Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the US of fighting Iran and Islam.
He made the remarks addressing a group of Iranian officials and ambassadors of Islamic countries May 5 in Tehran, the official website of the leader reported.
"Today, the definite policy of the United States is fighting Islam and Iran as well as Shia," Khamenei said.
"The Americans have recently said that Iran's policy in the region is the cause of sanctions and pressure on the country, meaning, 'you Iranians step back and we will do what we want'," he added.
Khamenei also said the Islamic Republic has never started any war or military action against any country, but it has loudly voiced its stance.
He also accused the US of supporting the IS terrorist group (ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh), saying the anti-IS coalition is superficial.
"The corrupt groups that commit the worst and most catastrophic crimes using the name of Islam are supported by the Western powers," claimed Khamenei.
He also said the Western powers refer to the "Daesh" as Islamic State to destroy the image of Islam.