US sparked Ukraine war to expand NATO: Iranian leader Sayyed Khamenei

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Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei categorically dismissed on Tuesday Tehran's involvement in the Ukraine war as a sheer lie fabricated by the West during his Solar New Year address at Imam Reza's holy shrine in Mashhad.

After a three-year-long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Iranian leader took the first few minutes to laud the efforts made by the Iranian scientists, doctors, and nurses that helped curb the spread of the virus, underlining how some of them contributed to the production of the Covid vaccines and sacrificed their lives for the scientific feat.

"During the past three years, there was a pandemic, which is mostly harnessed, and I feel obliged to wholeheartedly appreciate all those people who helped to harness that public hazard and disease," the Iranian leader said.

Moreover, the Iranian leader underlined that Tehran would continue supporting the resistance front, dismissing the false claim that the country was participating in the Ukraine war.

"We categorically deny any presence in the Ukraine war. They deceitfully claimed that Iran was involved in the war in Ukraine; it is absolutely wrong; we have no involvement," Sayyed Khamenei said.

He underscored that the US lit the spark that caused the Ukraine war, and it is the greatest benefactor of its continuation, which is why it is preventing it from stopping. "The people in Ukraine are afflicted while weapon companies in the US are benefitting. Thus, the US is an obstacle in the path of ending the war in Ukraine."

Sayyed Khamenei stressed that Iran's enemies were seeking to change the identity of the Islamic Republic and get rid of anything that reminded the people of revolution and Islam.

The Iranian leader went on to highlight how the enemies were opposed to the Islamic Revolution and sought to replace the revolution with a fake western democracy.

"In the past, I have in numerous lectures spoken about social evolution in our society and our political system, and today, too, I will elaborate in more detail about the matter, as it is of great importance. The public opinion needs to be illuminated to know the dire needs of the country and the system," he added.

If public opinion did not welcome an idea, it will not be materialized, he said, and it will merely remain scattered waves in the air. "One will say something and it will be forgotten. Therefore, in order to materialize great demands and ideas, they must be first presented to the people."

"They want to eliminate everything that reminds the people of the revolution and Islam and are opposed to repetition of the Imam's name and teachings," he underscored.

According to the leader, the enemies of the Islamic Republic and revolution are opposed to the leadership of the supreme source of jurisprudence, Velayat-e Faqhih, the Bahman 22nd rallies, the Quds Day, the presidential elections of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the people's strong presence at the scene.

The Iranian leader underlined that the was pro-evolution, noting that he favored reforming the malfunctioning parts of the system, identifying the weak points, and turning them into points of strength in the interest of the nation.

"The enemy targets Islamic democracy, which is hated by global oppression. What they pursue in Iran is bringing to power a regime to be loved by the global oppressors, and a personal system to obey them, and present a deceitful democracy, which is all fake, and in their hands and obedient to them," the Ayatollah explained.

There are some who love the system, he added, but they make mistakes, and in order to launch a good and reformist move they act carelessly and harm Tehran's points of strength. "We must know our points of strength so as to avoid having them harmed" the most important one of which, he said, was "our Islamic society's internal power is very strong and solid."

"The sign of this strength is defeating a chain of enmities during the course of the past few decades. Which country or revolution can you name that was targeted by incessant attacks of the strongest world powers for decades and survived without coming down to its knees?" he asked.

In light of the recent unrest in Iran, the Ayatollah said, the president of a country like America clearly supported the internal unrest in the country. "Some European countries' presidents and governments rapidly presented support for unrest [...] not only in the words of their mouths but also by sending arms and munitions."

The leader said Iran's enemies had prepared themselves to weaken the Islamic Republic, but what happened on the ground was against their will. "The Islamic Republic showed that it is very strong."

"The westerners had also earlier than that tried to segregate Iran. But what happened in practice was that the westerners grew weaker, while their bids strengthened our relations with the Asian countries," he added.

"In some parts, we became a member of major coalitions. With Africa and Latin America, we have strong relations and we are not at odd ends with them. We are ready to work with each of the European countries who will not blindly pursue the US policies. Such advancements are the points of strength of Iran, which are created thanks to piety and trust in God," he concluded.