Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei answered the question, “What is the problem between Washington and Tehran? What is the reason for this enmity that has lasted for more than forty years?”
Modern.az reports that the Supreme Leader stated during a meeting with the public at the Imam Khomeini Hosseiniyeh in Tehran:
"In my opinion, this issue can be summarized in two words. These two words are: America wants to swallow Iran; the honorable Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic prevent this."
Ayatollah Khamenei addressed the Iranian people: "There are many attractive features in Iran. Iran's oil, gas, and rich mineral resources are attractive. Iran's strategic and geographical position is attractive. It also has many other characteristics. Iran is naturally a country that an aggressive and expansionist state would covet. Therefore, they want to seize Iran; just as they seized it in the past."
The Supreme Leader stated that during the Pahlavi era, Americans were present in Iran for 30 years:
“They controlled resources, oil, politics, security, and international relations; everything was under their control. For thirty years, they did as they pleased. After their hands were cut off, they want to return and relive the situation of the Pahlavi era. But the Iranian nation has stood firm, protected itself, and prevented this. This is the enmity. This is the essence of the struggle. The remaining talks, human rights, etc., are just empty words. This is the issue. That side is greedy, while Iran has stood firm and will continue to stand firm, making the other side despair of evil and oppression.”
Khamenei warned the US that if a war starts, this time it will turn into a regional war.
