In a wide-ranging address, Sheikh Qassem stated that the enemy's objective in September 2024 was the complete annihilation of the Axis of Resistance through the assassination of senior commanders—including Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah—the pager operation, and crippling military strikes designed to induce total collapse. He maintained, however, that Tehran effectively halted the offensive by conditioning any de‑escalation on a full cessation of hostilities, a demand that ultimately compelled Washington to acquiesce and accept a ceasefire.
Sheikh Qassem further added that despite Donald Trump's return to the White House, Israel remains deterred from launching an attack on Iran. He attributed this restraint to the ongoing impact of the aforementioned understanding and Iran's resolute posture, which have left the current U.S. administration apprehensive about the ramifications of a broader confrontation.
Declaring that "Iran emerged victorious and the United States suffered defeat," Sheikh Qassem identified the leadership of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the cornerstone of future, more substantial triumphs. He described the martyrdom of ayatollah seyyed Ali Khamenei as a testament to the Islamic Revolution's dignity, dynamism, and enduring continuity. He also pointed to the massive, million-strong popular turnout across Iranian cities as a vivid demonstration of national unity and unwavering allegiance to the Supreme Leader.
Sheikh Qassem has also delivered a stark warning to the Lebanese government, asserting that direct negotiations with the Israeli regime have yielded nothing but humiliation and successive concessions to the enemy. He called on Lebanese officials to cease all gratuitous compromises, urging them instead to prioritize national sovereignty, strengthen the national army, establish a clear timeline for Israel's withdrawal, and launch a comprehensive reconstruction plan.
Sheikh Qassem concluded by directly addressing Lebanese authorities: "Say 'no' to the Americans. They will be humiliated in the face of steadfastness, for all recent acts of aggression have been carried out under direct U.S. oversight and with Washington's explicit green light."
Hossein Amiri - seyed mohammad kazemi
