Leader rules out both negotiations and war with the US (3)

Here is the third and concluding part of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution’s memorable speech on Neither War Nor Negotiations with the US, the first and second parts of which we presented to you yesterday and the day before.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “Now I want to speak about the US. There is no doubt that the enmity of the US – which began to show enmity from the first day of the Revolution – has taken explicit form today. Notice that we should not think that the enmity of the US has intensified today. This is not the case. Its enmity has become explicit today. Before, it was the same enmity, but not spoken so brazenly. However, the current politicians speak brazenly. They say that they want to do such and such things and they issue threats. We should know that he who threatens in a loud voice is not as powerful and strong as his loud voice suggests. We should be more afraid of those who do not issue threats.

“Thus, today the US has made its enmity explicit. It is concerned about the interests of the illegal Zionist regime more than its own. It should be said that the Zionists are at the wheel of many US policies. Of course not necessarily the Zionist regime in usurped Palestine, rather the Zionist cohort in the US which dominates affairs.

“And they need this. The current US regime needs to cause a commotion and rant and rave. Notice that he [Trump] has been repeatedly saying, “Our policies have changed Iran. Today, Iran is different from the past.” It means that it is his policies that have influenced Iran. Of course, he is right. Iran has changed. The change is that the hatred of the people towards the US has increased tens of times. The hatred of the people towards them has increased.”

“And their approach towards seizing the interests of the Islamic Republic has become more and more unattainable. Our youth have become more determined to keep the country prepared. Our military forces are careful. Our security forces are more careful today. Yes, when he (the US president) speaks about changes, these are the changes. Notice how wrong their calculation apparatus is. Their president says, ‘Every Friday, there is a demonstration in Tehran.’ First of all, it is not Friday rather it is Saturday. Second, it is not Tehran rather it is Paris [of the Yellow Vests]!”

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei quoted the famous phrase from one of the supplications of the Prophet’s 4^th Infallible Heir, Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS), which reads: “Praise be to God Who made our enemies from among the fools”.

He said: “This is how our enemy is. There is a point which is usually ignored which is the fact that the US is suffering from grave social, economic and other such problems inside its country. Of course, it had some achievements in economic areas, but experts say that these were short-term and will not continue. Their important social problems still prevail. And the (US) regime does not have a stable condition. The contradictory statements that they make – one says something, another says a different thing: today, they say something, but tomorrow they contradict it – shows their unstable minds.

“According to the report of the US Department of Agriculture, 41 percent of the Americans suffer from hunger and lack of food security. This is the condition of the US. So these commotions, raving and ranting and their so-called economic pressures on the Iranian nation are exerted by such a regime in whose country there are 41 million people suffering from hunger, according to their own admission.

“As for their social condition, they have a center that tracks the vital statistics of the country. It states that about 40 percent of births in the US are illegitimate. There are over two million prisoners in the US which is unprecedented in the world! Compared to their population, it is unprecedented. In no country are there such a large number of prisoners, considering population. The highest rate of consuming addictive drugs belongs to the US. Notice that these are social problems. So they are suffering.

“Around thirty-one percent of public shootings in the world occurs in the US. Every day, you hear, see and read in newspapers that there has been a shooting in such and such a school, club and subway station. This is their social condition. They are suffering. One feels pity for their people. In these conditions, what kind of person has become their president! Persons far away from the truth and reality. We should not portray the enemy as very great and dangerous. The enemy is suffering.

“Of course, we do not want to neglect the enmity of the enemy: “The enemy cannot be regarded as poor and weak” [from a poem by Sa’adi]. However, we should not regard it as very powerful and great so much so that others feel they cannot do anything in confronting him. This is not the case. The enemy is not such a strong enemy. The enemy is suffering. Its policies are wrong. Almost all of the policies that the current president has adopted – in political-security areas - have met failure.

“Their regional policies are like this, their European policies are like this. And their policies in confronting Asian powers have ended to their disadvantage as well. Their policies are such that they have not been able to help them. The issue of the seven trillion dollars that he was speaking about during his presidential campaign continues to exist [referring to the expenditures of the US in West Asia]. They continue to spend. Of course, their hands are in the pockets of the Saudis.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said: “As for their policy of confronting the Islamic Republic, I will tell you that the US will definitely be defeated and it will end to our advantage. In the present time, certain experts in the US are issuing warnings – published in their press – saying that their pressure on Iran will lead to a great economic leap in Iran. They are saying this which is the truth of the matter. They will be defeated.

“They are behaving in a reactionary way. The increasing strength of the Islamic Republic will thankfully intimidate the other side. So in reaction, they are resorting to such measures. Therefore, you should pay attention to this point.

“Well, one sees and hears that he speaks about negotiations. Inside the country too, some individuals say, “what is wrong with negotiating?” Negotiation is poison! As long as the US continues to be what it is now - as Imam once said, “as long as he does not act like a decent human being”: this is how he worded it - our negotiation with the US is poison, even more so with the current administration.

“Negotiation means reaching a deal. You give something and get something in return, but what he wants in this deal is exactly the strong points of the Islamic Republic. They try to negotiate on these issues. They will not say, “let us speak about climate conditions, natural resources and the environment.” Rather they will say, “let us negotiate on your defensive weapons. Why do you have defensive weapons?” Well, defensive weapons are necessary for every country. They will say, “let us negotiate on these.” What does “let us negotiate” mean? It means that if we are building missiles with such and such a range and precision, we should be lowering the range so that they will not hit their bases so much so that if they strike us one day, we will not be able to respond! Well they want to reach a deal on this!

“Would you accept this deal or not? It is obvious that you would not. When you do not accept it, there will be the same game, there will be the same conflicts and commotions. The issue is not about religion, the Revolution and the like. No ardent and intelligent Iranian will enter a deal on their strong point. They will not do a deal with someone who wants to snatch those strong points from them. We need those strong points.

“Our strategic depth in the region is very important. Well, it is important to every country. Strategic depth in the area of politics and security is the main criterion for the life of all governments and nations. Thankfully, our strategic depth in the region is very satisfactory. They are upset about this. They say, “let us talk on regional matters.” In other words, they want us to lose our strategic depth. They want to negotiate on these matters.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “Therefore, negotiation is essentially wrong. Negotiating with a decent person [from the other side] is wrong, let along these people who are not decent. Negotiating with people who break their promises, who go back on their commitments and who are not committed to anything – they are not committed to morality, to legality, to international conventions and to anything – is ridiculous.

“Of course, there is not anyone among our wise personalities who pursues this matter. As for the people, it is clear how they think. Of course, there are some people who make a noise here and there. Therefore, negotiations are absolutely meaningless and as I have mentioned many times before, such a thing will not happen.

“In the previous US regime, when their politicians had a supposedly more clean-cut appearance, Obama wrote us a ‘love letter’ which we responded to after some time. He immediately wrote the second letter. Then I wanted to respond, but the fitna [sedition] of the year 2009 occurred. They happily resorted to the seditionists and defended and supported the sedition. They had a neat and decent appearance, but in reality they were like that. As soon as the fitna broke out here, all the things that they said, all their expressions of respect and love were completely forgotten and they joined the fitna orientation against the Islamic Republic. As for the current ones, it is clear how they are.

“Therefore, the definite option for the Iranian nation is resistance in the face of the US. In this confrontation and resistance, he will be forced to retreat. And when speaking of resistance, resistance does not mean a military confrontation. When some people bring up the issue of war in the press, in cyberspace and the like, this is nonsensical. No war is going to be waged. By Allah’s favor, no war will be waged. We are not after a war, nor is it to their advantage to pursue a war. They know that it is not to their advantage.

“As for us, we do not begin wars. We have never begun a war and in the present time, we will not do so either. This battle is the battle of willpowers. This confrontation is the confrontation of willpowers. And our willpower is stronger than theirs! As well as having a strong willpower, we are reliant on God, as the Almighty Himself says in ayah 11 of Surah Muhammad: “That is because Allah is the protector of the faithful, and because the faithless have no protector.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Thus, they do not have a protector, but we are reliant on Divine Will and Power. Therefore, the future will be a good future, Insha Allah. And difficulties and hardships are not and will not be like what some people portray and describe them. By Allah’s favor, our own administration and the officials of the country will confront incidents and achieve a victory with determination, with power, with a strong will, with correct management and – as they mentioned – with new and fresh measures and thoughts.

“Dear God, by the blessedness of Muhammad and his household, make the Iranian nation victorious in all these confrontations

“Dear God, by the blessedness of Muhammad and his household, make our words, our intentions and our future actions serve You and Your cause and accept them from us.”

AS/SS