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Iran's supreme leader calls Trump 'clown' in rare Friday sermon Iran's supreme leader calls Trump 'clown' in rare Friday sermon
(about 4 hours later)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashes out at west after tumultuous few weeks in Middle EastAyatollah Ali Khamenei lashes out at west after tumultuous few weeks in Middle East
Iran’s supreme leader has described Donald Trump as a “clown” who only pretends to support the Iranian people but will push a poisonous dagger into their backs, as he struck a defiant tone in his first Friday sermon in Tehran in eight years. Iran’s supreme leader has given a rare sermon at Friday prayers in Tehran after weeks of turbulence, including the US killing of a top general, a missile attack on US military bases in Iraq and the accidental downing of an airliner that killed 176 people.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the mass funerals for Iran’s top general, who was killed in a US strike earlier this month, show that the Iranian people support the Islamic Republic despite its recent trials. The “cowardly” killing of Qassem Suleimani had taken out the most effective commander in the battle against the Islamic State group, he said. Striking a defiant tone, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Donald Trump was a “clown” who pretended to support the Iranian people but would push a poisonous dagger into their backs.
The mass public gatherings for funeral processions for the powerful General Qassem Sulemani showed the deep support of the people for the Islamic Republic, he added, and the Revolutionary Guards stood ready to take their fight beyond Iran’s borders.
The address came in the wake of protests triggered by Tehran’s admission last week that it had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane while bracing for possible retaliatory attacks from the US.
The “cowardly” killing of Suleimani had taken out the most effective commander in the battle against the Islamic State group, he said.
In response, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting US troops in Iraq, without causing serious injuries. Khamenei said the strike had dealt a blow to America’s image as a superpower. In part of the sermon delivered in Arabic, he said the real punishment would be in forcing the US to withdraw from the Middle East.In response, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting US troops in Iraq, without causing serious injuries. Khamenei said the strike had dealt a blow to America’s image as a superpower. In part of the sermon delivered in Arabic, he said the real punishment would be in forcing the US to withdraw from the Middle East.
As Iran’s Revolutionary Guard braced for an American counterattack that never came, it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian jetliner shortly after it took off from Tehran’s international airport, killing all 176 passengers on board, mostly Iranians. As Iran’s Revolutionary Guards braced for an American counterattack that never came, it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian jetliner shortly after it took off from Tehran’s international airport, killing all 176 passengers on board, mostly Iranians.
Authorities concealed their role in the tragedy for three days, initially blaming the crash on a technical problem. Their admission of responsibility triggered days of street protests, which security forces dispersed with live ammunition and teargas.Authorities concealed their role in the tragedy for three days, initially blaming the crash on a technical problem. Their admission of responsibility triggered days of street protests, which security forces dispersed with live ammunition and teargas.
Khamenei called the downing of the plane a “bitter accident” that saddened Iran as much as it made its enemies happy. He said Iran’s enemies had seized on the crash to question the Islamic Republic, the Revolutionary Guard and the armed forces. Khamenei called the downing of the plane a “bitter accident” that saddened Iran as much as it made its enemies happy. He said Iran’s enemies had seized on the crash to question the Islamic Republic, the Revolutionary Guards and the armed forces.
He also lashed out at western countries, saying they are too weak to bring Iranians to their knees. He said Britain, France and Germany, which this week triggered a dispute mechanism to try and bring Iran back into compliance with the unraveling 2015 nuclear agreement, were contemptible governments and servants of the United States. He also lashed out at western countries, saying they were too weak to bring Iranians to their knees. He said Britain, France and Germany, which this week triggered a dispute mechanism to try to bring Iran back into compliance with the unravelling 2015 nuclear agreement, were contemptible governments and servants of the United States.
He said Iran was willing to negotiate, but not with the United States. He said Iran was willing to negotiate, but not with the US.
Khamenei has held the country’s top office since 1989 and has the final say on all major decisions. The 80-year-old leader openly wept at the funeral of Suleimani and vowed harsh retaliation against the United States. Khamenei has held the country’s top office since 1989 and has the final say on all major decisions. The 80-year-old leader wept at the funeral of Suleimani and vowed harsh retaliation against the US.
Thousands of people attended the Friday prayers, occasionally interrupting his speech by chanting “God is greatest! and Death to America!” Thousands of people attended the Friday prayers, occasionally interrupting his speech by chanting “God is greatest” and “Death to America”.
Tensions between Iran and the United States have steadily escalated since Trump withdrew the US from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which had imposed restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. Tensions between Iran and the United States have steadily escalated since Trump withdrew the US from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which had imposed restrictions on its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
The US has since imposed crippling sanctions on Iran, including its vital oil and gas industry, pushing the country into an economic crisis that has ignited several waves of sporadic, leaderless protests. Trump has openly encouraged the protesters even tweeting in Farsi hoping that the protests and the sanctions will bring about fundamental change in a longtime adversary. The US has since imposed crippling sanctions on Iran, including its vital oil and gas industry, pushing the country into an economic crisis that has ignited several waves of sporadic, leaderless protests. Trump has openly encouraged the protesters, even tweeting in Farsi, hoping that the protests and the sanctions will bring about fundamental change in a longtime adversary.
After Suleimani was killed, Iran announced it would no longer be bound by the limitations in the nuclear agreement. European countries who have been trying to salvage the deal responded earlier this week by invoking a dispute mechanism that could result in even more sanctions.After Suleimani was killed, Iran announced it would no longer be bound by the limitations in the nuclear agreement. European countries who have been trying to salvage the deal responded earlier this week by invoking a dispute mechanism that could result in even more sanctions.
Khamenei was always sceptical of the nuclear agreement, arguing that the United States could not be trusted. But he allowed President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate, to conclude the agreement with Barack Obama. Since Trump’s withdrawal, he has repeatedly said there can be no negotiations with the United States. Khamenei was always sceptical of the nuclear agreement, arguing that the US could not be trusted. But he allowed the president, Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate, to conclude the agreement with Barack Obama. Since Trump’s withdrawal, he has repeatedly said there can be no negotiations with the US.
Khamenei last delivered a Friday sermon in February 2012, when he called Israel a cancerous tumour and vowed to support anyone confronting it. He also warned against any US strikes on Iran over its nuclear program, saying the US would be damaged 10 times over. Khamenei last delivered a Friday sermon in February 2012, when he called Israel a cancerous tumour and vowed to support anyone confronting it. He also warned against any US strikes on Iran over its nuclear programme, saying the US would be damaged 10 times over.