Iran's leader says Tehran has defused regional threats

LONDON – Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday Tehran had defused all regional threats against the Islamic Republic, turning them into "opportunities".

"Last year, the Islamic Republic defused regional threats - one of their aims was to harm the Islamic Republic - and turned them into opportunities. These threats did not damage our country, but turned into opportunities," Khamenei said in an Iranian New Year message broadcast on state television.