Ayatollah Khatami: Let's not set our hearts on anyone other than God in negotiations

According to Ashura News, quoted by Mehr reporter, Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, the interim Friday prayer imam of Tehran, said in Friday prayer sermons this week in the capital: God created you and on the Day of Judgment you will be with God and with His grace, God willing. Keep this secret for God.

Referring to the issue of indirect negotiations with the United States, he added: The current issue of the world and Iran is the issue of negotiations; therefore, I want to say a monotheistic point regarding these negotiations. That is, I want to say monotheistic discussions in the realm of government.

The interim Friday prayer imam of Tehran emphasized: In the second sermon, I prepared 11 points regarding negotiations, but in this first sermon, I will tell you a monotheistic discussion. In this issue of indirect negotiations, we must pay attention to two points. The first point is that we should not place our hearts on anyone other than God. Negotiations are nothing, so let us place our hearts on God, for 46 years have passed since the revolution and God has been gracious to us and is still gracious to us.

Ayatollah Khatami stated: Our hope should be only in God. God who has been gracious to us so far. God has promised to help His servants and they are victorious in the field.

Referring to letter 55 of Nahj al-Balagha, Ayatollah Khatami said: We were not created for the world to work for the world. We came to take a test and, God willing, we will pass the test well and buy Paradise for ourselves. In fact, this is the call to piety.

He stated: We honor the memory of the world scholar of Shiism, Sheikh Baha'i, whose commemoration day is Wednesday. We also honor the anniversary of the martyrdom of Lieutenant General Qarni, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Army, at the hands of the Furqan Group in 1358, which occurred on Tuesday, May 6, 1979. We also honor the memory of the sports martyrs, in whose memory Monday is named.

Referring to the media, he said: The audio and visual media should be aware that the secular movement that wants religion not to dominate in this country is trying to introduce our imams as prominent figures far from politics, so be careful not to fall into this trap. Our religion is the same as our politics, and politics means proper planning and planning.

Our armed forces are people and the people love them in their hearts

Referring to Army Day, Ayatollah Khatami said: Farvardin 29 is Army and Ground Forces Day, and Tuesday, May 2, 2015 is the anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Stating the difference between our country’s armed forces and other armed forces in the world, he stated: There are armed forces everywhere in the world, but our armed forces have three honors that the world does not have and will not have, unless their government becomes Islamic. The first honor is that our armed forces are ideological and work for their beliefs and religion. Also, [secondly] our armed forces are people and the people love them in their hearts. I say on behalf of the armed forces that these [armed forces] are also the nation’s sacrificers, and this unity is an honor that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, and only in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He continued: Third, the Commander-in-Chief of the forces that you [armed forces] have is not found anywhere else in the world. Yesterday, the late Imam was great, and today he is the Supreme Leader.

Ayatollah Khatami, giving statistics on the sacrifice and dedication of the military, stated: These dear military men of ours gave 84,112 martyrs in the way of Allah and in protecting this country. 235,000 veterans, 260,078 freedmen dedicated themselves to the Islamic Revolution. They also participated in 106 operations in the sacred defense independently and in 424 operations jointly. We are proud of these forces and wish them increasing success.

These negotiations are only in the nuclear story

As he had promised in the first sermon, Ayatollah Khatami stated, referring to the indirect negotiations with the United States: I must say 11 points about these indirect negotiations.

First, these negotiations are indirect, because we do not trust them, because we do not trust them, and [that is why] the negotiations are indirect. As you have noticed, they were sitting in two halls and exchanging messages. At the same time, let me say frankly that these negotiations are only in the nuclear story and there has been no, we do not have, and we will not have any negotiations in the non-nuclear story.

The Imam of Tehran's Friday prayer continued: The second point of accepting indirect negotiations on the part of the regime is to act on a verse of the Quran that refers to; If they express that they want to negotiate with you, do not say no. Of course, there are three points here, the first point is that these negotiations should be from a position of strength and negotiate with them with strength. Second, do not tie your fate to these negotiations. The third point is to trust God and count on people. The fourth point is to be alert and clever. Negotiators should not be fooled. As Mullah Ali said, a believer is alert and clever. He does not give up the system, religion, and its values.

These negotiations are a retest of America's true peacemaking

Continuing his 11 points regarding indirect negotiations, the interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran said: The fifth point is what the gentleman said; we are pessimistic about the other side and we have the right to be pessimistic because the one who tore up the JCPOA cannot be trusted. You should not consider them as insiders because they will do whatever they can against you. In these few days after the negotiations, "Wittkoff" has questioned the American side's principle of uranium enrichment and the nuclear principle!

Ayatollah Khatami clarified: The sixth point is that the Americans should pay attention in these negotiations, these negotiations are a retest to determine whether they really want peace.

Referring to some of the US President's positions, he noted: Trump has said several times that all options are on the table. [It should be said] our option is also on the table and our first option is that Iran is not subject to imposition and submission. Threaten us, we will threaten you. If you take any action against us and have any intention, we will retaliate.

The Friday prayer leader of Tehran stated: The Supreme Leader said and warned us against excessive optimism and pessimism. This is a task that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is doing, and neither excess nor excess is necessary. At the same time, as the gentleman said, we are optimistic about our own ability as much as we are pessimistic about them.

“We can” is a Quranic slogan

He continued: “In these 47 years, we have shown that we have neutralized conspiracies and will continue to neutralize them. Without a doubt, “We can” is a Quranic slogan, and “We cannot” has not been and is not in the culture of the followers of the prophets.”

Stating another point from the 11 points of indirect negotiations, Ayatollah Khatami pointed out the bipolar plan in society, saying: Some have created a bipolar system that resolving problems is through negotiations with America, and not resolving problems is through non-negotiation. I have a strong suspicion that the Americans and their media are the ones who created this bipolarity.

He emphasized, stating that the Supreme Leader drew red lines: "Your Excellency said that our red lines are completely clear, meaning that the American side should know that we have at least three red lines. The issue of enrichment is not negotiable. Defense and missile issues are not negotiable. Our regional presence is also not negotiable, so do not enter into these three categories or you will not get a response."

The Friday prayer leader of Tehran addressed the Americans: "Do not threaten us because the time for this is over and the Iranian nation is a nation that will not submit to your threats and demands for surrender."

Something that has no place in the dictionary of our nation is fear.

He made his final point regarding indirect negotiations, referring to two books written by the US President, and said: "The eleventh point is that Trump has recently written two books. In one of these books, he stated ten conditions for negotiations." Two of these 10 conditions are that you must exert maximum pressure in negotiations, and I must say that we will exert maximum resistance to your maximum pressure.

Ayatollah Khatami continued: Trump has also said that negotiations must be conducted with fear and intimidation, which we are also telling Trump explicitly. Fear is not something that has no place in our nation’s vocabulary. We are not afraid, and this is what we have shown during the eight years of the imposed war.

Referring to the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament, he noted: Hezbollah’s disarmament, which some people are talking about, should be known that it is a dream and a fantasy. Hezbollah is not a beed that will shake with these winds. Hezbollah secured Lebanon’s independence and should not be dragged into the well with America’s rope.

At the end of his sermons, the Friday prayer imam of Tehran emphasized, referring to the Zionist regime’s crimes in Gaza: The story of Gaza is the story of a straw man. Statistics show that more than 50,000 martyrs and more than 110,000 veterans and wounded have been killed in Gaza. The only way is for the Islamic world to rise up and use all its resources, including political and economic resources, to help this oppressed nation.