Khamenei Criticizes Those Who Advocate Compromise with the U.S.

On Thursday, November 2, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic described the United States as the "main and wicked enemy" and criticized those who believe that "we should compromise a little with the U.S. to reduce its hostility." According to the website of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, without naming these individuals, added: "The U.S. has shown no mercy even to those who placed their hopes in it and sought its help; like Dr. Mossadegh, who turned to the Americans to stand against the British and trusted them." Since the victory of the February 1979 Revolution, the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran have repeatedly targeted Mohammad Mossadegh with various accusations, while his supporters have rejected these allegations and his alleged dependence on foreign powers. He expressed these remarks on the occasion of November 4, Student Day, and the anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran in 1979 by students known as the Imam's line students. According to the report, Ayatollah Khamenei continued his remarks by stating that "the coup of August 19 was not carried out by the British but by the Americans," adding: "These people are not satisfied even with figures like Mossadegh; they want servants, subservients, and those who can be bullied, like Mohammad Reza Pahlavi." This statement was made in a context where Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty, rejected similar accusations made by his opponents. The Supreme Leader also accused the U.S. government of "repeated hostilities" and claimed that Washington is currently engaging in "the utmost wickedness to undermine the results of the nuclear negotiations, namely the JCPOA." According to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was signed in July 2015 between Iran and six world powers, Iran suspended parts of its nuclear program in exchange for the suspension of nuclear sanctions against the country. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, on October 13, outlined his strategy regarding Iran, stating that based on reliable information he has received, "I declare that we are unable to confirm Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement." He emphasized that "we will not continue down a path that has a predictable outcome of more violence and terror and a real threat of Iran's nuclear development." He also warned, "If we cannot reach a solution with Congress and our allies, we will end this agreement." In part of his remarks, the Supreme Leader stated that "compromising with the Americans will embolden and audacious them," asserting that the only way is to confront and resist. Ayatollah Khamenei, referring to recent comments by Donald Trump, the President of the U.S., who labeled Iran as a terrorist state, added: "Americans are not only hostile to the leadership and government of Iran, but they also harbor animosity and hatred towards the very existence of a nation that tirelessly stands against them." The U.S. President, on September 19, in his first speech at the United Nations, referred to the Iranian government as a "rogue nation" that, according to him, spends the country's wealth on "violence" in the region. Mr. Trump also called on the international community to counter the actions of the "criminal regime" of Iran. He added in his speech: "We cannot allow the criminal regime of Iran to continue its destabilizing actions while pursuing its dangerous missile program. We cannot adhere to an agreement if it is a cover for a final (nuclear) weapon program." Donald Trump also stated that "the Iranian government hides a corrupt dictatorship behind a facade of false democracy" and added that the Iranian government has turned "a historically rich and wealthy country into a rogue nation with a depleted economy, whose primary exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos. The people of Iran have long been the primary victims of the leaders of this country." The U.S. President said: instead of using the country's resources to improve the lives of the Iranian people, the oil revenues of this country are spent on Hezbollah and other terrorist groups that kill innocent Muslims and attack peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbors. This wealth, which belongs to the Iranian people, is spent on supporting the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad, on the Yemeni civil war, and undermines peace throughout the Middle East.