when we look at hamanee, he really believes the islamic republic is engaged in conflict with the united states. he believes the united states has never accepted the islamic revolution of 1979 and will never accept the revolution. he doesn't believe that the united states is just opposed to iran's specific policies on the nuclear program, for example, but he has stated that the united states opposes the very essence of the islamic republic, and i don't think this is going to change as long as he is alive. this is the way he thinks about the united states. he participated in the revolution. he was one of the revolutionary leaders. he helped overthrow the shaw and what he believes to be u.s. domination of iran, and so his world view is very much based on his experience. the islamic republic may even believe that the nuclear program as an important military deterant against the united states, even if iran does not develop a nuclear weapon, the fa account it has the virtual capability, the capability to assemble a nuclear weapon if need be, i think serves as a valuable deterant for iran and