Senior cleric: US-Zionist lobby seeking to hamper Iran’s relations with neighbors

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami made the remarks addressing a large crowd of worshippers in the Iranian capital.

Referring to a recent diplomatic problem between Iran and Kuwait, the Ayatollah said that the footprint of the US-Zionist lobby is crystal clear in the issue.

“Whether you like it or not, whether you accept it or not, Iran is the most powerful country in the region,” Ayatollah Khatami told certain neighboring countries.

“You’d better keep friendly relations with Iran because you will need to do so.”

Some media published news on Thursday morning about a decision by the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry to reduce the number of Iranian diplomats in Kuwait.

Shortly afterwards, the Kuwaiti charge d’affaires in Tehran was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry to get informed about Iran’s protest to the issue.

“Iran has proved it will behave in the best way with those neighboring countries that have been having friendly relations with Tehran,” Ayatollah Khatami said.

“You need to know that friendship with Iran is to your benefit.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khatami blamed the French government for allowing a recent gathering of Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) in the country.

Referring to the terror of some 17,000 Iranian innocent people in the 1980s by MKO members, the Ayatollah said that allowing the MKO gathering in France was an actual support for terrorists.

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