Sanctions not squeezing Iran: Supreme Leader

TEHRAN, Jan. 10 (MNA) -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that the enemies assume that Iran is in a desperate economic situation, but they are totally mistaken. The Leader made the remarks in an address to thousands of people from the Iranian province of Qom at a meeting in Tehran on Monday. Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Contrary to the assumptions and analyses of the hegemonistic bloc, the Islamic Republic’s establishment is not only not in the situation (Muslims experienced in) Shib Abi Talib but also it is in the situation (they experienced in the battles of) Badr and Kheibar.” In 617 CE, the polytheists of Mecca declared a public boycott against the clan of Banu Hashim in order to compel them to withdraw their protection from Prophet Muhammad (S). It became a source of great trouble for the Muslims, and they were forced to migrate to an area called Shib Abi Talib, where they suffered hunger. The boycott was ended in 619 CE since it did not achieve its purpose. Badr and Kheibar were two battles in which the Muslims defeated the polytheists. In the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Western officials have repeatedly said that the purpose of sanctions and pressures on Iran is to exhaust and drive the people off the scene and to compel officials to reconsider their calculations, but they are mistaken and will not achieve their goals since these discredited people who make miscalculations assume that the Islamic system is in the situation of Shib Abi Talib.” The Iranian nation has gloriously achieved many victories, which the domineering powers have witnessed, he said, adding, “The hegemonistic bloc is making efforts to sap the resolve of the people and officials and force them off the scene through making them afraid of sanctions.” “Weakness and desperation have now taken the place of the hegemonistic bloc’s delusions of grandeur over the years,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.