Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, says recent anti-government riots in Tunisia and Egypt are “a sign of the awakening of Islam inspired by the Islamic Revolution’s victory in Iran.”

In a sermon delivered Friday morning at a Tehran mosque, Khamenei said that “the Americans and Zionists are more concerned than anyone else about the situation in Egypt, but they are helpless and will not succeed in finding a remedy for the situation.”

He accused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of “cooperating with the Zionists” and helping Israel impose its siege on the Gaza Strip.

“Egypt wouldn’t let the aid convoy from Iran enter the area,” he explained. “The main reason for the uprising is not just the economic situation, but the Egyptian people’s feeling of humiliation.”

The Iranian supreme leader said the events in Egypt would have far-reaching implication on the entire Middle East. “This is an earthquake, and if the Egyptian people carry on they will defeat the American policy in the region. The Zionist enemies are more concerned than anyone else, as they are aware of what might happen if Egypt cut off the alliance with them.”

Khamenei interpreted the Egypt uprising as a victory of the Islamic Republic’s policy. “After years of struggle, the Iranian people see their voice is being heard loudly in other places in the Islamic world.”

“Our revolution has succeeded in giving hope and setting an example, due to the stability and insistence on our principles while facing all the pressure,” the Iranian supreme leader said.

He stressed that before the Islamic Revolution Iran was dependent on Western powers, but that after the revolution the country became independent and no power has the ability to affect the Iranian people’s desires.

Khamenei added that although the West was trying to boycott the export of fuel to Iran, “I have received reports that in the coming days Iran will become an independent fuel manufacturer and even a fuel exporter.”

According to the supreme leader, “Today the entire world knows that despite the pressure they exerted, America, Europe and their allies have been unsuccessful in beating Iran in the nuclear issue.”

(Source: Ynet)