Morning of the meeting
The twilight has not yet given way to the sunlight, as the multitudes of people make their way along the streets leading to Imam Khomeini's Hussainiyah[1] (ra), all heading in the same direction. Heads wrapped in keffiyehs and bodies clothed in long dishdashas and jackets have created a combined winter-Khuzestan look in the streets of Tehran. However, the people of Khuzestan are not the only guests of Imam Khomeini's Hussainiyah. The large-framed photograph of Martyr Soleimani that is situated next to the Leader’s chair awaits his comrades from Kerman province who fought during the years of the Sacred Defense.
Several groups of people from the provinces of Khuzestan and Kerman will meet with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution today, Saturday, December 23, 2023.
In the Hussainiyah
Even though the crowd has so far just filled half of the Hussainiyah, the chanting and unison of the crowd is louder than several fully-filled Hussainiyahs put together.
A man from the crowd reads a speech in Arabic about the memoirs of the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution and the Imam of the martyrs [Imam Khomeini]. Teenagers from Khuzestan sing a song in praise of the bravery of the fighters of the Resistance Front – fighters who have come from regions encompassing Iran to Gaza. At this point, the Hussainiyah is swarming with people – a crowd waiting in anticipation for Imam Khamenei’s entry into the Hussainiyah.
The elegist that recited elegies during Haj Qasem Soleimani’s final appearance in this Hussainiyah, also reminisced today about the memories of Haj Qasem. It wasn’t long before his poem reached Palestine and Gaza.
We all shall give our hearts, for the sake of our Deen
And now let us turn to the land of Falasteen
Daggers of hatred have wounded the Holy Land
But no power can exceed, the might of Allah's hand
The crowd loudly sings this epic song:
“O’ army of the Imam of the Time [Imam Mahdi], be prepared, be prepared!
Get ready for a relentless battle, be prepared, be prepared!”
They then prepare themselves to hear the Leader’s speech as they chant “Labbayk O’ Hussain (pbuh)!”
The sapling of Islamic Resistance in Khuzestan
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution commenced his speech by lauding Khuzestan’s glorious history in the battle against colonization and foreign invasion during the days of the First World War. The citizens of Khuzestan obtained permission from scholars in Najaf, such as Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, to engage in jihad, after which they raised the flag of battle against the British invaders and defended Iran.
Some 40 years later, during the operational phase of the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry, the same people seized the Abadan refinery, which had been in the clutches of the British, and took back the facilities that the Brits had unjustly taken away from the Iranian people. On top of this, the people of Khuzestan were the first group of people who lined up in a show of resistance against Saddam Hussein’s invasion in 1980.
Saddam had hoped that the Arabs of Khuzestan would accompany him. However, the same Arabs whom Saddam was pinning his hopes on, like martyr Ali Hashemi,[2] stood against him. Various tribes in Khuzestan participated in these honorable events. Khuzestan was the place where the blood of young Iranians from different parts of the country was shed during the invasion of the Iraqi Baath regime. And so, Khuzestan became a symbol of the Iranian people’s empathy and faith.
The birthplace of the martyred general, Haj Qasem Soleimani
Imam Khamenei described the people of Kerman as a people who possess a deep cultural identity, trainers of elites, and possessors of moral decency and sincere faith. These characteristics made the people of Kerman pioneers in the Islamic Movement and a person like General Soleimani emerged from the hearts of these same people.
The fruit of the sapling of resistance in Gaza
“The incident in Gaza is an unprecedented phenomenon that the Islamic world has witnessed during the last century.” This sentence was the beginning of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution's speech about "the most important international issue of the Islamic world" – Gaza. According to his statements, what occurred in Gaza was unparalleled in two ways:
First of all, this kind of brutality, criminality and bloodthirstiness that we see from the Zionist regime was unprecedented in this last century. These kinds of child killings, the dropping of bunker-buster bombs on patients and hospitals is unprecedented and was never seen before.”
The second side is the side of the Palestinian people and fighters. “The way they exhibited patience, resistance and the way they enraged the enemy was unprecedented…The people and the fighters of Gaza are standing [firm] like a rock, like a mountain. Even though water, food, medicine and fuel are not reaching these people, they are still standing strong and refusing to surrender." Once again, the promise of victory for the Palestinian people was heard from the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah. He [Imam Khamenei] stated that this resilience, as can be seen today, is the factor that will lead the Palestinians to victory. “Indeed, God is with those who are patient!”
Imam Khamenei briefly reported about a recent victory: “Signs of a ground victory in Gaza are emerging. The Zionist regime is withdrawing the active part of its army from Gaza.”
The Resistance’s greatest accomplishment
The Zionist regime’s defeat is not just limited to itself, but it is also equivalent to the defeat of the United States. Imam Khamenei remarked that, “Today, no one in the world considers the Zionist regime, the US and Britain to be any different from each other. The US shamelessly vetoes the UN Security Council resolution that calls for a ceasefire. This veto means it [the US] is complicit in dropping bombs on, women, children, the ill, the elderly, and those who are defenseless. This war and the resistance of the Gazans took the mask off the face of Western civilization. The Palestinian nation gained a great victory by discrediting the West, the US, and by exposing their false claims of human rights. The Zionist regime committed these crimes with the support of the United States, and tarnishing the reputation of the United States is the greatest accomplishment of the Resistance and Palestine.”
The signs of defeat are emerging on the field. In the field of humanity, defeat is obvious, and the nature of the White House was exposed with this defeat.
The duty of Muslim nations and governments toward a definite future
In the face of these incessant crimes and the heroic resistance of the Palestinians, it is everyone’s duty today “to help the Resistance in any way or form.” In the face of the Resistance, any help or support of the Zionist regime is a crime and treason. Muslim nations will not forget these crimes and these acts of betrayal. “Islamic governments must prevent commodities, oil and fuel from reaching the Zionist regime, in the same way that the Zionist regime is preventing water from reaching Gaza!”
Imam Khamenei called on Muslim nations and governments to cut off any ties and assistance to the Zionist criminals. “Even if you are not able to cut ties permanently, you should at least do it temporarily in order to put pressure on this bloodthirsty regime."
The dimensions of the Zionist regime’s crimes in Gaza are so great today, that it has inflicted pain on the world’s conscience. This issue was reflected in Imam Khamenei's statements as he referred to the protests and resignations of politicians and university heads, and the criticism and protests of famous American and European figures. He then compared the measures taken by these people to the support that some people in the Islamic world have given to the Zionist regime.
Ending
This warm, soulful speech ended with some clear and comforting words:
Have no doubt that the Front that stands with the Truth will be victorious. Have no doubt that the usurping Zionist regime will be wiped off the face of the earth one day. This is one of the imminent things that will take place in the future, with God’s help, strength, permission, and glory. It will happen and we hope that God willing, you young people will see that day with your own eyes.
The exhaustion that came from traveling hundreds and thousands of kilometers to Tehran, the sadness that came with following the news of Gaza for over 70 days, and the anticipation of waiting several years to meet Imam Khamenei, ended with these words. The people of Kerman and Khuzestan bid farewell to Imam Khamenei with their chants. As of today, a new spirit and a new impetus will be breathed into the youth of these two provinces.
"May God’s greetings, mercy and blessings be upon you."
[1]. Hussainiyah is a gathering hall, originally built for the mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussain (pbuh), but also used for delivering sermons and speeches. Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah was built after the passing of Imam Khomeini and ever since, Imam Khamenei holds most of his meetings in this Hussainiyah.
[2]. Ali Hashemi was one of the commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during the eight-year defense period against Saddam Hussein. He was the commander of the Nasr Camp and devised successful military operations against the Iraqi Baath army. Ali Hashemi was martyred in 1988.
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