INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Demonstrators attend a ceremony to mark the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution (Reuters)Dubai: Iranian
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday called for unity among Muslims and efforts towards scientific advancement, saying this
would make it impossible for "enemies" such as the United States to dominate Islamic countries.Shi'ite Iran faces off with Western-allied
Sunni Saudi Arabia for influence in the Middle East
The two regional powers back opposing sides in the conflicts in Yemen and Syria as well as rival political groups in Iraq and
Lebanon."Today, every movement that leads to mutual understanding of Islamic groups and sects is a good thing, and this gathering is an
example of the movement for the unification of the Islamic nation," said Khamenei in remarks carried by his official website."The scientific
movement must accelerate and the Islamic nation must once again reach heights of science and civilization so that the enemies of Islam and
the Americans cannot order around the heads of Islamic countries," Khamenei told a meeting about Shi'ite contributions to sciences.Iran
frequently calls for Islamic unity to help Tehran in its confrontation with its arch-foe, the United States.Washington on Tuesday pulled out
of a nuclear deal with Iran, a move accompanied by the threat of penalties against any foreign firms doing business in Iran.Tehran denies
seeking atomic weapons and says its nuclear programme is for peaceful uses in areas including electricity, agriculture and medicine.©
Thomson Reuters 2018(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a
