The deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards says Ali Khamenei is the ‘greatest miracle’ performed by the founder of the Islamic Republic Ruhollah Khomeini.

General Mohammad-Reza Naghdi (Naqdi) said Saturday, on the anniversary of Khomei's death in 1989 that “We thank God for the blessings he gave us, including the great blessing of the leadership of Imam Khomeini.”

He claimed that with the emergence of Khomeini he ended the rule of thousands of years of oppression, slavery.

His comments come as the Islamic Republic is considered as one of the most oppressive regimes in the world that crackdowns on dissent through increased surveillance, detention, killing, torturing, censorship.

The Iranian regime has killed more than 500 people during popular protests that started in September, after the death of Mahsa Amini in hijab police custody.

“During the Pahlavi [monarchy] rule, people were living in poverty and did not have access to facilities, but with the leadership of Khomeini and under Khamenei these people are now making satellites and submarines,” added Naqdi.

Since the 1940s Iran has launched 11 plans to build infrastructure, establish key industries, expand public services and education. Five plans were launched under the monarchy until 1979, and six during the Islamic Republic. Nevertheless, Iran is still considered a developing country.

The Islamic government, built on an anti-Western ideology engaged in hostage taking and supporting militant groups from its very inception. This kept Iran isolated from advanced economies. Inefficiency of successive clerical governments during the past four decades, and many years of international sanctions that have crippled the country's economy, were added to the adverse factors.