TEHRAN – Iran's top leader is warning about alleged efforts by the West to hijack revolutions in the Arab world that toppled dictators.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech broadcast on Iran's state TV Wednesday that people in the Middle East must prevent the US and Israel from hijacking their revolutions for their own advantage. He said their puppets are falling "one after another."
Iran has said it supports Arab uprisings, saying they will doom Israel and break free of American influence. But Iranian leaders are known to be concerned that pro-democracy changes in the region may diminish Iranian influence and threaten Iran's foothold in Syria, a key ally.
Khamenei made no mention of Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad's regime has launched a bloody crackdown against anti-government protesters.
