LATEST: Iran Military — “US Is Still Great Satan and Our Number 1 Enemy”

Iran’s steady propaganda against the US intervention in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria, has reached an interesting point — it is accusing Washington of both supporting and attacking the Islamic State.

The claim that the US and its regional allies “created” the jihadists has been a centerpiece of Tehran’s statements, especially since the US began its aerial attacks in Iraq against the Islamic State in early August. Iran saw the American intervention as a challenge to its own political and military involvement in the Iraqi crisis.

At the same time, Tehran is keen to declare that the US intervention in Syria, which began last month, is a failure. Although the declared target is the Islamic State, Iran is wary that the Americans could swing their military efforts behind the insurgents who want to remove the Assad regime.

So Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian pulled off the PR trick on Sunday of declaring that the US had fostered the “enemy” which it is now bombing.

Iranian State outlet Press TV summarizes:

An Iranian deputy foreign minister has criticized certain states for using the ISIL terrorist group as a tool to encourage Islamophobia in the world.

“Unfortunately, these states are playing with the security of the region and the world,” by using terrorism, said…Amir-Abdollahian in a Sunday meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende in the Iranian capital Tehran.

The Iranian official also said the US made a mistake in forming the “illegal” coalition against the ISIL because the move expanded the activities of the Takfiri militants in the region.

The Deputy Foreign Minister then tipped off Iran’s primary concern: he criticized the support of “so-called moderate militants” in Syria against Iran’s ally Assad and said the crisis needs “a diplomatic solution.”

Iran Military: “US Is Still Great Satan and Our Number 1 Enemy”

The Iranian Defense Ministry and Revolutionary Guards have put out statements, for the religious holiday of Ashura, reiterating that the US is the Islamic Republic’s primary enemy.

The Defense Ministry declared on Sunday:

In compliance with the will of the late Imam Khomeini and the wise guidelines of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian nation still sees the US as the number one enemy of the Islamic Revolution.

The Iranian nation does not allow the arrogant front and the enemies of the Islamic Republic to make any move by maintaining its unity, national integrity and empathy as well as supporting active, wise and revolutionary diplomacy, and it will give a hard and repenting lesson to them in case they (the enemies) make any miscalculations.

On Saturday, the Revolutionary Guards Corps asserted: “The US is still the great Satan and the number one enemy of the Revolution and the Islamic Republic. The Iranian nation…will never allow the dignity and independence of the Islamic homeland to be threatened and harmed by the will of the enemies.”

Senior Iran Official: Next Nuclear Talks With 5+1 Powers on November 11 in Oman

Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, announced on Sunday that Tehran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany) will hold their next round of nuclear talks in the Omani capital city of Muscat on November 11.

The discussions will take place less than two weeks before the expiry of interim nuclear arrangements on November 24. Both the US and Iran have indicated that there will be no extension of the arrangements if a comprehensive settlement is not reached.

The Oman talks will be preceded on November 9-10 by a trilateral meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, US Secretary of State John Kerry, and the European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.