Iranian People, Students Voice Strong Opposition to Renegotiations with US

Millions of people, including school and university students, in different cities across the country participated in massive rallies, chanting “Down with the US” and “Down with Israel” slogans to show their strong condemnation of Washington’s policies against Iran.

The Iranian people from all walks of life, including school and university students, took to the streets to mark the anniversary of the US embassy takeover in 1979 and commemorate the National Day of Campaign against Global Arrogance and the National Student Day in massive rallies on Sunday.

Participants in the annual rally in front of the former US embassy in Tehran known by the Iranians as ‘the den of spies’ carried placards deploring the US hegemonic policies in the world, and vowed to follow the path of late Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini, and renewed allegiance to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

They also blasted the US for non-commitment to its undertakings based on the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, and called on the Iranian officials to keep vigilant against Washington’s deception.

At the end of their rallies, the participants also issued a resolution which blasted the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and its intensified hostile policies by launching psychological, media and economic war against Iran.

“We declare our firm opposition to repetition of any negotiation on any issues with the disloyal and evil US regime,” the resolution said.

They also underlined the necessity for reliance on the internal capabilities and resorting to the economy of resistance emphasized by Ayatollah Khamenei, stressing that the nation will live through the US brutal sanctions honorably.

The resolution also underscored continued support for the nations which are under oppression by the US and the “fake and child-killer” Israeli regime, as well as support for the resistance front.

The ralliers also called on the Iranian officials to use the capabilities of the young Iranian people and distance from the powers which do not remain committed to their undertakings.

They also reiterated their allegiance to Ayatollah Khamenei and preparedness to obey all his wise orders.

The rallies were held one day after Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Washington’s 40 years of hostility towards Iran, and stressed that his country had always won confrontations against the US.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in Tehran on Saturday, addressing the Iranian students ahead of the National Day of Fighting Global Arrogance and the National Day of Students.

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the continued challenge between Iran and the US, said, “The enemy made every attempts against us, with a variety of actions; the US engaged in military, economic, and media warfare against us. Via all these actions, the US aspired, in vain, to regain its previous domineering status over Iran — that it enjoyed during the Pahlavi Regime.”

The truth is that, throughout the forty-year challenge, the defeated party has been the US, and the victorious party has been the Islamic Republic of Iran. The US is defeated because it has started the attacks without ever achieving the goals it pursued,” he added.

The Leader of the Revolution described US power as declining, and asserted, “Today, an overview of the situation of the US shows that the US’s power is declining. The US is today much weaker than it was forty years ago.”

“Many of US politicians believe that the US’s soft power has degraded. It was the same during Obama’s presidency, but it is even more evident today during the current administration. The world opposes every decision the US president makes; not only the people but also the governments oppose him,” he added.

He referred to the liberal democracy as being exposed, and said, “Even liberal democracy is being exposed and disgraced. The current US president’s measures have made the situation worse for the US and liberal democracy, making them lose their remaining grace.”

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that the US hard power is also declining. “On the other hand, the US’s hard power — that is, its economic and military power — is also declining. The US military force is largely confused; and as a result, they have turned to companies like Blackwater to advance their military purposes.”

The Leader of the Revolution tapped on US economic crisis as another symptom of a decline, and said, “The same is true about the US economy. It suffers from more than $15 trillion dollars public debt and $800 billion budget deficit.”

As another indication of the US defeat, Ayatollah Khamenei asserted, “The US failed to infiltrate the independence-seeking spirit among the Iranian youth. Our youth, across the country, have independence-seeking emotions. Some of them are not even very religious, but they are sensitive to the issue of foreign domination.”

Indicating that today’s young generation in Iran, if not more exigent than the youth during the revolution, are not less vigorous, he reiterated, “These (independence-seeking) emotions have gradually spread to the youth in other countries, in particular, our neighboring countries, as well.

“Of course, the US regards Iran as responsible for a part of (anti-American sentiments), as neighboring countries oppose US forces. They blame us for that: Well, you have no right to blame us! The people of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Pakistan hate you (the US government); are we responsible for it? Why does the US government not understand that nations detest it? They have been exploiting them, as a result, the people hate them.”

Ayatollah Khamenei dubbed the US sanctions on Iran as futile, and said, “Through sanctions, the US sought to curb Iran’s economy; however, as a result of the sanctions, a movement towards self-sufficiency expanded in Iran.”

“The Iranian nation used to import products for many years, but now, they have developed a habit of producing everything.”

Ayatollah Khamenei then added, “The US is declining. Everyone should know this. Those who incline to compromise are making impractical plans. This decline is not related to today or yesterday; rather it is a long-lasting situation. The US is doomed to degradation and perishment.”

The Leader of the Revolution praised Iran’s growth despite enemies’ efforts to halt its progress, and said, “Contrary to the US decline, the Islamic Republic started from scratch and has been advancing during the past 40 years. Today, we witness a serious movement towards political and industrial independence in Iran.”

Ayatollah Khamenei then advised the Iranian youth to be watchful in the face of US, and added, “I have some recommendations for the dear youth: First, never forget the US animosity and do not be deceived by their smile. Sometimes, they say they are not opposed to the Iranian nation, but to the Iranian government; they lie. The government of the Islamic Republic is nothing without the nation. The US animosity targeted the Iranian nation even before the revolution, via its agents inside Iran. Second, promote the theory of “Resistance against the fierce enemy.” This theory is practically and theoretically correct. Third, you, the youth, should regard yourselves responsible for the country’s development. Leave lassitude and fear and regard innovation as your duty. Know that the future of the Islamic Iran will be greatly better than the present time, and Iran will have the upper hand in international events. This is definitely true, and there is no doubt in it. You will see this future firsthand.”

Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks came after the US Treasury Department announced all sanctions on Iran lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal would be back in force on November 5.

According to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the sweeping sanctions will see 700 people blacklisted, including people who were granted relief under the 2015 deal, as well as over 300 new names.

The Iranian officials have downplayed the effects of new sanctions on the country and its oil exports.

In relevant comments last Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined the US inability to put into practice its goal of stopping Iran’s crude exports, saying that the government was not afraid of Washington’s threats.

Addressing a cabinet meeting in Tehran, President Rouhani assured the Iranian nation of the government’s resolve to stand up to US threats, emphasizing that his team will do all in its power to resolve the economic problems caused by American pressure.

“November 4 this year translates into a new instance of oppression by America,” he said, referring to the date, when Washington is set to reimpose sanctions on Iran’s energy sector.

“Our people need to rest assured that the government is not afraid of US threats,” Rouhani said.

The president said that representatives of various countries, including Asian and European ones, had sent messages of assurance to the Islamic Republic “that they will stand by and continue their cooperation with Iran.” “We are certain that the Americans will fail in their new plot, and that they are actually in gradual retreat,” he said.

President Rouhani recalled that US officials first claimed that they would reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero, but then retracted their statement, saying that the process could take two to three months.

“We tell them that ‘you will not reach any of your goals with regard to Iran’s oil sales. You will neither be able to bring it to zero nor reduce it to the amount you want,’” Rouhani stated.

By escalating psychological and economic pressure, the US has been seeking to anger the Iranian people, President Rouhani said, adding however that Iranians were and would be angry at Washington’s atrocities, rather than their own Islamic establishment, government, and country.

“Because they (the nation) love their country Iran,” the president said.

Rouhani said that Iran could easily overcome the setbacks, because it enjoys lasting relations with its trade partners, whereas the US pressure is only temporary.

“The US will raise hue and cry for a few days, but will have to eventually leave (the region), because they cannot make decisions for the people of the region,” Rouhani noted.

Since the 1979 takeover of the US embassy in Tehran, Iranians have been celebrating the occasion every year by holding rallies on the anniversary and marking it as the National Day against the ‘Global Arrogance’.

November 4 marks three important events in Iranian history: the takeover of the former US embassy in Tehran by Muslim students following the Imam’s line in 1979 and the exile of Imam Khomeini by the Shah in 1964. It also marks the massacre of a large number of Iranian school students by the army of the former Pahlavi regime during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian university students took over the US embassy building to thwart what they called Washington’s plots against the Islamic Revolution.

Inside the embassy, the students found shredded documents which proved their convictions.