Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, issued a message marking the anniversary of the opening days of the First Imposed War. The message also commemorated the Iranian nation’s enduring eight-year Sacred Defence, which he described as one of God’s Chosen Days.

Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, issued a message marking the anniversary of the opening days of the First Imposed War and the days commemorating the Iranian nation’s enduring eight-year Sacred Defence, which he described as one of God's Chosen Days.

He pointed out that the hegemonic powers imposed a war on Iran during the first decade of the Revolution in an effort to return the country to the era of backwardness, humiliation, degradation, dependence, and disrepute that characterised the pre-revolutionary era. He said that, despite their extensive efforts, the Islamic system arose like a phoenix, more vigorous and stronger than before, with a more resounding voice and a loftier flight. He said this became a continuing characteristic of the system in subsequent events that the enemy had created. Today, as a result of enemy pressure, and particularly the two recently imposed wars, that phoenix has grown so great that the shadow of its flight now falls even upon the enemy's territory.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also commemorated the second anniversary of the martyrdom of the heroic Arab commander and great symbol of the Resistance Front, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah. He also paid tribute to the Ashura-like resistance and struggle of Sheikh Naim Qassem, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, and the fighters of  Hezbollah.

He emphasised that these days for Lebanon are distinguished and glorious days for all the fighters in the Resistance. On the other hand, they are days of humiliation and, ultimately, disgrace for those who, in confronting the Zionist enemy, place their hopes in the false promises of the hegemonic powers and in those who are antagonistic to the Resistance.

The full text of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution’s message is as follows:

In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

"And indeed, We sent Moses with Our signs, [saying], 'Bring your people out of darknesses into the light and remind them of the days of Allah.'" (Qur’an: 14:5)

The opening days of the month of Mehr recall the Days of Allah and the great, enduring phenomenon of the Iranian nation's valiant eight-year defence in the First Imposed War. In those days, the warm radiance of the Revolution spread across Iran, fostering national solidarity and loyalty to the school and principles of revolutionary Islam. Under its influence, the ice of domination and both old and modern colonialism began to melt.

At that time, some Iranians remembered what had happened more than twenty years earlier: the hostility of the colonial powers, the events surrounding the nationalisation of the oil industry, and the American-backed coup. Others had heard reports of those events, while many had directly experienced the harm foreign domination had inflicted on our country's affairs.

The days preceding the Revolution had been dark. Ambassadors of arrogant powers dictated to the Shah what he must and must not do; he complied, willingly or reluctantly, and carried out their instructions. This continued until the great Revolution of the Iranian nation, under the leadership of Imam Khomeini (ra), swept that order away.

Through this Revolution, those dark days gave way to radiant ones when the Islamic Republic of Iran was established. This deeply angered the hegemons, who coveted the wealth of this land and, who, over many years, had committed every manner of wrongdoing against its people in an attempt to seize that wealth for themselves.

From then on, they devoted all their efforts to turning the revolutionary nation's raging river back to its former course. The First Imposed War was their most significant undertaking during the first decade of the Islamic Republic's blessed life. From that point onwards, they devoted all their efforts to forcing the mighty river of the revolutionary nation back into its former course. From the flames of that war, ignited by the anti-people’s Ba'ath Party, which believed it would be a brief conflict lasting only a few days and bringing an easy victory, the Islamic system arose like a phoenix, stronger than before, with a more resounding voice and a loftier flight. This has remained a defining trait of the system through subsequent enemy-engineered crises whenever it has confronted them.

There was a time when the enemy would install its servants in power over the people and subject them to a new form of colonialism. Those days would soon transform into days of glory and pride through the blessing of the Revolution, the raising of the banner of Islam, and the jihad waged during the Imposed War. Even today, thirty-eight years after the war ended, when we examine its events in detail and listen to the truthful accounts of those who survived, figures emerge like shining stars upon the crown of our country’s history. Each is an exemplar from whom we can learn lessons in worship, courage, resistance, morality, and humanity.

There was a time when our people, while facing many threats, had to defend the homeland empty-handed. This was the legacy the tyrannical regime left us. Today is different. By upholding the truth and by the grace of God, it is the aggressor powers themselves, not their proxies, who now run for cover from the blows of the warriors of Islam and sue for peace.

There was a time when the enemy desired to take us back to a state of backwardness, humiliation, ignominy, dependency, and disrepute in the Islamic world. Instead, this time is characterised by progress, dignity, independence, and a place among the highest rankings in the Islamic world and, indeed, the whole world. Some now call us the world’s fourth superpower; of course, such reckoning belongs to the ways of the world. By God's standard, a nation that holds fast to the Pure Household of the Prophet (as), whose people cherish them and fear no cost in upholding the truth, is the greatest power on earth.

There was a time when the two seas to Iran's south were a playground for enemy forces, but these days, because of the painful blows they have suffered from our valiant fighters and the guardians of the Strait of Hormuz, they no longer advance beyond the Arabian Sea, and whenever they have courted that risk, they have brought harm upon themselves; and it will not be long before the Arabian Sea, too, empties itself of them.

There was a time when the arrogant powers emptied the capital’s streets through psychological operations and an atmosphere of intimidation, and engineered a coup against this nation’s quest for independence. They then plundered the country's wealth for twenty-five years. For seven months now, however, our compatriots have adorned squares and streets across the country with their responsible and enthusiastic presence. This has encouraged the fighters of Islam and struck fear into the enemy. More than thirty million Iranians have just declared their readiness to make the ultimate sacrifice. Later, when called to register formally, over half a million filled the allocated quota in the first 100 minutes alone. Today, throughout Islamic Iran, Iranians from diverse ethnic communities which enrich the country, have made various declarations of readiness, particularly to take up arms so as to create a battlefield that would bring honour to them and disgrace to their enemy.

There was a time when we measured valour by our men's deeds. Today, however, we live in a time when our women excel men in many arenas that require courage.

There was a time when the enemy always sought to weaken the social cohesion underpinning the system. Today, however, despite indisputable differences, different sections of society stand united in defending their rightful positions. This includes safeguarding the blessed and bountiful Strait of Hormuz.

This comparison between days past and present could be developed at length. But in a word, as a servant of the dear people of Iran, I declare that those former days to which our enemy longs to return have passed and will never come again. At the same time, I must say with pain and sorrow that, especially in these days, we profoundly feel the absence of the great Khomeini and the illustrious martyred Khamenei (may Allah exalt their noble stations), whose leadership is responsible for the dignity our country enjoys today. Yet the valuable treasury of their conduct and the brilliant, guiding words they left behind are a spiritual gift to those who follow them, for whom the days ahead will be far more glorious than these. For that phoenix which rose from the blazing fire of the first Imposed War has now grown so large under the weight of fresh aggression, especially in the two recent imposed wars, that the shadow of its flight now stretches over enemy territory.

It is also most fitting on this occasion to commemorate, on the second anniversary of his martyrdom, the heroic Arab commander and great symbol of the Resistance Front, the eminent martyr Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, may Allah sanctify his pure soul. He was a man of sincere goodwill towards his people and his school of thought. His truthful and eloquent sermons and courageous actions strengthened the hearts of his people and, indeed, those of free people throughout the world. He raised Lebanon, a land long treated as the backyard of foreign powers, to heights of renown. Victory and triumph were his constant companions. Undoubtedly, throughout the entire history of the Levant, since the time of the Prophets and their Successors until today, no figure of greater stature has arisen in that ancient land. Now his glorious banner is held aloft by His Excellency Sheikh Naim Qassem (may God preserve him), who bravely continues on this path at the head of Hezbollah's resolute, Ashura-like ranks.

In the eyes of history, these days, indeed, even now, are days of pride for him, for all Lebanon, and for all Resistance fighters. And they are days of humiliation and ultimate disgrace for those who, in the face of the Zionist enemy, pinned their hopes on the false promises of arrogant powers and their ill-wishing allies. Unlike Sayyid Nasrallah, Sayyid Hashim Safi al-Din, and the fighters who followed them, who will shine as guiding stars through the ages, such people will be forgotten, remembered only as a byword for folly, and perhaps worse. Very soon, they will be buried and forgotten as the first pages of history are turned, and if they are ever recalled in the future, it will be as a reminder of wrongdoing, poor judgement, and perhaps even betrayal.

In conclusion, I hope that, through the continuation of divine grace and the special supplications of our Master (ajfs), the Iranian nation and all its allies in the Resistance shall know nothing but victory and glory, while their enemies encounter nothing but defeat and humiliation, by the favour and generosity of Almighty God.

Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei

6 Mehr 1405

28th September 2026