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Iran’s supreme leader on Friday described Egypt’s anti-government protests as “an Islamic movement” that could represent a severe defeat for US policies in the region.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran’s revolution – which led to the toppling of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1979 – served as “a role model” for Muslim nations in North Africa, especially in Egypt and Tunisia.

“The events have special meaning for the Iranian nation, Mr Khamenei told worshippers in Tehran’s Friday prayers. “This is what has always been said that an Islamic awakening [could] result from the victory of Iran’s great Islamic revolution.”

He added that Egypt was a nation that felt “humbled” because the regime of president Hosni Mobarak was a servant of the US.

“This movement [in Egypt] has begun from the mosque...People of Egypt would not let westerners divert their Islamic movement,” Mr Khamenei said in his sermon, part of which was in Arabic.

He said the Egyptian revolt was a “very important and real earthquake” that could damage US policy in the region.

“If, God willing, the Egyptian nation could push this through, that would be an irremediable defeat for US policies in the region”.

Mr Khamenei said that the US governments had always favoured “weak” rulers to govern Middle Eastern nations, including Iran.

The Islamic regime sees the US as an arch-enemy that has advocated regime cha... >>>