Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called on officials not to put their trust in Europe, as the European signatories of the nuclear deal are struggling to implement measures to uphold the accord after the US exit.
The Leader made the statement in a Friday meeting with Iranian Air Force commanders and personnel on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, his website reported.
“Do not trust the Europeans. In the matter of nuclear negotiations, I had already mentioned that the US officials are not reliable. Today, the officials, who agreed to negotiate, admit that the Americans are not reliable. These days, there is a discussion concerning the Europeans and their proposals. My advice would be that they should not be trusted, just as the Americans,” he said.
The three European parties to the nuclear agreement, namely Britain, France and Germany, launched a special trade vehicle, known as Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges, on Jan. 31 to facilitate non-dollar transactions with Iran for sidestepping US sanctions and ensuring Tehran’s economic interests to convince it to remain in the deal.
Iranian officials have welcomed the “belated” measure as a “first positive step” that needs to broaden in scope to help offset the impact of the US restrictions.
US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers last May and reimposed sanctions on Tehran to strain its economy to persuade it to enter into a new deal that would also include Iran’s regional role and missile development program.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that taking cautionary steps when dealing with Europe does not mean severing relations with those nations.
“Even now, regarding Europe, I am not calling for cutting ties with them. However, the point I am trying to make here is about trust,” he said.
“They cannot be trusted. We have experienced this time and again: France in a way, the UK in a way, and the rest in their own ways.”
Down With US Slogan
The Leader also underlined that the Iranian people will chant “Down with America” as long as Washington continues its hostile policies, but made it clear that the slogan is directed at US leaders, not the American nation.
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that as long as America continues its viciousness and savagery, the Iranian nation will not abandon ‘Down with America’.
“‘Down with America’ means down with Trump, [US National Security Adviser] John Bolton and [Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo,” he clarified.
“It means down with the American politicians in charge who are currently represented by the aforementioned persons. ‘Down with America’ means down with the few who are running that country. We have no fight to pick with the American people.”
“The US is the embodiment of evil, violence, creating chaos and warmongering, but still complains why you chant ‘Down with America’,” the Leader added, referring to Trump’s remarks about Iran in his State of the Union address last Tuesday.
Trump had said “we will not avert our eyes from” Iran, as they continue to “chant death to America.”
