TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that holding talks with the U.S. is not beneficial, rather it is harmful.

During a meeting with top IRGC officers, the Leader said that negotiations with the U.S. will not reduce the hostilities and will lay the ground for infiltration.

“One of the important elements of the Islamic Republic’s soft power is absolute distrust of domineering powers with the U.S. at the top, and this distrust should be increased day by day,” the Leader remarked.

He also called the IRGC the “firm stronghold of the revolution” which is tasked to guard the country against internal and external threats.

He said that defending the security of the borders is one of the “fundamental duties” of the IRGC.

The Leader added that the IRGC’s performance in areas of “defense, construction and culture” are “remarkable”.

The Leader said that the IRGC’s identity should be protected.

He also called on the IRGC not to stop progress in scientific and technological areas.

Elsewhere, the Leader said that “increasing the power” of the Armed Forces is essential to counter the military threats.

Referring to the recent remarks by some officials who had hailed some countries for leaving their military agenda in favor of economic progress, the Supreme Leader said, “One finds it too much difficult to believe that the remarks have been made by those with whom the remarks have been affiliated, but if the remarks have been really made, they are wrong.” 

“Those countries which are said to have rolled back their military establishments did not made the decision at their own discretion, but the establishments were exterminated during the (second) World War and the countries were not allowed to have military establishments anymore.”   

The Leader also called for fortifying the country’s defensive capability as “no common sense puts aside his military force.” 

However, to the Supreme Leader, it is not mere military hardware that makes an army invincible as a characteristic dimension to the asymmetric warfare is “faith.”  

“The meaning of the asymmetric warfare is that the opposite side, while having advanced equipment, is short of faith.” 

To cite an example, Ayatollah Khamenei cited the situation in Iraq, wherein the popular mobilization forces succeeded to recapture zones the American forces and their allies had failed to liberate.

This was simply because the Iraqi forces were faithful, Ayatollah Khamenei noted. 

NA/KA/PA