Ayatollah Khamenei: US behind Middle East insecurity

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the US is responsible for instability in the Middle East.

The Leader made the remarks on Monday while addressing a gathering of high-ranking Iranian officials.

Referring to Washington’s role in the establishment and military support of the Daesh terrorist group, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that “the claims of establishing an anti-Daesh coalition are lies.” He added that the US is only against an “uncontrolled Daesh” and will oppose anybody who tries to really destroy the Takfiri terrorists, according to Press TV.

The Leader also noted that the recent accusations by US President Donald Trump over Iran supporting terrorism were preposterous.

 “It is really ridiculous for the US, standing next to the tribal and medieval Saudis, to talk about human rights in a place which has no notion of democracy, and to accuse Iran which is the emblem of democracy,” he stressed.

Ayatollah Khamenei also broached the subject of the US’s increased saber-rattling and further sanctions following Iran’s recent presidential election.

Last month, the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee voted in favor of legislation that would authorize Trump to impose new sanctions on Iran over its missile program, which Tehran has repeatedly said is defensive.

“In the face of such enmities, a new atmosphere of cooperation and hard work must be established for reaching our common goal which is the country’s progress and the promotion of the Islamic Republic,” the Leader said.

Do not trust the enemy

Speaking about Iran’s nuclear deal with the P5+1 group of countries in 2015, Ayatollah Khamenei called on Iranian officials to carefully monitor the other parties to see if they are honoring their side of the agreement.

The Leader hailed efforts by the Iranian negotiating team, particularly Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, stressing that the officials who were in charge of negotiating the accord are entirely trustworthy but some of the other parties should not have been trusted.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany signed the mammoth agreement in July 2015 and started implementing it in January 2016. Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

In its latest report on June 12, the IAEA confirmed that Iran had lived up to its commitments under the JCPOA, adding that the country’s stock of low-enriched uranium as of May 27 was 79.8 kilograms, well below the agreed limit of 300 kilograms.

 “Some of the problems with the US are essentially unresolvable as the US’s problem with us has nothing to do with nuclear energy or human rights, their problem is with the principle of the Islamic Republic,” added the Leader.

He stated that the US cannot be trusted as it is the embodiment of terrorism itself and supports regimes such as Israel which came to be through terrorism and oppression.

“The US must know that the Islamic Republic will not back down from positions such as battling oppression and defending Palestine and will spare no efforts towards defending the people’s rights,” he added.

M.Wassouf