CHENNAI: There is no space or room for nuclear weapons in Iran’s doctrine, said Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, the representative of Iran’s supreme leader in India. In an interview to TOI, Ilahi, who worked closely with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and is a good friend of Khamenei’s son and present supreme leader of Iran Mojtaba Khamenei, also said the country is ready to end the war immediately.
“Our supreme leader issued a fatwa. He said nuclear weapons are forbidden, haraam. So, we don’t have it. We don’t want to have it. We are not looking for it,” said Ilahi.
Ending the war in West Asia depends on countries that started it, he said. He dismissed Pakistan’s claim that it was mediating between Iran and the US.
“Our ambassador in Pakistan has denied it too. We have not held any negotiations with Pakistan,” he said, adding, “India can play a very good role to end this crisis.”
Do you see an end to the war?
That depends on the countries which initiated it. I think they are not ready to end this war. They want to benefit from this war by selling more weapons. They also want the price of oil to be increased. They are not bothered about poor people or countries.
Under what circumstances will Iran reconsider its nuclear doctrine?
Our supreme leader (Khamenei) had issued a fatwa that nuclear weapons are forbidden; it’s haram. So, we don’t have it. We don’t want to have it. As the supreme leader mentioned, however, if we wanted to have it, they couldn’t prevent us.
US President Trump says Iran wanted to make him supreme leader, but he said, ‘No thanks.’
I heard about it from a teenager in Delhi. He was laughing.
You said Indian and Iranian leadership held a successful conversation. Can you elaborate?
Indian PM (Narendra Modi) called Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, and they had good discussions. And several times, India’s minister of foreign affairs called his counterpart in Iran. It was conveyed that both are looking for peace in the region. We hope that this conversation will continue.
The LPG shortage is impacting the larger economy.
It’s not just in India. It’s the same in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and a lot of other countries. My request to these countries and to their leaders is to come together and ask those who initiated this war to stop it. Iran didn’t create this crisis.
How do you describe India-Iran relations?
The friendship between Iran and India goes back by 5,000 years. Iran is connected to India by culture, wisdom, and philosophy. I feel at home here. The people of India are kind, honest, and wise. I can say the land of India is the land of justice, freedom, independence and generosity.
Can India-Iran ties remain stable?
Of course. I’m sure the leaders of India are wise. And they don’t allow other people and third parties to interfere in their decisions. I am a representative of our supreme leader, who loved India.
Is Pakistan playing a mediatory role?
No. It’s not true. Our ambassador in Pakistan denied it and said we don’t have any negotiations. This is just media buzz.
Do you see a role for India in mediating and facilitating dialogue?
Yes, of course, India can play a good role to end this crisis. We want all nations to play a bigger role in ending this crisis.
With disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, how can Iran reassure India about stable energy supplies?
Security in the Strait of Hormuz is not stable. So, all countries should ask Trump and others to stop this war. They are bombing Iran day and night. They are killing civilians and bombing hospitals, schools, mosques, homes, stadiums and sports centres.
How many deaths until now?
A lot. I don’t know the exact number, but I know more than 270 babies below the age of two were killed. The Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Tehran was attacked. About 175 girls of a primary school were killed. They attacked schools, mosques, and historical places.
There was criticism that India did not say anything when Ali Khamenei was assassinated.
A lot of Indians showed their sympathy, solidarity, condemnation, and support. Even Hindus.
You have been a good friend of Iran’s new supreme leader (Mojtaba Khamenei) for three decades. What is his personality?
The new leader is my friend. We were classmates. He is an intellectual. He learned from his father. He is humble. No one knew that he was the son of the supreme leader. He lives in a rented house. He doesn’t have a car. He doesn’t have a bank account. He leads a simple life. Until recently, he was borrowing money to buy milk and bread. When I invite him to some country, he doesn’t come. I ask him, ‘Why are you not coming?’ and he says he does not have money to buy a ticket.
But he is seen as a hard radical.
Never. He is strong. He never sells his dignity and humanity. He is honest and kind to people.
