Israel will not exist in another quarter century, Iran's supreme
leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said during a speech this week in Tehran,
state-run media report.
"I'd say
(to Israel) that they will not see (the end) of these 25 years," the
Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Khamenei as saying Wednesday at the Imam
Khomeini Mosque.
Khamenei raised
the issue while discussing the recent nuclear deal between Iran and the
so-called P5+1 -- the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, China and
Russia -- by which, among other things, Iran agreed to cut its uranium
stockpiles and centrifuges and limit uranium enrichment in exchange for the
West lifting sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The agreement allows the International Atomic Energy Agency to
access Iranian facilities for verifications. Still, the Obama administration
has faced fierce criticism over the agreement from both sides of the aisle, and especially
from Republicans who have
promised to scuttle the deal despite the fact the President reportedly has
sufficient support to veto any such measure.
Khamenei's
speech promises to make a contentious deal pricklier.
Some of the
agreement's measures will remain in place for 25 years. Seizing on that time
frame, Khamenei noted that some observers say it should allay Israel's fears
about a nuclear Iran during that time.
"God
willing, there will be no such thing as a Zionist regime in 25 years. Until
then, struggling, heroic and jihadi morale will leave no moment of serenity for
Zionists," he said, according to IRNA.
From London, where he is meeting with UK Prime Minister David
Cameron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the opportunity to
reiterate his opposition to the nuclear deal, saying that Khamenei's words
leave its supporters with no "room for illusion."
"He has
made it clear that the U.S. is the Great Satan and that Iran intends to destroy
the state of Israel. This will not happen. Israel is a strong country and it
will become even stronger," Netanyahu said in a statement. "However,
the conclusion that arises from the remarks of the tyrant in Tehran is that all
responsible countries must cooperate in order to stop Iran's terrorism and
aggression which, to my regret, will only increase as a result of the
agreement."
Khamenei said during his speech that the nuclear negotiations
will be the extent of Iran's dealings with the United States. He accused
Washington of holding negotiations with Iran only so it can influence the
country and impose its demands, he said, according to state-run Press TV.
"We agreed
to hold talks with (the Americans) only
on the nuclear issue and for particular reasons, and thank God, our negotiators
did a good job," he said.
The Americans
take a hypocritical approach toward Iran, the supreme leader alleged, saying,
"One (U.S. official) smiles, while another draws up a bill against
Iran."
The late
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, whom Khamenei succeeded in 1989, always described
the United States as "the Great Satan," Khamenei said. (Khomeini, an
opposition leader who was forced into exile in 1963, during the reign of
U.S.-backed Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, took power in 1979 after Pahlavi was
himself forced into exile.)
"Some people
insist on disguising this Great Satan as the savior angel. (However), the
Iranian nation expelled this Satan (from the country); we must not allow that
when we expelled it through the door, it could return and gain influence
(again) through the window," he said.
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