Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says inciting sectarian sentiments of Muslims under the guise of a fake version of Shia Islam has led to the emergence of such groups as Daesh and al-Nusra Front (recently rebranded as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham).

“Inciting the feelings of other Islamic sects in the name of Shia [Islam], which is in fact “British Shia,” has resulted in the emergence of evil and mercenary groups that are affiliated with the US and the British spy service, like Daesh and al-Nusra [Front],” the Leader said during a meeting with thousands of people on the occasion of Eid al-Ghadeer in the capital Tehran on Tuesday.

Under the pretext of delegitimizing the people not subscribing to their barbaric Wahhabi ideology, Daesh and al-Nusra Front, the al-Qaeda branch in Syria, which recently renamed itself and claimed it had broken from the group, have been staging heinous crimes mainly in Syria and Iraq.

Enemy’s main target

The Leader further noted that the enemy’s main target was Iran’s economy, saying, “The enemy seeks to make the people’s economic conditions unfavorable and thus create discontent [among them] with Islam and the Islamic establishment.”

“Under such circumstances,” the Leader said, “the duty of the administration, the parliament, and officials from various sectors, as well as different groups of people is to plan and act against the enemy’s objective.”

Ayatollah Khamenei hailed the efforts made by the country’s youths toward the revitalization of Islam and the fulfillment of religious obligations, and said, “By God’s grace, these youths will bring every enemy, including the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel), to their knees.”

The Leader said there were countless young people who enjoyed great motivation and were ready to defend the country, stating, “This is the very motivation that will salvage the country and should be strengthened.”