Speaking Sunday at the first National Iranian Soldier Festival, held during Sacred Defense Week, Hatami said the eight-year war imposed by Iraq’s toppled Baathist regime showed the importance of defending the homeland under the banner of independence.
He stressed that the enemy’s credibility is rapidly eroding, saying its increasingly desperate rhetoric reflects confusion over how to confront Iran’s 90-million-strong nation, whose people all consider themselves defenders of their homeland. He added that US President Donald Trump’s promised “help” had amounted to what Iran has witnessed, while he now labels the Iranian people terrorists.
He said Lieutenant General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the late commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, after holding senior military and national positions, chose to be identified as an Iranian soldier. Hatami also recalled Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani’s wish to have Soldier Qassem Soleimani written on his gravestone.
Hatami said the enemy had wrongly calculated that killing Iran’s top officials and commanders would cause the Islamic Republic to collapse. Instead, he said, commanders continued to stand their ground and defend the country.
The war is not over, Hatami said, adding that Iran had won but must preserve that victory. He warned that the adversary should expect further strikes.
He rejected plans to destabilize Iran through pressure and internal conflict, saying Iranians understood the adversary’s intentions.
Addressing neighboring and regional countries, Hatami said cooperation with the United States had not brought security and argued that regional security should be ensured by countries of the region.
He also described the Strait of Hormuz as a symbol of Iran’s dignity and honor, saying Iran would not allow adversaries to use the strategic waterway while depriving Iranians of its benefits.
