TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that Iran will take powerful action against any kind of aggression.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has never been and will never be a threat against the region and the neighboring countries, but will act powerfully against any kind of aggression,” he stated in a gathering of the Army commanders and officials.

The Leader said Iran considers security as the “greatest divine gift” and strongly insists on the security of itself and others.

He also noted that commitment to the religious principles is a characteristic of the Iranian Army.

The Leader went on to say that most of the armies in the world do not respect international law and humanitarian principles in time of victory or defeat.

He cited the behavior of certain world powers, specifically the U.S., as a clear example of this issue, saying that they ignore international law and humanitarian principles and commit any crimes.

Iran’s Armed Forces have always shown commitment to the Islamic law and have never used “forbidden tools and methods” be it in time of victory or danger, he stated.

“The fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek nuclear weapon is within this framework and based on religious bounds,” he asserted.

Commenting on the accusations that Iran is meddling in the regional countries’ affairs, the Leader stated that such accusations run contrary to the reality.

“We hate those who attack civilians, women and children and believe that they are ignorant of Islam and human conscious, but we do not intervene in other countries’ affairs,” the Leader stated.

He also said that increasing readiness in areas of defense and weapons capability is another characteristic of the Iranian Armed Forces.

The Leader went on to say that the Armed Forces’ military and defensive capabilities were made under the harsh conditions of sanctions and these advances should continue speedily.



He pointed to the U.S. “shameless” threats against Iran, saying one of Washington officials has again talked about military “options on the table”.

On the one hand they “bluff” about taking military action against Iran, and on the other they say that Iran’s defense capabilities should be stopped which is a “foolish word”, the Leader said.

Addressing the Armed Forces, the Leader stated that all military bodies including “the Defense Ministry, Army and Sepah” must increase their “military and defensive readiness” and “this must be regarded as an official decree”.

He also pointed to “myths” fabricated by the U.S., European countries and some of their followers that Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons, saying that the U.S. and the Zionist regime of Israel are the most serious threats against the region.

“They fabricated the nuclear weapon myth to say that the Islamic republic is a threat,” the Leader said. “No! The threat is the U.S., which commits insecurity-causing interference without any control.”


General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that the U.S. military option against Iran remains intact despite Russia’s decision to deliver its S-300 missile defense system to Tehran.

NA/PA

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The Leader said Iran considers security as the “greatest divine gift” and strongly insists on the security of itself and others.