Today.Az » World news » Iranian FM: US seeks to derail popular revolutions
09 March 2011 [15:11] - Today.Az
The US and certain Western countries are making efforts to derail popular revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says, Press TV reported with reference to IRNA.
"We should be alert about [efforts] by the United States to take advantage of these uprisings," said Salehi in an address to the Assembly of Experts.
He added that the popular aspirations for Islam and justice, combined with oppression by leaders of the US and its allies, were among main factors leading to the ongoing uprisings in Muslim countries.
He noted that the protests in the Middle Eastern and North African countries have caused changes “but not at the level of a revolution.”
”If the popular movement continues in Libya, it will lead to the collapse of the country's government,” he pointed out.
The top Iranian diplomat noted that Western countries are pursuing their own objectives in the region and added that the US influence in Tunisia and Egypt prevented the occurrence of a revolution.
"The US efforts in Libya have so far failed to bear fruits," Salehi stressed.
He cited "Islamic awakening" as the main reason behind the ongoing developments in the Middle East and North Africa and noted that religious leaders play an important role in this regard.
Salehi pointed to Iran's stance on the ongoing events and said, "Although the Islamic Republic had no participation in any of such moves, it has always served as a proper model."
Iran has a "wise" reaction to popular movements in the Middle East and North Africa, the Iranian minister stated and underlined that different organizations in the Islamic Republic are monitoring the current moves.
Egypt' s President Hosni Mubarak resigned and transferred power to the army on Feb. 11. His resignation was preceded by the degradation of economic and social situation and the collapse of the internal security of the country. It is considered that the main causes of popular unrest in Egypt were social injustice, corruption and poverty. The mass protests and subsequent riots in Egypt killed 365 people and wounded more than 5,500 people.
Protesters have demanded the resignation of Libya's leader, Muammar Gaddafi, who has been in power for already 41 years. The protests have continued from Feb. 15.
At present, Gaddafi has no control over the whole eastern part of Libya, as well as over several western cities of the country.
/Trend/
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