Khamenei denies that Iran attacked Turkey and Oman: “We believe in strengthening relations

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei denied today (Friday) that the Islamic Republic is behind the recent attacks against Turkey and Oman. In a statement he published on Telegram, Khamenei wrote “We believe in strengthening relations with neighboring countries.” He called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to improve ties with Iran and offered them assistance. “The attacks against Turkey and Oman were not carried out by Iran or its allies,” he added.

Mujtaba Khamenei’s message, like his previous statements, was posted on his Telegram channel without any documentation of him. This is a message to mark the beginning of the Persian New Year celebrations, and Khamenei called the new year “the year of resistance, under national unity and national security”. Khamenei’s denial of the Iranian attacks in Turkey and Iran, only two hours after the alarms were activated in Turkey after the launch of another Iranian missile into the country’s territory.

Revolutionary Guards Quds Force commander Ismail Kaani issued a statement at the same time: “The martyrdom of the leaders and commanders of this front will lead to the dawn of a new era and the infusion of new blood into the veins of Iran.” He added: “With the blessing of the blood of the martyrs, this front will continue to fight the enemies of Islam and humanity with greater force than before, and we will soon witness their defeat.”

Simultaneously with the publication of the statement, Iranian President Massoud Pazkhian also spoke on Iranian television, saying that he “thanks the Iranian people for gathering in the streets to defend the Islamic government.” He also thanked the Basij forces and the police for “providing security”. He added that “they thought they could destabilize the country by killing the leader, but the Council of Experts in its wisdom chose a new leader.”

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, also referred to the war in Iran today, and was once again proud of the achievements of the war. “They don’t have a navy, they don’t have an air force, they don’t have air defense systems. They don’t have leaders, and they don’t have the next set of leaders either,” Trump said. “No one wants to be a leader there. It’s hard for us to talk to them, we want to talk to them and no one. But you know what? We like it that way.” The American president added that “if Iran had a nuclear weapon they would use it, the only question is whether it was within an hour or within a day.”