Leader Hails Unity Against ‘Ugly’ U.S. Move

Date: 17 April 2019 - 19:36

News ID: ۶۴۹۴۲

TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday praised growing unity among Iran’s armed forces, including the Army’s support for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) after the U.S. blacklisting of the powerful popular force.
On Monday, President Donald Trump’s designation of the IRGC went into effect, marking the first time the U.S. has formally labeled another country's military a terrorist group.
In a meeting with a group of top Army commanders here on the eve of the National Army Day which Iran marks on Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei said the growing unity among the Iranian armed forces has enraged the enemy.
The Leader also lauded the Army and the IRGC for their "beautiful move” of extending their "hand of fraternity” to each other after Washington’s recent hideous move to blacklist the Guards.
"Any measure that makes the enemy angry is good and correct,” the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei praised the Iranian armed forces as the "elements of national power” and "safe buffers” protecting the nation, warning that the enemies seek to disrupt public calm in Iran by portraying the armed forces as frustrated.
The Leader said the U.S. made baseless remarks about Iran to undermine the morale of the nation.
"The United States is struggling with thousands of billions of debt and various problems, and despite some years after floods and storms in areas such as Carolina they have not yet been able to deal with these problems, but they are ranting and raving to weaken the morale of the Iranian nation.”
The Leader also touched on the crucial role which the Army and the IRGC played in providing relief aid to people affected in recent floods, saying armed forces forces rushed to help those affected after the disaster hit.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian armed forces have been foiling hostile plots with their regional presence, citing their fight against the Daesh terrorist group.
The Leader said the region would have been facing an unclear fate had it not been for the Iranian armed forces’ efforts against Dash terrorists.
"If the Army and the IRGC had not engaged in the fight against Daesh, what would have become of the region and neighboring countries and who would have ruled them?” he said.