Ayatollah Imam Khamenei: More dangerous than the warship is the weapon that sends it to the depths of the sea.

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that more dangerous than any warship is the weapon capable of sending it to the seabed. Speaking to thousands of people from Tabriz and East Azerbaijan, he characterized the past year as unusual and eventful, citing the nation’s victory in a 12-day conflict, the quelling of a significant January sedition, and the grand participation of people in the rallies of January 22nd and February 11th as testaments to the Iranian nation’s power and vitality. He stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening national preparedness, vigilance, and unity.

Ayatollah Khamenei declared that all who perished in the recent unrest, including security forces, innocent bystanders, and even misguided individuals who joined the sedition due to naivety or anger, are considered their children, and the nation mourns them all. He urged government officials to intensify efforts to resolve economic issues, control inflation, and preserve the national currency’s value.

Addressing the unwarranted interference and audacious threats from American officials and media regarding attacks on Iran, the Supreme Leader asserted that they themselves are aware of their inability to withstand such actions. He warned that an army considering itself the world’s strongest might suffer a severe blow from which it cannot recover, adding that defense forces are prepared, and the nation should continue its daily life with peace and confidence.

On the eve of the anniversary of the pivotal January 29, 1978, uprising in Tabriz, Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted timeliness, prompt action, and sacrifice as key characteristics of that event. He lauded the encouraging presence of Azerbaijan’s youth in various arenas, noting that Tabriz’s doubled participation in the February 11th rally demonstrated their vibrancy, mirroring the entire Iranian nation. Such a nation, he emphasized, would never fall for political games or enemy schemes.

The Supreme Leader described the current year as one of repeated unveilings of the Iranian nation’s greatness, determination, steadfastness, and capabilities. He stated that the nation has brought pride and honor to Iran through repeated displays of power and resilience, a fact readily felt by officials traveling abroad during meetings with foreign dignitaries.

He deemed it essential for intellectuals and analysts to elucidate the nature and scope of the January sedition, characterizing it not as a mere riot by angry youth but as a planned coup that was crushed by the Iranian nation. Ayatollah Khamenei elaborated that US and Israeli intelligence agencies, with the assistance of other countries’ intelligence apparatuses, had been recruiting individuals with malicious tendencies for a long time, training them abroad, and providing them with funds and weapons to infiltrate the country for sabotage and attacks on military and government sites, awaiting an opportune moment which arrived in mid-January.

The Supreme Leader outlined the next step by the plotters as influencing and enraging inexperienced and naive individuals, who were then sent forward by trained elements. These trained elements, armed with various weapons and employing a strategy of extreme violence, engaged in acts of arson, killing, and destruction, akin to ISIS. Their primary objective, he stated, was to destabilize the foundations of the Islamic Republic. However, he affirmed that security forces, the Basij, the IRGC, and a significant number of citizens stood against the rioters, leading to the clear defeat of the coup, despite extensive preparations and massive expenditures, with the nation emerging victorious.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the rallies of January 22nd and February 11th as divine signs, underscoring that the nation, having overcome enemy malice and conspiracies, must preserve this evident divine success through preparedness, vigilance, and national unity.

Regarding the bloodshed during the unrest, he reiterated that the ringleaders and coup plotters faced divine judgment. However, he affirmed that the other three categories of casualties are considered their children, and they mourn them all. The first category, comprising security forces and supportive citizens, are hailed as martyrs for the nation’s security, peace, and integrity. The second category, innocent bystanders, are also considered martyrs for losing their lives in an enemy-instigated conflict. The third category, those who were deceived and joined the rioters, are also viewed as their own children, for whom they seek divine mercy and forgiveness. He noted that some of these deceived individuals, who were not arrested or imprisoned, have written letters expressing remorse and seeking forgiveness.

Citing US admissions regarding the formation of ISIS, Ayatollah Khamenei warned of new, similar threats, urging all officials and the public, especially the youth, to be vigilant about who they listen to and what proposals they accept.

The Supreme Leader stressed the public’s demand for the pursuit and punishment of the main seditious elements, stating that the judicial and security bodies are obligated to prosecute and sentence them. He called for fair judicial action against those who collaborate with the enemy through words, analysis, or deeds. He suggested that the US’s next plan for the Islamic Republic would likely follow a similar pattern, but assured that, by divine grace and the nation’s readiness, any such move would be decisively crushed.

In another part of his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the numerous economic, political, and social problems plaguing the United States as indicators of its declining empire. He stated that America’s issue with Iran is its desire to ‘devour’ the country, a goal thwarted by the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic.

He characterized the US President’s threatening rhetoric as a reflection of their desire to dominate the Iranian people. The Iranian nation, he asserted, understands its Islamic and Shiite teachings well and knows when and how to act. Quoting Imam Hussein (AS), Ayatollah Khamenei said that a nation like Iran, with its culture, history, and profound knowledge, would never pledge allegiance to corrupt figures like those governing America.

He cited the astonishing corruption revealed in the ‘notorious island’ incident as a true representation of Western civilization and liberal democracy, stating that it surpassed all previous accounts of Western leaders’ corruption and was merely one example among many. He predicted that further hidden corrupt practices would eventually come to light.

Addressing the pervasive threats in the rhetoric of US officials and Zionist media, the Supreme Leader noted that the people of Tabriz and the Iranian nation had responded to these hollow threats in the February 11th rallies, demonstrating that such threats not only are ineffective but also strengthen the nation’s resolve.

He reiterated that despite threats of war, Americans know they cannot withstand such actions due to their own political and economic challenges and their damaged international standing. He added that they are aware of the consequences of any misstep.

Ayatollah Khamenei identified the irrationality of American officials as another sign of their decaying empire, citing their interference in Iran’s affairs, particularly concerning its defense capabilities. He stressed the necessity of Iran possessing deterrent weapons, asserting that any country without them is vulnerable. He criticized the US for dictating Iran’s missile capabilities, calling it an internal matter.

He also deemed US interference in Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology for national needs – including medical, agricultural, and energy purposes – as irrational. He directly addressed the Americans, stating that this matter concerns the Iranian nation alone.

Recalling the people’s slogan, ‘Nuclear energy is our undeniable right,’ Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the right to nuclear facilities and enrichment is recognized for all countries under the International Atomic Energy Agency’s treaties and regulations. He described US interference in Iran’s national rights as indicative of the disorganized thinking of its current and past officials.

The Supreme Leader further highlighted the peculiar nature of US negotiation proposals, where they suggest discussing nuclear energy with the precondition that Iran should not possess it. He called this an absurd and foolish approach, undertaken by the US government, president, and some senators, failing to realize it leads to a dead end.

Reiterating the US president’s frequent claims of commanding the world’s strongest army, Ayatollah Khamenei cautioned that even the strongest military can suffer a decisive defeat. Regarding the deployment of warships towards Iran, he stated that while a warship is a dangerous instrument, the weapon capable of sending it to the seabed is far more dangerous.

Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged the US president’s admission of being unable to destroy the Islamic Republic after 47 years of the revolution, calling it a significant admission. He added, ‘You will not be able to do it either, because the Islamic Republic is not separate from the people; it is reliant on a living, steadfast, and strong nation that has strived and worked for its progress over these 47 years.’ He recalled the enemy’s inability to uproot the fledgling Islamic Republic in its early days and noted its current status as a blessed, tall, and fruitful tree, possessing vast resources. He urged officials to double their efforts, utilizing these resources to correct current inflation and the decline in the national currency’s value, expressing confidence in future improvements.

The Supreme Leader emphasized the responsibility of officials to pursue ongoing tasks seriously and meticulously, addressing all aspects, resolving problems, and stabilizing the business environment. He assured the public that if threats exist, mechanisms to neutralize them are also in place, urging citizens to engage in their work, studies, businesses, and trade without concern.

He stressed the necessity of prevailing calm and self-confidence across the country, expressing hope for divine peace and assurance for the people and success for officials in fulfilling their duties.

Prior to the Supreme Leader’s address, Hojjat-al-Islam wal-Muslimin Motahhari-Asl, the representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azerbaijan Province and the Friday Prayer leader of Tabriz, recalled the active resistance of the province’s military forces and people against the imposed war by the Zionist regime and their extensive participation in the massive rallies of January 22nd and February 11th. He stated that the people of Azerbaijan are always present to fulfill all their Islamic, revolutionary, and national duties.