Khatami: Iran 'must look to the future'

Ann Curry:

You've just said that while you support-- Iran supports the ideas of what Hamas and Hezbollah are doing for the people in these regions, you do not necessarily support-- Iran does not necessarily support everything.  So what I'm-- and you said many other things.  I understand that.

But on that point, clearly what seems to be the problem is that the United States does not trust that Iran is not funding Hamas and Hezbollah.  You say Iran is not funding Hamas and Hezbollah.  How can you prove that you are not funding Hamas and Hezbollah?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

I don't know.  If the United States has decided to say something and have it as a base of their policy, we cannot convince them to forget about this policy.  Should have a logical approach to bring each other up to a point to look at the matter in realistic approach.

If without any condition we would be able to sit and talk and negotiate and give this guarantee, Americans would give this guarantee in confidence that they would not follow up the wrong policies they used to.  And Iran, in return, would also give this confidence that we are not fighting against the national interests of the United States.

And we are serving our own national interests, while we do not perceive United States as an enemy.  Then we may get to many good solutions, and I think we should have the goodwill and wise approach.  Then, at the table of negotiation, many of these problems for sure would be solved.

Ann Curry:

And on the other major point, the other major point being the U.S. concerns about Iran's enrichment of uranium, what will it take?  Will Iran ever stop enriching uranium?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

Why we should stop the enrichment?  Of course it's under very primary level yet.  We just have a hand at the technology.  During my term in office we got it.  Of course, it's a bit expanded now but just to have 1,000 megawatt of reactor, enough fuel for that, we are doing this technology.

Of course, it's still, we are years away from the proper enrichment level.  But what is important for the others is that, and that's their concern, that we may have access to industrial level of uranium enrichment.  That is the concern.  So to go to weapon grade uranium and reach that much, that would be the wise for a nuclear weapon.

And, you know, even the bomb technology would take years.  Even if we would have this intention, which we do never have this intention, for years to come we have to work.  And in eight years of administration, my administration, you know, I know that the Supreme Leader's viewpoints and the national interests of Iran.

Clearly I state that in our political victory, there is no point and place for nuclear weapon.  We just need three and a half percent enriched uranium for the reactors' fields, so to produce electricity.  That's our legitimate right.  But I believe that now that we have this technology, and they have accepted that it's our legitimate right, about to get into the industrial level of enrichment we may get to s solution that Iran would have enrichment and, at the same time, give the objective guarantee to the other countries that we were never have the diversion to the atomic bomb technology.

With the Europeans, informally, we got to this conclusion during my term in office.  Many things were solved.  But the Americans were not fast enough to make their decisions so it is now in the position that we are witnessing now.  If there is the goodwill revived as it used to be, Iran would get to the legitimate right of enriching uranium for peaceful purposes under the supervision.  And that's our right.

And then the world, the whole world, would get the objective guarantee that there wouldn't be any diversion from the peaceful purposes, and Iran would never go to produce nuclear bombs.  And then we would go to a point that in future we are looking forward to have a nuclear free zone in the Middle East.

That's what we are seeking.  First of all, we have to think about the nuclear arsenals existing now.  What Mr. Obama said, and it was really great, is that the United States is the arsenal of the nuclear weapons.  And up to the moment that we have these bombs, how should we dare asking the others to get rid of their technology.  Of course, WMD is a great concern for all of us.  In United Nations, it has been accepted, as we proposed, that we should start a nuclear free zones from Middle East, because we are full of tension.  And to get rid of these arsenals.

Ann Curry:

So the answer-- I understand what you said and-- but the answer then about whether Iran would ever stop enriching uranium, even if it meant peace with the West, it sounds as though-- so your answer is no?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

What we have discussed, and we got to the conclusion, is that Iran has the legitimate right for enrichment.  But Iran should give objective guarantee that it would not be diverted to military purposes.  So one is not dependent on the other.

Objective guarantee doesn't mean that we should stop enrichment.  There should be measures under international supervisions.  Even the other countries may come, and supervise physically, that the enriched uranium would never be diverted to weapon grade.  All these would be discussed at the negotiation table.

Even to stop enrichment, you know, you should never say that that's the precondition to negotiation.  While they are negotiating, they can talk about how to stop this enrichment.  If there are goodwills for both sides, then we are, I'm quite optimistic that we would be wise enough to resolve the situation from a wise approach.

Ann Curry:

So what is your message then? What is your message to President Obama today?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

One message is that really, President Obama should be decisive and serious to make the change he is intending to.  And I would like to restate this. That United States is a big, important country with great people.  A great nation.  The most developed country, and the world is really taking advantage of the technology they are making.

This huge power should be serving peace and stability and promotion of the human kind, not to stand against some countries and threatening their national interests.  After the Second World War, two problems existed mentally in the United States policies.  One was that hehe felt like a big brother to the European countries.  Now he should turn into an equal brother to them.  Everyone.

And after the Second World War there was this misunderstanding in the politicians of the United States toward the Third World country, that they are the superior and we are the inferior.  We should turn into friends, then the Americans would be able to serve the national interests here and there.  There wouldn't be any security threat.

Because of the nations who have been humiliated, Americans would feel threat from these nations.  These nations would like to stand up against this humiliation.  If this change is happening, I believe that many of these problems will be solved.

And secondly, he should be patient enough.  He should be standing strong against the obstacles and pressures against the pressure he is intending to realize.  Some lobbies are against him, I feel.  They are seeking their own interests rather than the American interest.  He should be standing against these pressures.  He should feel serious to make this change possible, and to be courageous to implement his change and to be patient and resilient, and not to get disappointed.  He should go all the way ahead to make it possible.  It would serve Obama, United States and the whole world.

Ann Curry:

You're saying-- the pressure you're talking about is Israel.

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

Of course, the Zionist lobby is very strong in the United States.  And United States and American nation have the right to defend their own interests.  But it's not, I believe, in their best interests to victimize and to slaughter the national interests for this small minority of lobby there.

Ann Curry:

The youth account for 65 percent of Iran's population and yet they're very unhappy, as you now head to your presidential elections, about restrictions on their freedoms and also was the economy.  Is reform in Iran possible when the most powerful body, the Supreme Leader, is in place under no election?  Was put into power without any election?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

Supreme Leader is selected, of course, in a two rounds of election.  And, you know, we have Expediency Council.  They would select the leader.  They would supervise the leader.  And he is not a full fledged power with no supervision.

He has indirect vote of the people and he is also deciding about the major policies of the regime in Iran.  And you see that he is respecting freedom.  Clearly it has been stated, you know, constitution too.  Of course there are some problems in restrictions on freedom.

And the wrong approaches that sometimes they say, "Security is in peril so they are restricting freedom."  This is wrong.  And when you are restricting and limiting freedom, it would threaten the security.  Because if the youth are not satisfied finally, they would threat the security of the society and the government if they are getting disappointed or they are getting angry.  Freedom is the base and principle of stability and security.  I have talked to the youth and they have accepted it.  And as far as I could, I implemented it.  Of course, the president has not a very unlimited power.  There are some others who would decide and limit this freedom.

But the picture that is shown from Iran is not the right one.  And it doesn't mean that everyone would feel that they are on the restrictions.  And there are some restrictions and limitations.  They have to be removed, these limitations.  And the future administration, one of its first priorities should be promoting the citizenship rights, human rights, and the freedom of the people.

And in the principles of Mr. Karroubi and Mr. Mousavi.  Both candidates have emphasized on these that they would fight for this freedom.  They would realize this freedom.  And we hope that the changes that may occur by this election we would feel a better freedom for the youth and the whole nation in future.

Ann Curry:

The reason I ask is because it's clear in talking to many of the young people, their great wish as you talk about, for the reforms, you won in a landslide on a campaign for reforms.  With all due respect, sir, on this question, did you in your presidency fail 70 percent of your people?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

No.  Of course, I don't believe that I realized whatever they wanted, but actually, you know, part of this were the intentions the thing that they wanted was not realistic.  It was not in my power to realize them.  I'm not a full-fledged president.  Nobody is a full-fledged president here.  We are working in the framework of the constitution and the separation of power.

And on the other hand, the accommodations and facilities and lots of problems they cause for my government.  Of course they had some emotional things to achieve.  They wanted to get that in one night and achieve everything very soon.  But we made major steps toward that.  Too many of them were not realized.

But of course, I admit that what was achieved was much less than what I intended to have and what people were asking for.  But, you know, I had very limited resources, many obstacles on the way.  But I did my best to move to that point.  And people appreciated what I did.  And they accepted that I had problems and not enough resources.  I hope that in future we would go again on this path of reforms.

Ann Curry:

You asked the Supreme Leader if you could shake President Clinton's hand and you were turned down.  Should you have shaken President Clinton's hand?  Should Mousavi shake President Obama's hand if he is elected president?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

You know, shaking hands would not be very important decision or any important gesture. The important thing was that me and President Clinton were really seriously looking for change.  But both of us were facing many challenges and problems and obstacles.  Those obstacles failed us.  These obstacles were more successful than me and Clinton.

During President Clinton in office, some strategic mistakes have been committed.  Although he never intended to have such intentions to do so.  Supreme Leader clearly stated that we are not against relationship and negotiation with the Americans.

But the matter is that there shouldn't be one point superior and the other side inferior.  So there should be free talks.  Equal positions.  To talk about problems.  To talk about the shortcomings we both have and then get to our national interests and the best of interests of our own nation.  I think we have to change.  And I think that the preparedness that we have now is much better.  The preparedness Iran had in those days.  And I think and I hope that both sides would take advantage of this opportunity.

Ann Curry:

I know you're out of time, so I am going to only ask you one more question, but it's a very important question.  And I hope you have time for this question.  Many people in America and people throughout the world have been offended by President Ahmadinejad's questioning about whether the Holocaust ever happened.  You are are a respected Iranian leader.  Are-- will you acknowledge that the Holocaust occurred?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

Clearly, I have stated that Holocaust was a great disaster, a human disaster. But this Holocaust happened in Europe by Nazis.  German Nazis and the fascists.  And it was not just the Jews as the victim.  Many others were slaughtered in this huge disaster, this terrible thing that happened in our history, which is a shame.

And we should not say that we are defending Nazis and fascists, denying it.  Why anti-Semitism is a Western phenomenon.  It doesn't come from the East or the Middle East.  For centuries, they were living next to each other.  Jews, Christians, Muslims.  In Iran, for instance, for centuries.  So anti-Semitism and Holocaust, these terrible things happened in the West.  It was a huge crime against humanity.

But, we should not pay the price in Palestine.  The Palestinians should not pay the price.  The ones who have caused this great crime against humanity should pay the price.  And and we should not have new holocausts anywhere else.  I strongly believe that the politicians should talk in a way that would not bear huge pressure over their nations.

They should have wise words.  Of course, in the other countries they have, you know, some bad words towards Iran too.  That Iran is Axis of Evil and we have to dry out Iranian nation's roots.  But, you know, some are against the Iranian policies and they are imposing a lot of pressure over Iranian citizens in other countries.  Humiliation and taking it hard on citizens of any country should not be acceptable.  And we should respect Iranians, whatever they are.  And I am defending this.

Ann Curry:

I am going to expect that you have run out of time.  I can see that this is the last, so I am not going to ask any more questions.  But I want to thank you very much for this time.  And I know you are very busy.  You are a very wise and thoughtful man.  Thank you for your time, sir.  It was my honor.

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

I would ask you also thank and appreciate, and from here, I give my best of regards to American nation.

Ann Curry:

Thank you so much.  I will pass that along.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Well, I'm very glad.  Thank you for speaking to me.

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