US, Europe’s Role in Iran Riots Obvious: Leader
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Highlighting the evident and indisputable role that the Americans and Europeans played in the recent riots in Iran, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the enemy’s main tool was a propaganda campaign using Western, Arabic and Hebrew media outlets.
On the anniversary of the 1978 historic uprising of the people of Qom against the oppressive Pahlavi regime, a group of people from Qom met with Ayatollah Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah of Tehran on Monday.
During this meeting, the Leader referred to "propaganda" as one of the main strategies enemies have used against Iran in the recent unrest and also emphasized the importance of "Jihad of clarification" as the way to overcome it.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the uprising of the people of Qom on January 9, 1978, as one of history’s transformative events, emphasizing the need to keep its memory alive.
In this regard, the Leader added that the great movement that was initiated by the religious and revolutionary people of Qom, spreading throughout the entire country, was aimed at overthrowing the dictatorial Pahlavi regime, saving Iran from being devoured by the West and restoring the historical and Islamic identity of the country.
“This was because the Iran that existed during the Pahlavi era was getting crushed by the wrong culture and political-military dominance of the Americans,” the Leader stated.
Referring to the recent riots that took place inside Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei outlined the obvious interferences of the country’s foreign enemies, which included some European countries and the US. “The most important tool that the enemy used in these riots was propaganda and the enticement of people through cyberspace and the Western, Arabic and Hebrew media.”
The Leader added, “Some made it seem as though those present in the riots were against the country’s administrative and economical weaknesses, while on the contrary, their goal was not to eliminate the weaknesses, but to destroy the country’s strengths."
In another part of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the rescuing of Iran from America’s heavy domination, has been the main reason behind the United States’ enmity with the Islamic system.
Referring to a publication of a recently declassified document from a credible American center about former US president Jimmy Carter's order to overthrow the Islamic Republic, the Leader said, “According to this document, Carter ordered the CIA to overthrow the Islamic Republic, and the first strategy he mentions is the use of propaganda.”
Imam Khamenei said over the past 43 years, the US has continuously made an effort to attack the Islamic Republic through various means. “This includes issuing threats and imposing sanctions on Iran, engaging in acts of espionage and infiltration, putting pressure on the country, creating anti-Iranian alliances, and inciting anti-Iranian and anti-Shiite sentiment.”
He further added that the enemy primarily uses propaganda in order to harm the Islamic Republic.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution recounted the swift response of the pious and sincere citizens of Qom on January 7, 1978 – that is, on the same day that a ludicrous and insulting article was published against Imam Khomeini by the order of the Pahlavi court. “This movement continued on January 8 and turned into a widespread uprising on January 9. Qom was the first city that proudly raised the flag of the Revolution and established a bright path in the country.”
Imam Khamenei considered the Taghut (Pahlavi) regime’s assurance of support from the US as the reason behind its foolishness and audacity in publishing an insulting article against Imam Khomeini (RA). “A few days before January 9, Carter described Iran as 'an island of stability’, while he was in a drunken state in Tehran. However, this support did not prove to be fruitful, because according to the Quran, relying on the power of the disbelievers, results in nothing but failure.”
The Leader also referred to the United States’ great influence on the Pahlavi regime, underlining that the people’s battle against the Taghut was in fact a battle against the US.
He added, “Imam Khomeini was exiled in 1964 because he protested against the capitulation law. This law provided the Americans with immunity for any crime that they committed in Iran. The people rose up against this kind of influence and freed Iran. This formed the basis of US's enmity with our nation.”
