IRGC Chief: Iran to Destroy Whoever Crosses Its Redlines
TEHRAN (Kayhan Intl.) – Hundreds of thousands of Iranians rallied in Tehran on Monday, condemning the United States and the occupying regime of Israel for instigating violent riots recently in the Islamic Republic.
General Hussein Salami, the chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), warned the United States, the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia not to push Tehran into devastating retaliation over their support for rioters.
"We have shown restraint...We have shown patience towards the hostile moves of America, the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia against Iran,” Salami told demonstrators in Tehran’s Revolution Square.
Addressing the enemies, he said, "You have already tested us in the battlefield and have been slapped hard in the face without being able to answer. Some of those slaps have been seen by the world and some have not been seen… If you cross our redlines, we will destroy you.”
Crowds chanted "Death to America,” and "Death to Israel” in response to Western statements of solidarity with rioters.
"I recommend they (foreign countries) look at the marches today, to see who the real people in Iran are and what they are saying,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.
Citing the Iranian people as the Islamic Republic’s source of energy, General Salami said, "If this accumulated energy is released, no enemy will be safe and secure in any part of the world."
"Today, the final was delivered to the enemy. The sedition which occurred in the recent days was the spin-off of all major fiascos that the Muslim Ummah and the Iranian nation have inflicted on the enemy in different fields over the last 40 years, particularly over the past eight months," Salami said.
He said the enemies have been defeated and are not able to do anything against the country, but still "we will not leave any move unanswered and will get even".
Earlier in the day, Mousavi said measures are being taken to counter U.S. officials’ intervention in the recent unrest which was triggered by the Iranian government’s decision to hike gasoline prices.
The decision was part of Iran’s belt-tightening in the face of U.S. sanctions which have hit ordinary Iranians the hardest. While U.S. officials said they supported the protesters, they imposed new sanctions on Iran last week.
"We think these statements and interventions are made not out of friendship and goodwill with the Iranian people, but aim to stoke up tensions,” Mousavi told reporters here.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: "As I said to the people of Iran almost a year and a half ago: The United States is with you."
"We think these statements and interventions are made not out of friendship and goodwill with the Iranian people, but aim to stoke up tensions,” Mousavi told reporters here.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: "As I said to the people of Iran almost a year and a half ago: The United States is with you."
Pompeo was referring to the time when he curiously said Washington’s tough sanctions were aimed at giving the Iranian people a chance to have better lives.
Pompeo had earlier told BBC Persian that Iranian officials must listen to Washington "if they want their people to eat."
On Sunday, Mousavi denounced Pompeo’s new tweet. "Iran's noble nation knows well that such hypocritical statements are completely void of sincere sympathy," the spokesman said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Pompeo’s tweet "left us puzzled since most of the things that sparked the discontent and other processes that are taking place in Iran were actually brought upon the Islamic Republic by the U.S.’ own actions.”
Iran has been trying to take the sanctions in its stride, working through a raft of measures which could ease up the pain for the most needy families.
The Iranian government this month raised gasoline prices which still remain the cheapest in the world. The decision triggered peaceful protests which turned ugly when "saboteurs” went on a violent rampage, torching banks and gas stations, while armed assailants targeted police and security forces.
Mousavi said Monday, "We recognize the right to peaceful assembly. In recent years, similar incidents have happened where people had certain grievances and were able to express them.”
"However, more unsavory than the recent events was the meddling of foreign countries which we condemn, because Iran regards protests as the right of the people and this is stipulated in the Constitution,” he added.
Mousavi said Iran makes a distinction between peaceful protesters and the armed groups which have taken advantage of the situation to cause mayhem.
Most countries involved in the unrest did so willingly, for which they should accept responsibility, he said, adding terrorist groups also engaged in certain acts which the judiciary and security agencies are investigating.
Mousavi also took aim at Pompeo asking Iranian protesters to send the US any photos or videos of violent protests, with a pledge to use the evidence as the basis for new sanctions.
"I am surprised by certain countries whose foreign secretary and foreign policy spokesman has come to such a low as to ask for videos and pictures from riots and arson,” he said.
Pompeo made the request on Thursday night on Twitter, in both Farsi and English, directing protesters to a "secure messaging service” to send any documentation of protests.
On Sunday, Mousavi denounced Pompeo’s new tweet. "Iran's noble nation knows well that such hypocritical statements are completely void of sincere sympathy," the spokesman said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Pompeo’s tweet "left us puzzled since most of the things that sparked the discontent and other processes that are taking place in Iran were actually brought upon the Islamic Republic by the U.S.’ own actions.”
Iran has been trying to take the sanctions in its stride, working through a raft of measures which could ease up the pain for the most needy families.
The Iranian government this month raised gasoline prices which still remain the cheapest in the world. The decision triggered peaceful protests which turned ugly when "saboteurs” went on a violent rampage, torching banks and gas stations, while armed assailants targeted police and security forces.
Mousavi said Monday, "We recognize the right to peaceful assembly. In recent years, similar incidents have happened where people had certain grievances and were able to express them.”
"However, more unsavory than the recent events was the meddling of foreign countries which we condemn, because Iran regards protests as the right of the people and this is stipulated in the Constitution,” he added.
Mousavi said Iran makes a distinction between peaceful protesters and the armed groups which have taken advantage of the situation to cause mayhem.
Most countries involved in the unrest did so willingly, for which they should accept responsibility, he said, adding terrorist groups also engaged in certain acts which the judiciary and security agencies are investigating.
Mousavi also took aim at Pompeo asking Iranian protesters to send the US any photos or videos of violent protests, with a pledge to use the evidence as the basis for new sanctions.
"I am surprised by certain countries whose foreign secretary and foreign policy spokesman has come to such a low as to ask for videos and pictures from riots and arson,” he said.
Pompeo made the request on Thursday night on Twitter, in both Farsi and English, directing protesters to a "secure messaging service” to send any documentation of protests.
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