Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Iranian regime, stated during a speech on the fifth anniversary of the death of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, that Lebanon and Yemen remain “symbols of resistance.”
He said, “Lebanon is a symbol of resistance. It has been hit, but it has not knelt.” He also described Yemen as another symbol of resistance, stating, “It will prevail.”
The Houthis, who control northwestern Yemen, began attacking Israel and international ships after the Gaza conflict erupted in October 2023.
In his January 1 speech, Khamenei said, “The U.S. and its allies will ultimately leave this region in disgrace.”
He claimed that the U.S., Israel, and other foreign countries have “violated” Syrian territory and reiterated that “they cannot remain in this country and will be forced to retreat before the Syrian youth.”
He added, “National power in any country relies on certain elements that must be preserved. One of the major mistakes of some countries is removing the elements of stability and power. A group of devout youth willing to sacrifice their lives are the factors of stability and power.”
The Iranian regime’s leader further stated, “If the elements of power are removed, something like what happened in Syria will occur, leading to chaos.”
According to Khamenei, “The events of the past few years in which Qassem Soleimani and his colleagues were active, including the defense of the shrine (intervention in Syria under the pretext of protecting sacred sites), demonstrated that the revolution and the Islamic Republic are alive.”
Responding to critics of Iran’s regional presence, he said, “It is a grave mistake for some to think that the blood spilled in the defense of the shrine was in vain.”
According to the Iranian leader, “If these lives were not sacrificed and this struggle had not taken place, there would be no news of Zaynabiyah (a pilgrimage site in Damascus) and Karbala today.”
The Iranian regime has cited the defense of Shiite holy sites as one of the reasons for its presence in the Middle East.
According to Khamenei, Qassem Soleimani’s enduring strategy was the “revival of the resistance front,” which meant utilizing “the youth of the same country.”
Khamenei stated, “In matters related to him [Soleimani], he believed that any significant regional and global event also affected our country’s affairs, and with this perspective and calculation, he identified threats from beyond the borders and acted to prevent and address them.”
While Khamenei emphasizes “resistance,” senior Iranian officials continue to signal an interest in diplomatically resolving certain tensions. However, history has shown that the regime persistently pursues its destabilizing activities under the cover of negotiations with the West.
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General: “Patience” is our current strategy
Meanwhile, today, Naim Qassem, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, said in a speech in Tehran, “The resistance continues and has regained its strength.”
In a video message, Qassem referred to the recent war with Israel, stating, “We must assess the events that occurred during this aggressive war, learn from its outcomes, and improve our actions based on its lessons and experiences.”
He also noted Israel’s attacks in southern Lebanon following the ceasefire, saying, “Hezbollah’s current strategy is ‘patience.'”
