The Supreme Leader’s office launched another Twitter offensive on Thursday about Iran’s nuclear talks with the 5+1 Powers — but does this point to Ayatollah Khamenei’s desire for an agreement?
Opposition to WMDs is a religious principle for us. In face of Saddam’s #ChemicalAttacks on #Iran, we didn't use CWs even in return.
21/3/03
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 13, 2014
Facing a deadline of November 24 for a comprehensive nuclear agreement, Iran and the 5+1 Powers resume talks in Vienna next Tuesday.
The narrative of Ayatollah Khamenei’s office on weapons of mass destruction complements the long-standing assurance by the Supreme Leader that he issued a fatwa in 2005 banning possession of the atomic bomb.
Thursday’s tweets repeat that “the use of nuclear, chemical and similar weapons [is] a great and unforgivable sin” and sets out the number of Iraqi attacks against Iran in the 1980-1988 war:
Iranian nation is a victim of the use of CWs. That is why #Iran is ready to counter WMDs by all its means.
4/17/10 pic.twitter.com/CoH5HQz0Ih
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 13, 2014
The campaign then moves from the prohibition on nuclear weapons to the promotion of Iran’s right to a civilian nuclear energy program:
We consider the use of WMDs as #Haraam & believe that it is everyone's
duty to secure humanity against this great evil. #IranTalks
4/17/2010
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 13, 2014
Leader: In the oil-free future, #nuclear energy determines the economy and independence of nations
https://t.co/A7fEtSabj3 #Iran #IranTalks
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 13, 2014
The Supreme Leader’s office has switched between endorsement of the nuclear talks and denunciation of the US this week.
See Iran Feature: Tehran’s Latest Mixed Signals on a Nuclear Deal
Iran Feature: Supreme Leader on Twitter “Why I Support Nuclear Talks”
