WANA (Sep 25) – The Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, said Iran emerged victorious in the recent conflict, stressing that neither the Islamic Republic was overthrown, nor was the Iranian nation humiliated, nor was the country disintegrated. “In contrast, they desperately pleaded for a ceasefire and watched our missiles until the very last second,” he declared.

 

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the third National Skills Competition for conscripted personnel of the Armed Forces, Fadavi highlighted the heavy sacrifices made by Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

 

“During the blessed lifetime of the Revolution, we have presented over 200,000 martyrs to Islam — 183,000 during the Sacred Defense (Iran–Iraq War), and the rest from events ranging from the Revolution itself to the defense of holy shrines and the recent 12-day war,” he said. Quoting Imam Khomeini, he added: “Every day of war brought blessings for us, exported our Revolution to the world, and proved our oppressed stance. This is the reality.”

 

Fadavi underlined that war had taught Iranians to believe the best destiny awaits those who trust in God. Referring to the recent conflict, which he described as involving “the entire world, from the Great Satan to the Zionists,” he said: “Time has proven who was the victor and who was defeated.”

 

He emphasized that Iran’s success came despite a coalition of global powers. “What was the key to our victory? Adherence to the lessons of the Sacred Defense and never bowing to arrogance,” he said.

 

According to Fadavi, one of the enemy’s “mistakes” was publicly announcing all of its objectives before the war. “Perhaps we lost many of our loved ones, but the enemy achieved none of its goals. They begged for a ceasefire while our missiles struck them until the final moments,” he added.

 

He revealed that 60 percent of those killed in the 12-day war were IRGC members. “Out of about 600 martyrs, 21 were conscript soldiers and the rest were IRGC officers and personnel of various ranks, showing the strength of our organizational cohesion and the integration of our intelligence and operational branches,” he said.

 

Addressing domestic challenges, Fadavi acknowledged youth unemployment as a major issue. “It is good for our young people to acquire skills, but more important is for these skills to generate income and secure their livelihood. This is precisely what the Armed Forces’ Skills Training Headquarters is pursuing, and it must continue,” he stated, concluding with prayers for the well-being of the participants.

A general view of the destruction of a residential building in Chamran residential complex in Tehran after the Israeli attacks on Tehran on June 13, 2025, in Tehran, Iran, July 19, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)