TEHRAN, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday called on neighboring countries around Iran's northwest not to allow foreign military presence, and warned against "digging a pit for brothers."
"It is in the best interest of the region for all countries to have an independent army relying on their people and cooperating with the militaries of their neighbors," said Khamenei, who is also the commander-in-chief of Iran's Armed Forces, during a joint graduation ceremony of Iranian military and police academies, the semi-official news agency Tasnim reported.
Speaking via a video conference, the Iran's top leader said it is an "illusion" to think that a country can guarantee its own security by relying on foreign powers, and "those who suffer from this illusion will soon get slapped on the face."
Security issues in the area must be solved without foreign interference, Khamenei added.
"Everyone should know that whoever digs a pit for his brothers shall fall therein first," the Iranian supreme leader went on to say.
Iranian army's ground forces launched a massive military drill on Friday along the country's northwestern borders with Azerbaijan and Armenia, amid tensions with Azerbaijan over transit rights for cross-border trade, and Iranian concerns over an alleged presence of terrorists and Israeli forces on Azerbaijani soil, which Baku denies. Enditem
