The Office of the Supreme Leader

In a meeting with the Bolivian presidnet

Ayatollah Khamenei: Iran Supports Anyone Who Stands Up to Bullying

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday, praised the awe-inspiring and heroic resistance of Bolivia and some other Latin American countries in the face of bullying efforts of the arrogant front.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the United States’ dangerous policy in the world and South America region is to change the identity of the young people, noting: “This hegemonic policy must be resisted by strengthening wills and enhancing communications and cooperation.”

Ayatollah Khamenei described resistance against excessive demands of the arrogant America as an important privilege for Bolivia and Mr. Morales, which is even more important than nationalization of the country’s oil industry, adding: “Iran was the first country in the world to fully break loose from America’s dominance owing to the popular and independent movement [that was led] by [the late] Imam Khomeini, and stood against hostilities of the Eastern and Western empires as well as different forms of their military, security and economic pressures.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution noted: “On the same basis, the Islamic Republic of Iran supports anyone, anywhere in the world, who resists bullying and hegemony.”

Referring to Bolivia’s abundant potentialities and talents, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed out: “These potentialities as well as relations between the two countries and numerous grounds for cooperation can serve the interests of nations and [help them in their] resistance against bullying powers.”

Ayatollah Khamenei described Bolivia’s economic advances, which are aimed at realizing the country’s complete political and economic independence, as necessary and valuable, saying: “In addition to these hardware progress, [due] attention must be also paid to software progress.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the United States’ policy in the world and also in Latin America is to change the identity of Indigenous peoples and the youth by using new methods of communication, adding: “If the Americans succeed in this policy and manage to transform the youth’s way of thinking into an ‘American way of thinking’, then they will dominate the countries without any need to [stage] military coup d’états and [take] hard measures.”

Ayatollah Khamenei further stated that bolstering indigenous identity of nations and introducing values to the youth is the best way to resist this US policy, noting: “By relying on the Almighty God and through strengthening of willpower, this battle can be won.”

During the meeting, Bolivian President Evo Morales expressed pleasure over his meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, saying: “We regard His Excellency as the father and guide of all independent revolutions, and particularly the revolutions in the Latin America region, and we have learnt lots of lessons from your valuable, inspirational and hope-inspiring words.”

Morales described the United States intervention as source of problems, saying: “At the outset of accepting my responsibility [as Bolivian president], [and] in response to the Americans’ warning against [expanding the country’s] relations with Iran, I emphasized that ‘we are an independent country and we do not seek permission from anybody for [having] relations with others’.”

Stressing that Bolivia has never given any concession to Americans and will never do so, Morales said: “With the nationalization of Bolivia’s oil industry, we established our independence and sovereignty and put an end to years of Western aggression.”

Morales added that the volume of progress made and services rendered after the independence of Bolivia has been several times higher than the period during which the country was dependent on the West. Stressing the necessity of achieving economic independence in the light of political independence, the Bolivian president said: “Today, Bolivia’s gross national product (GNP) has exceeded billion, which compared with the period of dependence, has quadrupled.”

The Bolivian president also referred to Iran’s abundant experiences and capabilities in different scientific and technological sectors, adding: “Iran and Bolivia are two historical, cultural and popular allies, and I hope that bilateral relations would be expanded in different fields.”

“Bolivia always hails the positions of the Islamic Republic, and we are certain that Iran will continue on its path firmly,” he said.

Morales added: “As a result of expanding cooperation and relations with revolutionary and resistant countries like Iran, Bolivia is powerful, steadfast, and stable.”
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