Ayatollah Khamenei denies sending messages to the US, calls for national unity

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated in a televised speech that the US, despite using its most modern weapons, failed and was defeated in a “12-day war.”

According to a report by the Mehr News Agency, Khamenei described the Basij as a valuable national movement that should continue for generations, stating, “The motivation of the Basij is both divine and conscientious; it also stems from zeal and self-confidence.”

Khamenei noted that the Basij has spread throughout the country today, adding, “Our youth, the fourth generation of the Basij, are preparing for Basij activities. This is a great asset for the country and must be passed down from generation to generation.”

Khamenei emphasized that a country like Iran, which “stands up to global bullies and international thugs and forms a front of resistance,” needs the Basij more than anywhere else.

“The spirit of resistance has spread throughout the world”

Stating that the element of resistance established in Iran has now grown and spread across the globe, Khamenei continued:

“Today, you see slogans being chanted in favor of resistance, in favor of the resistance in Gaza and Palestine, on the streets of Western countries, Europe, and even America. This great and valuable seedling that started in Iran has now spread to a large part of the world.”

Khamenei expressed that as long as the Basij remains vibrant, the resistance will also stay alive, saying, “If the Basij is fit and dynamic, the phenomenon of resistance against oppressors will also endure, grow, and the oppressed of the world will feel the presence of a power that supports them.”

“The Basij has two different faces”

Khamenei explained that the Basij has two distinct faces, the first being its official and institutional structure as part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“This structure, when confronting the enemy, is literally crushing and powerful. When dealing with the people, however, it is a servant. You see the Basij serving the people during earthquakes, floods, and natural disasters,” he said.

He noted that the second face is the broad public support behind this official structure, stating that every dedicated, ready-to-work, and highly motivated person in the country is part of this vast Basij whole.

“The US was defeated in a 12-day war”

Touching on recent developments in the region, Khamenei said, “In the 12-day war, the Iranian nation undoubtedly defeated both America and the Zionists. The forces of evil came, took a beating, and returned empty-handed. This is a defeat in the truest sense of the word.”

Khamenei stated that the Israeli regime had been planning for this war for 20 years, adding, “They returned empty-handed, events turned completely against them, and they failed. Even those who were at odds with the system stood by it, and a general unity was formed in the country. We must appreciate and protect this unity.”

While acknowledging that there were casualties in the war, Khamenei emphasized that the material damage inflicted on the enemy was much greater:

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has shown that it is a center of will and power, that it can make decisions, stand strong, and is not afraid of anyone’s noise.”

Khamenei said that the US used its most advanced offensive and defensive systems, submarines, and fighter jets in this war but failed to achieve its objectives.

“The claim that a message was sent to the US via an intermediary is a complete lie”

In his speech, Khamenei also addressed US foreign policy, stating, “Wherever America has intervened, it has either started a war, committed genocide, or brought destruction and exile. The US started the costly war in Ukraine and achieved no result.”

He noted that the attacks on Lebanon and Syria, as well as the situation in Gaza, occurred with US support, adding that the Washington administration has suffered greatly in this process and has become a hated entity in the world.

Responding to rumors that Iran had sent a message to the US through an intermediary country, Khamenei said, “This is a complete lie. Nothing of the sort ever happened.”

Khamenei added that the US betrays even its own friends and supports the “Zionist crime network” in Palestine.

A call for internal unity and avoidance of waste

At the end of his speech, Khamenei called for unity within the country, saying, “Stand together against the enemy. There may be differences between political groups, but in the face of the enemy, let us all be united, just as we were during the 12-day war. This is a very important element for the national strength of our dear country.”

He also stressed the need to avoid waste, asking that water, bread, gas, gasoline, and food products not be wasted.

Khamenei concluded his words by saying, “Strengthen your bond with God. Ask for help from Almighty God for rain, security, well-being, and everything else.”