Enemies Lost Diplomatic War against Iran - Khamenei

The enemies miserably failed with diplomatic war against the Islamic Republic over hosting the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday. Khamenei made the remarks during a meeting with the members of the Assembly of Experts in Tehran. He added the current international situation is turning in Iran’s favor.

“Considering enemies’ stupidity and political situation in the world, this summit became a phenomenon, and caused diplomatic war against Iran,"
Ayatollah Khamenei said. “Iran has successfully won this war, and its enemies were forced to admit this fact,” Khamenei added. (IRNA, 6 September)

File photo: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (IRNA)

XVI NAM Summit Ends

The 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) wrapped up today in Tehran. Venezuela will host the next NAM Summit in 2015.

Photo Credit: ISNA

NAM Summit Opens in Tehran

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei opened the 16^th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Tehran on Thursday. In his inaugural speech to the heads of state and government of member countries, Ayatollah Khamenei said "the use of nuclear weapons" was a "big and unforgivable sin," although he did not extend that designation to their production. He added that Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons but it will not abandon its peaceful nuclear program. "Nuclear energy for all, nuclear weapons for none," he said.

Photo Credit: ISNA/Hamid Forootan

Morsi in Tehran

Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi has arrived in Tehran for the first visit by an Egyptian leader to Iran since the Islamic Republic cut diplomatic relations in 1979 because of Egypt's peace accord with Israel. Iran’s state TV carried live broadcast of Morsi’s arrival at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport. Morsi is attending the XVI NAM Summit underway in Tehran.

Photo Credit: Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi arriving at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport. 30 August 2012. (ISNA/Roohollah Vahdati)

UN Chief Urges Iran to Address Serious Human Rights Concerns

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in Tehran to attend the NAM Summit, told a news conference as he sat next to Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, that the U.N. has “serious concerns” about Iran’s human rights record and urged the country to co-operate with the world body to improve freedoms.

“We have discussed how United Nations can work together with Iran to improve the human rights situation in Iran. We have our serious concerns on the human rights abuses and violations in this country," Ban said. (Associated Press, 29 August)

Photo Credit: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (left) and Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani. Tehran, 29 August 2012. (Mehr News Agency/Mohsen Norouzifard)