IRAN: Friday prayer leader derides Obama victory

In what would many considered a remarkable first since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution from one of the U.S. key rivals, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed U.S. president-elect Barack Obama in a letter on Thursday, congratulating him for his victory in the American presidential race and voicing hope that he would make the most of the opportunity.

But the warm glow didn't too long. At prayers today, the same old crowds were out chanting the same old slogans: “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

Unlike Ahmadinejad, Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati did not extend an olive branch to Obama. Instead, he derided him as the same-old, same-old:

“The elections are over. Obama promises some change. Usually all presidential candidates make such pledges but after being elected they forget all about them. But anyway, if he brings some change, there might be some dim light for themselves.”

But, he said, as far as Iran was concerned, nothing would change:

“The U.S. is against the Islamic world and what matters most to the hegemonic U.S. government is fulfilling its own interests, which are all at the expense of ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands of people as we have already witnessed in Iraq, Afghanistan and recently Pakistan.”

He went on to sarcastically describe how no U.S. president could be elected without the full consent of Iran's arch-rival, Israel:

“In the United States, the president-to-be must go to Israel and kiss its doorsteps. If approval of him is issued and the OK is given by the Israelis, only then he can go back to the U.S. and enjoy his victory and be elected as a president."

Jannati also had some choice words for critics of the government, warning that God would not be pleased by those who make “libelous and irresponsible” remarks against the government’s performance.

He said that newspapers and “counter-revolutionary” groups abroad that criticize Iran's human-rights track record should instead admire the “hard-working government” and support its actions:

“If you, opposition groups, naively wish to topple the system and come here to pressure influence and call for change, then forget about it! You are missing the target. If we are not thankful and responsible in criticizing the government, catastrophe will occur and everyone will be a loser, the oppressed and the oppressors."

— Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran and Khaled Hijab in Beirut

Photo: Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati speaking at Friday prayers in Tehran. Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh / European Pressphoto Agency

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Comments

[Ed]

Iran becomes forst country to slam Obama. It seems that war is on the table for bopth foes.

[Jaff Sassani]

The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) policy toward Israel and Jewish around the world
The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) was surprised by the outcome of the President elect Obama because he appointed few influential American with Jewish heritage. The IRI and It’s supporter of the American with Iranian heritage whom they support the outdated Iranian Government policy toward the Jewish people in America and Israel. The war of word did not started by Israel and Jewish people around the world.
The war started by the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Khomeini, and his follower. What you expect from the Jewish people around the world. They should surrender to Hitler Khomeini and his follower or start preparing themselves to avoid another holocaust.
The Jewish people are very peaceful people they are not looking for war with other people on the earth. The Jewish people are smart; because they are smart by making money the looser around the world will hate them because they do not know how to make money.
The Jewish people always thank full to Aryan (Iranian) leader the father of Aryan people thee Cyrus the Great who helped the Jewish people more than few thousand years ago. The hateful Khomeini from the Arab family origin used Iranian people against the Jewish people because of his Arab blood want to destroy Israel just like his forefather did in the beginning of Islam in Saudi Arabia 1400 years ago.
The Iranian people could by destroy on the face of Earth because of the Hitler Khomeini revenge. What we are gaining to be the servant of the Arabs whom they destroyed our country 1400 years ago.
Iranian people like Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (if he is not from Sayaid Arab family) are fool by getting the Iranian people mayhem so they can serve the Arab Imperialist whom they destroyed our country under the name of Islam.
Long live the struggle of the Aryan (Iranian) people for freedom and friendship with Israel and Jewish people around the world. Death to Hitler Khomeini and his follower.

Jaff Sassani
From the SKDC
Nov-8-2008

[Hashem]

Jannati's comments are pretty mild compared to the hate speech spewed out by the likes of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell on a weekly basis.

Jannati is actually a likable character. He has a squeaky voice and always speaks with a pleading tone.

When you watch people like O'Reily, Hannety, Limbaugh, Falwell and Culter, talk about Iran, there is venom dripping from their mouths.

The Iranians may chant "Death to America", but it isn't a venomous chant. What they want to say is "Down with the US Government", but that chant has way too many syllables in Farsi.

[camdog]

What is happening in Iran is what our founding fathers warned us about: that there must be a strict separation of church and state. Isn't that why people fled Britain to start a new country? They were tired of being told how to worship, where to worship, who to worship. I do not want our country to become a Judeo-Christian Iran.

[Edwards]

Iran is right. Israeli lobby - the all powerful APIAC is totally grip in two areas in United States: Politics and Media. basically Iran claims that Israeli interests control not only Washington but all Hollywood and all major televiosion networks. This is why we never hear any threats or criticism on Israel's barbaric treatment of Palestinians. NO wonder the Arab world hates America. Last month Iranian President stood in United Nations at New York and and said Israel is behind financial crisis creating havoc in US and the world. He blamed Zionists in powerful position who did economic turmoil.

[plankbob]

The prayer leader is not entirely wrong.
And in U.S. prayer news:

Focus on the Family Action senior vice president Tom Minnery, told his readers not to despair, saying that the right wing would overcome this situation (after Obama won):
"You may recall that in the most desperate days of World War II – when Great Britain was being pounded daily by Hitler’s Luftwaffe – that Winston Churchill called on his countrymen not to despair from danger but to rise to the challenge."

[mike rubbo]

Underneath the bombast there is some truth in what Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said in his sermon.

Obama clearly did have to be very careful not to offend either the Israelis or their champions in the US, AIPAC as he ran his great race.

Historically he's shown sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians but that was all hidden in the lead up and rush to victory, his the sympathies switching over exclusively to Israel.

OBama ran on change. He could have just as easily combined that powerful slogan that with a peace platform since the country is so sick of death and war.

But peace as a slogan would have bought in a name which was never mentioned, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize who's been persona non grata in the the Obama Campaign, Jimmy Carter.

Obama surely admires Carter for the selfless work he's done for peace and justice since his Presidency.

Yet he could not voice that admiration because Carter has annoyed the Israelis and AIPAC with his book on Apartheid in Israel.

What Carter said is true, Palestinians do live in an Apartheid-like situation but that can't be said or even alluded to by a man, even a progressive, running for President.

And so Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati is right. He just could have put it better in his sermon.

[Jeff Griffin]

More "Islamics" spewing more hatred. Love of God on their lips, and hatred of man in their hearts.

This is news?

Why don't you make it a good day, Mr. Jannati? Call for the death of America and Israel. Execute some homosexuals. You know, the usual routine.

Don't you ever get tired of being an idiot?

[Melissa]

Jeez, Dave, what's up with all the negativity? I, too, think that we've got some unrealistic expectations of Obama. However, Americans elected him because we *want* change. Whether we get it or not remains to be seen, but don't be so quick to condemn us all to fiery death. We do want things to be different. We don't want to be the cause of all the destruction you're talking about. So we did the best we possibly could: elected a young, virtually unknown first-term senator solely on the basis of hope for change.

Give us a little credit, please. We're trying here.

I voted for Barack Obama. What have YOU done lately for the sake of a better world?

[Eliza]

I think 'hope' everyone is wrong about this President Obama , Dennis Kucinich would of made a better president ..matter of fact the Best President we ever had ...almost ... He wanted Open Dialog with all Nations even Iran ..I am Catholic and I do Not Pray for Israel I pray for the Oppressed Palestinians and I spread the word about the Quran and how beautiful it is .And how Mary has a WHOLE CHAPTER the mother of Jesus .I tell people I am trying to Reducated everyone ...That the Jews deny Jesus the people of Islam do not ,nor HIS Mother .We need to fellowship the people of Islam and the Christians and teach each-other and become friends and then we can make a stand against this Great Evil of our time .The ones JESUS told us to Beware of .I try to tell people how the Israelis will not let Moslems or Christians into Jerusalem on Holy Days ...How that is wrong ...and we must change this .I am part Native American and I know all about Oppression and illeagl occupation .So I think I am a good teacher .I have lots of work to do so please all who read pray For me ...They may kill me for trying to do such a beautiful thing ...Jesus says so ...A is For Allah ! GOD BLESS ALL !

[Sam]

"Just one plea. If this happens and you are hit again, please do not expect any sympathy. You won't receive any from me."

Why would I want sympathy from someone I have no respect for?

[David Sketchley]

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati is not a politician, and as a result his words are right on the button if past performance is anything to go by.

But before I am accused by the racists of being a supporter of Al Qaeda, just let me say that I am a white British Roman Catholic of 54 years.

My own suspicions are that Mr Obama is a massive confidence trickster. He's fooling everyone. The Spanish have an expression that describes Obama to the core: "pico de oro" (golden beak, meaning 'sweet talker').

The man is capable of saying what everyone (or at least the majority) wants to hear.

I for one am not expecting anything. No change, nothing. Everything will remain the same for those of us who are not US citizens.

Muslims will continue to be slaughtered, as will Africans and South American. All so that Americans can continue to live their 'way of life'....

Just one plea. If this happens and you are hit again, please do not expect any sympathy. You won't receive any from me.