Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei declared on Wednesday that the root cause of ongoing conflicts in the West Asia region is the presence of the United States and several European countries, which he accused of falsely claiming to advocate peace.

Addressing a group of Iranian elites and top scientific figures at a meeting in Imam Khomeini Hussainia, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that if these foreign powers withdraw from the region, "these conflicts, wars, and clashes will disappear completely." He added that the nations of the region are capable of managing their affairs and coexisting peacefully without external interference.

The meeting took place just hours after Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched a massive missile strike on Israeli-occupied territories. This operation was in retaliation for Israel’s recent targeted assassinations of resistance leaders, including commanders from Hezbollah and the IRGC. Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his support for the IRGC’s actions and announced that he would address the issues of Gaza and Lebanon soon.

The Supreme Leader’s remarks came in the context of escalating regional tensions, as Israel has continued its military operations against Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements. Since October 2023, the U.S. and its European allies have provided Israel with significant financial, logistical, and intelligence support as it wages war against Palestinians in Gaza.

The IRGC’s retaliatory strikes, dubbed *Operation True Promise 2, involved the launch of more than 180 long-range missiles. According to the IRGC, the operation achieved a 90% success rate, hitting strategic targets in Israeli-occupied territories, including the Mossad spy agency headquarters and Nevatim airbase, which houses Israel’s F-35 fighter jets.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s comments highlight Iran’s opposition to the U.S. and European presence in the region, linking their involvement to the continuation of violence and instability. (ILKHA)