WANA (Aug 30) – Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that war could erupt, stressing that the country must “become stronger” through both public resilience and responsible leadership. Addressing a ceremony for World Mosque Day, he admitted that officials have so far failed in economic and housing matters but insisted that managerial reforms and national unity can overcome such weaknesses.

 

Qalibaf emphasized that while Iran’s institutions are currently more coordinated than in the past, disunity still threatens to “pour water into the enemy’s mill.” He said cohesion under the Supreme Leader is essential, adding that officials, clerics, and society’s elites must recognize their responsibilities and understand the realities of their time and place.

 

The Speaker described the present confrontation as one where “all disbelief stands against all faith,” recalling how in early Islam, Jews conspired during the Battle of the Trench.

 

Today, he said, the United States, Israel, NATO, and even parts of regional states are aligned against Iran, Islam, and the values of the Qur’an and Ahl al-Bayt. He warned against comparing this multidimensional “cognitive war” to the Iran-Iraq conflict, saying modern threats involve more complex tactics, plots, and technologies.

 

Qalibaf cited American admissions after the October 7, 2023 events in Gaza: “When Biden traveled to Tel Aviv and embraced Netanyahu, he said if Israel had not been created earlier, today it would have been necessary. U.S. officials admitted that Israel was collapsing, its forces demoralized, and that CENTCOM had to manage its military.”

People attend a ceremony to mark the 40th day of the deaths of military commanders who were killed in Iran’s 12-day war with Israel, in Tehran, Iran, August 7, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency

He stressed that Iran must recognize the scale of the adversaries it faces in operations like “True Promise” 1, 2, and 3, where Iranian missiles confronted integrated U.S. and regional defense systems, including NATO assets and Israel’s Iron Dome.

 

“Trump once extracted $4 billion from regional states to unify their air defense systems, and today all those capabilities are lined up against our missiles,” he said, noting that despite this, Iran’s resistance has inspired admiration from Muslims and freedom-seekers worldwide.

 

He recalled meeting an Arab intellectual who admitted that Iran’s role in these battles had transformed many previously skeptical voices into outspoken defenders of the Islamic Republic.

 

Qalibaf declared that Iran faces enemies devoid of humanity or morality, labeling Israel “the Nazi regime of the 21st century.” He said its leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, hope to destabilize Iran internally.

 

“During the recent conflict, Netanyahu shamelessly told the Iranian people in a video to rise up in the streets, but it was the people themselves who silenced him,” Qalibaf said. He warned that if the regime believed it could recreate conditions like those of 2022 or the unrest in Kurdistan during the war years, it would attack Iran without hesitation.

 

He also revealed that Iran’s military was aware of the timing of recent enemy operations, though not the exact methods, and accused adversaries of relying on assassination and terror. He praised the Supreme Leader for personally overseeing command during the recent battles, just as he did during the Iran-Iraq war.

An Iranian missile is seen during the National Army Day parade ceremony in Tehran, Iran, April 18, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Paying tribute to the late Generals such as Qassem Soleimani and commanders Hajizadeh and Rashid, he said younger generations born in the 1980s and 1990s had proven themselves courageous and strategic in recent missile battles.

 

Qalibaf insisted that Iran’s true strength lies not only in military power but in the people’s faith and unity around the Supreme Leader. He urged officials to address governance flaws, reduce state dominance of the economy, and bring citizens into the management of the country.

 

“If people’s hearts beat for Iran and Islam, our missiles will be stronger,” he said, stressing that preserving the bond between the Imam and the nation is the main obstacle to enemy plots.

 

Turning to mosques, he said they must be more than places of prayer and should serve as hubs for mobilization, social services, and problem-solving. He called for a “mosque-based network” linking communities to government, arguing that even issues like energy shortages could be addressed through grassroots mobilization. “Imam Khomeini told us not to fear fighter jets but to fear empty mosques—this is the real battlefield today,” he said.

 

Qalibaf concluded by urging clerics, officials, and provincial leaders to remain among the people inside mosques, resolve their problems directly, and transform mosques into centers of participation and identity. “The brave soldiers stood at missile batteries to stop the enemy’s plans,” he said. “Now we and you must continue their path, with unity, strength, and faith.”