Imam Khamenei in response to U.S. President’s threats: More dangerous than warship is weapon that sends it to bottom of sea

Pars Today – The Leader of the Islamic Revolution listed “the nation’s victory in the 12-day war,” “quelling the major and grave sedition of Dey (January),” and “the magnificent presence of the people in the January 11 and February 11 rallies” as signs of the strength and vitality of the dear Iranian nation.

Emphasizing the need to preserve and strengthen “preparedness, vigilance, and national unity,” he added: Except the ringleaders and corrupt elements connected to enemies, we regard all the martyrs and those who lost their lives in the unrest — including “the forces defending the security and peace of society,” “innocent bystanders,” and even “those who were misled and joined the sedition due to simplicity and anger” — as our own children.

Imam Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, on Tuesday in a passionate meeting with thousands of people from Tabriz and Iran’s East Azarbaijan Province, described this year as a strange and eventful one. Referring to the improper interventions and brazen threats by American officials and media outlets about attacking Iran, he said: They themselves know that they do not have the endurance for such words and actions, and “the army that considers itself the strongest in the world” may receive such a heavy slap that it would be unable to rise from its place. At the same time, the institutions responsible for confronting threats are fully prepared, and the nation should calmly and confidently go about its work and daily life.

In this meeting, held on the eve of the anniversary of the decisive February 18, 1978 uprising of the people of Tabriz, he described “timeliness, prompt action, and sacrifice” as characteristics of that uprising. Praising the hopeful presence of the young generation of Azarbaijan in various arenas, he added: The doubled turnout of the people of Tabriz in the February 11 rallies showed that the people of Tabriz, like the entire Iranian nation, are alive and vibrant — and such a nation will never be deceived by political games and the enemy’s schemes.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described this year as one that repeatedly unveiled the “greatness, willpower, firm resolve, and other capabilities of the Iranian nation.” He added: Through repeated demonstrations of strength and steadfastness, the nation has made Iran proud and dignified, and officials who travel abroad during this period clearly sense the nation’s distinctive stature in their meetings with foreign authorities.

He considered it necessary for “people of thought and analysis” to explain the nature and dimensions of the Dey (January) unrest, stating: What occurred was not merely the actions and disturbances of a number of angry young and non-young individuals, but rather a “pre-planned coup” that was crushed under the feet of the Iranian nation.

Ayatollah Khamenei, elaborating on this point, added: The intelligence and espionage agencies of the United States and the Zionist regime, with the assistance of the intelligence services of certain other countries, had for some time recruited a number of thugs or individuals prone to wrongdoing, providing them with training, money, and weapons abroad, and sending them into the country to carry out acts of sabotage and attacks on military and government centers so they could enter the scene at an opportune moment — an opportunity that arose in mid-January.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described “influencing and provoking a number of inexperienced and simple-minded individuals” as another step taken by the planners and perpetrators of the unrest. He said: The trained elements pushed such individuals to the forefront, while they themselves entered the field with various weapons and a policy of “violent and indiscriminate action,” and, like ISIS, with shocking brutality, “set fires, killed, and destroyed.”

The Leader described the main objective of these actions as destabilizing the foundations of the system and said: Of course, the Law Enforcement Forces, the Basij, and the IRGC, along with a large number of people, stood against the rioters, and the “coup,” despite all its preparations and heavy expenditures, clearly failed, and the nation emerged victorious.

Ayatollah Khamenei described the “remarkable January 11 and February 11 rallies” as “divine signs” and emphasized: The Iranian nation, which has been able to triumph over the ill will and conspiracies of the enemy in this way, must preserve this clear divine success through “preparedness, vigilance, and national unity.”

In another part of his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the numerous economic, political, and social problems of the United States as signs of the decline and eventual demise of the American empire. He said: America’s issue with us is that it wants to swallow Iran, but the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic stand in the way of realizing that objective.

He described the threatening statements of the U.S. president as indicative of their desire to dominate the Iranian nation, adding: The Iranian nation knows its Islamic and Shia teachings well and understands what action must be taken and at what time.

Referring to a historic statement by Imam Hussain (PBUH)—that someone like me does not pledge allegiance to someone like Yazid—Ayatollah Khamenei remarked: The Iranian nation likewise says that a nation like ours, with such culture, history, and lofty teachings, will not pledge allegiance to corrupt individuals ruling over the United States.

The Leader described the exposure of astonishing corruption in the case of the “notorious island” as revealing the true nature of Western civilization and liberal democracy, and added: Whatever we had previously heard about the corruption of Western leaders is one thing, but the story of this island is something else entirely. Of course, this is only one example among their numerous corruptions; just as this issue was once hidden and then became public, many other cases exist that will be revealed in the future.

Regarding the Americans’ threat and action—namely, dispatching a warship toward Iran—the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: A warship is indeed a dangerous instrument, but more dangerous than that is the weapon that can send the warship to the bottom of the sea.

Ayatollah Khamenei, referring to the U.S. president’s admission of being unable to destroy the Islamic Republic despite 47 years having passed since the Revolution, emphasized: This is a good admission. Of course, I say that you will not be able to do so in the future either, because the Islamic Republic is not a government separate from the people; rather, it is supported by a living, steadfast, and resilient nation that, over these 47 years, has worked hard, striven, and made sacrifices for its progress.