INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC REPUBLIC
MARCH 23, 2003
Sadabad Palace, Tehran
President Khatami : Assalamu Alaikum, Ministers and Generals. Today, Coalition Forces began to invade Iraq. As a result, we are assembled here to reevaluate our current military, economic and diplomatic situation. We are expecting that Saddam will fall withing few weeks. What we have to think about is that we are being encircled by USA from Afghanistan and now Iraq. We should choose very careful path for protecting ourselves from Western Imperialism and Zionism.
Iran in March 2003
Iranian Cabinet
Chief of the Army and Revolutionary Guards Hassan Firouzabadi : Mr. President, Here is the list of our Armed forces. We have a total of 36 divisions which is quite large army. However, compared to US and Israeli Army, Our Army seems to be rather obsolete. I advise that we should immediately start modernisation programs.
Armed Forces
Chief of the Air Force Reza Pardis : Mr. President, Here is the list of our Airforce. As you know, since imposition of embargo in 1979, we couldn't develop our Air Force much except for missiles. We don't have large airfoce and most of the existing aircrafts are obsolete Russian aircrafts. Our Airforce is certainly not enough to handle with a major power. However, we are quite advanced in missile technology. Most of our missiles are capable of hitting any target in Israel.
Air Force
Chief of the Navy Abbas Mohtaj : Mr. President, Our Navy is quite small and not capable of conducting major operations. So, we shouldn't trust the Navy to protect our shores from any foreign aggression. Navy could only be support force.
the Navy
Minister of Economy Ali Shamkhani :Mr. President, here is the list showing industrial capacity of our country and material production. Our Statistisc bureau prepared the list. We have 25 base IC and 28 available IC, which is not very good. USA has 462 base and Germany have 99 base ICs. So, our production capacity is limited and we should decide very wisely what to produce. Our main export product is oil and we have moderate level of production in Abadan and Babolsa. I think that we could exchange oil for military supplies to meet huge supply demands of our armed forces.
Economical Statistics
Khatami : What is the situation of our nuclear program ?
Minister of Intelligence Ali Younesi : Mr. President, We have 4 active nuclear reactor located in Babolsar. We need at least 5 more reactors to produce nuclear weapons. In our current level, it is only possible to produce electricity from our reactors. We will also need huge resources if we want to expand our nuclear reactors. So, in my opinion, we won't be able to produce a bomb unless we devote all our resources to this project.
Nuclear Reactors
Nuclear Technology Situation
Bushehr Reactor
Foreign Minister Kemal Kharrazi : Mr. President, our situation in foreign relations is very critical. We have absymal relations with the entire West and heavy embargoes continue since our great revolution. In my opinion, we should try to enter the atmosphere of detente with the West while trying to improve our relations with countries like Russia, China, Venezuela and North Korea. Obviously, we couldn't take the risk of war with the West.
Khatami : Yes, Kemal, I agree. I will share this point with Ayatollah Khamenei as well.
Minister of Interior Mousavi-Lari : Mr. President, our most of the population supports the revolution and our stance against US and Zionism.But, social discontent among city bourgeosie which has quite liberal viewpoints, is widespread but revolutinary guards have strong control of daily life. So, our position is quite strong against Zionist conspiracy from the inside. We didn't forget Musaddık and will not let the same things happen again.
Revolutionary Guards
Iranian Regime
President Khatami : Thanks gentlemen..the new era in the history of Islamic Republic is beginning with the invasion of Iraq. US-Israel are trying to crush our great revolution and destroy whole Islamic world; Palestine, Afghanistan and now Iraq. We should be very careful in our steps. Our policy will be to support anti-western muslim movements in middle east and hence to form Islamic alliance against the West lead by us. Now, we end our meeting, but we will make these meetings continuosly to discuss current matters. I also want continuous reports for Iraq War.
