Khamenei: US cannot topple Islamic Republic

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has said the United States will never succeed in toppling the Islamic Republic, warning that even the world’s strongest military could suffer crippling blows.

Speaking at a meeting with people from East Azerbaijan province on February 17, Khamenei referred to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, Caliber.Az reports per Iranian media. 

“The US president said in one of his recent remarks that for 47 years America has been unable to eliminate the Islamic Republic; he complained about it to his own people. For 47 years, America has not been able to eliminate the Islamic Republic. That is a good admission,” Khamenei said. “I say: You, too, will not be able to do this.”

His comments come days after Trump said that regime change in Iran would be “the best thing that could happen,” in one of his clearest endorsements yet of replacing the country’s clerical establishment.

Khamenei also addressed remarks by the US president that the American military is the strongest in the world.

“The strongest army in the world may at times receive such a slap that it cannot rise,” he said. “They keep saying we have sent an aircraft carrier toward Iran. Very well, an aircraft carrier is a dangerous device, but more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea.”

The statements come amid heightened rhetoric between Tehran and Washington over military deployments and regional security, as a new round of negotiations mediated by Oman is under way in Geneva.

Addressing the prospect of talks with the United States, Khamenei said Washington’s threats and demands reflected an attempt to dominate Iran.

“These statements by the US president, sometimes threatening, sometimes saying this must be done or that must not be done, mean they seek domination over the Iranian nation,” he said. “Iran will not pledge allegiance to corrupt leaders currently in power in the United States.”

By Sabina Mammadli