During a meeting with regime affiliated student groups, Iran’s Supreme Leader expressed concern over imminent anti-government protests by young Iranians.
Ali Khamenei’s remarks came during a virtual meeting via video conference yesterday. Though the meeting is held every year, this was the first time it was held via video conference because of the coronavirus epidemic.
The recruitment of young Iranians by the “enemy”
“Iran is facing a widespread front of oppression, blasphemy, and imperialism that wishes to make the Islamic state surrender. If they succeed, it will be too costly for the future of the country,” Khamenei told the Tehran “students” mostly affiliated with the paramilitary Basij forces yesterday.
“Everyone, especially those who deal with issues related to young people, should know that just as the issue of youth is important for the future of the country and the Islamic state, the enemy also cares about destroying and bringing the revolution to its knees, and plans to exploit the youth,” he added.
“We should take care of our youth to prevent their recruitment by the enemies,” Khamenei said.
He also said that the “enemy” would not cease its efforts to “disrupt national confidence”.
Fear of Iran’s anti-government protests
The regime’s Supreme Leader warned students at Iran’s universities of “passivity” about carrying out the values of the Islamic Republic and “diversion” from the regime.
He also said that the people had a right to seek justice but “should be seriously careful” that it “not be considered anti-government protests”.
He was referring to mass anti-government protests in November 2019 and January when thousands of Iranians took to the street chanting against the regime and specifically, the Supreme Leader.
Khamenei also implied that if the regime’s supporters did not follow his instructions to “solve the country’s problems”, others would take the lead “whose goals are to attack the state and not solve people’s problems”.
The Supreme Leader also complained that protests were coupled with “aggression and slander” against the regime and that his officials were verbally attacked by students during protests and therefore could not attend their gatherings.
Khamenei called for a “young, Hezbollah government” but stressed that he did not mean that a “thirty-something president” should take the reigns of power.
Not to be confused with the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, the regime refers to its hardline supporters as “Hezbollahi” which means the party of God in Arabic.
He also lamented the loss of the second most powerful man in the regime, Qasem Soleimani, killed during a US attack in Baghdad.
“If Qasem Soleimani had not been martyred, I would have kept him in his post for 10 years to come,” he said
#Iran regime's Supreme Leader: If Qasem Soleimani were still alive, I'd keep him in power for at least 10 more years despite his age.
– A reminder of how much the regime lost with the death of its 2nd most powerful man. Khamenei is still reeling with grief. Good. pic.twitter.com/1SF9Qt045w
— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) May 18, 2020
Expanding the regime’s “revolutionary front”
Khamenei suggested that his few younger followers should expand their “revolutionary” front.
“There might be a difference of opinion between you and others who also believe in the fundamentals of the Islamic revolution. Integrate them and expand the revolutionary front as much as you can,” he said.
He stressed that his followers must “never compromise with those who question the fundamentals of the revolution, or those who put forth incorrect solutions for the country’s problems”.
Crack down on female students and civil liberties at universities
Khamenei also used the opportunity to call for a crackdown on civil liberties in universities.
“I am concerned over this matter and I plead with officials, university heads, relevant ministries, and especially students and young women to recognize the importance of the hijab and gender segregation which has been stressed in Islam and to follow sharia law in universities,” he said.
Praise for the regime’s failed coronavirus management
Khamenei praised the regime’s handling of the coronavirus crisis once again saying that Iran did a better job at managing the virus than Western countries.
The regime has tried but failed to cover up its grave mismanagement of the coronavirus epidemic since the start of the crisis in late January.
According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an opposition group that announces daily fatalities from the virus, 42,600 Iranians have died from the virus.
Iran’s Ministry of Health claimed today that only 7,057 had died despite the regime’s lack of substantial measures.
Source » irannewswire