Defending Palestine symbol of defending Islam

TEHRAN, May 02 (MNA) – Ayatollah Khamenei has told Ramadan Abdullah US is seeking dominance over the region by waging wars and conflicts. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei received Secretary General of Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement Ramadan Abdullah Shalah and his accompanying delegation on Sunday evening here in Tehran where he emphasized that one reason behind current developments in the region was the efforts of western front, led by the United States, to seize dominance over the region by inflicting massive wars and conflicts. “The extensive war going on in the region is continuation of the same warfare which has been waged against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 37 years ago; and in this confrontation, the issue of Palestine is the main issue and as the Islamic Republic of Iran has been committed to its support for Palestine as a duty, it will continue to fulfill this duty in the future as well.” Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei also asserted that the stance of the Islamic Republic has always been support for Palestinian cause and that it has not been limited to particular times; and as such, support for the Palestinian people was one of first things done after the Islamic Revolution in Iran and supporting Palestinian cause is ‘an essential part of the Revolution.’ “Islamic Revolution triumphed in a time when Americans were enjoying highest rates of power in the region and all issues seemed to be in favor of the US; but the Islamic Revolution blew a new spirit into the body of the Muslim community and totally changed the region,” said the Leader and pointing to different political, economic, propaganda and even military pressures against Iran highlighted that “what is going on in the region today, is in fact confrontation of the United States with the Islamic Establishment in Iran.” He deemed the goal of the current widespread war of the western front led by the US and against the Islamic front as dominance over the region and asserted that the issues such as Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Hezbollah must be analyzed within this framework. Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that in current situation “defending Palestine is symbol of defending Islam;” “Arrogance front has put huge effort into portraying these conflicts as a ‘Shia-Sunni conflict.’” “Syrian government is not Shia, but the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the government in Syria, because those confronting Syria are in fact enemies to core of Islam and serve the interests of the US and Zionist regime,” he said and referred to the sectarian conflict as a colonial and US plot; “the most important issue in current situation in the region is correct realization of the two main sides of this widespread conflict and to realize one’s own stance; because if the distance between the two fronts is not understood correctly, we might stand against Islam unwillingly.” Ayatollah Khamenei reaffirmed that with this perspective in regional issues, Iran sees the United States as main enemy with the Zionist regime standing behind it. He pointed to extensive, unprecedented sanctions of US and its followers against the Islamic establishment in recent years and dubbed the objective of them as discouraging Iran from continuing its path; “but they failed to achieve their goals and will fail in future as well.” The Leader emphasized that the Islamic Republic had survived and thrived despite enmities and hostilities and dubbed it in accordance with Divine promise. Touching upon the issue of Hezbollah in Lebanon which was brought up by Mr. Abdullah, Ayatollah Khamenei reasserted that “Hezbollah of Lebanon is strong enough not to suffer any damages from some pressures and there is no doubt the fear and scare the Zionist regime today has of Hezbollah is much more than the past.” He also underlined the Divine tradition of victory of the Right front and said “the victory is absolute and despite ups and downs, Divine promise will certainly come true for the righteous people.” Ramadan Abdullah Shalah for his part appreciated supports and positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the Palestinian issue and reported on the latest developments in Gaza and West Bank; “people of Gaza are still standing firm in spite of blockade and tough conditions and in the West Bank, in spite of massive oppressions by the Zionist regime, flames of Intifada are still burning due to endeavors and will of Palestinian youths.” “The United States and its followers try to manipulate portray of Iran in order to have the Zionst regime forgotten and also seek disintegration of the region through emphasizing on sectarian conflict; and based on this, pressures against Lebanon’s Hezbollah has escalated, but havng properly recognized the current situation in region, Palestinian Islamic Jihad continues its support for Hezbollah and resists against the US and Zionist regime,” he concluded.