Imam Khamenei says anti-US policies stronger than Hiroshima bomb
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{{date|May 22, 2007}}
{{Iran}} 

Grand Ayatollah [[Ali Khamenei]] has said, "The [[Islam]]ic system (of [[Iran]]) detonated a powerful bomb in the world of politics, which was thousands-fold stronger than the [[w:Little Boy|bomb detonated by the U.S. in Hiroshima]]."  He was speaking to Iran's [[w:Basij|paramilitary forces]], the membership of which ranges from an estimate of 400,000 members to the force's commander's claim of eleven million members.

This paramilitary group is called the Basij, a volunteer force.  Most of its younger members are students, making it "connected to the university and the scholarly atmosphere on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is connected to the [[w:Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps|Islamic Revolution Guards Corps]]."  In the course of his remarks to the Iranian Volunteer Forces, Khamenei said, "Even Europeans are speechless before this oppressive America," and that Iran has countered America's power.

Khamenei asserted that the awakening of the people in Lebanon, Palestinian territories, and Latin America was a consequence of the solid determination of [[w:Imam Khomeini|Imam Khomeini]], who preceded Khamenei.

Khamenei's remarks were broadcast via state television and radio.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=490127
|title=Students should develop their political thought: Leader
|author=
|pub=Mehr News Agency
|date=21 May 2007}}

*{{source|url=http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=489991
|title=Supreme Leader-Basiji students meeting in photos (3)
|author=
|pub=Mehr News Agency
|date=21 May 2007}}

*{{source|url=http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=10554&sectionid=351020101
|title=Iran's leader slams US policies 
|author=
|pub=PRESS TV
|date=21 May 2007 }}

*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6650671,00.html
|title=Iran Grants Belarus Oil Reserve Access 
|author=Yuras Karmanau
|pub=The Guardian
|date=22 May 2007}}

*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSBLA14874720070521
|title=Iran says anti-U.S. policy "bigger than Hiroshima"
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=21 May 2007 }}

==External links==
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/iran/basij.htm Mobilisation Resistance Force]

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{{Archived}}
[[Category:Ali Khamenei]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Iran]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Hiroshima]]


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Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said, "The Islamic system (of Iran) detonated a powerful bomb in the world of politics, which was thousands-fold stronger than the bomb detonated by the U.S. in Hiroshima."  He was speaking to Iran's paramilitary forces, the membership of which ranges from an estimate of 400,000 members to the force's commander's claim of eleven million members.

This paramilitary group is called the Basij, a volunteer force.  Most of its younger members are students, making it "connected to the university and the scholarly atmosphere on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is connected to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps."  In the course of his remarks to the Iranian Volunteer Forces, Khamenei said, "Even Europeans are speechless before this oppressive America," and that Iran has countered America's power.

Khamenei asserted that the awakening of the people in Lebanon, Palestinian territories, and Latin America was a consequence of the solid determination of Imam Khomeini, who preceded Khamenei.

Khamenei's remarks were broadcast via state television and radio.

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Ali Khamenei Asia Iran Middle East Politics and conflicts Hiroshima