West funded, protected MKO, ISIL, says Iran Judiciary Chief

In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen on Tuesday, Ejei said that the West funded and protected Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) and ISIL terrorist group.

MKO are hypocrites, for they proclaimed to bear the banner of anti-imperialism, but today they are embraced by imperialists, he said.

"They used to say that their priority was to fight imperialism, but they secretly were in contact with foreign intelligence agencies," the judiciary chief said.

"Under [Western] directives, they started pinpointing important figures in the Islamic Republic [...] The United States and 'Israel' were the biggest benefactors from the martyrdom of the likes of [Mohammad Beheshti] and [Morteza] Motahhari, as well as other popular figures."

"If we don't describe these as terrorists, then who would we call terrorists? Who are their supporters and protectors? Who is sheltering them? Who is giving them financial support?" he wondered, in reference to the West allocating large sums of money to the terrorist organization and sheltering it on their soil.

The West must know that they are backing traitors who betrayed their own people and country, and they will go on to betray them someday too, Ejei stressed.

"More than 10,000 people were martyred at the hands of this organization, and still, Iran is granting them the right to trial and to an attorney," he said, adding that "We must confront this organization and try its core members."

Elsewhere in his remarks, he pointed to ISIL and said that "Thera are some entities that do not deny receiving aid from the United States," highlighting the clear Israeli and US participation in many crimes and assassinations.

US officials admitted during the presidential election for the former administration admitted that they conceived ISIL. "While ISIL elements were besieged, the United States and certain Western countries were giving them airlifts and providing them with arms and giving them strategic support," he underlined.

He noted that there are documents indicating that "wherever ISIL was besieged by the Resistance, the United States and Western countries would rescue them."

Pointing to bolstering Islamic unity, Ejei added that his country always affirms the unity of Muslims, noting that this is a consistent stance of the Islamic Republic and the Leader of the Revolution.

He explained that Iran seeks to establish relationships with all Islamic countries, not specific countries or sects, in order to enhance unity within the framework of serving the interests of the Muslim world.

Ejei pointed out that "Iran does not offer support only to the resistance front in Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq, but aims for the dignity of all Muslims and liberation from the hegemony of colonizers, whether in Asia, Africa, or even the United States."

"We are opposed to the expressions used by the former American president toward Saudi Arabia and its senior officials," he said, confirming that Iran seeks to "establish friendly relations with all Islamic countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, within the framework of achieving the interests of the Muslim World and the interests of both countries."

"We need to be cautious, as the enemies are undoubtedly disturbed by this rapprochement," he said, noting that the United States "is not in a position to impose conditions on Iran, and today, we remember the words of the martyr Soleimani when he addressed America, saying 'Come and fight me. There is no need to fight Iran, nor a need to confront the axis of Resistance."

Iran stands by all the oppressed all over the world by defending the Axis of Resistance and the downtrodden in Palestine and the rest of the world, he noted.

"We are committed to supporting all the oppressed people in our defense of the Axis of Resistance and all the downtrodden in Palestine and elsewhere," Ejei added.

One of Iran's fundamental causes is defending the Axis of Resistance, the Iranian judiciary chief stressed, noting the importance of the Palestinian cause for the Muslim world as a whole.

Iran defends the Axis of Resistance and every Muslim, and even every downtrodden person as much as it can, he said, adding, "We will never stop supporting the Resistance front, and the United States cannot impose conditions upon us in this area."