Tehran, June 5: Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has on Wednesday stated Tehran will continue to resist the United States political and economic pressure, amid escalated tensions in the Middle East.
On Tuesday, the supreme chief addressed a crowd in the capital Tehran to mark the 30th anniversary of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s death, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
While not mentioning the US by name, Khamenei said his nation’s defiance was its only way, according to Al-Jazeera news reports.
During a speech broadcasted on state-run TV, he said, “Standing and resisting the enemy’s excessive demands and bullying is the only way to stop him.”
Tensions between the US and Iran have risen in recent months as Washington sent a plane carrier along with B-52 bombers to the Iranian region on an unexplained “threat” from Tehran.
Last week, US President Donald Trump has said Iran “has a chance to be a great country, with the same leadership. We’re not looking for regime change. I just want to make that clear. We’re looking for no nuclear weapons”.
Reacting to those comments, Khamenei said: “The US president recently said Iran can achieve development with its current leaders. That means they do not seek regime change … But this political trick will not deceive Iranian officials and the Iranian nation.”
“In the missile programme, they know we have reached a point of deterrence and stability. They want to deprive us of it, but they will never succeed,” he said.
He said US sanctions have generated a hardship for Iran, calling on the government to make efforts for improving economic conditions and making it a top priority.