Addressing a large gathering of people in the holy city of Mashhad on the first day of the Iranian new year, Ayatollah Khamenei the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the recent developments in Libya and said that Iran utterly condemns both the killings by the Libyan regime and the western strike on Libya.

He added that America and the west are only after Libyan oil resources. He said that America and the west are trying to establish a foothold in Libya so that they can have control over the future governments of Tunisia and Egypt.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that the performance of the United Nations regarding the events in Libya was disgraceful. He stated that instead of supporting nations of the world, the United Nations has turned into a tool in the hands of America and the west.

His Eminence said that the popular movements in the region indicate a fundamental change in Arab and Islamic countries. He added that the presence of the people on the scene and their religious orientation are two characteristics of these popular movements.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that the US has consistently supported dictators. He stated that the Americans continued supporting Hosni Mubarak until they realized that it was impossible to keep him in power.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Americans tried to simulate a similar uprising in Iran, but that the people of Iran foiled their plot.

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that America's position on the popular movements and its claims of support for the people of the region are hypocritical.

In a recent message to the Iranian people on the occasion of Norouz, the US President Barrack Obama has announced support for the people of Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Obama's remarks and said: "I am not sure if he knows what he is saying."

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that America's claims of support for other nations are a lie. He further added that America does not even show mercy to its own people.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution also referred to the developments in Bahrain and said: "The uprising of the people of Bahrain is essentially the same as the uprising of the people of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen."

He added that the people of Bahrain only want free elections. "Is this too much to expect?"

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the Saudi involvement in Bahrain a mistake and stressed that this involvement will spark anti-Saudi sentiments in the region.