Khamenei: The U.S. May Have Planned for 2019; Stay Alert

On Wednesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that Iran has overcome the U.S. project for regime change in Iran, dubbed "Hot Summer," but warned that everyone should be cautious of U.S. "deception": "They may have drawn up plans for 2019." The Supreme Leader also stated that the United States no longer has a "plan" to strike Iran. It appears that Iranian officials assess that the Trump administration has initiated a "regime change project" in Iran, aiming to overthrow the Islamic Republic on the eve of its 40th anniversary. Reports from Iranian state media over the past ten months indicate that following the protests in December of last year and U.S. support for these protests, including from Donald Trump, Iranian officials have interpreted these events as the beginning of a scheme aimed at regime change. The appointment of John Bolton in the White House and the establishment of a task force under Brian Hook have reinforced this interpretation in the minds of Iranian officials. Among these government reports is a statement by Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization, who said in November that the Islamic Republic is in a "special threat situation" on the brink of the 40th anniversary of the revolution. Jalali referred to what he described as the U.S.'s "short-term plan" for the "overthrow" of the Islamic Republic, adding, "Iran has emerged victorious in the first half of the game in the keyword of Hot Summer, and will also emerge victorious in the second half of the game in the fall and winter." Previously, the English-language Iranian television network Press TV reported in the summer about the failure of the "Hot Summer" project, citing "analysts." In this context, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated on Wednesday during a meeting with several families of those involved in the Iran-Iraq War and the Syrian civil war: "The U.S. plan against the Iranian nation has been exposed, and they no longer have a plan to strike; they have done everything they could." He described the U.S. "plan" in Iran as an attempt to create internal conflict and problems through sanctions and anti-security actions in the country. According to Khamenei, "in the face of the U.S., and despite their officials' statements that 'Iran will have a hot summer and will not see its 40th anniversary,' this summer was one of the best summers." His remarks come as the rising dollar price, which began in the spring, peaked this summer, leading to increased prices of essential goods in Iran and putting citizens in a difficult position. Recently, the Research Center of the Iranian Parliament reported that the poverty line in Tehran alone increased by 11% from spring to summer. Numerous protests by workers, teachers, and retirees in recent months, which have occurred due to the impact of the economy following the dollar price increase, have also been ongoing issues in the country. Nevertheless, according to the Supreme Leader, "the Iranian nation will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution with great glory on February 11 this year." He also warned the Iranian people to be cautious of U.S. "deception" this year, adding: "What the Americans said they would do in 2018 may be a deception; they may create turmoil in 2018 and have drawn up plans for 2019. Everyone should stay alert." He advised all "youth and various groups and political currents" to "be careful not to give the enemy an opportunity and not to prepare the ground for the enemy." He also called for "strengthening domestic production" to address the economic problems of the people and made no mention of the impact of U.S. sanctions on the Iranian economy following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA. The Supreme Leader, without referring to any specific individual, told the "officials" to "double their efforts and be careful not to fall for the enemy's deception and that the wicked enemy, which they push out the door, does not come in through the window." In another part of his remarks, the Supreme Leader accused U.S. officials of "money worship, injustice, and indifference to the lives and property of humans" and labeled them alongside Saudi leaders as "criminals." He told the Iranian people: "If you want to understand America correctly, look at the U.S. officials and the U.S. President. They have clearly revealed the ugly face of America." Khamenei referred to the U.S. as a "wicked enemy" whose "hand is in the same bowl as the Zionists and the reactionaries of the region" and added: "Today, some in the Islamic world have formed a friendship pact with the enemy." He accused Saudi Arabia of "crimes" in Yemen and stated: "The servant of the two holy shrines must be fierce against the infidels; they are fierce against Yemen and fierce against Bahrain. This provokes divine wrath." In his criticisms of Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Leader only referred to Yemen and Bahrain and made no mention of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist from that country who was killed in the Saudi embassy in Riyadh. The hostility between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which has intensified following the deaths of several Iranian pilgrims in Mina and attacks on Saudi diplomatic locations in Iran, has become more pronounced in recent months. Officials from both countries have used the harshest language to criticize each other's actions and have leveled various accusations against one another.