Saturday February 9, 2019
Ayatollah Khamenei has defended the chant "Death to America" as being directed at "evil" US leaders and not towards the American people. He also said Europe could not be trusted.
Iran's supreme leader has clarified the meaning of a standard chant at anti-US rallies, saying the slogan "Death to America" was directed at US leaders, and not towards its people.
In remarks marking the 40th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that ousted a Western-backed monarchy, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told air force officers that the "US regime is the embodiment of evil, violence, crisis-making and a warmonger."
"The US is the embodiment of evil, then they complain why we chant 'Death to America,'" he repeated. "As long as America continues its wickedness, the Iranian nation will not abandon 'Death to America,'" he said.
"'Death to America' means death to the few people ruling the country; we don't mean the American nation," Khamenei explained. "'Death to America' means death to [President Donald] Trump, [National Security Adviser] John Bolton, and [Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo. It means death to American rulers."
The 79-year-old went on to say: "The US is a wicked enemy, united with the Zionists [Israel] and the reactionary regimes of the region [Saudi Arabia and Gulf Arab monarchies]."
"Yemen is one example of it. The Saudis are committing the crimes. But the US is their partner in crime," he said. "They target hospitals, bazaars, and gatherings of people. They are criminals. This is the face of the United States."
Trump references Iran in State of the Union
Trump recently pulled the United States out of a 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
In his State of the Union address this week, Trump said among other things: "My administration has acted decisively to confront the world's leading state sponsor of terror — the radical regime in Iran."
"We will not avert our eyes from a regime that chants death to America and threatens genocide against the Jewish people," Trump said.
Europe cannot be trusted
European parties to the nuclear accord have tried to save the nuclear deal, establishing a channel to facilitate trade despite issuing a statement of concern over Iran's ballistic missile program and influence in the Middle East.
Khamenei said Europe "cannot be trusted" just like the United States.
"Even now, regarding Europe, I am not calling for cutting ties with them. However, the point I am trying to make here is about trust."