Khamenei stresses unity over confrontation

TEHRAN: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday called for a united national front to confront what he described as US efforts to subjugate Iran. The remarks, delivered at a mosque in the capital Tehran and published on Khamenei's official website, come two months since fighting halted between Iran and its sworn enemy Israel in a war that the United States had briefly joined, and as Tehran is engaged in talks with world powers about its nuclear programme.
He said that a day after 'Iran was attacked' by Israel at the start of the war, 'American agents' met in Europe 'to discuss what government should rule Iran after the Islamic republic'. Khamenei added that the United States was ultimately seeking to make Iran 'obedient to it'. 'The Iranian nation, by standing firm alongside the armed forces, the government and the system, delivered a strong blow' to its enemies, Khamenei said. The supreme leader, who has the final say on state affairs, also warned against internal divisions he said foreign powers were fomenting. — AFP