Imam Khamenei’s explicit warning to U.S.: If you start a war, it will be a regional war

Pars Today – In a meeting with thousands of Iranian people from various walks of life, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “The Iranian people turned the flames of the recent American-Zionist sedition into ashes, just as they have done with all previous conspiracies, and in the future as well, they will decisively put an end to any incident they face.”

On Sunday, marking the first day of the Ten-Day Dawn, Imam Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, met with thousands of people from various segments of Iranian society. The Leader described February 1 (12 Bahman in Iranian Calander) as an exceptional and history-making day, and said that the transformation of the Pahlavi regime from a “personal, despotic, anti-religious, and dependent” system into a “popular, religion-based government that stands up to the bullying of arrogant powers” was the fundamental reason behind the United States’ hostility toward Iran.

Referring to America’s longstanding ambition to dominate Iran and the steadfast resistance of the Iranian nation against this greed, the Leader said this confrontation has been the main cause of nearly 47 years of tensions between Iran and the United States.

Pointing to recent remarks by American officials, Imam Khamenei added that they had previously tried to intimidate the Iranian nation by saying that “all options are on the table.” He warned, however, that they should know if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war.

Ayatollah Khamenei stated that returning Iran to its rightful owners—the people—and cutting off America’s hand and influence in the country are among the defining characteristics of the Islamic Republic system. He noted that this feature angered and unsettled the United States and, from that very moment, drove it into hostility toward the Iranian nation and the Islamic system.

Recalling Iran’s advances in various fields, Ayatollah Khamenei added: “Who would have believed that the Iranian nation would one day reach a point where Americans would copy weapons produced by it?” The Leader stated these achievements were the result of the self-confidence, hope, and lofty aspirations that Imam Khomeini (God bless his soul) instilled in the nation as a “symbol of hope and self-belief,” motivating the people to strive and move forward.

Referring to the truly malicious temptations of foreign and domestic devils who claim that “the Iranian youth has no hope and no future,” he said: “The Iranian youth has both hope and determination, and—much to your dismay—will build the future as well.”

In another part of his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed the American and Zionist nature of the“sedition of January 8 and 9,” describing the rioters as consisting of “ringleaders” and “foot soldiers.” He added that the ringleaders—many of whom have been arrested—had, as they themselves have confessed, received money for their actions and been trained in how to attack centers and organize, mobilize, and incite young people.

He said, however, that another group among the rioters were emotional young people, and “we do not have much of a problem with them.”

Ayatollah Khamenei described the remarks of the U.S. president as a clear indication of the American and Zionist nature of the recent unrest, stating that he was explicitly telling the rioters—whom he referred to as the people of Iran—“Go ahead; I’m coming with you.”

The Leader noted that, in their view, a few thousand rioters constituted the Iranian people, while the millions who took part in nationwide rallies on January 12 across the country were not considered the people of Iran.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the new thinking and path of the Islamic Republic, and its friction with the interests of the world’s bullies, are the reason for the continuation of their hostility. He noted that just as the recent sedition was not the first in Tehran, it will not be the last, and that similar incidents may occur again in the future.

He added that these hostilities will continue until the Iranian nation, through stability, perseverance, and full command of its affairs, drives the enemy to despair—a point, he said, that will also be reached.

Ayatollah Khamenei, in explaining the characteristics of the recent American-backed unrest, said its first feature was that the rioters hid behind the protests of bazaar merchants. He stated that, like criminals who use women and children as human shields when attacking cities, the instigators concealed themselves behind the merchants—who had logical and legitimate demands and had taken to the streets—so as not to be identified.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added that the wise merchants, upon witnessing the actions of the rioters—such as attacks on police stations instead of peaceful street movements—distanced themselves from them, leaving the instigators isolated.

The Leader described the second characteristic of the recent unrest as its quasi-coup nature, saying that the sedition resembled a coup, as some observers around the world had also noted. He said that although it was suppressed, the destruction of sensitive and key centers involved in governing the country—through attacks on police forces, IRGC centers, certain government institutions, and banks—as well as assaults on spiritual symbols such as mosques and the Qur’an—demonstrates this reality.

Ayatollah Khamenei described another characteristic of the January unrest as its design and planning outside the country, along with the guidance of its domestic ringleaders using various capabilities, including satellite intelligence. He noted that, according to information received, an influential American element within the U.S. administration told his Iranian counterpart that the CIA and Mossad had brought all their capabilities into play in this case.

Expressing regret over the success of the ringleaders in increasing the number of fatalities, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “One’s heart aches for these heedless and unaware young people.”

Referring to the enemy’s efforts to inflate the death toll tenfold, Ayatollah Khamenei added that “they wanted the number of casualties to be even higher; of course, even this level of losses is deeply regrettable.”

The final characteristic of the recent unrest highlighted by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution was its ISIS-like violence. Referring to the admission by the current U.S. president during his first election campaign regarding the role of the U.S. government in the creation of ISIS, Ayatollah Khamenei said that in the recent unrest as well, the Americans created an ISIS whose actions closely resembled those of the original group.

The Leader stated that ISIS eliminated people through violence under accusations of irreligion, while these elements targeted individuals with the same level of violence, but this time because of their religious faith. He added that with shocking brutality and cruelty, they burned people alive and beheaded others.