Khamenei: Iran to continue backing resistance forces in the region

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday that Iran had no intention of curbing its influence in the Middle East and urged Arab youth to stand up to US pressure.

“Young Arabs, you should take action and the initiative to control your own future ... Some regional countries act like their own people’s enemies ... We will continue to back oppressed nations and resistance forces in the region,” Khamenei said in a speech, broadcast live on television.

Iran’s top leader warned of the country’s harsh respond if attacked by enemies of Tehran, saying that the country’s ballistic missile program was essential for defense purposes despite western demands to curb it.

“Tehran will attack 10 times more if attacked by enemies ... The enemies don’t want an independent Iran in the region ... We will continue our support to oppressed nations ... our enemies have staged economic and psychological warfare against us and new American sanctions are part of it,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live on state TV.