Iran Press/ Iran news: The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on August 13, 2023 in a meeting with the organizers of the National Congress of the Martyrs of Ardabil Province said: "[Wishing you] a warm welcome here. My memories of Ardabil, the people of Ardabil, and their spirit have, thank God, been revived by meeting you and hearing the clear, competent statements of the gentlemen. Thank God, we have continuously witnessed the spirit of the people of Ardabil and their sincere activities."
"I would like to speak about several matters today. One of these is about Ardabil itself. Whenever I have a meeting with the people or locals of a certain region, city, or province, I like to speak about the prominent features of that area so that the people of Iran may hear and know about that place and so that the people of those areas themselves will appreciate these features. Ardabil is one of those places that has had outstanding part in our history. We are greatly indebted to Ardabil. During a meeting that I had with the people of Ardabil several years ago, I told my brothers and sisters that the people of Ardabil have done two great things for Iran. One was for the nation, and the other was for religion," added the Leader.
His Eminence stated:
"Well, let me mention one point to you, my dear brothers and sisters. We lived in the same time period as the martyrs, and we saw the martyrs up close. We saw their jihad, and we saw their martyrdom. You yourselves saw that 13-14-year-old teenager [martyr Marhamat Balahzadeh]. You saw his martyrdom, knew this, understood this, and everything is still before your eyes. The next generation will not see this with the same clarity and certainty. We need to think about them [the next generation].
We saw how the martyrs were able to untie very difficult knots. We saw how all the active, advanced military powers of the world joined forces to attack a country — which had just experienced a revolution, had many problems."
The Leader then noted:
"After the war, after the eight-year defense, the military war finished, but the cognitive war, knowledge-related war, economic war, political war, and security war have increased every day, up until this very day. All of these have been thwarted thanks to the blessing of standing firmly, the blessing of resistances, and the blessing of martyrdoms."
"Therefore, the path that we must take is clear. It is the path of struggle, it is the path of resistance, and it is the path of steadfastness. This is the path that we must think about and work to make it better. The scholars in one way, the intellectuals in one way, the university students in one way, and various government officials should all work in their own way. This is what we need to do, and Almighty God will bless us in the same way that He blessed the martyrs’ blood."
Considering a martyr like martyr Soleimani, for example, who was martyred in the way of God. An entire nation was moved. An entire nation began a movement, it eliminated all these imaginary barriers between different groups of people, and it became one united nation. This is the blessing that God gives to the blood of the martyrs. The clearest example [of God giving blessing to a martyr’s blood] is the pure blood of Imam Hussain (pbuh). The enemies tried very hard to reduce the splendor of Muharram this year, but they did not succeed and the outcome was the opposite of what they wanted," stated His Eminence.
The Leader concluded:
"I hope that, God willing, Almighty God will give you success in preserving the name of the martyrs, the remembrance of the martyrs, the memories of the martyrs, the events of their martyrdoms and their stories using all the various methods that are needed — most importantly through the means of art. Use as many artistic techniques as you can. God willing, Almighty God will reward you and this way will continue."
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