Earlier this week, Khamenei told a group of students that the phrase “Death to America” still rang with “strong support” among Iranians, although a Twitter message from his account on Tuesday explained that it was not aimed at the United States as a nation.
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei continues to claim that the infamous “Death to America” chant is not actually against the American people. “They said they could finish the job in two weeks”, Iranian Fars News Agency cited the lawmakers, among those loath to accept the nuclear deal, as saying.
“The truth is that U.S.’s objectives regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran have not changed at all, and they would not spare a moment if they could destroy the Islamic Republic, but they can’t”, the ayatollah said.
The martyr-nurturing nation of Iran is not at all prepared to abandon the slogan of “Death to America” under the pretext of a nuclear agreement.
“When Iran’s Supreme Leader and thousands of radical Islamists chant ‘Death to America, ‘ they mean exactly what they are saying”, the statement continued.
Yes, the slogan is not directed toward the people of the US, it refers to the Western country’s policies.
The annual state-organized rally drew greater attention this year, as Iranian hard-liners look to counter moderate President Hassan Rouhani’s outreach to the West following a landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers in July. His comments indicate that despite direct contacts at worldwide talks over Iran’s nuclear programme and Syria, the two countries are unlikely to re-establish diplomatic relations any time soon, analysts say. Other routes exist, such as licensing workarounds and direct trade for goods not covered by U.S. sanctions, which result in American products ending up in the Iranian market.
Araqchi said on November 2 that the process of removing the centrifuges may start in the coming days, the Iranian media reported.
In a crucial move to end internal debate, Khamenei last month endorsed the nuclear accord that limits Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for a reduction in global sanctions.
The students who seized the embassy later published documents proving that the compound was indeed engaged in plans and measures to overthrow the Islamic republic.
The authorities have also arrested three pro-reform journalists, one of whom has been critical recently of Khamenei, news agencies reported on Tuesday.
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“We are aware of reports that a USA lawful permanent resident has been arrested in Iran”, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said. “Obviously by “Death to America”, we don’t mean death to the American people”. “Their treatment demonstrates how Iran’s leaders view the United States with utter contempt”.
