On the first day of the Sacred Defense Week, a group of war veterans and pioneers of jihad and martyrdom called on the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Thursday, September 22.
The war veterans, whose memories are being recorded and published by the Office for the Literature and Art of Resistance affiliated to the Art Bureau of the Islamic Propagation Organization, had a cordial meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Republic.
At the meeting, some films related to the years of the Sacred Defense were screened. Also, a number of war veterans and former prisoners of war narrated memories of the Sacred Defense era and the years of their captivity.
In an address to the audience, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the Sacred Defense era mirrored and manifested the various potentials and capabilities of the Iranian nation.
"Efforts should be made to preserve the memories of the epical events created by the Iranian people during the eight years of the Sacred Defense for the present and future generations, so that the young and coming generations may know that the Iranian people, relying on Almighty Allah, stood up to a wide-scale international aggression against their country empty-handed and turned out victorious in this confrontation, and so that they may recognize the grandeur and capabilities of our nation and follow the path of their previous generations with honor and dignity," Ayatollah Khamenei told the gathering.
The Leader expressed his appreciation for the valuable efforts made by those working at the Office for the Literature and Art of Resistance and described recording and publishing the memories of the Sacred Defense era as a significant and valuable measure.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the fact that the world's great works of art have been created by nations as a result of their resistance, dedication and perseverance. Emphasizing that the Sacred Defense of the Iranian nation was much greater than an ordinary event, he stated that vigorous efforts should be made and literary and artistic means should be used to record the events of the Sacred Defense and transmit them to future generations.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic noted that the time when nations are subjected to hardships and pressures is the time when their talent and potential will develop and flourish. He also pointed out that the scientific and spiritual potential of the Iranian people was fulfilled to a great extent in the Sacred Defense era.
"The present scientific achievements of our country in various arenas are a result of the economic sanctions that were imposed on our country and the political pressures that were exerted on our nation in the Sacred Defense era. Therefore, our nation has no fear of economic sanctions or political threats," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
Before the Leader's statements, the director of the Office for the Literature and Art of Resistance, Morteza Sarhangi, presented a report on the activities of the office. He said that in order to record the epical events of the Sacred Defense era and preserve the memories related to that period, hundreds of books have been published by the office over the past 13 years.