IRAN: KHAMENEI TROTS OUT THREADBARE REVOLUTIONARY RHETORIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RPO DUBAI 000475 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/4/2019 TAGS: IR PGOV PREL PARM SUBJECT: IRAN: KHAMENEI TROTS OUT THREADBARE REVOLUTIONARY RHETORIC FOR ANNUAL SPEECH DUBAI 00000475 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Alan Eyre, Director, IRPO, State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Supreme Leader Khamenei's November 3 anti-US comments in a speech commemorating the 'National Struggle Against Global Arrogance Day' were similar in tone and content to his remarks from previous years' speeches on this occasion. Shorn of the rhetorical frills, Khamenei said that eight months after his March 21 response to President Obama's 'New Year's Message' to Iran, he has seen no change of US behavior that would trigger changed Iran behavior. His comments on the current nuclear negotiations also bespeak obvious Iranian discomfort at USG intentions to increase international pressure on Iran should diplomatic efforts towards solving the nuclear issue yield no results. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) November 4 (13 Aban in the Persian calendar) is 'National Struggle Against Global Arrogance' Day, commemorating the 1964 exile of Ayatollah Khomeini, the 1978 martyrdom of protesting Tehran students, and (primarily) the 1979 student takeover of the American Embassy. In an annual ritual, Supreme Leader Khamenei customarily addresses a young audience (normally students and/or Basij) in one of the days immediately prior to the holiday. In these speeches his normal themes include America's insatiable quest for world domination and the concomitant responsibility of Iranian youth to maintain their preparedness to confront 'global arrogance' (i.e. the US, and to a lesser extent other Western powers),in order to preserve the considerable and ongoing achievements of the glorious Islamic Revolution. ¶3. (U) This year's speech, delivered November 3 to an audience of Basij elementary, secondary and college students, was no different in its main themes. The first part of his speech was an exultation of and exhortation to Iranian youth, noting their revolutionary commitment to the struggle against global arrogance. Similar to previous years, Supreme Leader Khamenei excoriated the United States for its 'arrogant spirit,' which manifests in (inter alia) its quest for military bases worldwide to preserve its global dominance, to include Japan, South Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. He pointed out that after Iran expelled America's 'puppet leader' Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1979, the US could have changed its behavior towards Iran, which would have avoided many subsequent problems. But instead the US continued to conspire against Iran, in an attempt to (quoting what Khamenei said was a former US Secretary of Defense) "wipe out the roots of the Iranian nation." ¶4. (U) What made Supreme Leader Khamenei's annual 13 Aban comments noteworthy this year were his observations on the current USG Iran policy (worth quoting at length): - "on occasions, they (the US) recently made seemingly conciliatory comments, but whenever they smile at IRIG officials, when we carefully look at the situation, we notice that they are hiding a dagger behind their back. They have not given up their threats. Their intention has not changed. Their tactical smiles and pleasantries can only deceive children. If a great nation with such an experience and such elected officials are deceived it must be very gullible. They must be either naove or steeped in worldly desires or pursuing a luxury lifestyle if they want to compromise with the enemy. Otherwise, if the officials remain wise, accurate, experience, and full-heartedly committed to the nation's interests, they will never be deceived by a smile." - "Well, the new US President has said nice things. He has given us many verbal and written messages, and said, 'Let's turn the page and created a new situation. Let's cooperate with each other in resolving world problems.' Well, we said that we don't want to pre-judge. We said that we will wait and see how they act. They have said that they want to create change. Let us wait and see this change. On March 21 in Mashhad I said that if they extend an iron fist covered with a velvet glove to us, we will not shake it. I gave this warning there. Eight months have passed since then. During this time, what we have witnessed is completely the opposite of what they have been saying and claiming. On the face of things they say let us negotiate. But alongside this they threaten us and say that if DUBAI 00000475 002.2 OF 002 these negotiations do not reach a desirable result, they will do this and that. Do you call this negotiation? This is like the relationship between a wolf and a lamb which as the late Imam Khomeini said we do not want such relations." - "[They say] Let us discuss around the negotiating table on such and such issue, for example the nuclear issue; however the precondition is that the negotiation should lead to such and such results. For example, the country should stop its nuclear activities. If it doesn't reach that result, then they threaten that they will do such and such." - "..as long as the Americans have a covetous approach, intending to get back to Iran, renewing the past, changing history and turning time back in order to dominate the country, they will not be able to force our nation to retreat." ¶5. (C) COMMENT: Much has been made of the putative bellicosity of Supreme Leader Khamenei's comments on the US in this speech, but a review of his previous '13 Aban' speeches shows his current remarks to be pretty much staple fare. Indeed, against the backdrop of the post-June 12 protests, his November 3 comments on the revolutionary fervor and commitment of Iran's youth seem threadbare if not slightly pathetic. What is noteworthy however are his public comments on Iran's current outlook on relations with the United States. Shorn of the rhetorical frills, Khamenei said that eight months after his March 21 response to President Obama's 'New Year's Message' to Iran, he has seen no change of US behavior that would trigger changed Iran behavior. His comments on the current nuclear negotiations also bespeak obvious Iranian discomfort at USG intentions to increase international pressure on Iran should diplomatic efforts towards solving the nuclear issue yield no results. END COMMENTS EYRE