TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday dismissed the US talk of anti-Iran options being on the table as "a mere bluff", and slammed as “stupid” the calls for a halt to Iran’s defense development.







In a meeting with a group of Army commanders and personnel in Tehran on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the country’s progress in the military and defense sphere, noting that such local achievements are among the best scientific and technological advances in Iran.

What makes Iran’s military development a “very extraordinary job” is that they all have been achieved under pressures and unprecedented sanctions, the Leader explained, stressing the need for the incessant and “accelerated” continuation of that progress.

Imam Khamenei then pointed to the voices of opposition to Iran’s progress in defense fields from “ill-wishers of the Iranian nation”, saying that’s why they have focused their anti-Iran propaganda campaign on the country’s military achievements, particularly the missiles and drones.

The Leader, however, made it clear that “rational logic” as well as Islamic teachings, stipulated in the holy book Quran, dictate that defensive progress should go on.

The Supreme Leader further referred to the “flagrant threats” the US officials issue against Iran every now and then, arguing that the notion of “options on the table” is nothing but a “bluff”.

“On the other hand” Ayatollah Khamenei added “they (Americans) say the Islamic Republic of Iran should stop progress in the field of defense, which is a stupid remark.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will never accept such stupid remarks, and the Iranian nation has proved that if it comes under attack, it will defend itself quite powerfully, and will unitedly fight off the illogical attacker like a solid fist.”

Ayatollah Khamenei then explained that despite the upgrade in Iran’s military power, the country “will never pose a threat to the regional and neighboring countries.”

“Today, the biggest threats to the world and the region are the US and the Zionist regime (of Israel), which interfere wherever they want and start massacre without commitment to the moral and religious fundamentals,” the Leader pointed out.

The deplorable incidents in Yemen and the support of the US and the West for the aggressors is an example of the behavior that causes insecurity in the world, the Leader underlined, noting that Iran stands firm to ensure security for itself and for the others.

“Protecting security of the country, borders and public life are among the major duties of the military and law enforcement officials,” Ayatollah Khamenei  reiterated.

On March 26, Saudi Arabia and some of its Arab allies began to militarily interfere in Yemen's internal affairs by launching deadly air strikes against the Houthi Ansarullah movement in an attempt to restore power to fugitive President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.

The attacks have killed near 2,600 Yemeni people so far, according to sources in the Arab country.

By Tasnim News Agency