Speaking in a meeting with a group of commanders and veterans of the Holy Defense on the occasion of the Holy Defense Week, the Supreme Leader said that the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq began by the then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but behind it was the United States that encouraged Saddam, greenlighted and vowed support.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that this was because the United States and its allies were angered by the victory of the Islamic Revolution, adding that they couldn’t tolerate a nation and a country become independent from the domineering system, say something new, be not afraid of the United States and its political and economic power.

He said that the great power of the Islamic Revolution, the leadership of the late Imam Khomeini, and the distinct characteristics of the Iranian nation turned the threat of war into an opportunity.

The next objective of the domineering system is to bring the Iranian nation to their knees, subvert the Islamic Republic, and change the fate of the Iranian nation, the Supreme Leader said, adding that their ultimate goal was to make the Iranian nation a lesson for other nations and destroy the resistance.

Iran has achieved deterrence today and feels its power, the Supreme Leader underlined, noting that the enemies are aware of this fact, too.

The Holy Defense proved that safeguarding the country is realized through resistance not yielding, Ayatollah Khamenei underscored, adding that the very resistance built Iran’s self-confidence and taught the enemies to include Iran’s domestic power and resistance in their calculations.