Iran Press/ Iran News: Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks on Monday at the annual event marking the beginning of the Sacred Defense Week, highlighting that the primary goal of the enemies was to overthrow the Islamic establishment.
Addressing a ceremony honoring one million veterans of the Holy Defense via a televised speech, the leader of the Islamic Revolution said Saddam and the Ba'ath party were the main elements in starting the war, but behind him were powers like the United States that suffered from the blow of the Islamic Revolution.
The United States and its allies feared that a new identity is created in the region based on religion and Islam, so they stood up to the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei stated.
Elsewhere, the leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the Soviet Union and NATO and also countries in Eastern and Western Europe were supporting Saddam's regime.
The leader noted that the Holy Defense also revealed the real face of the enemy. UK, France, Germany, and Eastern countries all acted against Iran and did not equipped Iran but offered help to the enemy. Even they provided Saddam chemical weapons.
Inside the country, the situation was such that it encouraged the enemy to attack, said the leader, adding the condition of the armed forces was not good. The army had just emerged from the yoke of the Pahlavi Regime' commanders and was lining up. The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) had newly been formed. In terms of military equipment, we were extremely grappling with shortcomings. The equipment was not known to its officials, and the facilities were limited.
Ayatollah Khamenei continued: In such circumstances, the Holy Defense began. At this point, anyone recognizes the significant role of the late Imam Khomeini. Under such circumstances, he was able to handle the war with his own will.
Imam knew that the Iranian nation should come to the scene, knowing that it would lead the war to victory, said the leader. He noted: The what and why of war is stated in these few short sentences. I repeat because distortion is dangerous. The enemy launched a war to overthrow the Islamic System and used the humiliating regime of Saddam to establish its domination, but it failed. The victory of the Islamic Republic is as bright as the sun. Is it not a victory when the world powers used all their strength for eight years and did not yield any result in the end against the Islamic Revolution? he asked.
People presence in war was significant
Iran's leader said: People's presence in the war was significant. All walks of life participated in the war. A 14-year-old or 70-year-old tried to be there, or an 8-year old girl attended the war by what they could do like cooking, laundering, tailoring, nursing. This presence was unprecedented in history. It was a new model. The leader elsewhere noted that the enemy was busy to wage and continue its psychological war, but people stood firm during the war. During the Holy Defense, perfect social etiquette, honesty, morality, servicing others, dignity, sacrificing all emerged for the sake of Islam and God.
Holy Defense has maintained Iran security
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the Holy Defense is an outstanding achievement and has maintained the country's security. Also, the Holy Defense has made Iranians self-confident. In technological and innovation fields, Iran has gained achievements like producing missiles, and this process continues.
Holy Defense has proven the Iranian nation's capabilities and capacities, he said, stressing the Holy Defense has verified that Iran is united.
Honoring the veterans of the holy defense
He noted that today is the day of honoring the veterans of the holy defense, which is an excellent and essential deed.
The leader stated that those honored today endangered their lives and gave up their comfort, family, children, and future to defend the country. Ayatollah Khamenei went on to say that they defended the honor, some were martyred, and some stayed alive and continued to work.
Ayatollah Khamenei added that the Holy Defense was the manifestation of the presence of the noble and prominent nation of Iran.
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