Leader Highlights Enemy’s Failure to Dissuade Iranians from Championing Revolution

On the anniversary of Tabriz Popular Uprising on February 18, 1978, a large number of people from East Azerbaijan Province met with Ayatollah Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Hussainyah of Tehran on Monday, February 18.

In remarks at the meeting, the Leader praised the faith and spirit of today's youth in Tabriz as a continuation of the legacy from the February 18 uprising.

Ayatollah Khamenei rejected the analyses of certain individuals’ claims that the Iranian nation is creating enemies for itself as incorrect. He underscored that "the hostility from the tyrannical US policymakers is not due to the slogan 'Death to America,' but rather stems from the fact that Iran, through the determination and sacrifices of its people, has successfully liberated itself from the yoke of colonial oppressors and resisted their impositions."

He described the bullying rhetoric of the US and its demands for the occupation or annexation of parts of certain countries as a manifestation of the abhorrent, violent, plundering, and domineering nature of the imperialists and the complex web of Zionism.

"They cannot tolerate the fact that the Iranian nation, by standing on its own feet and protesting against their oppression and aggression, has established a government which, after 46 years, has grown stronger day by day," Ayatollah Khamenei added.

The Leader characterized Iran's defense capabilities against hard warfare threats as being at an extremely high level. "Both our allies and enemies are aware of this fact, and the (Iranian) nation feels secure in this matter. Therefore, our current issue is not the enemy’s military threats, but rather the threats posed by soft warfare," he asserted.

Ayatollah Khamenei clarified the concept of "soft warfare threats" as the manipulation of public opinion, the instigation of divisions, and the cultivation of doubts regarding the "foundations of the Islamic Revolution and the importance of remaining resolute against enemies." He noted that adversaries have come to the conclusion that the best way to defeat the Iranian nation and push the Islamic Republic back from its powerful positions is by employing threats of soft warfare.

However, he added, these efforts have not been successful thus far, and despite their temptations, they have failed to deter the Iranian nation and youth from their determination and progress, khamenei.ir reported.

The Leader described this year’s grand 22nd of Bahman rally as a clear indication of the ineffectiveness of soft warfare threats. "The remarkable and glorious turnout of the people, even 46 years after the victory of the Revolution, is unmatched worldwide. The people have demonstrated that their problems and their legitimate expectations do not stand in the way of their participation in support of the Revolution," he stated.

He emphasized that in the current circumstances, soft warfare defense is more important than hard warfare defense and explained the reason for this importance by stating, "Deficiencies in hard warfare defense can be compensated for with soft warfare defense, just as this has been done many times before. However, software issues cannot be resolved with hardware tools."

Ayatollah Khamenei urged the youth to strengthen their soft warfare defense by familiarizing themselves with the concepts and features of the Revolution and the teachings of the late Imam Khomeini (RA). "Our Revolution, in its true sense, represents the battle of 'light against darkness' and 'truth against falsehood.' It aims to elevate the Iranian nation, improve its future, and demonstrate its national identity," he remarked.

During the meeting, the Leader also highlighted the advancements made toward the Revolution's objectives. "The Revolution has managed to maintain itself as an independent identity, as a vast and inspirational foundation for regional nations, and even for some nations beyond the region. The anger of the world's Arrogant Powers, colonialists, and the evil elements who commit crimes under the guise of good names, is due to the fact that the Islamic Republic has proven resilient, unwavering, and capable of demonstrating its strength against them."

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader referred to Azarbaijan and Tabriz as the stronghold of Iran against foreign aggression. "Through their patience, steadfastness, and faith, the people of Tabriz have on multiple occasions forced the enemies to flee" he stated.

Ayatollah Khamenei identified "Islamic faith" and "religious zeal" of the people of Tabriz as the two primary factors behind the uprising on February 18, 1978. He underscored that the significance of this uprising extended beyond the mere fact that it compelled the Pahlavi regime to deploy tanks in the streets. Its true greatness, he asserted, lay in its role as a model for the entire nation, inspiring individuals from various cities to join the struggle.