The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has responded to repeated US military threats against Iran, saying that the weapons that can sink the American carriers are “more dangerous” than the warships. \u201cThe American president [Donald Trump] repeatedly says that their military is the strongest in the world. The strongest military in the world, however, can sometimes be struck so hard that it cannot even get back on its feet,\u201d Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday while addressing thousands of people from East Azarbaijan Province. \u201cThey keep saying, \u2018We have sent an aircraft carrier toward Iran.\u2019 Fine\u2014an aircraft carrier is certainly a dangerous piece of equipment. But more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon capable of sending it to the bottom of the sea,\u201d he added. Trump\u2019s remarks that Washington has been unable to eliminate the Islamic Republic for the past 47 years is \u201cquite an admission,\u201d Ayatollah Khamenei said. \u201cFor 47 years, America has failed to destroy the Islamic Republic,\u201d he said, before addressing Trump and adding, \u201cI say this: you will not be able to do so in the future either.\u201d The warning comes as US President Donald Trump has deployed military forces to the region, threatening to launch attacks on Iran. US officials said on February 12 that the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the region, adding thousands more troops along with fighter aircraft and guided-missile destroyers. \u201cIn case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,\u201d Trump said on Friday, referring to USS Gerald R. Ford. The military buildup comes as Iran and the US are holding indirect talks about the nuclear issue, months after the US-Israeli aggression on Iranian soil and attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities. Observers say Trump is using the military threat as leverage in talks to gain concessions from Tehran. However, Iranian officials have highlighted Tehran\u2019s readiness for both diplomacy and war, warning that any attack on Iran would ignite a regional war. On Sunday, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi warned Trump over his war rhetoric. \u201cTrump should know that he would be entering a confrontation that gives harsh lessons, the outcome of which would ensure that he no longer bellows threats around the world,\u201d he said. \u2018Foolish to predetermine outcome of talks\u2019 Elsewhere in his address, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the ongoing indirect talks between Tehran and Washington. \u201cThese remarks the US president makes\u2014at times issuing threats, at times saying this must be done or that must not be done\u2014show that they are seeking to dominate the Iranian nation,\u201d he said. \u201cThey say, \u2018Let us negotiate over your nuclear energy,\u2019 and the outcome of the negotiation should be that you no longer possess this energy,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cTo predetermine the outcome before talks even begin is wrong and foolish.\u201d \u201cThis is precisely the foolish approach being taken by American presidents, certain senators, the current president, and others,\u201d he added. Iranian people, however, \u201cknow their Islamic and Shi\u2019i teachings well,\u201d the Leader said, before quoting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), \u201cSomeone like me would never pledge allegiance to someone like Yazid.\u201d \u201cIn reality, the Iranian nation is saying the same: a people with this culture, this history, these lofty values, will never pledge allegiance to corrupt figures like those currently in power in the United States,\u201d he said. Iran in a state of mourning Elsewhere, Ayatollah Khamenei said the nation is grieving after recent foreign-backed riots, which left thousands of people dead, stressing, \u201cWe are in mourning for the blood that was shed.\u201d He divided the victims into three groups. The first, he said, were security and health defenders \u2014 police, Basij, Revolutionary Guard members and others \u2014 whom he described as \u201camong the highest martyrs.\u201d The second group included bystanders killed during the turmoil. \u201cThey, too, are martyrs,\u201d he said, noting they died amid \u201cthe enemy\u2019s sedition.\u201d The third group, the Leader said, were those who were misled into joining the riots. Calling them \u201cour own children,\u201d he said some had written to him expressing regret. Authorities, he noted, have also recognized those killed among them as martyrs. Apart from ringleaders backed by foreign enemies, Ayatollah Khamenei said all others deserve prayers and forgiveness. Foreign-backed armed rioters and terrorists hijacked peaceful, sporadic protests over economic grievances on January 8 and 9. The violence, encouraged openly by the US and the Israeli regime, resulted in extensive damage to public and private property, with widespread destruction of shops, government institutions, public service facilities, and the killing of hundreds of civilians and security forces. Iranian authorities have confirmed that American and Israeli spy agencies were directly involved, providing funding, training, and media support to rioters and armed terrorists acting on the streets. Official Iranian records show 3,117 people were killed in the riots, including 2,427 civilians and security personnel killed by terrorists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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