The Office of the Supreme Leader

Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei:

North Africa events echo Iranians’ voice

Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei said on Friday that ongoing developments in North Africa and other parts of the world of Islam echo voice of Iranian nation.

Delivering his second Friday prayers sermon at Tehran University campus, Ayatollah Khamenei said after years of endeavor and hardship, Iranian nation are today witnessing that their voice is heard strongly in other parts of the world of Islam.

"Today's events in North of Africa, Egypt, Tunisia and certain other countries have another sense for the Iranian nation. They have special meaning for the Iranian nation. This is the same as `Islamic Awakening', which is the result of the victory of the big revolution of the Iranian nation," said Ayatollah Khamenei.

Ayatollah Khamenei also said the Islamic Revolution in Iran disrupted the plots by Western countries trying to establish weak and vulnerable regimes in the Middle East.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution said Iran's enemies have been launching a psychological war against it for the past 32 years, pointing to the 2009 post-election events in Iran as the enemies' latest scenario to damage the Islamic Revolution.

Ayatollah Khamenei said their plots however will have no effect on the Iranian nation.

IR Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei said that today, no big power can claim having the least influence on the decisions made by Iranian officials.

In his second Friday prayers sermon in Tehran University campus, Ayatollah Khamenei added, "Such a perseverance, independence, and political grandeur has been much attractive to the world nations."

Nations attach special respect to the great Iranian nation for its political independence, said IR Leader.

"Today, whole the world people admit Iran's influence and constantly speak of Iran's presence in different arenas," said Ayatollah Khamenei.

Switching to nuclear issue, Ayatollah Khamenei said in nuclear issue, the wrong with Westerners was that they erroneously exaggerated the case, raising hue and cries to get Iran back down from is stances.

"That's for seven years that westerners are endeavoring in the field. These made two things clear for the world people: One is that Iran has gained unexpected progress in nuclear field and the other is that Iran resists and will not retreat despite pressures. This was to Iran's benefit. Now whole the world knows that the US and Europe and their allies failed to overcome Iran and force it to back down despite all the pressures."

Yet in other part of his second sermon, Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the 2009 post-election plot targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran's establishment, saying that the architect, mastermind and manager of the plot has been beyond Iranian borders.

"Iranian people were fully ready, ran the risk and entered the scene, sacrificing their life and property thus passing the test well," added IR Leader.

Ayatollah Khamenei then said that Iranian elite, nation and officials have until today not allowed the enemy to meet its objectives.

Hailing important and essential changes in Iran resulting from the Islamic Revolution, IR Leader said that after triumph of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Islam turned into axis of all affairs and Islamic rules became the yardstick in the legislation process.

Ayatollah Khamenei said political independence as other products of the Islamic Revolution, saying Shah used to seek the American officials' consultation in all affairs, which means dependence on the US.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that decisive conditions now prevail over the Muslim world which can change equations in favor of the Middle East nations.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that the current conditions would favor Arab and Muslim nations and could remove tens of years of tyranny and injustice in these countries.

"Tunisian nation, managed to topple the US ally and a treacherous ruler. Egypt was the first Muslim country to become acquainted with European culture and the first Arab state to set an independent state in the post-World War II," Ayatollah Khamenei added.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution noted that Egypt was also the first country to support the Palestinian nation strongly and is known in the world of Islam as Palestinians’ sanctuary.

"What we are witnessing in Egypt today is a proper response to a big treason that the country’s treacherous dictator did against the Egyptian people," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

IR Leader said the Egyptian nation feels getting humiliated due to Hosni Mubarak regime's support for the Zionist regime and following the America.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the feeling of getting humiliated was the reason for the Egyptian nation's uprising.

Noting that the uprising movement started from mosques with such slogans as "Allah-o-Akbar" Ayatollah Khamenei said the Egyptians will not let the Islamic movement be diverted by the Westerners.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that Americans and Israelis have become helpless in the face of freedom-seeking Egyptians and noted that irreparable defeat awaits the American and Israeli officials in Tunisia and Egypt.

"Today more than the fleeing Tunisian and Egyptian officials, Israelis and the Zionist enemies are the most worried about these events as they know if Egypt stops being their ally and take its rightful place, it would be a great event in the region," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

IR Leader made a reference to Egyptians' fight for dignity and honor and noted that Mubarak's biggest crime was to make Egypt a tool in the hands of America.

"Not only he is not anti-Zionist, but he is the companion, colleague, confidant and servant of Zionists. It is a fact that Hosni Mubarak's servitude to America has been unable to take Egypt one step towards prosperity."

Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Egyptian army would join the masses and will line up against the enemy.

Also pointing to economic hardships in Egypt, Ayatollah Khamenei said Mubarak, an America's henchman, failed to lead Egypt to progress and many Egyptian nations live under the poverty line.

Ayatollah Khamenei also noted that Tunisia's former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was dependent on America and even the CIA.

In another part of his speech, IR Leader supported the government subsidy-cut plan, saying, "This is a huge task. What's of importance is that officials would manage to implement it well and act on it."

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to elimination of subsidy on electricity as the rich class had bigger share in its consumption than the poor.

"The subsidy cut plan will also cover bread and gasoline," Ayatollah Khamenei added.
700 /