Press TV has interviewed Scott Rickard, a former American intelligence linguist in Orlando, to discuss the remarks by�Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei saying the US�hostility against the Islamic Republic stems from Iran�s defiance of Washington�s arrogant policies.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

 

Press TV:�Iranian Leader � talked about how human rights, Iran�s missile program and of course the nuclear file and Iran�s nuclear program were all pretexts and remain as pretexts since Iran is not going to be a client regime like the US wants and this is not something that Iran is obviously going to sway or be influenced by in terms of US influence. Why doesn�t the US try to just set that aside and try to settle differences with Iran, of which the nuclear deal was supposed to do that in some ways based on some analysts?

Rickard:�Well the nuclear deal was really put in place because China and Russia really forced the United States and the other P5+1 participants in an agreement. What happened is that obviously the US wouldn�t have approved it had obviously China and Russia had participated in the positive nature of Iran�s nuclear energy program.

What we see here is obviously continued American rhetoric around issues that really are not an issue based upon their alliance not only with Israel but with other countries that are incredibly anti-Iranian, obviously the [Persian] Gulf states as well as Saudi Arabia, you have a very serious tie here whereby the Americans and their allies are incredibly anti-Iranian and as well as the British influence when it comes to the British Empire�s control over Iran for over 150 years.

So I think what you see here is the Americans have adopted British foreign policy, have allied themselves with very nefarious characters - Israel and Saudi Arabia � including the British Empire and unfortunately the rhetoric that continues to be skewed in American media continues to make Americans ignorant and mislead them with regard to Iran and their intentions.

Press TV:�But looking at the way that the US is trying to play itself on world politics, it becomes very evident if you do not follow US�s lead then there is no middle ground there somewhat. We could take a look at the trade wars, some of the trade agreements that have been set trying to exclude countries like China and Russia. Isn�t there a line that the US can follow? I mean is world dominance that important for the US?

Rickard:�Well it is obviously world dominance. The US has been allied with the British Empire since the 1850s. The British Empire has ruled the world alongside the US for now 500 plus years, so you see a portrayal of an exceptionalism that is absolutely not the case. It is absolutely economic warfare. If you look at the way that the US and their allies have pilfered other countries for their resources, obviously Iran has not been a victim to that in the most recent times.

Unfortunately, Iran up until the Islamic Revolution in the late 70s was a complete victim for almost a hundred years underneath the British Empire and the American Empire. So I think what you see here is the unfortunate events of the economic hit man and the economic warfare that the West has continued not only on Iran but as many, many other countries around the world.

And so when you look at these portrayals of negativism and obviously anti-Islamic rhetoric in the West, a lot of that is not only tied to the allies� disdain for Iran and other countries but it is also tied to the economic policies that are incredibly criminal in an international court of law. If these countries were held accountable, they will absolutely be held accountable for war crimes.

By Press TV