WANA (Dec 11) – During a meeting today with people from different walks of life, Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader delivered a speech on Syria and recent regional developments, emphasizing “There should be no doubt that what has happened in Syria is the result of a joint American and Zionist plan. We have evidence for this.”

 

He continued, “Yes, a neighboring government of Syria plays a clear role in this matter, and has done so in the past, and continues to do so—everyone sees it—but the main conspirator and the mastermind, the command center, is in the U.S. and the Zionist regime.”

 

Iran’s Supreme Leader emphasizing the growing strength of the Resistance Front stated “This is resistance; this is the Resistance Front: the more pressure you apply, the stronger it becomes. The more atrocities you commit, the more motivated it grows. The more you fight it, the wider it spreads. I assure you, by the grace of God, the scope of resistance will extend across the entire region more than ever before.”

Referring to flawed analyses about the relationship between resistance and Iran’s strength, he remarked: “An ignorant analyst, unaware of the essence of resistance, imagines that weakening resistance will weaken the Islamic Republic of Iran. But I declare, by the will of Almighty God, Iran is strong and will become even stronger.”

 

The Leader emphasized that the resistance is not a fragile entity that can be destroyed or weakened by external forces. “Resistance is not hardware that can break apart. It is faith, thought, a heartfelt decision, and a school of thought—a belief system. It grows stronger under pressure and becomes more widespread when it faces injustice,” he stated.

 

Mentioning the determination of the Resistance Front and the inevitability of change in Syria and the region, Ayatollah Khamenei said “By God’s grace, the occupied territories in Syria will be liberated by the brave Syrian youth—there is no doubt this will happen. Furthermore, the United States will also be expelled from the region by the Resistance Front.”

Highlighting the differing motives of aggressors in Syria, he explained: “These attackers each have their agenda. Some seek territorial gains in northern or southern Syria, while the U.S. aims to establish a stronger foothold in the region. But time will prove that God willing, none of these goals will be achieved. Syrian territories will be freed by its courageous youth, and the U.S. will fail to solidify its presence.

 

He reiterated: “By divine will, America’s foothold in the region will be uprooted by the Resistance Front.”

 

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, elaborated on Iran’s involvement in Syria during the rise of ISIS. “ISIS represented a bomb of insecurity,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated. “Its aim was to destabilize Iraq, Syria, and the entire region, ultimately targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran. Their ultimate goal was to spread chaos in our country.”

 

He described reasons for Iran’s military presence in Iraq and Syria for two main factors:

  1. Protection of Holy Shrines:
    “ISIS, devoid of spirituality and faith, sought to destroy the sacred shrines,” the Leader said. He recalled the destruction of the golden dome in Samarra with American support and warned of ISIS’s plans to target shrines in Najaf, Karbala, Kadhimayn, and Damascus. “Faithful and courageous young Iranians, devoted to the Ahl al-Bayt, could not tolerate such acts and took action to prevent them.”
  2. Ensuring National Security:
    Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that Iranian officials recognized early on the threat posed by ISIS, noting, “If this insecurity wasn’t stopped there, it would have spread and engulfed our entire nation. The chaos caused by ISIS was no ordinary threat.”

Quoting Imam Ali, the Leader stated, “A nation that fights its enemy within its own borders will face humiliation. Do not let the fight reach your home.”

 

This principle guided Iran’s proactive measures. Iranian commanders, including the late General Qassem Soleimani, organized and trained local youth in Iraq and Syria. “They stood against ISIS, broke its back, and ultimately overcame it,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

 

He clarified that Iran’s involvement was not about deploying large military units to replace local armies. Instead, Iran provided advisory support, forming central command posts, devising strategies and tactics, and stepping into the battlefield when necessary. “Most importantly, we mobilized the region’s youth,” he noted, while highlighting the eagerness of many Iranian volunteers to join the cause.

 

Iran’s contribution, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed, was crucial in confronting and defeating ISIS, ensuring the stability and security of the region and beyond.

 

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, highlighted Syria’s critical role during the Iran-Iraq War, acknowledging the mutual support between Tehran and Damascus over the decades.

 

Addressing a question about Iran’s involvement in Syria, the Leader affirmed, “Yes, we were present in Syria over the past years. The sacrifices of the Defenders of the Shrine martyrs are clear evidence of this presence.”

Ayatollah Khamenei revealed a lesser-known historical fact: Syria’s decisive assistance to Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. “While the world supported Saddam and worked against us, the Syrian government took a significant and strategic step in our favor,” he stated.

 

He explained that during the war, Syria severed Iraq’s oil pipeline to the Mediterranean, which was a major source of revenue for Saddam Hussein. “This act caused a global uproar and stopped the flow of oil profits to Saddam’s coffers,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

 

Despite benefiting financially from the pipeline’s operation, Syria forfeited its share of the revenue to hinder Saddam’s war efforts. “This was a vital move, and the Islamic Republic did not overlook such a service,” the Leader added.

 

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that Iran’s assistance to Syria during recent conflicts was a continuation of the deep bond formed during those critical times. “We supported the Syrian government, just as they had provided us with vital support in the past.”

 

The Leader also recounted how General Qassem Soleimani played a pivotal role in organizing and training thousands of Syrian youth, forming a popular mobilization force. However, he noted that certain Syrian military officials later created obstacles, weakening the forces. “Unfortunately, some officials in Syria made mistakes and neglected what was beneficial to them,” he said.

 

He attributed the current struggles Syria faces to these weaknesses, stressing that when the spirit of resistance diminishes, it leads to such challenges. “This suffering Syria is going through today is a result of those weaknesses, but I pray that the youth of Syria will rise and counter it.”

 

Iran’s Leader discussed the requests from military commanders for assistance in Lebanon and Syria, particularly concerning Hezbollah. He contrasted these requests with the passive attitude of Iran’s military during the Pahlavi regime, which failed to resist foreign invaders in World War II and even as the enemy advanced towards Tehran. The Leader emphasized the importance of resistance and resilience in the face of adversities.

 

Despite the challenges, the Iranian military had prepared to support Syria, but geopolitical obstacles, including airspace and land routes blocked by Israel and the U.S., hindered such efforts. The Leader expressed that if Syria had been left to defend itself, it would have been able to maintain its sovereignty, and outside interference would not have been able to close off its routes.

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The Leader expressed confidence in Syria’s youth, asserting that they would rise up and overcome the current situation, just as Iraq’s youth, under the leadership of martyr General Qassem Soleimani, were able to expel American forces from their country. “This situation will not last forever,” he said, referring to the ongoing challenges in Syria, including Israeli airstrikes and attacks on civilians.

 

The Syrian crisis offers important lessons for Iran and its leadership, particularly regarding vigilance and the need for preemptive action. Iranian intelligence had issued several warnings months before the escalation, but the Leader noted that the warnings may not have reached high-level officials in Syria. He cautioned against underestimating the enemy, warning that sometimes a smiling enemy can be the most dangerous.

 

The Leader also reflected on the broader lessons of resilience, urging that both victories and defeats should not lead to arrogance or despair.

 

He emphasized that the Islamic Republic, despite facing major challenges and hardships over the past four decades, has never succumbed to inaction or complacency. “Inaction is more dangerous than the incident itself,” he said, stressing that both success and failure should be approached with humility and resolve.

 

The Islamic Republic, he concluded, has faced difficult moments, including situations where it lacked sufficient defense capabilities, but it has always maintained its resolve and never fallen into passivity. The Leader stressed that in both moments of success and failure, it is essential not to let pride or despair take hold.