Is Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Gravely Ill?

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at an Arba'een ceremony in Iran, September 17, 2022 (photo credit: KHAMENEI.IR)  

Times of Israel: Report says Iran supreme leader ‘gravely ill,’ too weak to even sit up in bed  

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s condition was said to be critical last week after surgery due to bowel obstruction, but to have improved in recent days 

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is gravely ill after undergoing surgery last week for a bowel obstruction and has canceled all public meetings, being too weak to even sit up, The New York Times reported on Friday. 

Khamenei’s health deteriorated early last week when he began experiencing severe stomach pains, the report said, citing four people familiar with the matter. 

The supreme leader had surgery at a makeshift clinic set up in his home, and his office canceled all public appearances for the rest of the week.  

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WNU Editor: Maybe not .... Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei appears at ceremony after reports he's 'gravely ill' (Jerusalem Post).

Is Now The Time To Get Ready For A Post Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Era?

Reuters

Michael Rubin, National Interest: The Jockeying Has Begun for Iran’s Post-Khamenei Leadership

It behooves the United States to plan for post-Khamenei Tehran.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is now eighty-one years old. While his health remains a closely guarded secret, his past medical history, age, and the deaths in recent years of other senior leaders have led Iranians to start considering what a post-Khamenei Islamic Republic might look like.

There are two main contenders to succeed Khamenei: Khamenei’s fifty-one-year-old son, Mojtaba, and Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi. Neither can campaign openly but the nature of the Iranian system is that the Assembly of Experts, the institutional power center which officially promotes the next supreme leader is a rubber-stamp body, and so the informal campaign is more important than the formal.

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WNU Editor: Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei  is eighty-one, and he does have a history of serious health problems. But if his fifty-one-year-old son takes power, it would set a precedent of a family dynasty that I do not think will sit well with most Iranians.

Iran Supreme Leader Says American Troops Will Be Expelled From Iraq And Syria

TEHRAN, May 17 (MNA) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that American occupiers cannot continue presence in Iraq and Syria.

Daily Mail: Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei says US troops will be expelled from Iraq and Syria because 'even allies abhor the American leaders'

* Americans will be expelled from Iraq and Syria, Iran's leader said on Sunday
* Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei renewed Iran's demand for U.S. troops to be withdrawn from the Middle East
* Iran almost got into a full-blown conflict with the United States when a U.S. drone strike killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in January
* Khamenei said Americans' actions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria had led to them being hated during a speech to students
* President Donald Trump said he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass them at sea
* In response, the head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said Iran would destroy U.S. warships if its security was threatened in the Gulf

Iran's supreme leader said Sunday that the United States will be expelled from Iraq and Syria and alleged that even Washington's allies 'abhor' it now.

The US 'will not be staying either in Iraq or Syria and must withdraw and will certainly be expelled', said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to his official website.

Both the US and Iran have weighed into Syria's conflict -- Tehran backing the Damascus regime, while Washington supported the Kurds against the Islamic State group -- and both have been major geopolitical players in Iraq since the toppling of dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.

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WNU Editor: He sounds very sure of himself.

More News On Iran's Supreme Leader Saying American Troops Will Be Expelled From Iraq And Syria

Americans to be ousted from Iraq, Syria: Leader of Islamic Revolution -- MEHR News Agency
Iran Supreme Leader says Americans will be expelled from Iraq and Syria -- Reuters
Iran's Khamenei says US will be expelled from Iraq, Syria -- AFP

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Says The U.S. Can't Do A Damn Thing

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meeting with Iranian nurses. January 1, 2020

Daily Mail: You can't do a damn thing!' Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei hits back at Donald Trump after the president threatened to make him pay a 'big price' for US embassy attack

* Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has strongly condemned deadly US strikes on Iraq
* Supreme leader warned his country was ready to confront threats from the US
* President Donald Trump warned the Islamic republic would pay a 'big price'
* He accused Iran of 'orchestrating' the attack on the US embassy in Baghdad

Iran's supreme leader today strongly condemned deadly US strikes on Iraq and warned his country was ready to confront threats after US President Donald Trump issued one against the Islamic republic.

It was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's first remarks since Sunday's deadly US strikes on the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network in western Iraq.

The United States carried out the raids in retaliation for rocket fire that killed an American civilian contractor at a base in northern Iraq on Friday.

Khamenei said in a speech broadcast on state television: 'I and the government and the nation of Iran strongly condemn this American crime.'

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WNU Editor: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should not underestimate what the U.S. can do. They can do a lot. Iran is already suffering from U.S. sanctions and isolation.

More News On Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Saying The U.S. Can't Do A Damn Thing

Khamenei Defiant After Trump Threat, Says 'You Can't Do Anything' -- Radio Farda
Iran’s Khamenei shrugs off Trump threat to retaliate over Iraq embassy violence -- Times of Israel
US taking revenge on Iraqi popular forces for defeating Daesh: Leader -- Press TV
Iran's Khamenei strongly condemns U.S. attacks in Iraq: TV -- Reuters

Iran's Supreme Leader Wants More Advanced Weapons

Reuters: Khamenei tells Iran's Guards to develop more advanced, modern weapons

DUBAI (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards on Sunday to develop more advanced and modern weapons, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, amid rising regional tensions.

“The Guards should have advanced and modern weapons ... Your weapons should be modern and updated. It should be developed at home. You need to develop and produce your weapons,” Khamenei said in a speech at Imam Hussein Military University in Tehran.

Tensions in the Gulf have spiked since the United States, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France and Germany publicly blamed Iran for Sept. 14 attacks on the world’s biggest crude oil-processing facility in Saudi Arabia.

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Update: Iran Leader Urges IRGC to Develop More Advanced Weapons (Iran Front Page)

WNU Editor: In the past Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons .... Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei Claims Nuclear Weapons Absolutely Forbidden In Islam (Eurasia Review). But you have to wonder if today's remarks bu the Supreme Leader is a green light to develop and manufacture nuclear weapons?

Iran Will Never Hold Talks With The U.S. 'At Any Level', Says Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

CNBC: Iran ‘will never talk to America,’ supreme leader says ahead of UN General Assembly meetings

* Previous U.S. offers of talks without preconditions were sharply rescinded in the wake of Saturday’s attacks on Saudi Arabia’s largest oil facilities.
* Khamenei’s words come ahead of the high level meetings at the UNGA scheduled for next week, and effectively kill any chance of talks between U.S. and Iranian leaders.
* Washington’s sanctions on Iran have crippled its oil exports and much of its economy, sending inflation as high as 50% this year.

DUBAI — Iran will never hold talks with America, the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on state television Tuesday morning, effectively killing chances for a rapprochement some had anticipated between leaders of both countries during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings taking place this week and next.

“Iranian officials will never talk to America .... this is part of their (U.S.) policy to put pressure on Iran ... their policy of maximum pressure will fail,” Khamenei said.

Khamenei’s words come ahead of the high level meetings at the UNGA scheduled for next week, and amid fresh acrimony between Washington and Tehran following major attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure that U.S. officials have blamed on Iran. The attacks on Saudi Aramco’s massive Abqaiq and Khurais plants, which was claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, forced the state oil giant to shut down half of its production, sending oil prices up by double digits.

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WNU Editor: Never is a very long time.

Iran's Supreme Leader Says No To Diplomacy

Reuters: Iran to keep reducing nuclear deal commitments in stand-off with U.S.: supreme leader

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran’s supreme leader upped the ante in a volatile stand-off with the United States on Tuesday, warning Tehran would continue removing restraints on its nuclear program and retaliate for the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker.

Tensions have spiked since U.S. President Donald Trump last year abandoned world powers’ 2015 nuclear deal with Iran under which it agreed to curtail its enrichment of uranium in return for the lifting of global sanctions crippling its economy.

European parties to the pact decided on Monday not to trigger the deal’s dispute mechanism in favor of pursuing more talks and avert any U.S.-Iranian military conflict, but took no action to shield Iran against a sanctions clampdown by Trump.

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Update #1: Rejecting Diplomacy, Iran’s Top Leader Vows to Avenge ‘Vicious’ Seizure of Tanker -- The New York Times
Update #2: UK Piracy Will Not Be Left Unanswered - Iranian Leader on Oil Tanker Seizure -- Sputnik

WNU Editor: More threats from Iran.

Update #3: U.S. Secretary of State is saying that the Iranians are ready to negotiate .... Oil Dives As Trump Says No Iran Regime Change; Pompeo Says They're "Ready To Negotiate" (Zero Hedge).

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Unleashed

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves his hand, as he delivers a speech on the first day of Persian New Year, also known as Nowruz in Mashhad, northeast of Tehran, Iran March 21, 2019. Khamenei.ir/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters: Iran will boost defence capabilities despite U.S. pressure - Khamenei

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran is determined to boost its defence capabilities despite mounting pressure from the United States and its allies to curb its ballistic missile programme, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday.

“We need to take Iran to a point that enemy understand that they cannot threaten Iran ... America’s sanctions will make Iran self-sufficient,” Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live on state TV.

President Donald Trump withdrew the United States last May from a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers, saying it gave too much away to Iran, and reimposed far-reaching U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. sanctions aim to force Iran to accept tougher restrictions on its nuclear work, drop its ballistic missile programme and scale back support for militant proxies in Middle East conflicts from Yemen to Syria.

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More News On Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Khamenei decides Iran likely sticking with nuke deal until end despite sanctions- analysis -- Jerusalem Post
Khamenei says Iran has successfully resisted U.S. sanctions -- Reuters
Iran struggling under reimposed sanctions, country’s leaders say -- Times of Israel/AFP
Iran leader calls economy 'urgent problem' -- AFP
Iran's Supreme Leader Calls EU Mechanism for Trade With Tehran 'Bitter Joke' -- Sputnik
Khamenei Condemns ‘Joke’ European Effort to Salvage Nuclear Deal -- Bloomberg

Iran's Supreme Leader Appears To Need Missile Launchers Deployed To Places That He Visits

Imagery by DigitalGlobe

Quartz: Satellite images show a missile launcher following Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei

Last month, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei went to the Sacred Shrine of Imam Ridha in Masshad, Iran, to attend the ritual cleaning of the Muslim saint’s tomb. But being the supreme leader of Iran is not all rites and photo opportunities: There’s also the Great Satan, fractious internal politics, and arch-nemesis Israel to worry about.

That may be why Khamenei was spotted apparently bringing a Russian-built missile launcher on a trip from Iran’s capital, Tehran, to Masshad, in the north-eastern corner of the country.

The maneuvers shine a light on the defensive mindset of the regime during a critical diplomatic effort this month: At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Iran will be hunting for international support to relieve US sanctions scheduled to resume on Nov. 4, because president Donald Trump left a global agreement to restrict Iran’s nuclear weapons research.

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WNU Editor: I suspect that every major leader in the world has some type of air defense over him or her. Washington D.C. apparently has this defense network .... America's Capitol Is Guarded By Norwegian Surface-To-Air Missiles (FoxTrot Alpha).

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Urges The Military To 'Scare Off' The Enemy

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks at the Hussayniyeh of Imam Khomeini in Tehran, Iran, August 13, 2018. Official Khamenei website/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters: Khamenei urges Iran's military to 'scare off' enemy

DUBAI (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iran’s armed forces on Sunday to increase their power to “scare off” the enemy, as the country faces increased tension with the United States.

His statement came just before Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said it fired seven missiles in an attack on Iraq-based Iranian Kurdish dissidents that killed at least 11 people on Saturday.

“Increase your power as much as you can, because your power scares off the enemy and forces it to retreat,” Khamenei’s official website quoted him as saying at a graduation ceremony for cadets of Iran’s regular armed forces.

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WNU Editor: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remarks follow this .... Iran's Revolutionary Guards Have Confirmed That They Launched Missile Strikes On Kurdish Rebels In Iraq (September 9, 2018)

Iran's Supreme Leader Says Europe Cannot Save The Nuclear Deal Or Help The Iranian Economy

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his cabinet meet the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran August 29, 2018. Official President.ir Website/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters: Iran's Khamenei says Europe cannot save nuclear deal, help economy

LONDON (Reuters) - Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday cast doubt on the ability of European countries to save Iran’s 2015 nuclear accord with world powers, now under threat following a U.S. withdrawal, and said Tehran might abandon the agreement.

Khamenei cautioned President Hassan Rouhani not to rely too much on European support as he came under increased pressure at home over his handling of the economy in the face of U.S. sanctions, with key ministers under attack by parliament.

Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s exit from an international accord that would curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, European powers have been scrambling to ensure Iran continues to get the economic benefits needed to keep it in the nuclear deal.

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WNU Editor: The Iranian Supreme leader is right.

More News On Iran's Supreme Leader Saying That Europe Cannot Save The Nuclear Deal

Khamenei says Iran may ‘set aside’ nuclear deal -- Times of Israel/AFP
Khamenei Sees No Hope of Europe Salvaging Iran Nuclear Deal -- Bloomberg
Iran's supreme leader says government should 'give up hope' on Europe to save nuclear deal -- FOX News
Iran’s Khamenei says negotiating with US not possible ‘at any level’ -- Financial Times

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Says He Made A Mistake In Allowing Nuclear Talks In 2015

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks at the Hussayniyeh of Imam Khomeini in Tehran, Iran, August 13, 2018. Official Khamenei website/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters: Iran Supreme Leader admits mistake over nuclear talks

(Reuters) - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has admitted he made a mistake in allowing the country’s foreign minister to speak to his U.S. counterpart during negotiations that led to a 2015 international nuclear agreement.

International sanctions on Iran were lifted when the pact with world powers came into force in 2016, but the expected level of foreign investment to help revive the economy has never materialized. Then this May President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement and is now reimposing U.S. sanctions in stages.

Khamenei, who rarely admits in public to making errors, said he had done just that over the nuclear talks. “With the issue of the nuclear negotiations, I made a mistake in permitting our foreign minister to speak with them. It was a loss for us,” he said.

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WNU Editor: And the alternative of not talking and having complete sanctions is better? The Supreme leader is not suffering, but his people are. And while the Iranian government may have had the support of its base in the past, it is his base that is protesting now .... What We Know About Iran's Fresh Rash Of Street Protests (RFE).

Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei: No War And No Negotiations With Trump

CNN: Iran's Supreme Leader: No war or talks with US over sanctions

(CNN)Iran's Supreme Leader is standing firm against reimposed US sanctions, saying Monday there would be "no war, nor will we negotiate with the United States."

"Beside sanctions, they [the US] talk about war and negotiations," Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said in a speech published on his official website.

"They talk about a spirit of war to frighten the cowards," said Khamenei, adding that they US played a "poor game" when it came to negotiations.

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More News On Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Remarks Of No War And No Negotiations With Trump

Iran's top leader says no war or talks with US -- ABC News/AP
Iran's Khamenei rejects Trump offer of talks, chides government over economy -- Reuters
Iran Will 'Never' Start a War With the U.S., Ayatollah Khamenei Says -- Newsweek
Khamenei rules out any military confrontation with U.S.: TV -- Reuters
Iran's Khamenei: No war, no negotiations with Trump -- Al Jazeera
Iran's supreme leader: Government's economic mismanagement worse than U.S. sanctions -- Haaretz
Khamenei: Mismanagement More Harmful Than US Sanctions -- VOA
Iran's problems 'internal, not just sanctions': Khamenei -- AFP

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Calls Negotiations With US 'Lethal Poison'

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei addresses a meeting with thousands of Iranians from different provinces in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on August 1, 2016. © khamenei.ir

New York Times: Iran’s Top Leader Distances Himself from Nuclear Pact, Which He Once Supported

Iran’s top leader distanced himself on Monday from the nuclear agreement reached with major powers a year ago, accusing the United States of failing to honor pledges in the accord and citing “the futility of negotiations with the Americans.”

In blunt remarks prominently featured in Iran’s state news media, the senior leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the talks that led to the nuclear agreement in July 2015 should be regarded as an instructive lesson on the dangers posed by interactions with governments he regards as enemies.

Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the final word on Iran’s national security and other vital issues, did not suggest that he wanted to abandon the agreement, which took effect in January and sharply limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of many Western economic sanctions.

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More News On Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Calling Negotiations With US 'Lethal Poison'

Iran's Khamenei: Nuclear Deal Proves Pointlessness of Negotiating With US -- Haaretz
Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Dismisses Talks With US as 'Lethal Poison' -- Newsweek
Khamenei says talks with US are ‘lethal poison’ to Iran -- Times of Israel
Khamenei: no ‘tangible’ benefits after nuke deal -- AP
Khamenei: Average Iranian Not Benefiting From Nuclear Deal -- AP

Who Will Replace Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei After He Has Died?

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads Friday prayers in Tehran. leader.ir/Reuters

Asharq Al Awsat: Rafsanjani Uncovers Secret Details for Choosing Khamenei’s Successor

London-Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani revealed that secret negotiations are undergoing with hundreds of people to choose a successor of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Hashemi told Qanoun newspaper that a special committee at the Assembly of Experts had secret negotiations with hundreds of people on the matter of choosing a successor for Khamenei.

Chairman Rafsanjani went on to explain that at least two or three persons are following the cases of possible candidates and reporting back to the Assembly of Experts.

Rafsanjani explained that the special committee, that follows Article 107 of the Iranian Constitution, is assessing the candidates. He added that according to the law, the committee is required to study and evaluate every candidate, whereas the Assembly will choose Khamenei’s successor after his death.

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Update: Why Khamenei wants the next Supreme Leader to be ‘revolutionary’ (Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, Al Arabiya)

WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction .... whoever they choose will not change the role that the mullahs play in running and ruling Iran. Where it may change is in foreign relations .... in particular on the wars that are now waging throughout the Middle East. The generals who run the Iranian Revolutionary Guard want more support in these conflicts, and I will not be surprised if they will have a say in choosing the next Supreme Leader.

Has Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini Died?

Ayatollah Khamenei has no appointed heir. Caren Firouz/Reuters

WNU Editor: I have been reading persistent reports on social media and Middle Eastern news websites (the comment thread) that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini has died. None of the International wire services are carrying it ... and Iranian media .... Press TV, Fars News Agency, Tasnim News Agency are still quiet. Is this report is true? I will have to say no. If Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini was dead .... this news would be on Iranian TV within the hour (if not sooner). But .... these reports are still making the rounds.

Iran's Supreme Leader Rules Out Any Cooperation With The U.S. And The U.K. Against The Islamic State

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei © Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters

BBC: Iran will not co-operate with the US, Khamenei says

Iran's Supreme Leader has said Tehran will not co-operate with the US and UK on regional issues.

In a televised address, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said US aims in the region were "180 degrees opposed to Iran's".

Mr Khamenei accused the US of reneging on the West's nuclear deal with Iran and said trusting them was a "mistake".

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More News On Iran's Supreme Leader Ruling Out Any Cooperation With The U.S. And The U.K. Against The Islamic State

Iran's Top Leader Rules Out Cooperation With US Against ISIS -- AP
Iran rules out helping America to bring down ISIS after describing Washington as its main enemy (while Britain's 'evil' and Israel's 'cancerous') -- Daily Mail
Iran's Khamenei says U.S., 'evil' Britain can't be trusted: state TV -- Reuters
Iran’s Supreme Leader Slams ‘Big Enemies’ US And UK, Rules Out Cooperation On Regional Issues -- IBTimes
'Great Satan' USA & 'evil' Britain not to be trusted - Iran's leader -- RT
Khamenei says Iran will never cooperate with US against ISIS -- RUDAW

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: US Is Main Enemy, ‘Zionist Regime’ A Close Second

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran, August 30, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Hamid Forootan/ISNA

Times of Israel: Khamenei: US is main enemy, ‘Zionist regime’ a close second

In meeting with Palestinian Islamic Jihad chief, Iranian supreme leader says ‘defending Palestine’ is ‘defending Islam’

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that the United States is the Middle East’s main enemy, with the “Zionist regime” a close second.

Speaking at a meeting in Tehran on Sunday with the head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Ramadan Abdullah, Khamenei said that looking at the turmoil in the region in a “macro” sense, the US was clearly to blame, with Israel following closely behind. PIJ is an Islamist terrorist organization.

In comments carried by Iranian websites, some of which were then posted to Khamenei’s Twitter page, the Iranian leader unleashed a series of anti-US and anti-Israel remarks.

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WNU Editor: He is also warning the U.S. that they should flee the Persian Gulf .... Iranian Supreme Leader Warns U.S.: Flee the Persian Gulf  (Washington Free Beacon)

Iran's Supreme Leader Bans Any Negotiations With The U.S.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks live on television after casting his ballot in the Iranian presidential election in Tehran June 12, 2009. REUTERS/CAREN FIROUZ/FILES

Reuters: Iran's supreme leader bans negotiations with the United States

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday banned any further negotiations between Iran and the United States, putting the brakes on moderates hoping to end Iran's isolation after reaching a nuclear deal with world powers in July.

Khamenei, the highest authority in the Islamic Republic, already said last month there would be no more talks with the United States after the nuclear deal, but has not previously declared an outright ban.

His statements directly contradict those of moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who says his government is ready to hold talks with the United States on how to resolve the conflict in Syria, where the two countries back opposing sides.

WNU Editor: I call this "giving the finger" to President Obama. Interesting .... the rumor mill is that John Kerry and Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are probably going to get the Nobel Peace Prize this Friday.

More News On Iran's Supreme Leader Banning Any Negotiations With The U.S.

Supreme leader: Iran against talks with US because it means "infiltration" -- Trend
Ayatollah Khamenei: No Talk with US -- Tasnim News Agency
Iran’s Supreme Leader Bars Further Talks With U.S. -- WSJ
Ayatollah Khamenei: Iran's Supreme Leader says negotiations with the US are 'banned' -- The Independent
Iran's supreme leader: No more talks with the U.S. -- Politico
Iran's Khamenei: No more talks with U.S. -- Washington Examiner

Iran's Supreme Leader Calls For A Stronger Iranian Military

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks live on television after casting his ballot in the Iranian presidential election in Tehran June 12, 2009. REUTERS/Caren Firouz/Files

Reuters: Khamenei calls for stronger Iranian military to deter enemies

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader called on the armed forces on Thursday to increase their capabilities in order to protect the Islamic Republic's influence in the Middle East and deter would-be attackers.

"The armed forces must urgently increase their readiness, so that the enemy dare not think of attacking," Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying by Iranian agencies in a meeting with army commanders.

Khamenei often invokes an unspecified "enemy" when talking about Western powers, particularly the United States and Israel, which he suspects of plotting to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

WNU Editor: He has made these remarks before, but I guess Russia's intervention in the Syrian civil war has embolden him.