Failure of maximum U.S. pressure policy

Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said on Tuesday September 17 in Tehran Washington has miserably failed in its economic terrorism against Iran, thanks to the firm faith in Islam of the Iranian people and the inspiration they take from the Immortal Epic of Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

This is evident by the defeats after defeats Uncle Sam and its clients are suffering in the region

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution in his address to senior seminary students at their higher jurisprudential courses, praised Allah Almighty for His Favours, and saluted the Master of the all Divine Messengers, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), as well as his Infallible Progeny and Righteous Companions. Next he paid tributes to the martyrs of Karbala, and then greeted the Lord of the Age, Imam Mahdi (AS) – may God hasten his reappearance for establishment of the global government of peace, prosperity and justice.

He said: “The days of Muharram – the solemn occasion of the first ten days of this mourning month that reached climax on Ashura or the tragic 10^th – are over. Some of our people who monitor these occasions and who prepare reports have reported to us that this year’s mourning sessions were very well attended. What we ourselves witnessed on television and in other media showed that this was the case. They said to us that the sessions were better attended than the previous year. It is very significant to witness the formation of sessions and meetings in different parts of Tehran where twenty, thirty thousand people show their presence, listen to the preachers, and shed tears at the recitations of the elegies. Despite all the propaganda efforts by our enemies against our holy beliefs – including in audio-visual media and today in social networks, with their various diversions and distractions – this with the blessed Ahl al-Bayt (Holy Family of the Prophet) is spectacular!

“With the advent of Muharram, huge waves of the people move towards the camp of Imam Husain (AS), and most of those people are young. Of course, these gatherings also witness the presence of the middle-aged, the elderly and the children, but the youth – despite being the target of enemy attacks – are larger in number. These events are very significant. This manifests that our nation is continuing a particular path under the banner of Imam Husain (AS). Today, before I begin my jurisprudential discourse, I have written down certain points which I would like to discuss:

“The people have made their decision in the face of the enemy’s vast and poisonous propaganda campaign against the holy beliefs of the country. Sometimes, signs of these often underground and hidden currents show themselves in some corners of the country and it shows how active the enemy is in this regard.

“It should be noted that we are aware of an important part of these plots. Thankfully, various organizations in the country understand what is going on, but the role of the people is very important. This is why I focus on the role of the youth and the people in most of my speeches.”

Ayatollah Khamenei in his address to the gathering, said: “Brothers, sisters, the task of improving the country’s affairs is in the hands of the people, in particular the youth. Everything can move on the right track in line with the people’s resolve, decisions, insight and faith, and this can help the country reach the desired point. When we constantly speak about domestic capabilities, this should be taken seriously. This holds true on cultural, economic and social matters. In all areas – even when it comes to the specialized affairs of organizations, such as security and other such areas – it is the people who can help further and improve tasks.

“Today, we have progressed and moved forward in the area of science. This progress originates from the diligence of the society – the determination of our youth. The same is true of technological areas. We have also received good news regarding production. By Allah’s favor, the people will see the results later on. Good tasks are being carried out. Of course, there have been some cases of negligence and laxity, but movements are thankfully targeting lofty ideals. By Allah’s favor, the cure for the different problems of the country is in the hands of the people.

“We should not look to foreigners. We should not pin our hopes on such and such a government. We should not rely on meetings with such and such a person. Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that we should shut the gates of relations with governments throughout the world. I myself was president of this country for many years. I am a man of negotiations and dialogue with other people. However, it is one thing to have meetings, and it is quite another to put everything off until those meetings. The latter is something that we disapprove of. You should benefit from the resources of the world as much as you can, but you must know that the cure for our problems lies within the country. Solving problems is the people’s job.

“Foreigners cannot be expected to help the Islamic Republic which has introduced a new way in the world. The Islamic Republic is presenting a new idea to the world. The proponents of the decayed western capitalism can never welcome this new call, this new idea and this new way. They can never help move it forward. They will show enmity as much as they can, as has been the case until now. Of course, they will fail. Their enmity will get them nowhere, especially those whose enmity is clear – the United States, for example. By Allah’s favor, we have won and we will continue to win from now on, but we should know this in any case.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “At present time, you see the Americans are harping on the issue of negotiations. This is a trick. Everyone should know and pay attention to this. Of course, the Americans do not utter the same words. They sometimes speak about “negotiations without any conditions”, they sometimes say, “negotiations without setting any preconditions” and they sometimes proclaim “negotiations with 12 conditions”! Their policy might be very chaotic and they do not know what they want. This is a probability. Another probability is that they are resorting to a trick. And one of the tricks is this: saying different things in order to confuse the other side.

“Of course, we will not become confused. Our path is clear. We know what we are doing. When the US says, “let us negotiate”, it does not mean, “let us find a fair solution.” No, it means “let us sit at the negotiating table and then you accept whatever we say.” This is what they mean by negotiations.

“They have become so brazen now that they are saying it bluntly. Previously, I used to say that this is what the Americans are pursuing, but some would say that this was wrong. Now, the Americans are saying it themselves. Just a few days ago, one of them said that we should sit at the negotiating table and Iran should accept such and such terms. This is what they mean by negotiations: we say something and you should accept it! Very well, they should go and negotiate like this with those who act as their dairy cows, but Islamic Iran is the republic of believers, of Muslims working for Allah, and of dignity. A negotiation in which we have to accept this and that terms is meaningless.

“There is an important point that you esteemed scholars and ulama – among whom there are some individuals who are in constant contact with the people – should pay attention to. The masses of the people and in particular those who occupy a special place among the people, they should pay attention to this as well. The U.S. has adopted a policy of exerting maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic. The current U.S. administration is admitting that the Islamic Republic cannot be brought to its knees – with deference, sweet words and the like. It cannot be coerced into accepting our terms like this. Therefore, we should exert maximum.

“And maximum pressure is what you are already witnessing: all sorts of sanctions, continuous threats and various ranting and raving in the media and the like. This is what maximum pressure is. They hope that this maximum pressure will work. They want to exert maximum pressure for their own domestic rivals and for the Europeans. Moreover, they want to establish as a definite policy of the United States, that confronting Iran is only possible through exerting maximum pressure.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Well, how do they want to prove that they have succeeded, because until now maximum pressure has failed as they themselves acknowledge. Among the Americans themselves, there are many – there are many people around the world as well – who say that America’s maximum pressure has failed to bring Iran to its knees. Of course, this is definitely the case. So, how do they want to prove that maximum pressure is working?

“By dragging the Islamic Republic to the negotiating table. They would like to say: “these people who used to say that they would not negotiate with the U.S. have been forced by the maximum pressure policy to sit at the negotiating table.” This is the goal. By doing this, they want to prove to everyone that the only way to confront Islamic Iran is this and they want to make it their official policy.

We should take note that if our enemy manages to prove that the policy of exerting maximum pressure pays off, Iran will never see tranquility again! Whenever these bullies demand something from the Islamic Republic and we give a negative reply, they will exert “maximum pressure”.

When they insist on negotiations, when they use the Europeans as go-betweens – I will speak about the Europeans in another speech – and when they keep saying that if we meet with the US president, then all your problems will be solved, this is nothing but deception. They would like to see their maximum pressure policy succeed. In response, we should prove the futility of the maximum pressure policy!

“If we summarize these points; it means negotiations with the U.S. is not just succumbing to American demands, but admitting the success of America’s maximum pressure. That is why you witnessed Iran’s honorable President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other senior officials of the country unanimously reject negotiations with the U.S. – neither on bilateral issues nor on multilateral ones. If the US takes back what it said, if it returns to the nuclear treaty it has breached, if it expresses regret and rejoins the countries which have signed the treaty, then it can be one of those countries, with whom Iran speaks. Therefore, no negotiations, whatsoever, will take place between the officials of the Islamic Republic and the Americans. This will not happen, whether during the New York trip (if the president and FM) nor on any other trips.

This is indicative of the firm and independent policy of the past forty years of the Islamic Republic, during which, the enemies have failed to subjugate Iran, despite all sorts of tricks. Their policies have been defeated by the Islamic Republic one after another. From now on too, by Allah’s favor and grace, they will be defeated and the Islamic Republic will emerge victorious and honorable from this phase.”

AS/ME