Iran Should Get Strong to Avert War: Leader


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei stressed the need to build up the country’s military power to prevent a war and counter threats.

In a meeting with a group of Air Defense commanders and personnel on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that Iran would not threaten any country or nation, but seeks to protect its security and prevent threats.

Being weak will encourage the enemy to take action against Iran, the Leader warned, adding, “In order for a war not to break out and for threats to finish, one must get strong.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said vigilant performance of the Iranian officials would turn threats into opportunities, adding that sanctions could end the country’s dependence on oil incomes and help settle many problems.

The key to success is turning threats into opportunities and relying on the internal capacities, the Leader underlined. “It is possible to provide ample opportunities for the country in spite of the sanctions, (whose imposition is) a criminal action.”

Ayatollah Khamenei also stated that a number of smart politicians in the US administration have realized that oil-free economy would give Iran an advantage, stressing that Iran must follow a path in which the economy is totally separated from the oil revenues.

The Leader further said that while the enemy’s policies and tools against Iran have become more complicated, the Islamic Republic’s methods and approaches have also become more complex than before “in such a way that quite logical, complicated and progressive methods and works are in progress in various sectors at present, which contribute to the country’s strategic depth and have paralyzed the enemy.”

Ayatollah Khamenei called on the Iranian Armed Forces to strengthen their defense capabilities in various dimensions and make the most of the country’s domestic capacities and talents, adding, “While the previous US presidents were pursuing this regime’s evil approaches under certain guises, today the American acts of diversion, warmongering, sedition-making and greed for the assets of others have become overt and undisguised, and this wrong path of the enemies of the Iranian nation is definitely doomed to defeat.”