Leader Urges Vigilance Against U.S. Infiltration

TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called on the Iranian nation to be on alert for “political and cultural” infiltration by the United States.

Date: 16 September 2015 - 22:47

News ID: ۱۸۴۵۰

"The main purpose of the enemies is for Iranians to give up on their revolutionary mentality,” Ayatollah Khamenei told a gathering of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders and personnel here.
"Enemy means global arrogance, the ultimate symbol of which is the United States,” the Leader said.
"Economic and security breaches are definitely dangerous, and have dire consequences,” the Leader said.
"But political and cultural intrusion by the enemy is a more serious danger that everyone should be vigilant about,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.
The enemies "are waiting for a time when the nation and system fall asleep, for example in 10 years when I may not be here, to realize their objectives”, the Leader said.
"But the nation and the authorities won’t let that happen.”
Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the final say on all policy matters, has repeatedly warned against the rise of Western influence in Iran after the nuclear agreement with world powers struck two months ago.
Iran and the U.S. severed diplomatic ties in 1980 after a hostage crisis when students took over the American embassy in Tehran.
Ayatollah Khamenei said last week that Iran would not hold any negotiations with the U.S. beyond the nuclear issue.
The IRGC was formed by the founder of the Islamic Republic the late Imam Khomeini soon after the 1979 revolution to defend the Islamic Republic from internal and external threats.
For cultural infiltration, said the Leader, the enemy seeks to distort and undermine beliefs which underpin society.
In order to achieve political infiltration, Ayatollah Khamenei said, the enemy tries to sneak into decision-making centers.
"When a country is affected by such political infiltration, the direction in which that country moves will be according to the will of hegemonic powers,” the Leader noted.
"If we are watchful, the enemy will be disappointed.”
The Leader called for efforts to further reinforce the foundation of the Islamic Revolution and of a revolutionary way of though, saying, "This is the fundamental responsibility of the IRGC’s elite and all revolutionary elite in the country.”
Separately, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the need to enhance Iran’s passive defense mechanism to boost the nation’s defense capability.
The Leader made the remarks in a decree in which he appointed Brigadier General Gholamreza Jalali as head of Iran’s Passive Defense Organization.
"It is necessary that effective measures be adopted in the passive defense domain … and ensure the country’s immunity and necessary defense preparedness against the enemy,” read part of the Leader’s decree.
The three branches of government, especially the executive one, are expected to offer whatever support required to help the top general better discharge his responsibilities, read the decree.
"Passive defense” refers to measures taken, without using any weapons, to reduce the probability of and minimize the effects of damage caused by hostile action.
By contrast, "active defense” refers to direct confrontation with the enemy using military hardware in order to repel attacks and counter threats.