Anti-Americanism
Anti-American Statements from Iranian Leaders
The Iranian regime has maintained its virulent anti-Americanism as a core pillar of its ideology since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The regime continues to propagate its revolutionary slogan “Death to America,” and characterizes the United States as the “Great Satan.”
The Iranian regime has maintained its virulent anti-Americanism as a core pillar of its ideology since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The regime continues to propagate its revolutionary slogan “Death to America,” and characterizes the United States as the “Great Satan.”
Death to America
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (February 8, 2019)
“As long as America continues its wickedness, the Iranian nation will not abandon ‘Death to America.’ ‘Death to America’ means death to Trump, (National Security Adviser) John Bolton, and (Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo. It means death to American rulers.”
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President Hassan Rouhani (December 6, 2016)
“America... is our enemy, we have no doubt about this. The Americans want to put as much pressure on us as they can.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (July 18, 2015)
“[At Quds Day rallies the week prior,] You heard ‘Death to Israel’, ‘Death to the US.’ You could hear it. The whole nation was shaken by these slogans. It wasn’t only confined to Tehran. The whole of the nation, you could hear, that was covered by this great movement. So we ask Almighty God to accept these prayers by the people of Iran.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (January 9, 2015)
“Who is the enemy? The enemy is American capitalism and global arrogance which is headed today by America and the Zionists.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (January 7, 2015)
“Today, the camp of arrogance is opposing and making efforts against this government... The pressure that is exerted by arrogance on the people of Iran originates from this great and endless enmity. Their enmity is endless.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (August 13, 2014)
“Relations with the US and negotiating with that country, except in specific cases, will have no benefit to the Islamic Republic, but rather will be harmful.”
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President Hassan Rouhani (May 8, 2013)
“Saying 'Death to America' is easy. We need to express 'Death to America' with action.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (March 21, 2009)
“I have a piece of advice to the American officials, to all the decision makers – to the President, Congress, and all the others. The situation in which the U.S. government has found itself is detrimental to both the American people and its government. Today, you are hated throughout the world. If you don't know this, you should. The peoples burn your flag. The Islamic peoples all over the world chant: ‘Death to America!’”
America Is The Enemy and Its "Enmity Is Endless"
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (January 17, 2020)
“The villainous U.S. government repeatedly says that they are standing by the Iranian people. They lie. If you are standing by the Iranian people, it is only to stab them in the heart with your venomous daggers. Of course, you have so far failed to do so, and you will certainly continue to fail.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (November 2, 2017)
“The American president’s foolish remarks against our people show the depth of America’s hostility towards the entire Iranian nation. America is the number one enemy of our nation.”
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President Hassan Rouhani (December 6, 2016)
"America... is our enemy, we have no doubt about this. The Americans want to put as much pressure on us as they can."
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (January 9, 2015)
"Who is the enemy? The enemy is American capitalism and global arrogance which is headed today by America and the Zionists."
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (January 7, 2015)
"Today, the camp of arrogance is opposing and making efforts against this government... The pressure that is exerted by arrogance on the people of Iran originates from this great and endless enmity. Their enmity is endless."
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (August 13, 2014)
"Relations with the US and negotiating with that country, except in specific cases, will have no benefit to the Islamic Republic, but rather will be harmful."
The Great Satan
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IRGC Then–Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Ali Jafari (July 31, 2018)
“The Iranian nation has many differences with those nations that submit to domination, and will never allow its authorities to hold talks and meetings with the Great Satan.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (October 18, 2017)
“The US – the US government, the political regime of the US – is obviously a devious and malicious phenomenon. As Imam [Khomeini] pointed out, it is the Great Satan. It is really the Great Satan.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (September 9, 2015)
"Some people insist on disguising this Great Satan as the savior angel. (However,) the Iranian nation expelled this Satan (from the country); we must not allow that when we expelled it through the door, it could return and gain influence (again) through the window."
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IRGC Then–Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Ali Jafari (September 1, 2015)
"We should not be cheated by the new slogans of this country… [America is still the] same Great Satan."
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Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (February 9, 2014)
"We have problems with the U.S.A. over dozens of issues…Nothing has changed. The U.S.A. is still the Great Satan in our view."
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (January 30, 2012)
"England, France and finally America--which is the Great Satan--spread their hegemony over the Islamic Ummah. They humiliated the Islamic Ummah as much as they could. They planted the cancerous tumor of Zionism at the heart of the strategic Middle East region and they strengthened it in every way."
Regime’s Goal Is to Destroy the United States
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The Supreme Leader’s Representative to the Iran's IRGC-Qods Force Ali Shirazi (February 26, 2015)
"We will stand fast against the world of arrogance. We will not rest until we have raised the banner of Islam over the White House."
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Basij Commander Mohammad Reza Naqdi (January 1, 2015)
"Our ideal is not [nuclear] centrifuges but the destruction of the White House and the annihilation of Zionism [Israel]."
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (May 25, 2014)
"Battle and jihad are endless because evil and its front continue to exist. ... This battle will only end when the society can get rid of the oppressors' front with America at the head of it, which has expanded its claws on human mind, body and thought."
America Created ISIS and Al-Qaeda
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (January 1, 2020)
“Look at what the U.S. is doing in Iraq and Syria. They’re taking revenge on the Hashd al-Sha’bi for defeating ISIS. Since Hashd crippled and destroyed ISIS—which the U.S. had created—they’re taking revenge. The Iranian government and nation and I strongly condemn the U.S.’ malice.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (October 18, 2017)
“The United States is an international Zionist agent, the creator of the ISIS terrorist group, as well as takfiri terrorist fronts. Therefore, do you expect the US president not to be angry at IRGC that stands against ISIS? They are angry, because today the Islamic Republic of Iran has managed to spoil their plots in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, etc.”
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (June 12, 2017)
That US arms a terrorist group is what causes instability. Who created #ISIS? The US!
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (January 9, 2015)
"Enemy spy services are behind the efforts to sow disunity among Muslims... A Shia version connected to the British spy agency-the MI6-and a Sunni version, which is the mercenary of the CIA, are both fake and working against Islam."
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (October 13, 2014)
"If anyone fuels the fire in this regard, he or she will definitely be helping sinister America and Britain which are the creators of the ISIL and al-Qaeda."
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Basij Commander Mohammad Reza Naqdi (September 13, 2014)
"The White House is the headquarters of the ISIL.” Washington itself created the “cancerous tumor and devious current."
U.S. Seeks to Dominate Iran, Islamic Lands, and the World
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (April 23, 2011)
"The arrogant powers of the world - namely, western powers, America and the Zionists … want to spread their hegemony over the entire world and the entire financial resources of the world. They want to dominate all human resources."
