Tehran Sermon by Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami: France Lied About Keeping JCPOA despite U.S. Withdrawal; They Beat and Kill Protesters, How Dare They Talk About Human Rights

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Iranian Assembly of Experts, said in a sermon in Tehran that aired on Channel 1 TV (Iran) on March 22, 2019 that the liberal democracy of the West is on the verge of collapse just like the socialist democracy of the East. He criticized the French government for killing, wounding, and blinding people who protest its capitalist government. He said that America's violation of the JCPOA was the "epitome of all agreement violations" and that France lied when it said that it will keep the JCPOA despite America's withdrawal. He added that INSTEX looks like a bitter joke and said: "You are beating, killing, and blinding your own people, yet you dare talk about human rights? Death to you… You are at the head of all human rights violators." The audience then chanted: "Death to America! Death to England! Death to the hypocrites and the infidels! Death to Israel!"

Following are excerpts:

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami: The liberal democracy of the West has shown that it is on the verge of collapse, just like the socialist democracy of the East. Look what is happening in their countries. In America, the white police is killing the blacks. Look how France is treating people who protest the capitalist regime – it kills, wounds, and blinds them. This is what is happening on their domestic front. Yet they are as silent as death about the genocide in Yemen. They say nothing. They say nothing about the crimes of the rulers of Bahrain. In plain view, America has violated the so-called "international" JCPOA accord. This was the epitome of all agreement violations, but a cry of protest was not heard like it should have been. In all honesty, Europe stood by America. The French foreign minister is lying when he says that despite America's withdrawal from the JCPOA, they really tried to keep the nuclear agreement. Absolutely not! You stood by America! The financial channel that you set up [INSTEX] was a total deception. In the words of the Leader, that channel looks like a bitter joke. [France's foreign minister] then said: "Our efforts to keep the agreement do not constitute a blank check for Iran – especially in matters of human rights." Shame on you! You are beating, killing, and blinding your own people, yet you dare talk about human rights? Death to you!

Crowd: Death to America! Death to America! Death to America! Death to America!

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami: Human rights? Do you even understand what human rights mean? You are at the head of all human rights violators. With the help of God, we shall be steadfast and defend our rights.

Crowd: Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! Khamenei is the Leader! Death to those who oppose the Rule of the Jurisprudent! Death to America! Death to England! Death to the hypocrites and the infidels! Death to Israel!