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‘Recognise your real enemy’: Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urges Gulf nations to ‘confront’ US, Israel
Mojtaba Khamenei said the solutions to challenges faced by the Islamic nations lay in “friendship” and “cooperation.”
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Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Sunday urged countries in West Asia to unite against their enemy. In a written message issued six months after the start of the war in West Asia began, Mojtaba called on countries to “recognise your real enemy, understand its plan, and confront it”, while referring to the United States and Israel.
He said the solutions to challenges faced by the Islamic nations lay in “friendship” and “cooperation.” Mojtaba became the Supreme Leader shortly after his father Ali Khamenei was killed at the start of the war by US-Israeli strikes.
He has not made any public address since his appointment, and authorities have not released any video or audio of him. However, Mojtaba has, from time to time, released written statements which have been aired by Iran's state television.
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During the conflict, Tehran has carried out retaliatory strikes on its neighbouring Gulf nations, claiming that US bases in these countries were being used for attacks on Iran. Iran targeted US military bases across the Middle East including in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, leading to deterioration of ties.
‘Anyone who creates division among Muslims serves purpose of enemies’
In his message on the day Shia Muslims marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, Mojtaba said those who create conflict among Muslims “serve the purpose of enemies.”
“Anyone, in any position, who does anything that leads to division among Muslims and creates conflict in the Muslim community, knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or unintentionally, has served the purpose of the enemies of Islam,” he said, according to his official website.
He further added, “The solution to the problems of the Islamic nations is unity of words, friendship, and cooperation on the path of goodness.”
Apart from the call to Islamic nations, Khamenei also addressed citizens of Iran, urging them to set aside their differences and come together. “Again, this servant's advice to the Iranian people is to not allow any differences to arise among themselves in any way,” he said, in remarks similar to those made by him on Friday.
“I firmly declare that doing anything detrimental to social cohesion is prohibited,” he had said on Friday. He had further called for the gradual de-dollarisation of Iran's economy and boosting economic production to support growth.
(With inputs from AFP)
