Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the US regime change policy regarding Iran is doomed to failure, saying successive US administrations have sought to overthrow the ruling establishment for nearly four decades but all the attempts were in vain.
Iran and the US cut ties shortly after the victory of 1979 Islamic Revolution, which toppled the US-backed monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
"The Islamic establishment has faced various plots since its inception but the ill-wishers of the Iranian nation have not succeeded to do a damn," he said in a meeting Sunday with families of martyred security forces, according to a translation posted on his official website.
"Even when the Islamic establishment was a frail and budding sapling, they were unable to harm it, let alone now that this establishment has turned into a mighty tree", he said.
The Leader was responding to a Wednesday announcement by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that Washington's new Iran policy centers on regime change.
Speaking at a congressional hearing, Tillerson said the new US administration led by Donald Trump has not yet finalized its Iran policy, but it would certainly rely on "elements inside of Iran" to bring about "peaceful transition" of government.
Since taking office in January, Trump has spoken against Iran in unusually harsh terms, slapped new sanctions and taken steps along with its Middle East allies, including Saudi Arabia, to contain what they call Iran's "regional influence".
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"Throughout the previous 38 years, when have you not wanted to replace the Islamic establishment, but you have always failed and been given a lesson and this will also be the case henceforth."
The Leader described the new White House officials as "inexperienced and rookies" and stressed, "These inexperienced individuals do not know the Iranian nation and officials yet, but when they receive a slap in the face, they will then find out what law and order is."
"The Islamic Republic is standing firm and with absolute power and the enemies will not be able to slap the Iranian nation, but the nation will slap them."
