On the 31st of last month (local time), Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei visited the tomb of Ruhollah Khomeini, who led the Iranian Islamic Revolution. [AP Yonhap News. Redistribution and database storage prohibited]
(Istanbul = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Dong-ho = On the 1st (local time), Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei characterized the recent anti-government protests in the country as a coup and issued another warning to the United States, hinting at military involvement.
According to Iran’s state-run IRIB broadcasting, Khamenei, in a speech marking the 47th anniversary of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, stated that “the recent disturbances were like a coup,” adding, “Although it was suppressed, their goal was to destroy state administrative institutions.”
Khamenei emphasized that “they attacked police, government institutions, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities, banks, mosques, and burned the Quran (Islamic scripture),” stressing again that “this was a clear coup.”
Khamenei commented on the recent actions by the United States, which included deploying major military assets such as aircraft carrier strike groups to the Middle East while pressing for the resumption of nuclear negotiations with Iran. He said, “The Iranian people have no need to fear these actions.”
Furthermore, he stated, “If the United States starts a war, it should realize this time it will become a regional war,” which is interpreted as a warning of retaliatory strikes on US military bases across the Middle East or against the US ally, Israel.
Khamenei added, “We do not intend to initiate an attack or attack any country,” but also said, “The Iranian people will deliver a strong blow to those who attack and harass us.”
dk@yna.co.kr