John Kerry: US Welcomes Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa against N. Weapons

(FNA)- US Secretary of State John Kerry appreciated the fatwa (religious decree) issued by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei against the production and use of nuclear weapons, and said Iran is entitled to use peaceful nuclear program.

Kerry made the remarks in an interview with Voice of America (VOA).

When asked to comment about a Fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khamenei banning the production and use of nuclear weapons, Kerry said he shows a lot of respect to this Fatwa as it is a religious message and is highly respected by people.

Kerry said that he and US President Barack Obama welcome the Fatwa.

He said that Iran is entitled to pursue its nuclear program for peaceful purposes, but, meantime, added that such a program needs to be transparent and under international regulations as it is normal for nuclear programs of other countries.

Kerry also expressed the hope that Iran and the United States could solve their differences and find a settlement to the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

On February 22, 2012, Ayatollah Khamenei said the Islamic Republic considers the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons "a grave sin" from every logical, religious and theoretical standpoint.

Former Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said last year that Ayatollah Khamenei's fatwa is binding for Iran, adding, "There is nothing more important in defining the framework for our nuclear activities than the Leader's fatwa."