TEHRAN -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has expressed his abhorrence over the tragic disaster at the Lebanese village of Qana and asked how long the UN and the organizations and countries who claim to be human rights defenders will remain indifferent toward the Zionist regime's crimes in Lebanon. In his message to the Islamic world released on Wednesday, the Supreme Leader said, "The events in Lebanon have exposed the true nature of American human rights, and have revealed the kind of Middle East the U.S. government intends to have." The following is the full text of the message sent by the Supreme Leader to the Islamic world: In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate

"The tragic disaster in Qana has made our hearts sated with pain and grief. It has made us and other Muslims as well as all freedom-loving peoples of the world grief-stricken and angry. "Why and for what reason have the lives of those innocent children, those fragile and exhausted bodies, and the small and frightened hearts ended in such a cruel manner? "Why were the distressed hearts of their mothers and fathers so cruelly wounded by the bloodthirsty Zionists and their bigheaded and arrogant American supporters? "What is the logic and rationale behind twenty days of relentless bombing of Lebanon, twenty days of atrocities on a massive scale, destruction of a nation and killing of its civilian population, and the disaster such as the massacre in Qana, which makes the world that claims to be civilized, the United Nations, governments and organizations that profess to be advocates of human rights remain callously cold and uninterested? "How long should the Islamic world tolerate the existence of the scheming and evil Zionist regime? How long should Islamic governments allow aggressive and arrogant America to have a free hand in this sensitive part of the world?

"The events in Lebanon have exposed the true nature of American human rights and have revealed the kind of Middle East the U.S. government intends to have.

"Today it has become clear to all that the attack on Lebanon was premeditated and part of a joint U.S.-Zionist stratagem and is a major step toward domination of the Middle East and the Islamic world.

"Bush and his American cohorts share the same degree of guilt in the disasters brought upon Lebanon as the evil and wicked Zionist regime. And the silence of the United Nations and many of the Western governments and above all the support by some governments, such as the notorious British government, make them accountable and partners in crime in varying degrees in the contemporary and future judgment of humanity and on the day of reckoning and the divine judgment day.

"More than ever before the Muslim nations loathe America. Their governments, even those that are constrained because of political considerations, loathe and oppose the U.S. government because of so many outrageous and arrogant aggressions. The U.S. regime must expect a hard slap on the face and the crushing fist of the Muslim ummah because of its support for the crimes and the Zionist criminals and its blatant violation of the rights of Muslim nations.

"The resistance of the people of Lebanon and the heroic struggles of Hezbollah and the power arising from their faith, endurance and trust in God is another sign of awakening in the Islamic world and a indication of their firm resolve against animosities and hostilities. The iron fist of the faithful, brave and innocent youth of Lebanon has landed on the hideous face of the aggressors and has broken the glassy shield of their conceited and drunken vanity.

"The strategic policy of America in the Middle East is premised upon creating crisis, tension and wars. They must understand that as they expand the circle of insecurity in the region, the nations will become angrier at them and the world will be less safe for them.

The aggressive behavior of America and Israel will revitalize more than ever the spirit of resistance in the Islamic world and will make clearer the value of jihad.

"The Islamic world and the Muslim youth in all Islamic nations should also realize that the only way to stand up to the savage Wolf of Zionism and the aggression of the Great Satan is through dedicated resistance.

"Surrender and capitulation before the reckless and scheming U.S. government will only add to their greed and blatant defiance and make things harder for the nations.

"If Lebanon had caved in and surrendered to the aggression of the Zionists, and if the combatant youth of Hezbollah and the innocent people of southern Lebanon had chosen not to put their lives on the line in this sacred defense, long-lasting humiliation and suffering would have threatened the entire nation of Lebanon and the rest of the region would have been embroiled as part of the aftermath of these aggressive attacks.

"Today Hezbollah is on the frontline of the sacred defense of the Muslim ummah and all nations of the region.

"To the Zionist enemy, religion, faith, mosque, church, Shias and Sunnis make no difference. It is a racist, aggressor and brutal regime. If it sees anything in its way, it will spare no crime and show no mercy toward any group or nations. The nations of the region, all Islamic sects and followers of different faiths in Lebanon and in all Islamic countries must join hands and not allow their division to be a source of strength for the enemy.

"Islamic Iran regards it as its duty to stand up against the bullying and aggression of America and the evil designs of the Zionist regime. We will stand by all oppressed nations, especially the beloved people of Lebanon and the combatant nation of Palestine.

"America is practically a partner in the heinous crimes committed in Lebanon through its open support for the killing of the civilian population of Lebanon, opposition to a ceasefire and by providing armaments, financial assistance and political support to the Zionist aggressors. It now intends to impose added tyranny on the people and government of Lebanon by imposing its own conditions.

"Without any doubt, the resisting nations and those brave combatants will not succumb to this tyranny and will choose their way only on the basis of their interests.

"I offer my condolences to the dear people, the tireless mojaheds, and the political leadership of Lebanon over the suffering brought upon the people, especially the great disaster in Qana, and announce the sympathy of the great Iranian nation with them.