Iran's top leader defiant in sermon
Khamenei makes rare appearance at prayers to lash West
Iran’s supreme leader lashed out at Western countries as he led prayers in Tehran yesterday for the first time in eight years, dismissing “American clowns” who he said pretend to support the Iranian nation but want to stick their “poisoned dagger” into its back.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei used his rare appearance at the weekly prayers to deliver a fiery address in which he insisted Iran would not bow to US pressure after months of crushing sanctions and a series of recent crises — from the American killing of a top Iranian general to Iran’s accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane.
Khamenei said the mass funerals for General Qassem Soleimani, killed in a US airstrike earlier this month, showed the Iranian people support the Islamic Republic. He said the “cowardly” hit had taken out the most effective commander in the battle against the Islamic State group.
Khamenei said Iran’s subsequent strike targeting US troops in Iraq — without serious injuries — dealt a “blow to America’s image” as a superpower. He said the “real punishment” would be in forcing the US to withdraw from the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump later tweeted: “The so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ of Iran, who has not been so Supreme lately, had some nasty things to say about the United States and Europe. Their economy is crashing, and their people are suffering. He should be very careful with his words!”
Khamenei called his country’s shootdown of the Ukrainian jetliner with the loss of all 176 on board a “bitter accident” and said Iran’s enemies had seized on the crash to question the Islamic Republic, Revolutionary Guard and armed forces.
He also lashed out at Britain, France and Germany after they triggered a dispute mechanism to try to bring Iran back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement.
“These contemptible governments are waiting to bring the Iranian nation to its knees.”
Not naming Trump, Khamenei mocked efforts to encourage protesters in Iran, dismissing “these American clowns who falsely and despicably say that they are standing with the Iranian people”.