In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
“Indeed, We have granted you a manifest victory, that God may forgive you your former and latter sins, complete His blessing upon you, guide you to a straight path, and grant you a mighty victory.”
Forty days have passed since one of the greatest crimes committed by the enemies of Islam and Iran, and one of the most grievous national tragedies in the history of this nation: the heartbreaking martyrdom of the eminent Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the father of the Iranian nation, the leader of the Islamic Ummah, and the standard-bearer of those seeking justice in the present age—the foremost martyr of Iran and the Resistance Front, the Great Khamenei, may God sanctify his pure soul.
For forty days, the exalted soul of our martyred Leader has been a guest, in divine proximity, at the banquet of the saints, the truthful, and the martyrs. At the same time, or in the events that followed, a great number of his companions, commanders and warriors of Islam, as well as our innocent compatriots—from newborn infants only a few days old to the elderly—have attained this great grace.
For forty days and nights, Almighty God has summoned the leader of this Ummah to His appointed meeting. Yet this time, unlike what occurred in the age of Moses, the companions of the martyred Leader and his Ummah rose up to uphold truth and confront falsehood. They stood like steadfast mountains against the Samaritan and his calf and descended like torrents of molten fire upon the aggressors and Pharaohs.
For forty days and nights, the arrogant powers of the world have cast aside their deceptive and false masks, revealing the hideous and satanic face of murder and oppression, aggression and lies, arrogance and child-killing, tyranny and corruption.
By contrast, for forty days and nights, the valiant children of the Great Khomeini and the beloved martyred Khamenei, and the followers of pure Muhammadan Islam (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), have been present in the fields, streets, and battlefronts with exemplary determination and courage. Despite the blows and losses caused by the enemy’s savage assault, they have transformed the Third Imposed War into an epic of the Third Sacred Defense.
Although the vigilant and perceptive Iranian nation demonstrated its grief over the immense loss of its martyred leader, by following the direct inheritors of the Ashura of Imam Hussein it turned mourning into an epic and lamentation into a battle cry. All of this has bewildered and incapacitated the enemy, armed to the teeth, while earning the admiration of freedom-seeking people throughout the world.
This time, the ignorance and folly of the arrogant powers caused Esfand 1404 [February–March 2026] to mark the beginning of a new chapter in the rise of Iran and the Islamic Revolution. The flag of Islamic Iran has been raised not only across the geography of our homeland, but deep within the hearts of those seeking truth throughout the world.
This occasion provides a good opportunity to offer a brief account of our eminent Leader—a man who, despite his fame, was never fully known. Everyone knows that our martyred Leader was a perceptive jurist with a profound understanding of his times; a tireless fighter, steadfast and firm as a mountain; a learned and godly scholar; a man devoted to remembrance, night prayer, supplication before the Divine, and recourse to the holy Infallibles, peace and blessings be upon them all; and someone who believed, from the depths of his being, in the promises of God.
Another of his characteristics was his love for Iran and his constant efforts to strengthen the independence of our beloved country, alongside his emphasis on national unity and cohesion. He spent his life striving to establish, consolidate, and preserve the Islamic system, while at the same time regarding an Islamic Republic without the people as meaningless.
Despite his authority and firmness, he possessed great subtlety of thought and perspective. He paid particular attention to the country’s capacities, especially its youth. He attached great importance to science, technology, and the progress made possible by them. He held the esteemed families of martyrs, veterans, and self-sacrificing citizens in special regard. He possessed decades of accumulated and invaluable experience in numerous fields, along with many other qualities that would make for a very long list.
In recent days, some media outlets have repeatedly discussed his appreciation and patronage of art. While this quality alone could greatly enhance a person’s stature—and unquestionably existed in our beloved Leader in its truest and highest form—it appears small when compared with the other dimensions and merits of his character. I personally know of numerous “arts” that he possessed.
One of his great but less frequently recognized arts was his ability to educate and cultivate society by shaping the ideas, dispositions, and emotions of vast masses of people and social groups.
Another was his purposeful institution-building, particularly during the early years of his leadership, undertaken with an eye toward distant horizons.
Another was his strengthening of the country’s military structure, the positive effects of which the Iranian nation witnessed and benefited from during the two recent imposed wars. His capacity for invention and innovation—in science, strategy, policymaking, and other areas—was another of his talents, some of which was reflected in the formulation of the general policies of the Islamic Republic.
He also possessed the ability to create meaning through the timely coinage of original words and expressions, each carrying a wealth of meaning and developing into a broader public discourse for action. Among his other gifts—formed as his exalted spirit was refined through hardships, trials, and tribulations, and through patience and steadfastness on the path of truth—was the ability to foresee distant events: “The believer sees by the light of God.” There were other such qualities that cannot be enumerated in this brief message.
All these talents and virtues originated in nothing other than special divine favor and the particular attention of our Master and his pure forefathers, peace and blessings be upon them all. Perhaps what attracted these favors toward that great man can be summarized as his ceaseless and sincere struggle to exalt the word of truth.
Beyond the hardships of struggling against the treacherous Pahlavi regime, however, he benefited from another particular opportunity in fulfilling his duty, one of which the general public is usually unaware. It had been divinely ordained that this young Seyyed, intensely eager for knowledge as well as action, at a time when his respected father was in danger of losing his eyesight, would leave behind—after years of studying at the feet of eminent teachers—all the apparent opportunities for scholarly advancement and future success in Qom. Trusting in divine grace, he devoted himself to his father.
Divine favor following this act of self-sacrifice manifested itself when Seyyed Ali Khamenei, still not yet thirty years old, suddenly rose like the sun from Khorasan and soon came to be regarded as one of the intellectual and activist pillars [of the movement], while simultaneously making significant progress in the traditional sciences. So much so that during the 1970s, the SAVAK apparatus referred to him as the “Khomeini of Khorasan.”
I must emphasize that this process of inner and outward advancement continued during subsequent stages of his life. In seeking to learn from the conduct of great figures, particularly such a personality, it is highly appropriate that we adopt this characteristic of sincere goodwill toward one another and mutual solidarity as our own practice. This quality, together with maintaining hope in God’s boundless mercy, constitutes an important distinction between those standing beneath the banner of truth and those gathered around the banner of falsehood.
Undoubtedly, pursuing such a path will open the gates of heaven and bring down various forms of divine and unseen assistance—from the descent of merciful rain to victory over the enemy and even scientific and technological advancement.
In recent days, we have repeatedly heard various groups among our beloved people recall, rightly and wistfully, that unique figure of our age. Gradually, more dimensions of the radiant jewel of his exalted personality are becoming apparent. Likewise, the practice of emulating some of his particular actions is becoming increasingly widespread. Our dear people, for example, learned lessons from his clenched fist at the moment of martyrdom, and that same clenched fist has now become, for some, a shared symbol of conviction.
Thus it is once again demonstrated that the influence of a martyr is greater than that of a person who remains physically present. His resounding voice calling people toward monotheism, the pursuit of truth, and the struggle against oppression and corruption has become more powerful, and his message more penetrating, than during his lifetime. Likewise, the heartfelt aspiration of this great martyr—the prosperity of this nation and other Muslim nations—has drawn closer to realization than ever before.
My fellow brothers and sisters!
Today, at this stage of the epic of the Third Sacred Defense, it can confidently be said that you, the heroic nation of Iran, have been the decisive victors in this arena.
Today, the dawn of the Islamic Republic’s emergence as a great power, alongside the descent of the arrogant powers into weakness, has become apparent before everyone’s eyes. This is undoubtedly a divine blessing bestowed upon the Iranian nation through the blood of our martyred Leader and the other martyrs, our innocent compatriots, and the fallen flowers of the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab; through the prayers and supplications of the people before the Divine; through their courageous presence in public spaces, neighborhoods, and mosques; and through the unstinting, selfless, and sincere sacrifices of Islam’s warriors in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Army, the Law Enforcement Command, the anonymous soldiers [of the intelligence services], and the border guards.
Like every blessing, this blessing must be met with gratitude so that it may endure and grow: “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you.” The practical expression of gratitude for this blessing is an unceasing effort to achieve a strong Iran.
At the present stage, what appears necessary to achieve this slogan and strategic objective of the martyred Leader is the continuation of our dear people’s presence, just as they have maintained it over the past forty days. This presence constitutes an important pillar of the standing that a powerful Iran has now attained.
Therefore, the announcement of an intention to negotiate with the enemy must not lead anyone to imagine that a presence in the streets is no longer necessary. Rather, even if we assume that circumstances necessarily require a period of silence on the military battlefield, the responsibility of those citizens able to be present in public spaces, neighborhoods, and mosques appears heavier than before.
Your voices in public gatherings will undoubtedly affect the outcome of negotiations, just as the astonishing and growing figure of millions participating in the “Devoted to Iran” campaign is another influential element in this arena.
By the permission of Almighty God, through these efforts and their continuation, the horizon before the Iranian nation promises the emergence of a glorious and radiant era filled with dignity, pride, and prosperity.
When our martyred Leader assumed leadership, the Islamic Republic was like a sapling bearing numerous wounds inflicted by the enemies of Islam and Iran, though it had endured them all well. But when, after nearly thirty-seven years, he left the seat of leadership, he left behind a goodly tree whose roots were firmly established and whose branches cast their shade across important parts of the region and the world.
The pursuit of an “ever stronger Iran” runs through unity among the various strata of society, something he repeatedly emphasized. A significant degree of this unity has materialized during these forty days: people’s hearts have drawn closer together; the ice separating groups with different orientations has begun to melt; everyone has gathered beneath the flag of the homeland; and both the size and the quality of this gathering increase day by day. Many of those who have not yet participated in such public gatherings nevertheless stand, in their hearts, alongside those present in the public squares.
These days, many people are adopting a civilizational perspective, looking toward distant horizons and forming for themselves a vision based not on illusion but on the realities of the present and future. Until recently, this characteristic could be seen only among a small number of people, foremost among them the martyred Leader.
Thus, any observer can perceive the rapid and seemingly miraculous development of this nation. It is therefore no coincidence that in these days, when the renowned sage of our age and eminent jurist speaks to you of this stature, emotion repeatedly catches in his throat and interrupts his words.
I would also like to use this opportunity to address Iran’s southern neighbors: You are witnessing a miracle. So observe it correctly, understand it correctly, stand on the right side, and be suspicious of the false promises of devils. We are still awaiting an appropriate response from you so that we may demonstrate our brotherhood and goodwill toward you.
This cannot happen unless you turn away from the arrogant powers, who miss no opportunity to humiliate and exploit you. Everyone must know this: by the permission of Almighty God, we will certainly not let the criminal aggressors who attacked our country go unanswered. We will certainly demand compensation for every instance of damage inflicted, as well as blood money for the martyrs and compensation for those wounded and disabled in this war. And we will certainly bring the management of the Strait of Hormuz into a new phase.
We have not sought war, nor do we seek it now, but under no circumstances will we relinquish our legitimate rights. In this regard, we regard the entire Resistance Front as one unified whole.
At this stage, until we obtain what rightfully belongs to us, first, all members of the nation should endeavor to look after one another so that shortages—which are a natural consequence of any war—place less pressure on different segments of society. These shortages, some of which exist to a much greater extent on the opposing side, have, by virtue of the efforts of your brothers and sisters in the government and other institutions, been managed to a considerable degree.
Second, it is necessary to guard our ears—which are windows to the mind and heart—against media outlets supported by the enemy or aligned with it. Such media are certainly not well-wishers of Iran and the Iranian nation, as has repeatedly been demonstrated. We should therefore either refrain from consuming them altogether or, at the very least, approach everything they present with considerable skepticism.
Third, although our beloved nation will remove its mourning garments with the conclusion of the official mourning period for its eminent martyred Leader, it will keep alive in its heart and soul its firm determination to avenge his pure blood and the blood of all the martyrs of the Second and Third Imposed Wars, remaining constantly watchful for the opportunity to fulfill this determination.
Finally, I address our Master—may Almighty God hasten his reappearance—and submit that, with faith in Almighty God, seeking recourse through the Infallible Imams, peace and blessings be upon them, and following the example of our martyred Leader, we stand beneath your banner against the front of disbelief and arrogance.
Along this path, we have offered precious martyrs from different walks of life in the cause of our country’s dignity and independence and the advancement of Islam and the Islamic Revolution, and we have suffered other losses as well.
Now, with all our being, we place our hopes in your special prayers for decisive victory over the enemy, both at the negotiating table and on the battlefield. We hope that both we and our enemies will soon witness their miraculous effects, God willing.
Peace and the mercy and blessings of God be upon you.
Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei
20 Farvardin 1405 (9 April 2026)
Source: https://farsi.khamenei.ir/news-content?id=62808