Khatami promise of ‘scorching hell’ if US invades
Mr Khatami’s comments, before a crowd of tens of thousands in Tehran to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, came amid an escalating exchange of rhetoric between the US and Iran.
Washington accuses Tehran of maintaining a nuclear weapons programme, which Iran says is for peaceful energy purposes.
“Will this nation allow the feet of an aggressor to touch this land?” Mr Khatami asked at the crowd. “If, God forbid, it happens, Iran will turn into a scorching hell for the aggressors.”
His statements drew chants of “Death to America,” from the crowd.
Mr Khatami is widely recognised as a leader of a moderate faction in Iran and said talk of a possible US invasion was pushing him into a united camp with Tehran’s hard-liners.
“The Iranian nation is not looking for war, violence and confrontation,” Mr Khatami said.
“But the world should know the Iranian nation won’t tolerate any aggression and will stand united against aggression despite differences.”
Last week, Mr Bush accused Iran of being “the world’s primary state sponsor of terror”, and last month he said his administration won’t rule out using military force against Iran over its nuclear programme.
But in his speech yesterday, Mr Khatami was adamant Iran won’t scrap its nuclear programme.
Iranian scientists worked hard to develop nuclear technology on their own and will not stop due to “the illegitimate demands of others”, he said. “We have decided to move toward scientific progress, including peaceful nuclear technology and we will continue this path,” Mr Khatami said.
Thousands of Iranians travelled through heavy snow to listen to the speech.
Mr Khatami said Iran’s decision to suspend uranium enrichment in November was a voluntary sign of good will that should be
reciprocated by the International Atomic Energy Agency and European negotiators pressing Iran for concessions on its nuclear programme. The suspension, policed by the IAEA, is aimed at building trust and avoiding UN Security Council sanctions.
