Imam Khamenei: Iran Said ’No’ to Global Bullying in Iraq War

Local Editor

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday that the eight years of defense against Iraq's invasion was Iran's "No" to bullying and excessive demands of global powers.

During a meeting with a number of high-ranking military and police commanders on the occasion of the Sacred Defense Week, Sayyed Khamenei referred to the sacred defense years as a period which added a credit to the history of the Iranian nation.
He added that the eight-year event showed that confronting bullying powers and inappropriate demands of superpowers are possible despite all hardships and pressures.

"The experience of the eight-year Sacred Defense [against Iraq's invasion] proved that, despite all limitations and pressures, lack of financial resources, and numerous problems, it is possible to stand up against bullying and excessive demands by global powers through firm determination and reliance on God," Imam Khamenei said.

He said that certain countries from the West and East along with their regional allies formed a broad military front against Iran during Iraq's imposed war in the 1980s.

He noted that the front was aimed at undermining and discrediting the Islamic system and getting it trapped in domestic problems with the ultimate objective of preparing the ground for its eventual collapse.

"This broad coalition sought to weaken, undermine and disgrace the Islamic establishment, put it in numerous troubles and ultimately lay the groundwork for the collapse of the Islamic Republic, but the Islamic establishment and the Iranian nation withstood this front and emerged victorious despite the lack of facilities and equipment and the existence of problems at that time," he said.

However, Imam Khamenei added, the Islamic system and the Iranian nation managed to confront the front and emerge victorious in spite of shortcomings, lack of equipment and facing problems at the time.

He said that what the nation achieved through its sacred defense was much greater than what it lost due to its immense costs.

Moreover, he stressed that thanks to the Iranian nation's resistance, many influential figures both in Islamic and non-Islamic countries came to believe in the possibility of defense with empty hands.

The Sacred Defense Week, commemorating Iranians' sacrifices during the 8 years of the Iraqi imposed war on Iran in 1980s, officially began on Monday with nationwide parades by various units of the Islamic Republic Army, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC] and Basij [volunteer)] forces in the Iranian capital of Tehran and other cities across the country.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team