IRAN: A leading Iranian cleric said yesterday that he believed the US was trying to exploit the Bam earthquake for political gain and applauded what he called a "slap in the face" given to Washington by the Islamic Republic.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of Iran's powerful supervisory body the Guardian Council, told worshippers at weekly prayers that Iran was grateful for the foreign aid pouring in to help victims of last week's earthquake that killed at least 30,000 people.
The US has sent scores of medics and tonnes of humanitarian aid but, Ayatollah Jannati said, Iran would not tolerate any meddling after US officials expressed interest in better relations.
Washington broke ties with Iran in 1980 and last year dubbed it part of an international "axis of evil".
"Naturally America wanted to take advantage of this situation by offering some help and bringing up the issue of relations," Ayatollah Jannati said.
"It was given a slap in the face," he told worshippers to chants of "Death to America".
Ayatollah Jannati was referring to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who on Tuesday said US aid was not a harbinger of better ties and noted US officials "talk a lot of nonsense".
Despite Khatami's comment, US President George W. Bush yesterday ordered banking restrictions relaxed on Iran for 90 days to speed the flow of humanitarian relief to quake victims.
Former president Ayatollah Akbar Hasemi Rafsanjani said the US moves could have a positive side-effect on relations.
But Ayatollah Jannati, whose views reflect hardliners believed to be close to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said: "All their moves are political and now they offer help - politically." - (Reuters)