Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Saturday highlighted the troubles facing the U.S.-led occupation forces in Iraq, predicting that the Iraqis would ultimately triumph.
"The occupiers have gotten themselves caught in a trap like a wolf and, like the Zionists, are repressing the people, but the power of the oppressed Iraqi and Palestinian nations will ultimately prevail over the oppressive Americans and Zionists," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Leader also discussed U.S. President George W. Bush's greater Middle East initiative, which faces widespread regional opposition, saying Washington was taking its cue from Israel in its attempt to gain control of the resources of the region.
"The ruling gang in America, with the Zionists pulling the strings, wants to swallow this rich part of the world through the greater Middle East plan, but contrary to their assumptions, the arrogant powers will choke on this mouthful," Ayatollah Khamenei added.
The Leader said that Bush's recent statements about the importance of Iraqi oil for the United States indicate that his government is making efforts to allay U.S. citizens' concerns about the cost of the occupation of Iraq.
"Thus, the U.S. president revealed his true objective, which is to dominate the oil resources of Iraq and protect the interests of Zionist companies.
"Furthermore, the reality on the ground in Iraq indicates that U.S. slogans about defending human rights and freedom and democracy are false," he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei denounced the U.S. government's brazen support of Israel's targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi over the past two months, saying it was clear proof that the Americans were lying about their so-called campaign against terrorism.
"The U.S. government, in backing the criminal Sharon, says that Israel is defending itself against Palestinian terrorism.
"But this is the same unacceptable reasoning which all dictators of the past used to justify their crimes in the name of defending themselves," the Leader said.
The international condemnation of the U.S. support for the Israeli policy of assassinating Palestinians is a sign of the real weakening and fall of the U.S. regime, Ayatollah Khamenei added.
"When a political system lacks convincing reasons for its actions and positions, it loses its political credibility and slips into decline.
"The U.S. government is now moving on this track and the people of the world will witness the annihilation of this arrogant regime," Ayatollah Khamenei said in conclusion.