Iran's Supreme Leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei accused Israel and the West on Sunday morning of promoting women's exploitation for the purpose of earthly pleasures, calling it a "Zionist conspiracy" aimed at destroying human society.

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In quotes relayed by Iranian news agency Mehr, Khamenei, who was speaking at an event that mostly focused on women's position in Islamic society, mocked the West's ideal of gender equality, claiming that raising certain topics in support of women’s rights actually undermines their position in society, which is predetermined by God.

Iran's leader Ali Khamenei at an anti-Israel conference (Photo: AFP)

“These aberrant and neglectful people humiliate the role of a housewife while a housewife is actually in charge of raising and educating the most valuable product, which is a human being,” said Khamenei, adding “unfortunately, sometimes inside the country and in some Islamic environments, tasks and expectations are ascribed to women that in fact collapse and humiliate their roles.”

The Iranian leader then referred to some similarities and differences between men and women as decided by God, saying “despite sharing similar goals like ‘rising to spiritual positions,’ ‘leadership,’ and ‘the ability to guide human beings,’ men and women are different when it comes to responsibilities in management of life.

Ayatollah Khamenei, while referring to promotion of concepts like ‘gender equality’ and ‘gender justice’ in the West, said justice means recognizing and nurturing God-given potentials of men and women, not burdening them with false freedom.

“Today, Western scholars and those who pursue issues like gender equality all regret their actions for the corruption they caused,” he claimed, expressing hope that views of those who raised similar issues inside the country were not based on the Western alleged misconception.

(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)