TEHRAN - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has vowed that he will not succumb to the pressure imposed by the enemies.

On certain occasions, the enemy plotted to pressure the Islamic system, but the late Imam Khomeini never gave in to the pressure, Ayatollah Khamenei said in Tehran on Tuesday at meeting with a group of people from Mazandaran Province.
The Supreme Leader added that as the representative of the Iranian nation, he will never give in to pressure, either.
He stated that the Iranian nation insists on their rights and will never relinquish them.
“The Iranian nation wants to be an independent, vibrant, progressive… and powerful nation in order to defend their rights and beliefs. Are these legitimate wishes an offense?”
He also said the Islamic Republic has become much more powerful than it was in the early years of the revolution, and that is why all the U.S. plots have been futile.
“The Americans say they have allocated a 45-million-dollar budget to defeat the Islamic Republic by means of the Internet, which shows they are extremely desperate because so far, they have spent tens of 45 million dollars to confront the Islamic system through diplomacy, sanctions, dispatching spies, hiring mercenaries, and other methods, but they have never gained anything,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.
He said that for years, the enemies of the Iranian people planned to stir up unrest in Tehran, but their plans backfired, and now the people have become more vigilant in defending the Islamic Republic.
After the recent incidents, people feel more responsible to defend the Islamic Republic, he noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the most important responsibility of officials, influential figures, and all other citizens is promoting the idea that everyone has a responsibility toward the country.
“Today, no one should say ‘I do not have any responsibility,’ but everyone should feel responsible to defend the Islamic system,” he added.