Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has strongly criticised the United States, calling it the "Great Satan" and saying it can no longer maintain its dominant influence across West Asia.
In a written message addressed to the people of Iraq on Sunday, Mojtaba Khamenei said the US had realised that its ability to maintain an unquestioned and powerful presence in the region was coming to an end. He took over as Iran's Supreme Leader in March after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israel strikes on February 28.
"The Great Satan--the criminal US--has now realised that the continuation of its trouble-free, domineering presence in the region is nothing but a naive fantacy," Khamenei said in the statement.
Referring to the funeral of his father, Khamenei said the huge gatherings of mourners in Iran and Iraq had marked the beginning of a new phase of public awareness and resistance against what he described as the plans of powerful global nations.
He said, "Undoubtedly, the leaders of Global Arrogance witnessed the magnificent scenes of this massive gathering in Iraq with trepidation, seeing how the vast resources they've invested to undermine relations between the two nations have proved entirely futile and ineffective."
The seven-day mourning ceremonies for Ali Khamenei ended on July 9 after memorial events were held across Iran and Iraq. He was killed during the first wave of the joint US-Israel military operation known as "Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury" on February 28.
Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear at any of the funeral events. Reports said he was injured in the same airstrike that killed his father. Although officials and analysts believe he is alive, he has not made any public appearance or released any audio or video since the conflict began.
In another written statement issued on July 11, Mojtaba vowed to avenge his father's death. He said those responsible would face consequences and would not escape justice.
“We pledge to avenge your pure blood and the blood of all the martyrs of these two wars by taking revenge against the criminal, disgraceful murderers," he said. Khamenei said, "This vengeance is what our nation is demanding, and this must definitely be done. These criminals, whose names are fully documented from the highest to the lowest ranks, will carry their dream of a peaceful death in bed to the grave."
Meanwhile, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Saturday that Tehran had suspended its obligations under the interim Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). He accused the United States of violating the agreement by continuing military strikes on Iran for seven straight nights, while Iran responded by targeting US allies in the Gulf.
Gharibabadi said the US had effectively abandoned its commitments under the Islamabad MoU, leaving Iran with no option but to suspend its own implementation of the agreement.
Also read: US launches fresh Iran strikes after American troops killed
Follow us
