Great Satan

The Great Satan ( Persian شيطان بزرگ Shaytan-e Bozorg ) is a derogatory epithet for the United States of America in some Iranian foreign policy statements. Occasionally, these words have also been used toward the government of the United Kingdom . The term was originally used by Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini in his speech on November 5, 1979 to describe the United States whom he accused of imperialism and the sponsoring of corruption throughout the world. Ayatollah Khomeini also used occasionally the terms Iblis (the primary devil in Islam) to refer to the United States and other Western countries.

The Great Satan ( Persian شيطان بزرگ Shaytân-e Bozorg ) is a derogatory epithet for the United States of America in some Iranian foreign policy statements. Occasionally, these words have also been used toward the government of the United Kingdom . The term was originally used by Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini in his speech on November 5, 1979 to describe the United States whom he accused of imperialism and the sponsoring of corruption throughout the world. Ayatollah Khomeini also occasionally used the term " Iblis " (the primary devil in Islam) to refer to the United States and other Western countries .

At the Iranian Foreign Ministry, in Tehran , a banner advertising an article written by Ayatollah Khomeini in which he is quoted as saying that America is the Great Satan. The Great Satan ( ; Shaytân-e Bozorg ) is a demonizing epithet for the United States of America in Iranian foreign policy statements. Occasionally, these words have also been used toward the government of the United Kingdom . The term was used by Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini in his speech on November 5, 1979 to describe the United States, which he accused of imperialism and the sponsoring of corruption throughout the world. The speech occurred one day after the onset of the Iran hostage crisis . Ayatollah Khomeini also occasionally used the term " Iblis " (the primary devil in Islam) to refer to the United States and other Western countries . In this revolution, the Great Satan is America that gathers around other devils blatantly…If we see the US, this great Satan, raising chain and bringing the devils together around him, it is because the US grip over our country and our resources curtailed.

Post-1979 Iranian epithet for the United States For the American jazz ensemble, see Big Satan . Banner at the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran , advertising an article written by Ruhollah Khomeini in which he is quoted as saying that America is the Great Satan. The " Great Satan " ( Shaytân-e Bozorg ) is a derogatory epithet used in some Muslim-majority countries to refer to the United States . Alongside the " Death to America " slogan, it originated in Iran during the Islamic Revolution . While it is primarily an expression of anti-American sentiment , it has occasionally been used to refer to the United Kingdom , although the term " old fox " is more popular as a dedicated expression of anti-British sentiment . The epithet was coined by Iranian religious leader Ruhollah Khomeini , who used it in a speech on 5 November 1979, one day after the onset of the Iran hostage crisis . In the speech, he condemned the United States as an imperialist power that sponsored corruption throughout the world. Khomeini introduced the epithet as the larger of a pair, using the term " Little Satan " to refer to Israel , particularly in the context of Israel–United States relations . In the context of the Cold War , Khomeini used the related term "Lesser Satan" to refer to the Soviet Union , and asserted that revolutionary Iran should oppose the Americans and the Soviets alike. In this revolution, the Great Satan is America that gathers around other devils blatantly...If we see the US, this great Satan, raising chain and bringing the devils together around him, it is because the US grip over our country and our resources curtailed.

Post-1979 Iranian epithet for the United States For the band and the album, see Big Satan and The Great Satan (album) . The Great Satan by Carlos Latuff " Great Satan " ( Persian : شيطان بزرگ , romanized : Sheytân-e Bozorg ) is a derogatory epithet used in Iran to refer to the United States . Alongside the " Death to America " slogan, it originated in Iran during the Islamic Revolution . While it is primarily an expression of anti-American sentiment , it has occasionally been used to refer to the United Kingdom , although the term " old fox " is more popular as a dedicated expression of anti-British sentiment . The epithet was coined by Iranian religious leader Ruhollah Khomeini , who used it in a speech on 5 November 1979, one day after the onset of the Iran hostage crisis . In the speech, he condemned the United States as an imperialist power that sponsored corruption throughout the world. Khomeini introduced the epithet as the larger of a pair, using the term " Little Satan " to refer to Israel , particularly in the context of Israel–United States relations . In the context of the Cold War , Khomeini used the related term "Lesser Satan" to refer to the Soviet Union , and asserted that revolutionary Iran should oppose the Americans and the Soviets alike. In this revolution, the Great Satan is America that gathers around other devils blatantly...If we see the US, this great Satan, raising chain and bringing the devils together around him, it is because the US grip over our country and our resources curtailed.