TEHRAN -- More than 400,000 people have registered for Iran’s “Janfada” (Self-Sacrifice) rally and registrations are expected to surpass 500,000, the commander of the IRGC’s Muhammad Rasulullah Corps in Tehran said Sunday, declaring that the world is witnessing the “total defeat” of the United States and Israel.
Brigadier General Hassan Hassanzadeh, speaking at a press conference on the “Janfada Rally and Grand Gathering of the Devoted People of Iran,” said: “For over a year, the American-Zionist enemy has imposed war on Iran and the Axis of Resistance; but what the world is witnessing is the total defeat of America and the Zionists.”
He added: “The Americans did not achieve any of their objectives in this war and have no answer for their own political elites inside America.”
Hassanzadeh said Iran’s “powerful hand in dominating the Strait of Hormuz” is today’s superior factor, and that national unity is “more cohesive than ever.”
“The enemy wanted to weaken a strong Iran, overthrow the system, and destroy the power of the armed forces; but it could not, because its decision to attack Iran was unwise, and today America’s power has been weakened,” he said.
The commander said the enemy also sought to weaken the position of the Leadership and the Guardianship of the Jurist and to pit the people against the system, but failed.
“The discerning people have been powerfully present in squares and streets for about 200 nights, supporting the system and the Leadership.”
Hassanzadeh said Iran is on the threshold of Sacred Defense Week, which established the culture of resistance, and that today’s “honorable and powerful defense” in the 40-day Ramadan War and the Hormuz battle is owed to the sacrifices of the eight-year Sacred Defense.
He said that in the Janfada rally, 313,000 Janfada forces will participate, and that registration from all segments — including physicians, clerics, merchants and artists — has exceeded 400,000 and will soon pass 500,000.
“The Janfada forces have declared their readiness to defend the country and its defense structure,” he said, adding that the rally is not limited to Janfada forces but depends on all segments of the Iranian nation.
Hassanzadeh said the rally will be held on Friday, Sept. 18, starting at 8 a.m. from Imam Hussein Square and Navab Crossroads to Enghelab Square. “Our prediction is that if we can hold the epic parade on three lanes, the rally will last until evening.”
He said organized 72-member battalions of artists, physicians, educators, guilds and sisters have been created to participate.
“One of the manifestations of this rally is consolidating the sacred unity, and to the blindness of the enemies, unity will continue until the definitive defeat of the enemies. The Iranian nation will not sit idle until it takes revenge for Minab, Lamerd, and the martyrs of the south.”
He said the message of the rally is “resistance and standing against the enemies,” and that “the zealous people of Iran stand by their values and play a role in following the Guardianship.”
In a separate statement, Brigadier General Hassan Heidari, commander of the IRGC’s Ruhollah Corps in southern Rey, said thousands of Janfada forces in four cities — Baghershahr, Kahrizak, Qaleh Now and Hasanabad — have been identified, organized and mobilized according to their capabilities, and will participate in the 110,000-strong Janfada rally in Tehran province on Wednesday, Sept. 16 (25 Shahrivar).
Heidari said the Janfada forces operate in cohesive and organized units and are prepared to defend the country alongside Basij forces. He said battalions including Beit al-Maqdis, Kowsar, Imam Ali, Imam Hossein, Fatehin, and units named after Shahid Soleimani and Shahid Salami will participate.
“On the anniversary of the birth of Hazrat Abdul Azim Hassani, the 110,000-strong Janfada rally will be held across Tehran province,” he said.
Heidari said the presence of popular forces sends a clear message to enemies: “The Iranian nation has shown that it will never retreat before America and the Zionist regime and will remain steadfast in the ideals it has held since the victory of the Islamic Revolution.”
He said the “true victor” of the recent imposed war is the Iranian people, and that “we are on the threshold of consolidating this victory.”
He called for patience and steadfastness, and for the government to strengthen economic and livelihood measures to reduce pressure on the people.
“Iran has shown that it is a great and influential power in the region and the world, and the Iranian nation, with patience, unity and presence on the scene, can defend the country’s achievements,” Heidari said.
“The Iranian people are the true owners of this victory, and their presence in more than 190 cities has shown that the nation stands united and firm in defending the country and the ideals of the Islamic Revolution.”