Need to Prevent Foreign Military Presence in Region

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the armies of the region can ensure its security and must not allow military intervention of foreigners who are only after their own benefits. 
“Foreign military presence in the region is a source of dispute and damage and ruination,” he said in a virtual address to the joint graduation ceremony of cadets of military academies on Sunday, Leader.ir reported. 
He said the interest of the region lies in a condition that all countries have an independent army relying on their nation and in close cooperation with neighboring armed forces. 
Ayatollah Khamenei commended the Iranian armed forces, saying they truly act as a “defensive shield” for the nation against dire threats from outside and inside enemies. 
He described security as the fundamental infrastructure for all essential activities toward the country’s progress, stressing the importance of providing security without relying on foreigners. 
Security which is dependent on others is only an “illusion”, according to the Leader.  
“Those who are under this illusion will soon receive a slap because direct or indirect intervention of foreigners in security, war and peace of any country is a dreadful disaster,” he said. 

Strength and Rationality 

The Leader highlighted some European countries’ call for developing a defensive strategy independent from the US as an example of such false idea. 
“When Europeans feel deficiency in providing sustainable security due to reliance on the US, although it is not an opponent, it is clear what could happen to other countries who put their armed forces under the control of America and other foreigners,” he said.    
He also cited the United States’ exit from Afghanistan as a lesson for all countries in this regard. 
“They deployed their forces to Afghanistan to topple the Taliban and caused massive crime and damage in their long-term occupation before leaving and handing the government over to the Taliban,” he said.
Current issues with countries to the northwest of Iran must also be resolved with the same logic of avoiding permission for foreign presence, according to the Leader. 
He was referring to recent tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan over issues including Baku’s military relations with Tehran’s arch-enemy Israel. 
Iran’s military has always acted with strength combined with rationality which Ayatollah Khamenei said must be a model for other countries and a method to address the existing issues.
“Everyone beware that whoever digs a pit for his brothers, shall fall into it first,” he said.