Alwaght- Leader of Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has said that the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany and defunct Soviet Union (USSR), all backed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during his eight year imposed war on Iran.
At a Saturday meeting with a group of teenagers and youths in Tehran, planning to go on "Travelers to the Light" camp, Iranian leader stated that "Today’s claimants conspicuously provided bomb making chemicals to Saddam. The US and the powerful part of Europe—including the UK, France, Italy and Germany—all backed Saddam and helped him as much as they could."
"Travelers to the Light" is a journey aimed at visiting the former war fronts where Iranian forces fought back US-backed Saddam invaders during the 1980-88 imposed war.
The leader added that, "At the beginning of the war, Saddam’s army had limited equipment, [but] as the time passed and despite the war, their amount of equipment increased substantially."
Referring back to the Soviet Union's part in the war and answering his own question the Leader of the Revolution stated "The Soviet Union, though opposed to the US, accompanied US in this event because the USSR owned numerous Muslim Republics, and the Islamic Revolution could incite those republics to think of their own Islamic identity."
Elaborating further on those who aided Saddam during the eight-year war, Iran’s supreme leader added "The US, USSR, NATO and all other domineering powers backed Saddam to destroy the Islamic Republic."
"France provided its most advanced jets and helicopters to Saddam. Germany provided poisonous chemicals to Saddam to be used during the war," the Leader said while listing off the various ways countries assisted Saddam against Iran.
Saddam given chemical weapons
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the hypocrisy of certain groups who accuse others of chemical weapons use while they gave Iraqi dictator weapons used against innocent people and Iranians, saying "Those who criticize certain groups with the excuse of using chemicals today, at that time, publicly gave chemicals to Saddam for making his bombs."
"Still, today, after 30 years, we have among our veterans those who still suffer from the chemical elements of the war; a great number were also martyred as a result," he reminded the audience while bringing up the use and impact of chemical weapons, adding "All satanic regimes of the world, helped the arrogant Satan, Saddam, to create this war and to help him win the war."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution asserted "Of course, all their efforts were futile, and they couldn’t take even the smallest part of the Islamic Republic under their control."
"Young generations, today, are more prepared than earlier generations when faced with repelling the invading enemies," said Ayatollah Khamenei, Saturday morning, when speaking to "Travelers to the light" participants.
Animosity to Islamic Republic ignited war
Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the reason behind the eight-year war, saying "Animosity of domineering powers against the Islamic Republic” led to Saddam’s war on Iran.
"The reason behind the eight-year war initiated by Saddam’s Baath Regime, was the greatness and grandeur of the revolution."
He continued, "When the revolution took place, its greatness frightened the powerful enemies. On the other hand, when they saw this revolution was welcomed among other Muslim nations and in countries headed by dependents on the US, and that the nations started slogans in favor of the Islamic revolution, the enemies aimed at destroying this revolution at any price."
The Leader of the Revolution asserted"The enemies knew that Saddam was a personality with underlying tendencies to move aggressively and arrogantly, he was a naturally aggressive invader as a person. At the time of the Iranian revolution, Saddam was not the president of Iraq. The enemies proceeded in a way to put Hassan al-Bakr aside and make Saddam the president in order to incite him, encourage him, and force him to start a military attack on Iran."
Leader concluded his remarks, saying “The magnificence and self-sacrifice of our youth put an end to the war, in our interest, making the Islamic republic stronger; this is the identity of the holy defense, which we have to safeguard," he said.
