Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met this morning with the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his accompanying delegation. Speaking during the meeting, which was also attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the recent popular movements in the region are the beginning of an essential transformation in Islamic and regional countries. He also expressed hope that in the near future a powerful Islamic alliance will be formed in North Africa.Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his satisfaction with Islamic Awakening in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya and said that the recent popular movements in the region are against the wishes and interests of America, the west and the Zionists. He added: "Therefore, it is necessary to take care not to let America and the west put obstacles in the way of these popular movements and hijack these movements."
Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated: "Of course America and the west will not be able to do anything in the short run, but in any case it is necessary to guard against all kinds of deviation and the hijacking of the popular movements in the region."
His Eminence said that Egypt plays a crucial role in the regional developments and added: "America and the Zionist regime have lost their strong base in Egypt, and America and certain dependent governments are making efforts in the hope that they will manage to divert the movements."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated that individuals and revolutionary movements are liable to change over time and stressed: "It is necessary to prevent this in the case of the regional developments."
Regarding the issue of Libya, Ayatollah Khamenei said: "We are extremely concerned about the situation of Libya because the popular movement of the people of Libya is a serious and genuine uprising, and westerners are determined not to let this genuine popular movement achieve ultimate victory."
His Eminence added: "Westerners are extremely afraid of the establishment of a government with Islamic tendencies in Libya - a country that is very close to Europe - and they want to prevent this from happening."
Elsewhere in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the pressure that the west has mounted on Sudan and stressed: "The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the Sudanese government and people who are determined to preserve their independence, Islamic identity and territorial integrity."
Ayatollah Khamenei added: "The resistance of the Sudanese government and people in the face of the plots and pressure of America, the Zionist regime and the west is praiseworthy."
His Eminence stressed: "In the present conditions, it is necessary for all political groups and parties of Sudan to remain vigilant and unified."
During the meeting, President Omar al-Bashir described the relations between Iran and Sudan as stable and good. He expressed his gratitude for the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran and said: "In spite of the pressure by the west, the Sudanese government and people have resisted and they are hopeful about the future."
The Sudanese President also described the regional developments as positive and said that they are in the interest of Islamic countries. He added: "Definitely the previous conditions of the region will not be restored, and America and the Zionist regime will be harmed most by the regional developments."