Iran’s ayatollah claims 'wealthy Zionists' control America
Khamenei also claims the US “Deal of the Century” is “satanic” and that it includes the “Jewishization” of Jerusalem.
By SETH J. FRANTZMANIran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gestures as he meets a group of Iranian Air Force officers in Tehran(photo credit: REUTERS)Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on Tuesday claimed “wealthy Zionists” control America.America has reached the “peak of arrogance,” and it is controlled by “corporate owners,” which makes it a “manifestation of oppression, abhorred by the world,” he said in a tweet.Attacking Zionists is the Iranian regime’s usual rhetoric. But claiming that “Zionists” control America is intended to push antisemitic conspiracy theories while hiding behind its official anti-Israel line.The official slogan of some of Iran’s allies, such as the Houthis in Yemen, is “death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews.”Khamenei wrote the tweet as part of Iran’s commemoration of the US killing of IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani.The Iranian leader has slammed Jews before. He claims the US “Deal of the Century” is “satanic” and that it includes the “Jewishization” of Jerusalem.On February 8, he tweeted: “Banu Nadir Jews, Quran says that God struck the enemies a blow from where they didn’t expect it.” He connected this “blow” against “the Jews” with recent Iranian actions. The Banu Nadir was a Jewish tribe in Arabia at the time of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed.Last year, the ayatollah said Iran is not antisemitic and that Jews live safely in Iran. In June 2019, he contrasted Iran’s treatment of Jews with “certain old Arab leaders who believed Jews should be thrown into the sea.”He says Iran is only opposed to the “Zionist” regime.
