Iran President Hails West’s Aid, Chides Radicals

President Hashemi Rafsanjani on Friday challenged anti-Western radicals in the government and said Iran should be thankful for foreign aid for earthquake victims, even if it comes from enemies.

“I don’t think we see the people who are under the debris saying, ‘No, we don’t want foreign aid,’ ” the president said at a Muslim prayer gathering of thousands at Tehran University.

His comment rebutted an editorial that appeared last week in the newspaper Jomhuri Islami. The newspaper said people buried under rubble from the massive June 21 quake would still chant “Death to America” and refuse aid from Iran’s enemies, such as the United States.

“Logic says if our people have no tents and the weather is bad, we should accept foreign aid,” Rafsanjani said. “The response and activities of the foreigners were really good and acceptable.”

Aid has poured into Iran from dozens of countries since the temblor, which measured 7.3 to 7.7, devastated cities and towns in northern Iran, killing an estimated 50,000 and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

Nations that have offered relief help include the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia and other countries considered Iran’s foes.

In Washington on Friday, State Department spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler said aid from private American groups exceeds $4 million, in addition to government aid totaling about $761,000. The U.S. government aid is still less than other countries. Sweden has donated $3 million, and North Korea announced it would give $1 million.

Rafsanjani also said Iran should be better prepared for future earthquakes, noting that “many buildings were destroyed which were not built according to specific, scientific plans in this respect.” He pointed out that losses in the Bay Area earthquake in October, 1989, were much reduced by such preparations.