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Khamenei: Iran backs all Muslim uprisings except pro-U.S.
June 4, 2011 - 16:04 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran backs all Muslim uprisings except those stirred
up by Washington, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on
Saturday, June 4, a stance that explains Tehran's lack of support for
anti-government protesters in ally Syria.
According to Reuters, addressing a crowd commemorating the death of
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Khamenei said the leader of the 1979
Islamic Revolution had predicted events in the Middle East over the
last few months where Arabs have risen up against oppressive regimes.
Tehran has also voiced support for pro-democracy movements elsewhere
in the region, especially Bahrain where the Sunni monarchy was aided
by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to put down democracy
protests led by majority Shi'ite Muslims.
But the Islamic Republic, which crushed its own mass protests after
the disputed re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in
June 2009, has not expressed backing for demonstrators in Syria where
President Bashar al-Assad is a key regional ally.
"Our stance is clear: wherever a movement is Islamic, popular and
anti-American, we support it," Khamenei told the crowd which
punctuated his speech at Khomeini's mausoleum on the outskirts of
Tehran with chants of "Death to America."
Without mentioning Syria by name, he continued: "If somewhere a
movement is provoked by America and Zionists, we will not support it.
Wherever America and the Zionists (Israel) enter the scene to topple a
regime and occupy a country, we are on the opposite side."
June 4, 2011 - 16:04 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran backs all Muslim uprisings except those stirred
up by Washington, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on
Saturday, June 4, a stance that explains Tehran's lack of support for
anti-government protesters in ally Syria.
According to Reuters, addressing a crowd commemorating the death of
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Khamenei said the leader of the 1979
Islamic Revolution had predicted events in the Middle East over the
last few months where Arabs have risen up against oppressive regimes.
Tehran has also voiced support for pro-democracy movements elsewhere
in the region, especially Bahrain where the Sunni monarchy was aided
by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to put down democracy
protests led by majority Shi'ite Muslims.
But the Islamic Republic, which crushed its own mass protests after
the disputed re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in
June 2009, has not expressed backing for demonstrators in Syria where
President Bashar al-Assad is a key regional ally.
"Our stance is clear: wherever a movement is Islamic, popular and
anti-American, we support it," Khamenei told the crowd which
punctuated his speech at Khomeini's mausoleum on the outskirts of
Tehran with chants of "Death to America."
Without mentioning Syria by name, he continued: "If somewhere a
movement is provoked by America and Zionists, we will not support it.
Wherever America and the Zionists (Israel) enter the scene to topple a
regime and occupy a country, we are on the opposite side."