Tehran: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei addressed the nation in a televised speech on Tuesday night, emphasizing that the unity of the Iranian nation during the Twelve-Day War frustrated the enemy’s efforts.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the speech aligned with Sacred Defense Week, commemorating the 1980-1988 Iraqi-imposed war on Iran, and coincided with the new school year’s commencement. Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted a recent 12-day conflict in June, initiated by aggression from the Israeli regime and the United States, aimed at toppling the Islamic System.
Ayatollah Khamenei asserted that the Iranian nation’s unity thwarted the enemy’s plans to divide the country and overthrow its government, maintaining cohesion months after the war concluded. He also addressed the contentious issue of uranium enrichment, noting ongoing disputes between Iran and Western states over the matter.
He explained the significance of enrichment, citing its applications in agriculture, industry, nutrition, environment, natural resource preservation, and electricity. Ayatollah Khamenei affirmed Iran’s ability to produce highly-enriched uranium and reiterated that the country does not pursue nuclear weapons.
Despite past bombings of Iranian nuclear sites, he stated that the nation’s capacity for uranium enrichment remains unhampered due to the indigenous development of this science and the expertise of numerous Iranian specialists. Ayatollah Khamenei underscored Iran’s resilience against external pressures and emphasized that future pressures would not lead to capitulation.
The Leader dismissed negotiations with the US government, arguing that such discussions would not benefit Iran and might prove detrimental. Ayatollah Khamenei criticized American demands to cease enrichment and missile programs, attributing these to a lack of understanding of the Islamic Republic.
He accused the US government of deceit and hypocrisy, asserting that it employs intimidation and threats to achieve its goals. Concluding his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the necessity for Iran to strengthen itself against threats, relying on divine support, and declared that a powerful Iran would be impervious to enemy threats.