Your Ignorance Humiliated You In Afghanistan: Iran Leader Tells US

Tehran: Iran's supreme leader has said, successive American setbacks in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan stem from America's "deep ignorance" about regional nations and remarked that "continued resistance is what can prevent America and other international aggressors from interfering in the affairs of the Islamic countries".

Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei in his annual Hajj message released on Monday, also stressed on a "great duty and an untiring endeavor" by Muslims worldwide to bolster hope and build up determination to defeat scientific backwardness, political dependence, and economic and social problems besetting the world of Islam.

"This is the second year that the season of happiness and spiritual exaltation associated with Hajj has turned into a season of separation and regret. The tribulation of the pandemic and perhaps that of the policies dominating over the Holy Ka'bah have deprived the eyes of the eager believers from seeing the Islamic nation's symbol of unity, greatness and spirituality. Thus, this glorious, honorable summit has been covered with clouds and dust", he said.

"Hajj is an act of worship that is filled with mysteries and secrets. The exquisite formation and combination of movement and quietude in it builds the identity of the Muslims and the Muslim community and displays its beauties for the people of the world", Khamenei said.

"We who are the followers of Islam - and who enjoy a large population, vast lands, countless natural resources and nations that are aware and awake - must build the future with our assets and resources", Khamenei said. 

Iran leader rued that over the last 150 years, Muslim nations have not had any role in deciding the fate of their countries and their governments. "Apart from a few exceptions, they have all been led and governed by transgressing western governments while being subject to their greed, interference and malevolence. Scientific backwardness and political dependence in many countries is the product of that passivity and incompetence."

"Today, our nations, our youth, our scientists, our religious scholars, our civic intellectuals, our politicians, our political parties and our people must make up for that dishonorable, embarrassing past. They must stand firm and resist the aggression, interference and wickedness of western powers". Iran leader said in his address to pilgrims.

"All that the Islamic Republic of Iran is saying that has caused the world of Arrogance to become despondent and infuriated is actually an invitation to this kind of resistance. This is a resistance in the face of the interference and evil of America and other transgressing countries so as to take the fate of the world of Islam in one's own hands by relying on Islamic teachings" Ayatollah remarked.

According to Khamenei, America and its "cohorts" are sensitive about the word "resistance" and have decided to show "all kinds of hostility to the Islamic Resistance Front." 

"The truth of the realities in the Islamic region bolsters this hope and builds up this determination. From another perspective, the bitter events in the world of Islam, scientific backwardness, political dependence, and economic and social problems direct us toward a great duty and an untiring endeavor", Iran leader said.

Turning to what he described as resistance front, Khamenei said, "Usurped Palestine is calling for our help. Innocent, bloodied Yemen torments every heart. The plight of Afghanistan concerns everyone. The bitter events in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and some other countries - where the interfering, malevolent hand of the US and its cohorts is completely visible - is stimulating the zeal and determination of all the young people."

He drew satisfaction at what he called, the emergence of the resistance forces throughout this sensitive region, the awakening of nations, and the motivation of the young, enthusiastic generation. 

According to Iran leader, the recent American setbacks in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan  stems from America's "deep ignorance" about regional nations.

"This ignorance led America to be humiliated in Afghanistan. After that raucous invasion 20 years ago and after having used weapons and bombs against defenseless people and civilians, it became stuck in a quagmire and eventually withdrew its forces from that country. Of course, the vigilant Afghan nation should remain watchful concerning America's tools for gathering intelligence and its soft-war weapons, and it must vigilantly fight them."