Tehran: The managing director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Hossein Jaberi Ansari, highlighted the enduring legacy of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, emphasizing that independence and national power remain the most significant achievements of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Speaking on IRNA TV's special program, 'Iran's Mr. Martyr,' Ansari noted that exploring Ayatollah Khamenei's legacy is essentially an examination of the Islamic Republic itself, given his foundational role in shaping the country.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Ansari elaborated that the Islamic Republic was established under Imam Khomeini and continued to evolve through the nearly four-decade leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei. He dismissed speculations that the Islamic Republic would collapse after the Imam's death, asserting that the system's resilience proved otherwise. The challenges following the 1990s, including the Imam's demise, briefly shocked the nation, but Ayatollah Khamenei's leadership demonstrated that the Republic was built on a solid institutional foundation, rather than dependent on a single personality.
Ansari addressed the Zionist-American warmongering over the past year, speculating that their actions, including the assassination attempts on Ayatollah Khamenei, were based on the misconception that Iran's system relied on one individual. However, their failure to destabilize the Republic through targeted eliminations proved this notion wrong. Reflecting on the unity between the Iranian government and its people, Ansari emphasized that balancing independence and freedom is a cornerstone of the Islamic Republic, as outlined in Article 9 of the Constitution. No authority has the right to infringe upon the people's freedoms under the guise of maintaining independence and territorial integrity.
He commended both Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei for establishing a system prioritizing people's choice, contrasting it with the monarchical system where public participation was nonexistent. The Islamic Revolution transformed inherited, centralized power into a republic driven by the people's will. Further discussing the political landscape, Ansari remarked on the necessity of strengthening Iran's party system for governance evolution. Although numerous political parties emerged post-revolution, the electoral framework has remained largely individual-based.
In his interview, Ansari delved into the integration of Islam and Iran within the identity of the state as envisioned by the martyred Leader. He asserted that one of the Islamic Republic's greatest legacies under Ayatollah Khamenei is the harmonious relationship between Islam and Iran, bridging the concepts of "Ummah" (the global Islamic community) and the "Nation." The Palestinian cause, as a central concern for the Islamic Ummah, was consistently prioritized by the Islamic Republic and its leadership, remaining a focal point until Ayatollah Khamenei's martyrdom.
Concluding his remarks, Ansari urged respect and reverence for the Iranian nation, which has weathered numerous challenges, crises, and conflicts since the Islamic Revolution. He honored the principles of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei, emphasizing the strong bond between the government and its people. The massive public mourning for Ayatollah Khamenei, he noted, is a testament to this unity, which should transcend personal agendas and interests to preserve Iran's tremendous potential.