WANA (Jan 09) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that the Islamic Republic will not retreat in the face of what he described as acts of sabotage, foreign-backed unrest, and continued miscalculations by the United States, framing current tensions as part of a long-standing historical confrontation rather than a short-term political dispute.

 

Speaking on Friday at a large gathering in the city of Qom marking the anniversary of the January 1978 uprising against Iran’s former monarchy, Khamenei portrayed the event as a decisive moment that transformed accumulated social and religious grievances into a nationwide movement, ultimately leading to the collapse of the US-backed Pahlavi dynasty.

 

He described the former monarchy as corrupt, dependent on foreign powers, and fundamentally incapable of understanding Iranian society, arguing that Washington’s support for the Shah was rooted in a deep misreading of the Iranian people. According to Khamenei, the same pattern of miscalculation continues today.

 

“The United States once described Iran under the Shah as an ‘island of stability,’ just days before the country erupted,” he said, adding that such failures to grasp Iran’s internal dynamics led to defeat then and will do so again now.

 

Addressing recent unrest in Tehran and several other cities, Khamenei drew a clear distinction between the Iranian public and what he called “thoughtless and destructive elements.” He accused these groups of deliberately damaging public property in order to please foreign leaders, saying they were acting against their own country rather than expressing legitimate grievances.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, on the anniversary of the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani. Social media / WANA News Agency

The Supreme Leader stressed that the Islamic Republic, which he said was established through the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of lives, would not tolerate sabotage or what he termed “servitude to foreign powers.” He added that Iranian society overwhelmingly rejects those who act on behalf of external actors.

 

Khamenei also criticized the United States for what he described as direct involvement in recent military actions that resulted in the deaths of more than a thousand Iranians, saying Washington’s claims of supporting the Iranian people were incompatible with such actions. He argued that the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic is rooted in popular support and national sacrifice, and that violence against public infrastructure cannot be justified under that banner.

 

Expanding the scope of his remarks, Khamenei characterized the conflict between Iran and the United States as a struggle over independence, national resources, and identity. He pointed to US policies in other regions, including Latin America, as examples of what he described as a consistent pattern of exploiting the resources of other nations—something he said Iran itself experienced before the 1979 revolution.

 

In contrast to the pre-revolutionary period, Khamenei argued that today’s Iran is significantly stronger, citing what he called enhanced “soft power,” social cohesion, and military and technological capabilities. He identified religious faith, national pride, social responsibility, and a strong sense of Iranian identity as the core elements of this strength.

 

Rejecting claims that Iran is internationally isolated, the Supreme Leader said such narratives originate abroad but are sometimes echoed domestically. He described Iran as an independent and resilient actor with a recognized role in global affairs, adding that decades of political, economic, security, and cultural pressure have failed to weaken the system.

 

A substantial portion of the speech focused on Iran’s youth, whom Khamenei described as the country’s most important strategic asset.

 

He dismissed portrayals of Iranian young people in Western media as alienated, secularized, or disengaged, calling such depictions “entirely false.” Instead, he pointed to their visible presence in political life, religious events, and national commemorations, as well as their leading role in scientific and technological advances.

 

According to Khamenei, Iranian youth are central to progress in fields ranging from space technology and nuclear science to nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical research.

 

Concluding his remarks, the Supreme Leader called for unity, political awareness, and social cohesion, saying Iran’s modern history demonstrates that a united nation can withstand external pressure. He emphasized that the Islamic Republic intends to continue strengthening its independence and power through reliance on its people and internal capacities.