Iran’s Top Cleric Declares Middle East No Longer a US Military Staging Ground
Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has asserted that Middle Eastern countries will no longer serve as a base for US military operations in the region. Khamenei conveyed this message on Tuesday, May 26th, during a statement commemorating the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage, as reported by Iran’s state news agency, IRNA.
He further declared that the United States will no longer enjoy a “safe zone” in the Middle East.
According to Antara news agency, Khamenei urged Muslim nations and other countries in the region to champion their shared interests in shaping a new regional and global order. “I sincerely invite all Islamic nations and governments to foster friendship and cooperation for the sake of our common interests,” Khamenei stated.
This call for unity comes amidst ongoing mediation efforts, spearheaded by Pakistan, aimed at resolving the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which commenced on February 28th and led to retaliatory actions from Iran. A ceasefire was established on April 8th and subsequently extended indefinitely by former US President Donald Trump.