Speaking to a group of pilgrims at Imam Ridh'a (a.s.) shrine in the city of Mashhad, Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the main goal of the political campaigns and military threats by America and other foreign countries is to intimidate and disappoint the people of Iran.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the angry threats made by the enemies against the Iranian nation throughout the year 1390 are indicative of the failure of their actions. He added: "The US government's agents started a campaign throughout the world in order to implement the sanctions and separate the people of Iran from the Islamic Republic, but these efforts will not get them anywhere."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the nuclear issue and human rights are not the real reason behind the enemies' hostility, further adding that the main reason behind the enmities of the bullying powers is that the Islamic Republic is safeguarding the great oil and gas resources of Iran.
"Those who think that backing down in the nuclear issue will put an end to America's enmity are suffering from lack of vigilance because there are certain countries in the region that have nuclear weapons, but America does not show any sensitivity to them. Therefore, the nuclear issue and human rights are not the real reason behind the enmity of the bullying powers, rather the main reason behind these enmities is that the Islamic Republic and the Iranian people proudly protect Iran's oil and gas resources."
His Eminence said that western countries are highly dependent on oil and gas resourcesand added: "They know that their own oil resources will last for at most another 10 years and that their survival will depend on the oil resources in other parts of the world, especially in the Persian Gulf region. For this reason, it is extremely important for them to dominate oil-rich countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the Americans wrongly think that they can force the Islamic Republic to back down through their threats and sanctions. He warned that the Americans will have to pay for this big mistake.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that America's situation is precarious and added: "The current US President came to power with the slogan of change and the people of America voted for him, hoping that their situation would improve. However, on the economic front, today America has a huge debt and is suffering from many problems. On the social front, the Wall Street movement is in full swing in America. On the political front, America's situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt and North Africa is far worse than the past."
His Eminence added: "Of course, the Americans might do dangerous or crazy things. We stress that we do not have a nuclear weapon and that we will not produce one, but we also announce that in case America or the Zionist regime attacks us, we will attack them on the same level that they attack us."
Elsewhere in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei called on all Iranians to avoid consuming foreign products the equivalents of which are also produced inside the country.