Abdol-Fazl Ghadiani: The Nuclear Industry is a Tool for the Continuation of Khamenei's 'Illegitimate' Rule

Abdol-Fazl Ghadiani, a political activist, in a note published on the Kalameh website, referred to Ali Khamenei as 'the power-hungry dictator of Iran' and wrote: 'The nuclear industry has brought nothing but destruction, poverty, and deprivation to the Iranian nation.' On Sunday, June 11, Khamenei stated during a meeting with a group of nuclear experts and officials: 'Anyone who loves Iran, anyone who loves the Islamic Republic, anyone who loves the nation, must value nuclear energy.' In response to these remarks, Ghadiani wrote: 'Khamenei is making a false claim and wants to pretend that he loves Iran and that the corrupt Islamic Republic is popular among the people, but he knows very well that the vast majority of people consider him the greatest enemy of the nation and country of Iran.' The political activist further added: 'It is astonishing that Khamenei shamelessly wants to say that the nuclear industries were established for the advancement of the Iranian nation, and that their continuation is necessary for improving people's lives. Therefore, while negotiating with the U.S., he will strive to protect the infrastructure of an industry that has brought nothing but destruction and poverty to the nation.' He also emphasized: 'The truth is that the nuclear industries (except for the Bushehr power plant, which has also become a tool in the hands of the Russians and Putin to exploit the Iranian people) were entirely created and continued for the sake of maintaining Khamenei's illegal, usurping, illegitimate, and lifelong rule. The facilities established for this purpose have incurred billions of dollars in costs, and through this and his continuous ambitions and provocations in the region and beyond, and recently aiding the invading and criminal Putin in the Ukraine war, he has imposed such devastating poverty on the Iranian nation that a large portion of the people have migrated to the outskirts of cities and even villages due to desperation.' While inflation is shrinking Iranian households' budgets daily and the prices of essential goods are rising, Khamenei on June 11, during a visit to the 'Nuclear Achievements' exhibition of the Islamic Republic, deemed the nuclear industry 'essential for improving the living conditions of the people.' He described the Western excuse of nuclear weapons as a 'lie' and emphasized that 'they themselves know we do not want to pursue weapons based on our Islamic principles.' He asserted: 'If this were not the case, they would not be able to stop us.' The Supreme Leader also stated that having a nuclear industry grants the country 'prestige' and 'improves life for the people.' He declared the nuclear power as significant for the Islamic Republic in terms of 'global and international political weight.'