Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei made more public comments about the USA, while his supporters cried out for its death:
August 18, 2015
WASHINGTON—Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed that even if a nuclear deal goes through, Iran will not open its doors to foreign influence. Khamenei’s feisty speech Monday came as Iran’s chief negotiator worked to solidify an agreement that for Iran will mean relief from crippling economic sanctions as it accepts curbs and monitoring meant to block it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Ayatollah Khamenei addressed a crowd in Tehran Monday that included members of the press.
“They thought this deal – and it is not clear if it will be passed in Iran or in America – would open up Iran to their influence. We blocked this path and will definitely block it in the future,” he said.
Khamenei’s speech was interspersed with his audience chanting calls for death to America, Israel and Britain. Israel’s government and many U.S. lawmakers fiercely oppose a deal with Tehran because of its support for terrorist groups that have attacked Israel. The cleric’s defiant remarks Monday gave fodder to those who argue that easing economic sanctions against Iran would enable it to expand such influence.
“The Islamic Republic will fully support anyone who stands up to the Israeli regime and embraces the resistance,” he told the crowd. http://www.voanews.com/content/khamenei-iran-will-block-us-influence/2922093.html
Iran had hoped that the West wanted a deal so badly that it would make a deal closer to what Iran wanted–and it has. The deal agreed to last month will give Iran access to about 90-150 billion dollars of frozen assets that Iran can use again. Some of those assets will likely be used for its economy and to partially deal with the Islamic State, but other funds will likely go to terrorist groups and other groups that oppose the USA and/or Israel. ...
News Presenter: John Hickey
