TEHRAN: Iran's
supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said yesterday that Europe "cannot
be trusted", a week after the EU launched a trade mechanism to bypass US
sanctions on Tehran. "These days there's talk of the Europeans and their
proposals. My advice is that they shouldn't be trusted, just like the
Americans," he said at a meeting with air force officials, his website
reported.

"I'm not
saying we shouldn't have relations with them. This is about trust," he
added. Britain, France and Germany last week launched a special payment
mechanism called INSTEX to help save the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and
world powers. It would allow Tehran to keep trading with EU companies in spite
of US sanctions renewed after Washington quit the accord last year. Tehran has
cautiously welcomed INSTEX as a "first step", but US officials said
the new entity would not have any impact on efforts to exert economic pressure
on Iran.

Khamenei also
accused Europe of hypocrisy over human rights, criticizing France's treatment
of protesters in Paris. "They (anti-riot police) attack protesters in
Paris streets and blind them, then they have the audacity to make human rights
requests of us," he said. Turning to the United States, Khamenei said
Iranians would chant "death to America" as long as Washington kept up
its hostile policies, but the slogan was not directed at the American people.
"Death to America means death to (President Donald) Trump, (National Security
Advisor) John Bolton and (Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo. It means death to
America's rulers ... we have nothing against the American people," he
said.

40th anniversary

Iran celebrates
the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution's victory tomorrow at a time of
heightened tensions with the United States and a sharp economic downturn. On
February 11, the state has organised a march to Tehran's Azadi (freedom) Square
to mark the day the monarchy was officially toppled 10 days after the
triumphant return from exile of the revolution's leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini.

It will be a
who's who of Iranian politicians and public figures, with President Hassan
Rouhani expected to deliver a speech at a rally. Iran has played up this year's
anniversary as 40 is symbolic of maturity in the Islamic tradition and the age
at which Prophet Mohammed received revelations from God. Despite 10 days of
annual celebrations launched on February 1, today's Islamic Republic faces
acute economic challenges as it struggles with a mix of domestic hardships and
US sanctions.

The rial has
sharply devalued against the dollar, driving up prices, while the reimposition
of sanctions has blocked foreign investment and limited Iran's oil sales. In
response Iranian authorities have warned against "infiltrators" who
would threaten the country from within and called for "national
unity". Iran is also grappling with an environmental crisis, brought on by
a mix of air pollution, soil erosion, drought and desertification. The country
has "progressed in many areas in 40 years", its environmental
organization head Isa Kalantari has said, singling out the sectors of health,
industry, services and education. But its environmental track record is simply
"indefensible", he warned.

Revolution's achievements

On the military
front, a source of pride for Iran, it has timed two arms exhibitions in Tehran
to coincide with the anniversary and showcase its latest equipment and
capabilities. At shows dubbed "40 years of defensive achievements",
Tehran has unveiled a new made-in-Iran cruise missile which it said had been
"successfully" tested. Washington and its allies accuse Tehran of
working to enhance its missile capabilities, threatening the whole Middle East,
although Iran insists its weaponry is solely for defensive purposes. Billboards
boasting of the revolution's achievements have sprouted all across Tehran,
ranking Iran first in "peaceful nuclear research in the Middle East",
ninth in the world in the number of books published each year, and fifth in "cyberspace security".

In a show of
technological progress, Iran last month launched a satellite called Payam
(message in Persian) but it failed to reach orbit. Speculation is mounting that
Iran could launch another domestically-manufactured satellite during the final
phases of the annual celebrations. Iran's supreme leader, the late Khomeini's
successor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has agreed to pardon a "large
number" of prisoners for this year's anniversary, according to state
television. Judiciary chief Sadegh Amoli Larijani, quoted in the Iranian media,
has put at 50,000 the number of prisoners to be released. Iran held over
217,000 prisoners in March 2017, according to official figures from the
judiciary.- Agencies