TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Friday that it is the Palestinian people who should decide about the ruling system of their country.

The Leader made the remarks during a meeting with state officials as well as ambassadors of Muslim countries on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr -- an Islamic holiday that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

On June 10 Ayatollah Khamenei renewed his call for a referendum as the solution to the decades-long problems that Palestinians are facing in their native lands. He said the referendum should involve native inhabitants of Palestine including Muslims, Jews and Christians. 

“Like other free countries in the world, the Palestinian people, the native Palestinians be it Muslims, Christians and Jews and not those who entered Palestine from other places, should be asked (about the future of their country). The Palestinians’ votes should decide their country’s ruling system and that ruling system should decide [fate of] those who entered this region which means the Zionists and others,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.

He said that extinction of the “fake” Zionist regime of Israel is the only solution to the Palestine problem, predicting that the Zionist regime’s extinction will happen in the not too distant future.

The Leader said that Israel is the reason behind division among Muslims and the Islamic countries can become closer when the Israeli regime is vanished.

The Zionist regime has no legitimacy and “will not last,” he noted.

The Leader also said that the U.S. and other allies of Israel has the illusion that overt or covert diplomatic relations with the regime can solve Israel’s problems.

“The problem of the Zionist regime is lack of legitimacy. The Zionist regime is illegitimate. Formation of this regime was based on false grounds. They displaced a nation through threats, applying force and killing, a historical nation who were not fake and new.” 

‘Economic pressure is enemy’s main conspiracy’

Addressing a large number of worshippers who had gathered at the Imam Khomeini Mosallah for Eid-al Fitr prayers on Friday, the Leader also said that “economic pressure” on Iran is the main conspiracy pursued by the enemy.

“Today, the main conspiracy of the enemy is ‘economic pressure’ on the masses in order to make them tired and disappointed,” he said.

He noted that it is expected that the nation be vigilant about the economic plots hatched against the Iranian nation by the enemies.

Ayatollah Khamenei called on state bodies and officials to make relentless efforts to neutralize economic pressure against Iran.

The Leader said a central council, which includes the heads of the three branches of government and other top officials, has been established to find solutions to economic issues.

This council “must take firm decisions and implement them”, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed.

The Leader also said, “One of the issues that should be taken seriously by the nation is avoiding a wasteful life”.

‘Iranian nation is not tired or disappointed’

Elsewhere, he said that the Iranian nation is “not tired or disappointed”.

He said those who repeat the words of the enemies by claiming that the nation is “tired and unenthusiastic” are in fact generalizing their own state of mind to others.

He said, “The Iranian nation is vigilant and highly motivated. This nation that came to streets excitedly and enthusiastically after Laylat al-Qadr [Nights of Destiny] is not tired and disappointed. Those who make claims about the people’s tiredness and hopelessness under the influence of the enemies’ propaganda are generalizing their own state of minds to all the people and they themselves are tired and hopeless.”

The Leader also cited huge rallies marking the International Quds Day on June 8 as an example of the Iranian nation’ strong will and enthusiasm.

He added that mass participation at Quds Day in various countries bears the message that the Muslims are united in spite of the enemies’ propaganda.

Referring to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks in April, the Leader said that the U.S. has made any efforts and spent money to achieve its objectives in the region, however, it could not and will not reach its goals.

Trump said on April 28, “We have spent $7 trillion — trillion with a T — $7 trillion in the Middle East.”

NA/PA