Ayatollah Sayyed Khamenei Slams US Presence in Mideast

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has slammed US military presence in the Middle East.

"US claims about going to war in order to establish security and justice are sheer lies," Ayatollah Khamenei said on the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) rise to prophet-hood in a meeting with top Iranian officials and foreign ambassadors in Tehran on Saturday.

Sayyed Khamenei added that Washington had spent 600 billion dollars in 2009 to fund its military endeavors in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as to help "Israel" maintain instability in the Middle East.

"Such military weapons are used to suppress the Muslims nation of Afghanistan, dominate the Iraqi nation and help the evil Zionist regime to cause tension in the Middle East," Sayyed Khamenei added.

Khamenei reiterated that as long as superpowers are in charge of international affairs, wars, insecurity and injustice will continue in the world.

Ayatollah Khamenei also went on to say that the world's leading arms producers initiate wars in order to profit from selling arms, adding that Islam opposes such powers and considers them corrupt.

"One of the reasons behind the collapse of arrogant powers is Muslim consciousness which has caused these powers to lose their capability," Ayatollah Khamenei stated.

The Leader stressed the importance of strengthening unity among Muslim nations and said those against the prosperity of humanity are more threatened where there is more Muslim consciousness. "This is why hostilities have increased towards the Islamic Republic of Iran."

"Arrogant powers have made efforts against the Islamic establishment over the past 31 years. Despite all hostilities, the Islamic Republic has become more powerful than before."

Ayatollah Khamenei urged Muslim nations and countries to improve self-confidence and do not fear arrogant powers "because their power is fake, unreal and nearing collapse."