Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the United States will never succeed in overthrowing the Islamic Republic and if it tries to do so, even the "world's most powerful military" could be forced to suffer heavy damage.
Mr. Khamenei told a meeting with people from East Azerbaijan on Tuesday, "The US president said in a recent statement that the United States has failed to defeat the Islamic Republic for 47 years. He complained to his own people about it. This is a good confession. I say you will not be able to do it either."
Mr. Khamenei's remarks came at a time when Mr. Trump said that regime change in Iran would be the best thing. Mr. Khamenei also referred to the US president's statement in which he said the US military is the most powerful in the world.
He said, "The world's most powerful military could also suffer a blow that it cannot withstand. They keep saying that we have sent warships towards Iran. Warships are dangerous, but even more dangerous are the weapons that can send the warship to the bottom of the sea."
It is worth noting that the second round of indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran also continued on Tuesday. During this time, Mr. Khamenei said that US threats are part of an attempt to dominate Iran. He said Iran will not bow to corrupt leaders who are in power in the United States.
Mr. Khamenei said, "They say negotiate on nuclear energy, and the result of the negotiation will be that you will not have nuclear energy. If there is to be a negotiation, it is wrong and foolish to predetermine its outcome."
In the same speech, Mr. Khamenei said that those killed during protests against economic hardship in January have been considered martyrs. He said, "Blood has been shed. We are grieving. I say we are mourning for the shed blood."
It is clear that according to official figures, 3,117 people were killed in the January protests, while according to non-governmental organizations, the number is much higher.
Mr. Khamenei also said that not all those who died are considered martyrs. Some of them were corrupt elements and people who fueled the unrest, while the rest had no role in organizing the protests. He divided those who died in the protests into three categories.
He said that the circle of Iran's martyrs is large, but those who took money and weapons from the enemy are "ringleaders" and cannot be considered martyrs. Mr. Khamenei concluded his remarks by praying for the "lost protesters" and said that the January protests were an enemy conspiracy, not an internal movement.
Reacting to the US president's threats, Mr. Khamenei said that he has heard that the US president says that our military is the most powerful in the world. Sometimes, even the most powerful military in the world can receive such a blow that it cannot get up again. They keep saying that we have sent a fleet to Iran. Okay, the fleet is certainly a dangerous weapon, but more dangerous than the fleet is the weapon that can sink it to the bottom of the sea.
- In a recent speech, the US president said that for 47 years, the United States has not been able to destroy the Islamic Republic. In other words, he complained to his people. The United States has not been able to destroy the Islamic Republic for 47 years. This is a good confession. I say, "You will not be able to do it either."