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[Source: FinalCall.com]
TEHRAN, Iran—The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and a Nation of Islam delegation made a special trip to the Islamic Republic of Iran as the Muslim nation celebrated the 37th anniversary of its revolution amid the end of U.S. sanctions and plans for a late February election.
The Minister was invited to Iran by the Coordinating Council For Islamic Publicity, a non-governmental organization, and as a special guest at Iran’s freedom anniversary on Feb. 11. Min. Farrakhan attended but did not speak at the celebration. He was warmly received at the gathering and participated in private meetings. One session included a dialogue with former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, who now heads the Center for Strategic Research and remains an advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and an important figure in Iran.
The Minister was also an honored guest at a symposium, the “International Seminar of Foreign Guests On the 37th Anniversary of Victory of the Great Islamic Revolution of Iran,” where presenters laid out the importance of the Iranian revolution, its history and its place in history.
Some presenters expressed pride that the Muslim state exists despite nearly four decades of opposition from the United States and a tense relationship with Saudi Arabia, a major U.S. ally in the region.
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In two separate meetings with the press, one following the meeting with Mr. Velayati and the other hours before leaving the country, Min. Farrakhan saluted the Iranian revolution and its accomplishments despite opposition. The delegation departed for Iran on Feb. 6 and returned Feb. 14.
A press conference that was planned for a few journalists became a full room with a bouquet of microphones in front of the Minister and a bank of cameras in the back or the room and other cameras in the aisles. The journalists who attended included a leading group of young Iranian newsmen, an anchor for the country’s English-language PressTV network, as well as important regional news outlets based in Iran. Among the languages into which the Minister’s words were reported were English, Farsi, Arabic, French and Urdu. The reporters, editors and videographers represented Iranian outlets, Pan-Arab news sources and agencies reporting to Azerbaijan, Syria, Palestine, India, Afghanistan.
Min. Farrakhan called for the two major Middle East powers, Iran and Saudi Arabia, and the Muslim World to find the path to unity.
Mustapha Farrakhan, son of Min. Farrakhan and student Supreme Captain of the Fruit of Islam, and Min. Farrakhan were seated as honored guests with former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati during a symposium on the Iranian Revolution in Tehran. Photos: Richard B. Muhammad
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The Minister called the visit “a great honor and privilege for us to be here in Iran to celebrate with you the 37th anniversary of this great revolution that brought Islam back to Iran in a manner that makes it an example for all Muslims throughout the world.” The meetings with Mr. Velayati and others were an opportunity to share with Muslims in Iran the Nation of Islam’s work in the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Africa and to discuss ways to increase American understanding of Iran.
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“Whenever America wants to destroy a nation, a people, they must first demonize them and the Zionist controlled media in America has chosen to demonize Iran,” said Min. Farrakhan.
“Not because Iran is a demon but the demon is the demonizer.”
He explained how Blacks were made slaves and Christians but members of the Nation have chosen to become Muslims and retain close ties with family members, friends and others who are Christian.
“We are trying to make as many of our people Muslims by Allah’s help. It started first with Black people because the Blacks are the most oppressed, along with the indigenous Native Americans called Indians. And we are uniting with our Indian family, our native family, our Mexican and Latino family and we are doing all whatever we can to spread the word of Allah among them,” he explained.
The Minister observed that since the 1979 revolution brought about by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini those who wish to destroy Iran have been watching and busy. The Iranian religious leader was exiled in France for his opposition to the ruling regime but sent messages into the country via cassette tapes. Iran prior to the revolution was a U.S. client state and its brutal ruler was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. He presided over an Iranian monarchy with an iron fist and was backed by the United States.
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“The divisions that are plaguing the Islamic world will sentence our world to death, unless we can find the path of unity,” Min. Farrakhan warned. An outside enemy, the United States, has inserted herself between Iran and Saudi Arabia and seeks to exploit a 1,400-year-old breach between Sunni Muslims in Saudi Arabia and Shia Muslims in Iran.
The U.S. wants to manipulate and control both nations and destroy the power of Islam, he said.
The negative forces in America are real, they want Muslims to kill one another and hate the Iranian Revolution, he said. Leading Republican candidates for president are vowing to rip up the agreement with Iran. The lifting of U.S. and other sanctions came after negotiations and Iran meeting guidelines for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The United Nations found sanctions should be lifted as Iran has met terms set by America, the UN and other powerful countries.
Min. Farrakhan and former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran’s president. Photo: Robert E. Muhammad
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America’s claim of friendship is false, said Min. Farrakhan, who shared how Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi’s revolution and nation were destroyed by the U.S.
America fed internal dissent and U.S. allies kept Col. Gadhafi from fighting off a rebellion the revolutionary leader said was linked to Al-Qaeda, Min. Farrakhan observed.
Once Col. Gadhafi gave up his weapons of mass destruction, America moved against the Libyan leader and the once-thriving North African nation is now a virtual failed state.
Every nation on earth contains dissatisfied elements and the U.S. wants to use those dissatisfied elements to foment revolt in Iran, the Minister said.
