The Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed on Monday, April 30, that USA is responsible for “war, insecurity and bloodshed in the region”, insisting “The one who should leave the region is USA not Iran.”
Speaking at a session attended by entrepreneurs and workers to commemorate Labor Day, Khamenei did not directly mention recent developments in Syria, including an alleged Israeli attack on a military base in Syria where an unknown number of Iranians reportedly were killed.
However, he remarked, “The era of hit and run is over.”
In Sunday night missile attack against several targets in Syria, including a reported surface to surface missiles depot, at least 26 were killed. Some sources, including London based Syrian Human Rights Observatory said that most of the dead were Iranians. Iranian local media, quoting “informed sources”, have denied the claim.
The Islamic Republic’s military presence near Israeli borders in Syria has rattled Tel Aviv to the extent that they have repeatedly warned they are prepared to act against the Iranian forces in Syria and even directly hit Iran, if attacked.
While avoiding a reference to recent developments in Syria, Ayatollah Khamenei accused Washington of “fomenting feud” in the region, adding, “The Americans are trying to pit the Saudis and some [other] regional countries against the Islamic Republic, while if they (Saudis) have any foresight, they should not be deceived by the US.”
Meanwhile, Khamenei cautioned “certain regional countries” by saying, “If they confront Iran, they will definitely suffer blows and defeat.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, Khamenei maintained the “enemies have resorted to economic warfare” after realizing the “futility of military action against Iran”, according to Tasnim news affiliated with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
Furthermore, according to state-run Mehr news agency (MNA) Khamenei affirmed, “Today, the war room against us is the US Department of Treasury,” adding, “One way of confrontation with the Islamic Republic establishment is an economic one; another way is the provocation of certain ‘dim-witted’ and ‘ignorant states’ in our region [against us].”
Ayatollah Khamenei went on to add, “the Americans provoke Saudis into creating conflict and tension in the region. Why don’t they go after the Zionists? Because they want to wage a war between Muslims.”
“Their plan is to arm and prepare these countries for confrontation with the Islamic Republic,” he said. “If these countries have any common sense, they will not engage in a conflict with Iran. But if they decide to confront Iran, they will face a decisive defeat.”
In the meantime, while avoiding reference to Tehran’s political isolation, Khamenei insisted that although the Islamic Republic does not believe in severing its ties with the whole world, but it should not have any dependency on anyone outside its borders.
“The world is not limited to USA and a handful of European countries,” Khamenei reminded, noting, “Tehran should have relations with different countries across the globe.”
Khamenei’s comments were made hours before Israeli Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu announced that Israel has obtained tens of thousands of documents showing Iran's plans to obtain nuclear weapons.