Iran`s supreme leader marks "red lines" in the region

ArmInfo. The issues concerning Iran's northwestern neighbors should be resolved by  avoiding the presence of any foreign military forces. Supreme Leader  of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stated at the  joint graduation ceremony of the cadets at various academies of the  Armed Forces of Iran.

As IRNA reports, referring to the incidents in the northwestern part  of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "The issues concerning Iran's  northwestern neighbors should be resolved wisely by relying on  nations, through the cooperation of the armies of neighboring  countries and by avoiding the presence of any foreign military  forces." In this regard, the Leader added, "Of course, our country  and our armed forces are acting in a reasonable manner."

"Other governments had better act rationally as well and prevent the  region from having a serious problem. Those who dig a hole for their  brothers fall in it first."

"Those who think that their security will be ensured by relying on  foreigners should know that they will pay a hefty price for  entrusting their security to foreigners," the Supreme Leader said. 

Describing the importance of security in the country, the Supreme  Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, "The security of a country is  the basic infrastructure for all activities directed towards  progress. Security is the most important issue to consider when  looking at the armed forces."

He stressed the importance of ensuring the security of the country  with the help of the country's own armed forces, saying: "Those who  think that by relying on others they can ensure their security should  know that they will soon be struck a blow [for entrusting their  security to foreigners."

Describing the recent disputes between the Europeans and the United  States as an example of the importance of ensuring the security of  each country by the forces of that country, the Supreme Leader of the  Islamic Revolution stated that "iin the recent tensions between the  Europeans and the United States, in which the Europeans have declared  that the Americans have stabbed them in the back, the main point is  that the Europeans need to secure themselves with their own forces,  regardless of NATO, whose main sponsor is the US."

The presence of the US army in the region is a source of destruction,  the Supreme Leader added in his remarks.

All should try to make independent countries and independent armies  relying on nations and enjoy synergy with armies of the neighbors and  other regional states, the Leader underlined.  Pointing out that the  armed forces in Iran are a strong fortress for the nation and the  country, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "As the Commander of the Faithful  said, 'The army is, by the will of Allah, the fortress of the  people." [Nahjul Balaghah, Letter 53] "This has been realized in our  country in the true sense of the word because today, the Armed Forces  organizations, the Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, the  Police Force, and Basij are acting as a shield in the face of the  hard threats posed by enemies inside and outside the country."

Ayatollah Khamenei described the security of European countries as  linked to or under the control of foreign powers, calling it a  shortcoming for these countries.

"Even developed European countries, when their security is in the  hands of or dependent on a foreign force, even though that foreign  force is not apparently an enemy of that country, feel that they have  a serious shortcoming. The less developed countries whose armies are  completely under the control of the US Armed Forces and the like are  even in a worse situation," he added.

The Supreme called the interference of foreigners in the security  issues of other countries as the most catastrophic disasters for the  latter group, and said, "One of the most catastrophic disasters for  countries occurs when foreigners interfere in their security issues,  planning their war and peace and defining their policies. Today, even  European countries that breathe under the umbrella of NATO want to  move independently."

Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the presence of foreign armies,  including the US army, in the region is a source of destruction and  war, and said, "Everyone should try to make countries and armies  independent and help them to rely on their own nations and to  cooperate with the armies of their neighboring countries and other  armies in the region. This is in the best interests of the region."

"The US military, equipped with all kinds of equipment-conventional  and unconventional-entered our neighboring country, Afghanistan, to  overthrow the Taliban government. They stayed in this country for 20  years, killing people, committing crimes, occupying everywhere,  promoting addictive drugs, and destroying the limited infrastructure  of Afghanistan. And after 20 years, they handed over the government  to the Taliban and left."

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the need not to allow foreign armies to  enter the region and offered this piece of advice to regional  governments, and said, "We as well as regional governments should not  allow foreign armies to travel thousands of miles-with the pretext of  safeguarding their national interests-to interfere in the affairs of  our countries and our armies and to have a military presence. The  armies of regional nations can run the region on their own and you  should not allow others to enter."