Who issued a fatwa (religious decree) in 2004 against the use of nuclear weapons?

Who in a subsequent sermon, declared that “developing, producing or stockpiling nuclear weapons is forbidden under Islam.”?

No-one other than Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Last year Khamenei reiterated all these points after meeting with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed El Baradei.

An official Iranian statement to IAEA on 10 August 2005 said:

“The Iranian people and their officials have declared times and again that the nuclear weapon is religiously forbidden (Haram) in Islam and they do not have such a weapon.”

“The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued the fatwa that the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are forbidden under Islam and that the Islamic Republic of Iran shall never acquire these weapons.”

As recently as 4 June, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of Iman Khomeini, Ayatollah Khamenei repeated:

“The Iranian people and their officials have declared times and again that the nuclear weapon is religiously forbidden (Haram) in Islam and they do not have such a weapon.” and added:

But the western countries and America in particular through false propaganda claim that Iran seeks to build nuclear bombs which is totally false and a breach of the legitimate rights of the Iranian nation.”

These assurances seem to have been ignored by western politicians and media. The Ayatollah is apparently not to be believed. I have no great feelings for Khamenei’s religious or political views, but would nevertheless take seriously what he says as a religious leader, and indeed in a fatwa. Is there any justification not take his word as seriously as the Pope?

The Iranian régime derives its legitimacy from its fidelity to Islam. Why then should the Supreme Leader continue to declare that nuclear weapons are un-Islamic if Iran intends to develop them?