Sacred Defense promoted term of Resistance in world: Leader

Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei received a group of veterans, artists, authors, rescuers as well as families of the martyrs of the Iran-Iraq imposed war in Tehran's Imam Khomeini Hussainia on Wednesday.

The meeting took place ahead of the beginning of Sacred Defense Week which marks the start of the eight-year Iraqi imposed war against Iran in 1980.  

Sacred Defense is a prominent and important period in the history of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei said in this meeting, stressing the need to introduce it to future generations.

If successive generations know the important and meaningful aspects of the Sacred Defense and know how the Iranian nation was able to become victorious, there will be great lessons for them, the Leader said.

During the Sacred Defense, the Iranian nation defended the territorial integrity of the country and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was the product of the Islamic Revolution, he noted.

Saying that the issue of territorial integrity was not the goal of the enemies, he added that they were seeking to suppress this unique, great, and important revolution that happened in Iran thanks to the sacrifices of the people.

The main problem of the enemies is the issue of the Islamic Republic, he clarified, saying that the Islamic Revolution was able to remove the dependent and corrupt system ruling the country and establish a new system, a new word in this country.

Ayatollah Khamenei recalled the years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution when all the big powers of the world, including the US, European countries, and the East joined in the war against Iran.

During the war, Iran had no helpers, he said, adding that even the facilities and weapons that the country wanted to buy were not provided except for rare and minor cases.

In this period, France provided the most advanced military equipment to Iraq and the former Soviet Union gave Iraq all the land and air facilities it needed, according to the Leader.

In such an unfair battle, the nation stood on the platform of victory and showed its greatness and glory, the Leader said.

Today, the element of Resistance is rooted in the region, the Leader said, adding the holy defense also introduced, promoted, and commonized the term of resistance in the world.

“It may be hard for us to believe, but the acts of the Iranian nation have had an impact in distant countries. We know about this. Both in East Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the acts of the Iranian nation have become a model.”

The Leader touched on Iran’s influence in the region, which has made the US uneasy.

“The issue of Iran's moral presence in the region has raised the exasperation of America and some countries, while we do not have a base in the regional countries except for a moral presence.”

The Leader described armed forces as the honors of the society, saying their presence is one of the main elements, without which a society cannot remain stable.

“We should appreciate the armed forces. The dignity and honor of the armed forces should be considered essential and we should consider it obligatory to honor them. The armed forces are security makers and the security of a country is everything.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said the enemy counts on damaging the value, honor, and dignity of the armed forces, which requires vigilance.