Hizballah is a "religious duty."

Jannati made a similar plea on August 1, calling on Muslims give Hizballah and the Lebanese weapons, medicine, food, and other forms of help.

In an interview with Britain's Channel 4 television on August 3, Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani accused the United States of using Israel to stage a war against all Islamic nations in the Middle East.

(IRNA, dpa, channel4.com)

Iran, Syria, And Hizballah

Iran, Syria, And Hizballah

Iranians demonstrating in support of Hizballah in Tehran on July 17 (epa)

'FOR THE SAKE OF LEBANON': The Islamic Republic of Iran has served as an ideological inspiration for Hizballah since the Lebanese militant group's creation in 1982, and Tehran acknowledges that it supports the organization morally and politically. "Yes, we are friends of Syria and Iran" Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said. "For 24 years we benefited from our friendship with Syria and Iran for the sake of Lebanon...." (more)


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