Khamenei fires back at Trump in televised Newroz address

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — In Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Newroz speech, Iran's Supreme Leader accused the United States of planning "create oppressive and rebel groups like ISIS to distract people in the region from the Zionist regime [Israel] and keep them occupied with internal conflicts."

 

"Those who interfere in all the affairs of the world protest and ask: 'Why does Iran intervene in the affairs of Iraq and Syria?' What is it to you? The Islamic Republic of Iran has succeeded in neutralizing US plans in the region," said Khamenei.

 

He was speaking on state-television in the city of Masshad on Wednesday.

 

Addressing, Iran's presence in Iraq and Syria through the IRGC, Khamanei said they were there "at the request of the governments and people of those countries."

 

The US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS has announced that "nearly 100 percent" of the territory the extremist group used to control in Iraq and Syria has been retaken by supporting the Iraqi Security Forces, including the Kurdish Peshmerga, and its partnered Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) east of the Euphrates.

 

"Without a doubt, the United States will not reach its goals in the region and, thank God, we will achieve ours," added Khamanei.

 

US President Donald Trump issued a statement on Newroz.

 

"I wish a beautiful and blessed Nowruz to the millions of people around the world who are celebrating the arrival of spring," read part of the statement on Monday.

 

"The history of Nowruz is rooted in Iran, where for millennia a proud nation has overcome great challenges by the strength of its culture and the resilience of its people."

 

In other parts, Trump blasted the Iranian regime and the IRGC.

 

"Today, the Iranian people face another challenge: rulers who serve themselves instead of serving the people," stated Trump.

 

"Twenty-five centuries ago, Darius the Great asked God to protect Iran from three dangers: hostile armies, drought, and falsehood.  Today, the Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) represents all three."

 

Trump claimed that since 2012 the IRGC has spent more than $16 billion of Iranian money "to prop up the Assad regime and support militants and terrorists in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen."

 

"On behalf of the American people, may light prevail over darkness in this New Year, and may the Iranian people soon enjoy a new day of peace, prosperity, and joy," he ended. "Nowroz Pirouz (Happy Nowroz)."