Twitter tantrum: Iran's supreme leader says Israel has 25 years to exist

NEW YORK (Christian Examiner) – Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued another dire warning for Israel – the clock is winding down on the Jewish state.

The religious leader said via his Twitter feed Sept. 9 that Israel "will not see the next 25 years," even after nuclear negotiations with the world powers are supposed to have curtailed Iran's ambition for nuclear weapons.

"God willing, there will be no such thing as a Zionist regime in 25 years," Khamenei wrote on the social media site. According to Khamenei, until Iran is able to complete its goal of the complete annihilation of Israel, "the struggling, heroic and jihadi morale will leave no moment of security for Zionists."

The quote, according to the Times of Israel, was taken from a speech the Ayatollah had given earlier in the day. The speech was also reported in Iranian media.

In the speech, Khamenei blasted the United States, which he said had been "hypocritical" in its approach toward Iran as U.S. negotiators smiled while Congress sought to derail the plan. He also claimed the U.S. – still "the Great Satan" – was using the negotiations as a means to influence and "infiltrate" Iran.

This name was given on the basis of the principles of the holy Quran, which clearly points to Satanic characteristics, conduct, and goals. Since the end of World War II, the U.S. has dedicated itself to a policy of instigating strife, discord, and wars between the world's nations. They have occupied countries and carried out conspiracies all over. They have meddled in the affairs of others, and have toppled independent regimes. All these policies have been solely to serve American interests.

But Khamenei said via Twitter that Iran "did expel this Great Satan; we barred their direct access and now we must not allow their indirect access and infiltration."

"We allowed negotiation with US only on nuclear issue for certain reasons, in other areas we did not and will not allow negotiations with the US," Khamenei also said via Twitter.

According to FARS, the semi-official Iranian news agency, which also reported on the Ayatollah's Twitter tantrum, the religious leader said in August that "regardless of the nuclear agreement with the world powers, Tehran will not allow the US to find a way to influence [the] Iranian economy, politics and culture."

On Sept. 7, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) published a video interview with Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan, who said there is "nothing strange" about the Ayatollah calling the United States the "Great Satan."

"This name was given on the basis of the principles of the holy Quran, which clearly points to Satanic characteristics, conduct, and goals. Since the end of World War II, the U.S. has dedicated itself to a policy of instigating strife, discord, and wars between the world's nations. They have occupied countries and carried out conspiracies all over. They have meddled in the affairs of others, and have toppled independent regimes. All these policies have been solely to serve American interests," Dehghan said.

"The U.S. interfered in Iran in the middle of the 20th century, and brought down the democratically elected government of Mosaddegh. It did not hesitate to perpetrate the most abominable crimes against the Vietnamese and Korean peoples, as well as many other countries, because they refused to serve as its lackeys. When the U.S. administrations insist on a policy of arrogance towards others, it is only natural that the Iranian regime continues to view the U.S. as the 'Great Satan."

He also said the Iranian nation continues to "officially declare" it will not end support for Hezbollah, the Shiite Lebanese terror group which consistently attacks Israel interests in the region.