TEHRAN -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei declared that developments in the Strait of Hormuz have shattered “the myth of America’s invincibility,” warning that any repetition of U.S. aggression against Iran will trigger a response on a “much wider” scale and stressing that making Iran “ever stronger” through comprehensive progress is the only path to achieving absolute deterrence.
In a message issued Wednesday, November 4, marking Iran’s National Day of the Fight Against Global Arrogance, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran’s management of the strategic waterway and the destruction of American military bases in regional countries have demonstrated the changing balance of power in West Asia.
“The current situation in the Persian Gulf, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, has laid bare the myth of America’s invincibility,” he said, adding that the developments have exposed “the weakness and humiliation of governments that rely on powers other than their own people, and the disloyalty and inability of major powers to defend their dependent governments.”
Describing Iran’s actions as both a response to American aggression and part of a broader confrontation with global arrogance, the Leader said: “Iran’s exercise of control over the Strait of Hormuz and the destruction of American military bases in regional countries, although a response to America’s aggression and crimes during the Third Imposed War, also constituted an initial jihad against global arrogance on a regional scale.”
“Should such aggression be repeated, the response will assume far wider dimensions,” he warned.
Ayatollah Khamenei said American domination is experiencing an irreversible decline in both military and international dimensions.
“Today, as a result of the self-inflicted disgrace of the arrogant powers, America’s waning power and domination have suffered an irreversible decline in both dimensions of its strength: hard power, particularly military might, and soft power, or international influence. The process of its collapse has accelerated,” he said.
The Leader identified comprehensive national progress, national unity and social cohesion as the foundations of Iran’s strength and its ability to deter further aggression.
“The only way to reach the point of absolute deterrence is to continue the strategy of ‘Iran Ever Stronger’ along the path of comprehensive progress,” he said.
He stressed that unity, solidarity and social cohesion must govern “every individual and collective word and action” of the Iranian nation and its officials.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the unity of the Resistance Front and the actions of resistance movements in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen as signs of a broader transformation in the regional and international balance of power.
He said their “intelligent, powerful and inspiring actions” had created “a bright and hopeful dawn” for the elevation of the Front of Truth and the establishment of a new world order.
“Whenever the Front of Truth is armed with faith in God, perseverance and self-sacrifice, the Front of Falsehood, regardless of its power, capabilities or composition, will be unable to withstand it. Retreat and defeat will be its inevitable fate,” he said.
The Leader added that the Iranian nation’s faith in the righteousness of its path has deepened through the teachings of Islam, the principles of the Islamic Revolution and the legacy of its leaders, Imam Khomeini and martyred Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Tracing the roots of American hostility toward Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the August 19, 1953 coup, saying Washington orchestrated it to ensure the continued plunder of Iran’s national resources, particularly its oil.
“The roots of America’s oppression of the Iranian nation go back more than seven decades, to the time when Washington orchestrated the August 19, 1953 coup to ensure the continued plunder of Iran’s national resources and wealth, particularly its oil,” he said.
He described the decades preceding the 1979 Islamic Revolution as a period of American efforts to exploit Iran’s resources and preserve a dependent political system. Washington established SAVAK, the Shah’s intelligence and security organization, and imposed a repressive security atmosphere that enabled the regime to suppress protests, he said.
The Leader also cited American support for separatist groups, coup plotters and the Mujahedin-e Khalq terrorist group following the Revolution, as well as comprehensive support for Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist regime during the First Imposed War, the downing of an Iranian civilian passenger aircraft, prolonged economic sanctions and support for riots and subversive activities, including armed backing.
The First Imposed War refers to the 1980-1988 Iraq war on Iran, which began with Iraq’s invasion of Iran in September 1980.
He also recalled the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, whom he described as “the national hero of Iran and the Islamic Ummah,” and the seizure of Iranian assets in various countries.
Ayatollah Khamenei further cited direct American military aggression during the Second and Third Imposed Wars, referring to the 12-day and 40-day U.S.-Israeli aggressions, respectively. He said these wars resulted in the martyrdom of numerous prominent figures, scientists and commanders, alongside large numbers of ordinary Iranians, from newborn babies and young children to the elderly.
He identified martyred Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as foremost among those assassinated.
“At every stage, America’s arrogant rulers and their lackeys have relentlessly pursued one objective: imposing their domination and forcing Iran into submission,” he said.
The Leader said Washington is now openly pursuing Iran’s disintegration, the submission of its people, the collapse of its political system and the destruction of its ancient civilization.
Yet, he stressed, American designs have repeatedly encountered the determination of the Iranian nation. “At every turn, they have run up against the unyielding wall of realities on the ground and the steadfast rock of the proud Iranian nation’s determination,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei rejected hopes that changes in American political parties or administrations could alter Washington’s approach toward Iran, as well as the idea that concessions could persuade the United States to abandon its hostility.
“Those who still harbor even the slightest hope that America’s behavior might change, that partisan or political shifts within the system of domination might alter its course, or that concessions to Washington could persuade it to abandon its hostility toward the Iranian nation are gravely mistaken,” he said.
“The ultimate ambition of the Great Satan is the unconditional surrender of the Iranian nation,” he declared.
He warned that even the slightest inclination toward submission would squander the national capital accumulated through the blood of martyrs and the sacrifices of the Iranian people, emboldening the enemy to make further demands and launch additional acts of aggression and war.
The Leader said the confrontation has become a continuous struggle, with “not only November 4 but every single day and hour” now an occasion for standing firm and fighting the Great Satan.
Ayatollah Khamenei identified young people, university students and schoolchildren as the leading force in building Iran’s future, urging them to overcome despair and embrace hope and self-confidence.
“The vanguard in building a bright and glorious future for our beloved Iran is our young people, university students and schoolchildren,” he said.
He called on them to demolish the dark fortress of “despair, hopelessness and the belief that nothing can be achieved” and establish the bright home of “hope and We Can.”
He said fulfilling this mission requires exceptional preparation and equipping oneself with the “weapons” of knowledge, piety, skills, ethics, determination and extraordinary effort, alongside a shared commitment to achieving lofty objectives.
Ayatollah Khamenei expressed hope that the Iranian nation would soon experience victory, prosperity and comprehensive progress through divine grace and the prayers of the Imam of the Age, while the decline of American domination accelerated.
“They see it as far away, while we see it as near,” he said, quoting verses 6 and 7 of Surah Al-Ma’arij in the Holy Qur’an.