Iranian General: No Place for US in Middle East

Addressing a cultural ceremony in Iran’s northwestern city of Tabriz on Thursday, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military aide to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, said the US has made mistakes by launching military campaigns in West Asia, pointing to the deaths of thousands of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Echoing comments by the Leader about the need for the US to get out of the region, the general said, “The US must leave West Asia. This region belongs to us.”

Describing Iran, China, Russia and India as the world’s new eastern powers in the current century, Major General Rahim Safavi said the modern Iranian-Islamic culture and civilization have stood against the American liberalism.

He also said Iran’s clout has been extended to the Mediterranean region, adding that the country seeks to turn such an influence into wealth using digital arts.

In remarks in June, Ayatollah Khamenei said the US president has acknowledged that his country has spent $7 trillion in West Asia without achieving any results, describing it as the US defeat in the region.

“This confession proves that the Great Satan (the US) has not achieved its goals despite all its efforts, and henceforth, however much they spend in this region, once again, they will not be able to reach their goals,” the Leader said.