Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said regardless of the outcome of the ongoing negotiations with the major powers over Tehran's nuclear program, Iran will continue its struggle against hegemonic powers.
In response to a student's question about Iran's policy on "the campaign against global arrogance" after nuclear talks end, the Leader said, "The fight against global arrogance and hegemonic system based on Quranic principles can never be abandoned."
It is among the "principles of the revolution," he said, adding, "Prepare yourself to continue your fight against arrogant powers."
"Today the United States is the very epitome of global arrogance," Ayatollah Khamenei was quoted by IRNA as saying in a meeting with university students in Tehran on Saturday.
He said the negotiators have been instructed to keep the talks confined to the nuclear issue and they have turned down repeated calls by the other side to open up discussions on regional issues, namely the Yemen and Syria crises.
"The Islamic Republic's refusal to recognize the hegemonic system is the main reason for the bullying powers' hostility toward the Iranian nation," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
Referring to Saudi-led airstrikes which have been pounding Yemen for over three months, the Leader denounced western states for remaining silent on the Saudis' atrocities, despite their claims of human rights advocacy.
"The liberal West, which claims to be advocating freedom, does not say a word about the Saudis' crimes and the UN Security Council, in one of its most shameful resolutions, has condemned the victims of the bombardment rather than those conducting it."
The Leader said some regional countries aligned with the US have been attempting to undermine Iran's influence in the region, but in vain.
"We are aware that the Americans and some reactionary regional states have been expressing concern over Iran's regional influence in their secret meetings, but they cannot do anything about it."
