Says Population Growth Directly Tied to National Power

Leader: Third Sacred Defense Gave Iran ‘Major Power’ Status

Date: 19 May 2026 - 22:25

News ID: ۱۵۰۲۴۲

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has stated that population growth is directly related to the continuation of Iran’s power and progress, in a message marking National Population Day on Tuesday.
In response to a letter of condolence and affection from a group of grassroots activists in the population sector on the martyrdom of the Great Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the new Leader emphasized the issue of population growth and its relationship with the power and civilization of Islamic Iran, while also stressing the increasing efforts of grassroots activists in the population field and the promotion of a culture of childbearing.
The full text of the Supreme Leader’s response, published on the occasion of National Population Day, is as follows.
“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. With greetings and thanks for the expressions of affection and sense of responsibility of the concerned grassroots activists in the population sector.
Among the valuable achievements of the third Sacred Defense and the great blessing of the nation’s unparalleled renaissance – which has become evident to all – is Iran’s emergence as a major and influential power. Undoubtedly, the continuation of this condition and reaching a more desirable degree of it bear a direct relationship with the issue of population.
The issue of the necessity of population increase is sometimes viewed from the perspective of the need to compensate for deficiencies resulting from certain past policies. But beyond that, with the diligent pursuit of the correct and certain policy of population increase, the great Iranian nation will be able to experience great role-playing and strategic leaps in the future, and take long steps toward the creation of a new Islamic Iranian civilization.

Therefore, the increasing efforts of grassroots activists in the population sector and the promotion of a culture of childbearing can have a significant impact on securing this ‘bright future’.

On the other hand, this matter was among the most important concerns of our great martyred leader – may God sanctify his noble soul – who emphasized it in many sessions, interactions, and public and private meetings, and it continues to be considered among the most important strategic issues of the system.

It is hoped that the sincere efforts of you dear ones, under the blessing of the good prayers of our master – may God hasten his noble reappearance – will lead to fruitful results, God willing.”

The “Third Sacred Defense” refers to the 40-day war on Iran which began with terrorist U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, resulting in the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, along with several senior IRGC commanders.

Following the assassination, Iran retaliated with “Operation True Promise 4,” launching hundreds of drones and missiles at U.S. and Israeli military installations across the region, which forced them to declare a unilateral ceasefire.