AhlulBayt News Agency: A senior Iranian seminary scholar has underscored that the Islamic Republic of Iran's true triumph is measured not by territorial expansion, but by its conquest of hearts and minds across the globe, attributing the nation's resilience to the institutionalization of Ashura culture and unwavering reliance on the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT).
Speaking at the Holy Jamkaran Mosque on the evening marking the 40th day since the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Hojatoleslam Masoud Aali addressed a gathering of pilgrims and custodians, drawing sharp historical contrasts between the era of the Islamic Revolution and the centuries of monarchical humiliation.
"In the 47-year history of the Revolution under the leadership of Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei, national dignity has undergone a fundamental transformation compared to previous centuries," Aali stated.
He pointed to the catastrophic period of World War I, when despite Iran's declared neutrality, the country became a battleground for Russian and British forces. "Estimates suggest that between 7 to 9 million Iranians—roughly one-third to one-quarter of the population at the time—perished due to famine, cholera, and typhus between 1917 and 1919. This tragedy was the direct result of the lack of resistance and the absence of honor among the rulers of the time," Aali noted.
This stands in stark contrast, he said, to the Sacred Defense era, where despite an eight-year imposed war with global backing for Saddam's regime, the number of Iranian martyrs did not exceed 230,000.
Territorial Integrity and National Fortitude
The scholar further highlighted Iran's territorial integrity under the Islamic system. "Two hundred and fifty years ago, Iran spanned four million square kilometers. Today, due to the treachery of incompetent past kings, it stands at approximately 1.6 million square kilometers. However, under the Islamic Revolution, not a single centimeter of Iranian soil has been ceded to foreign adversaries."
Aali emphasized that the Islamic Republic has weathered successive waves of sedition and foreign-backed crises—from the unrest of 1999, 2009, 2017, 2019, and 2022 to the recent events of January 2026. "Each of these trials would have been sufficient to topple any ordinary government, but Iran navigated through them relying on the insight and courage of those nurtured in the school of Ashura."
'Iran Fights for Humanity'
Addressing Iran's military advancements, Aali pointed to the nation's journey from struggling to produce barbed wire to manufacturing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that even global superpowers seek to emulate. "Our capabilities have reached a point where the United States has attempted to reverse-engineer the Iranian Shahed-136 drone, producing a model named 'Lucas' which has yet to match the quality of the original Iranian version," he said.
Citing international sentiment, Aali quoted a prominent American commentator as stating: "Iran is fighting for humanity; we must pray for it." He described this as a testament to the global appeal and soft power of Islamic Iran.
The Logic of Martyrdom: From Individual to Enduring School of Thought
Offering condolences on the martyrdom of the late Leader, whom he described as the "Sayyid al-Shuhada of the Era of Occultation," Aali reiterated the Shia theological principle that martyrdom does not signify defeat.
"In the logic of Shia Islam, martyrdom is not an end; it is a fresh infusion of blood into the veins of society and the beginning of a new life," Aali explained, citing the martyrdom of the Infallible Imams (PBUT). "True victory in the Shia school is not the 'conquest of land' in the manner of Alexander or Genghis Khan; it is the 'conquest of hearts'."
He contrasted the enduring legacy of figures like Martyr Morteza Motahhari and Martyr Qassem Soleimani—who have transformed into "schools of thought and flowing ideas"—with the transient and despised status of Western political figures.
Aali described the spontaneous mass mobilization of the Iranian people over the past forty days as irrefutable proof of the nation's deep-rooted Ashura consciousness and unwavering support for the Islamic establishment.
Strategic Leverage and the Path to Final Victory
The scholar asserted that the enemy failed to achieve its objectives in the recent conflict, whereas Iran emerged with significant strategic gains. "During this battle, we uncovered the true geopolitical significance of the Strait of Hormuz—a global economic chokepoint whose importance for us surpasses even that of nuclear energy. Those who treat us with hostility will face confrontation precisely there," Aali warned.
He noted that this newfound strategic leverage empowers Iranian negotiators as they enter a new phase of talks, which he described as fundamentally different from previous engagements. "The ten conditions outlined by Iran are not concessions to be given; they are rights to be reclaimed from the enemy. The massive popular presence in the streets is the backbone of the negotiating table. The enemy sitting across from us knows full well that an entire nation is seated behind that table."
Concluding his address, Aali stressed that these victories are not attributable solely to material power but to divine assistance obtained through supplication and reliance on the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT). "During the eight years of Sacred Defense, we lacked even the most basic military hardware, including barbed wire. It was our recourse to the Ahl al-Bayt that granted us superiority on the battlefield."
He ended with a call for intensified prayers for the hastened reappearance of Imam Mahdi (May Allah Hasten His Reappearance). "In the logic of the believers, reliance is placed solely on God Almighty. We are near the peak, and that peak is the advent of Imam Mahdi. We must earnestly and desperately supplicate for his emergence."
......................
End/ 257
Your Comment