 Tehran, 2007 Sep 4, IRNA
The newly-elected chairman of the Assembly of Experts, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, said Tuesday morning that the US Greater Middle East peace plan is "mischievous."
Referring to the threats posed to Iran, Rafsanjani said, "In such circumstances, we should not let the political and issues overshadow priorities of the Islamic establishment."
He made the remarks in his speech at the opening session of the second meeting in the current year of the Fourth Assembly of Experts.
He called for preserving national unity, saying, "disturbing national unity is a great sin."
"National unity is an issue related to ourselves. We have no problem on major principles. There are only some minor political issues and it is a great sin to disturb national unity," Rafsanjani told the Assembly of Experts before being elected by 41 votes as its new chairman.
Stressing the need for paying due attention to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's guidelines for keeping "national unity and Islamic solidarity," Rafsanjani said the initiative was put forward by the Supreme Leader "in a proper time."
Noting that Westerners have intended to sow discord among Muslims in the region, Rafsanjani said, "We should be careful not to fall into their traps.
"We should not let ourselves to be provoked and give an excuse for the Western mercenaries," he added.
Stressing the need for "avoiding any incitement," Rafsanjani said, "Public interest of the Muslim world is important."
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