America can't do a damn thing against us

America can't do a damn thing against us (Persian: آمریکا هیچ غلطی نمی‌تواند بکند‎) is a slogan originally used by the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during the Iran hostage crisis,[1] for the first time to assure the Iranians that the United States would not be able to restore the ousted Shah of Iran back to the Persian throne. The statement then became an official slogan for the Iranian Revolution which resulted in the establishment of an Islamic Republic under Khomeini's rule.[2]

The slogan can be seen in the bottom of Ali Khamenei's speech position on 25th Death Anniversary of Ruhollah Khomeini in his mausoleum, 4 June 2014.

Application

Responding to Iran's request for extradition of the Shah of Iran Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, the President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, provided for the Shah's travel plans to Panama with the deliberate intention of eliminating the possibility of the extradition in exchange for hostages who were held by the revolutionary Iran for 444 days (November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981) after a group of Iranian revolutionary students affiliated with Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line broke into and entered the Embassy of the United States of America in Tehran, and took its diplomatic staff hostage, in contravention of international law, in response to the US providing political asylum for the Shah.[3][4] A week after the incident, the sheets and finances of Iran were confiscated by US. Yet, in spite of what were deemed by Iran to be international threats, there was still the possibility of holding trials for alleged American spies, and the reaction of Ayatollah Khomeini against the threat of Carter published regularly by international media, was the slogan "America can't do a damn thing against us."[4]

The slogan appeared on many walls and banners such as a billboard along the Iran-Iraq border, a banner which was hung in front of the U.S captured RQ-170 drone and a banner above which Ali Khamenei was speaking at an event commemorating the 25th anniversary Khamenei.[1][2]

The slogan was also used by Khamenei, Khomeini's successor, while speaking to teachers on Teacher's Day in Iran,[5] and on other several occasions.[6][7] It was also used by some other Iranian officials.[8][9][10]

References
  1. Limbert, John W. (2009). Negotiating with Iran: Wrestling the Ghosts of History. US Institute of Peace Press. pp. 170–. ISBN 978-1-60127-043-6.
  2. Clawson, Patrick (20 February 2013). "Iran Can't Agree to a Damn Thing". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  3. Chalk, Peter (2012). Encyclopedia of Terrorism (2 volume set). ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0313308956.
  4. "Firm responses to void threats - Imam Khomeini said: America can't do a damn thing against us" (PDF). Kayhan. 30 September 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  5. Winer, Stuart. "Khamenei to US: Your military 'can't do a damn thing' to us". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  6. Staff. "America can't do a damn thing". KHAMENEI.IR (in Persian). Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  7. Karami, Arash. "Khamenei: Iran rejected US offer to cooperate against IS". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  8. "Iran: Obama 'can't do a damn thing'". NBC news. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  9. Staff. "Ahmadinejad: U.S. Can't Do "Damn Thing" on Nukes". CBS News. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  10. Staff. "Only Iran is confronting Islamic State, paramilitary chief says". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
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