Tehran: Iran`s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei on Saturday warned those involved in popular Arab uprisings
against trusting Western powers and their "promises," saying
they should instead confide in Islam for solutions.
"Never trust America, NATO, and criminal regimes like
Britain, France and Italy -- who for a long time divided your
lands (among themselves) and plundered them," Khamenei said as
he opened a two-day conference in Tehran on "Islamic
Awakening" attended by several hundred guests from Arab
countries.
"Be suspicious of them and do not believe in their
smiles. Behind those smiles and promises lie conspiracy and
betrayal," Khamenei said. "Look for solutions in ... Islam."
"Do not let your enemies dictate your plans for the
future, do not sacrifice the principles of Islam before
temporary interests," he said in remarks broadcast live on
state television.
Iran has vocally supported most uprisings in the Arab
world, with the exception of the revolt in its regional ally
Syria, where it backs the regime of President Bashar al-Assad
while advocating reform.
The Islamic republic has in recent months repeatedly
accused the West of attempting to hijack the revolt movements
in the Arab world.
Khamenei said the "ultimate goal" of the regional
revolutions should be creating a new Islamic civilisation
based on religion, logic, science and morals -- one which is
away from Western schools of thought.
He also denounced the intervention of NATO in Libya,
saying the operation had inflicted "irreparable losses" on the
country through destroying its infrastructure.
PTI
