Imam Khamenei’s Full Speech of 11 Dec 2024: Syrian Issue

Iman Khamenei’s speech was not televised live.   Via Enemywatch

In a meeting with thousands of people from different walks of life, held on December 11, 2024, in the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah, Imam Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, spoke about recent developments in the region.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting this morning with thousands of people from various sectors, emphasized the following: by “explaining the various layers of the events in Syria, outlining Iran’s rationale for its presence in the country, describing the future developments in the region, and pointing out lessons and insights from the Syrian events,” that these incidents are the result of an American-Zionist plan. The scope of resistance will grow stronger, motivated by divine assistance, and will eventually encompass the entire region.

Imam Khamenei referred to the obvious role of a neighboring country in Syria’s events but stated that multiple signs point to the U.S. and the Israeli regime being the primary plotters and masterminds behind the situation. He noted that if the U.S. and Israel were not behind the events in Syria, why did they intervene so blatantly? Israel bombed hundreds of infrastructure points, airports, research centers, and training centers in Syria, showing clear involvement in the ongoing crisis.

The Supreme Leader also mentioned that, in the initial days of the conflict, the U.S. officially declared it would attack 75 points in Syria. Israel, in addition to targeting hundreds of points, occupied Syrian lands and brought tanks close to Damascus. The U.S., which usually reacts strongly to border skirmishes in other countries, not only refrained from protesting but even helped. He questioned: “If they are not behind the Syrian events, why did they prevent aid from reaching the Syrian people?”

Imam Khamenei explained that the goals of the invaders from the north and south aiming to seize Syrian lands are different. The U.S. is primarily focused on solidifying its presence in the region, but he assured that none of them will achieve their goals, and the occupied areas will undoubtedly be liberated by the brave Syrian youth.

He described the future regional developments, emphasizing that the U.S. will be expelled from the region by the resistance front, and those who believe that the resistance front has weakened after the fall of the Syrian government supporting resistance are deeply mistaken. He explained that the resistance is not a mere physical force that can be broken, but rather an ideology, a belief system, and a deeply-rooted conviction. This is why the resistance only grows stronger under pressure.

The Leader also highlighted the strengthening of Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other Palestinian forces under 14 months of pressure as a proof of this reality. Despite immense hardships and the loss of figures like Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah became stronger, and the enemy had to seek a ceasefire in the face of this resilience.

He recalled the unprecedented crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and the martyrdom of prominent figures like Yahya Sinwar. The enemy had hoped that the people of Gaza would rise against Hamas under bombardment, but instead, the people became more supportive of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other Palestinian resistance groups.

Imam Khamenei emphasized that the expansion of resistance across the entire region is the inevitable result of the enemy’s pressure and crimes. He stated that those ignorant analysts who think that these events will weaken Iran should understand that Iran is strong and will become even more powerful.

The Leader noted that the resistance, as a deeply rooted reality in the faith and beliefs of the people, is based on opposing the U.S. and any form of subjugation to foreign powers. This belief has been evident in recent months, with people across the region and even the world expressing their strong support for Palestine and their disgust toward the Zionists.

He pointed out that, despite the passage of over 75 years since Palestine’s occupation, the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the people of the region over the Palestinian cause is now stronger than ever before. The shared belief in resistance has only intensified this flame of resistance.

Imam Khamenei declared that aligning with the Zionist regime is a red line for the people of the region, stating that Zionists and their allies should know that, according to divine law, crime does not bring victory. He mentioned that this divine principle and historical experience is evident in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon today.

The Supreme Leader also referred to Iran’s presence in Syria in the past, noting that before Iran’s assistance to Syria, during the critical moments of the Iran-Iraq War, Syria played a crucial role by blocking the oil pipeline from Iraq to the Mediterranean, denying Saddam Hussein crucial revenues.

He further explained that another reason for Iran’s presence in Syria and Iraq was to combat the ISIS threat, as ISIS aimed to destabilize Syria, Iraq, and ultimately Iran. He emphasized that preventing instability from spreading to Iran was a key reason behind Iran’s decision to fight ISIS. He mentioned how the Iranian officials recognized that if ISIS were not stopped, insecurity would spread across Iran, as witnessed in several terrorist attacks in Iran, including the ones at the Iranian Parliament and Shah Cheragh Shrine.

Imam Khamenei stressed that the main reason for Iran’s involvement in Syria and Iraq was to stop the spread of terrorism to Iranian soil. He stated that Iranian forces, including General Qassem Soleimani, played a crucial role in organizing and arming local youth in Iraq and Syria to stand up to ISIS, ultimately defeating them.

He mentioned ISIS’s objective of destroying sacred shrines in places like Karbala, Najaf, Kadhimiyah, and Damascus, similar to their destruction of the Samarra shrine. The Supreme Leader said that the Iranian forces and their allies could not remain indifferent to the desecration of sacred sites, and the faithful, passionate youth of the region would not allow such acts.

Imam Khamenei clarified that Iran’s presence in Syria and Iraq was “advisory,” meaning it focused on strategy, tactics, and organizing local resistance forces, rather than sending entire divisions to fight in place of local forces. This was done in response to requests from the governments of Syria and Iraq.

He noted that many Iranian youth, particularly those from the Basij, volunteered to go to Syria during that period. He praised the efforts of General Soleimani and his team for training and organizing thousands of Syrian youth to fight against ISIS. However, the Leader expressed regret that this group was dissolved after a few years following a decision by the Syrian military authorities.

Imam Khamenei emphasized that the main task of fighting should have been carried out by the Syrian army, but lamented that when the Syrian army showed weakness and lack of determination, the local resistance forces could not do much on their own. He said that the Syrian army’s failure to show strength led to the dire situation in the country.

He also clarified that Iran’s presence in Syria and Iraq was based on the invitation of the respective governments. Without such a request, Iran would not have intervened, making it clear that its role was only to help strengthen local forces against the common enemy.

In his final remarks, the Supreme Leader noted the key lessons from the Syrian crisis for both officials and the public: first, not to underestimate the enemy and be aware of the threats. He mentioned that intelligence agencies had been warning Syrian officials months before the crisis began, but they did not take preventive action.

Imam Khamenei also warned against becoming passive or complacent in times of adversity, stressing that the Islamic Republic had never been passive, even in the face of bombings or setbacks during the Iran-Iraq War. He reminded that both arrogance in victory and passivity in defeat are harmful, urging the people and officials to avoid both.

Finally, he remarked on the actions of certain individuals, both inside and outside Iran, who spread fear and discouragement, particularly through media outlets. He stated that anyone who tries to demoralize the people, whether by underestimating the situation or promoting defeatism, must be confronted.

Imam Khamenei concluded by affirming that, with divine assistance, the roots of Zionism and the malicious forces of the West will be uprooted from the region.

Some parts of the statements by the Leader of the Revolution in this meeting:

“There should be no doubt that what has happened in Syria is the result of a joint American and Zionist plan. Yes, a neighboring country of Syria has played an open role in this regard, and is still playing a role – this is visible to all. But the main conspirator and the mastermind, the primary command center, is in the United States and the Zionist regime. We have evidence. These signs leave no room for doubt.”

“This is resistance; this is the resistance front: the more pressure you apply, the stronger it becomes; the more crimes you commit, the more motivated it becomes; the more you fight against them, the broader it becomes. And I tell you, with God’s divine power, the scope of resistance will spread across the entire region more than ever before.”

“The ignorant analyst who is unaware of the meaning of resistance thinks that if the resistance weakens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will also weaken. But I tell you, by God’s divine will, Iran will remain strong and will become even stronger.”

“Of course, the invaders I mentioned each have their own agenda. Their objectives vary; some are seeking to capture land in northern or southern Syria, while the United States is looking to secure its foothold in the region. These are their objectives, and time will show that none of them will achieve these goals. The areas occupied in Syria by foreign forces will be liberated by the brave Syrian youth; do not doubt, this will happen. The American foothold will not be solid either, by God’s grace, the resistance front will expel the United States from the region.”

“Regarding the ISIS issue: ISIS was a bomb of insecurity. ISIS aimed to make Iraq insecure, Syria insecure, and the entire region insecure, eventually reaching the final target, which was to destabilize the Islamic Republic of Iran. This was the ultimate goal of ISIS.”

“We intervened; our forces were present in both Iraq and Syria for two reasons: one reason was to protect the holy shrines. The enemies, far from spirituality and religion, had animosity towards these shrines, with plans for their destruction. They carried out attacks, as you saw in Samarra, where they destroyed the Samarra dome with the help of the Americans. Later, they planned to do the same in Najaf, Karbala, Kadhimayn, and Damascus. This was ISIS’s goal. It’s obvious that no devout, loyal believer in the Ahlul Bayt would allow this. They would not submit to such actions; this is one reason.”

“Another reason was the issue of security. The authorities quickly realized that if this insecurity was not contained, it would spread and engulf our entire country. The instability from ISIS was not just a trivial matter.”

“Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: ‘A nation that is engaged in conflict within its own home will be humiliated; do not let it reach your home.’ Our forces went, our prominent commanders, including our dear martyr General Soleimani, and his companions organized and armed the youth in Iraq and Syria. First in Iraq, then in Syria, they stood firm against ISIS and broke its backbone, achieving victory.”

“The type of military presence we had in Syria and Iraq was not about taking our armies and replacing theirs. The role our forces played was advisory. What does advisory mean? It means establishing important central and main command posts, setting strategies and tactics, and intervening in battle only when necessary. But most importantly, it was about mobilizing the local youth in these regions, of course, our youth also volunteered and joined in.”

“After these events in Syria, the imperialist powers were pleased, thinking that with the fall of the Syrian government, which supported resistance, the resistance front would weaken. They are deeply mistaken. Those who think the resistance front has weakened because of this do not understand what resistance means. They don’t know that the resistance front is not a hardware that can break or collapse. Resistance is faith, a thought, a decisive heart’s decision, it is a school of belief. The faith of a people cannot be weakened by pressure; it only becomes stronger.”

“Resistance is like this; when they see the brutal crimes of the enemy, those who had doubts about resisting will come to understand that the only way forward is to stand firm against the oppressor and the tyrant. They must stand and resist; that is what resistance is.”

“Look at Hezbollah in Lebanon. The calamity that befell Hezbollah was not trivial. Losing a leader like Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah was no small matter. Despite this, Hezbollah’s strength and resolve grew stronger. The enemy realized this and accepted it.”

“They thought that after their strike, they could enter Lebanon and push Hezbollah back, but they were unable to advance. Hezbollah stood firm and with strength, forcing them to call for a ceasefire. This is what resistance is.”

“Look at Gaza. For over a year, they have been bombing Gaza. They killed prominent figures like Yahya Sinwar. Yet, despite all these blows, the people stood firm. The enemy hoped that they could pressure the people to turn against Hamas, but the opposite happened. The people grew even more supportive of Hamas. This is resistance. This is the resistance front.”

“The more pressure you apply, the stronger it becomes. The more crimes you commit, the more motivated they become. The more you fight them, the broader the resistance becomes. I tell you, by God’s divine power, the scope of resistance will spread across the entire region more than before.”

“An ignorant analyst, unaware of the meaning of resistance, thinks that if the resistance weakens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will weaken too. But I tell you, by God’s divine will, Iran will remain strong and will become even stronger.”

“Is it true that we have been present in Syria in these past few years? Of course, everyone knows that we were. The martyrs of the shrines, the martyrs defending the shrines, are proof of our presence.”
“We helped the Syrian government, but before we helped them, at a critical juncture, the Syrian government made a vital contribution to us. Many people are unaware of this.”

“In the midst of the Sacred Defense (Iran-Iraq war), when everyone was working for Saddam and against us, the Syrian government took a decisive action in our favor against Saddam. They cut off the oil pipeline that carried oil to the Mediterranean and Europe, benefiting Saddam. This caused an uproar worldwide. They didn’t let the oil flow for Saddam; they cut it off, even though they themselves benefited from this route and received payments. They gave this up, though they later received compensation from us.”

“In Syria, Martyr Soleimani trained, armed, and organized thousands of young Syrians. They stood firm, but unfortunately, some military officials in Syria later made mistakes and neglected what was in their own interest. After the ISIS plot was crushed, some forces returned, but others stayed. Unfortunately, due to the weakening of resolve in the Syrian leadership, the problem continued.”

“The Syrian tragedy holds lessons for all of us, including our leaders. We must learn from it. One of the lessons is the negligence of the enemy. Yes, the enemy acted quickly, but they should have known beforehand that the enemy would act and would act swiftly.”

“Our intelligence agencies had been warning the Syrian authorities for months, but I don’t know if these reports reached the top officials or not.”

“The resistance front should neither become arrogant from its victories nor despair from its defeats. Victory and defeat exist, as they do in individual lives, in the lives of groups, and in the lives of nations. What is necessary is not to become arrogant when we are victorious, because arrogance leads to ignorance. We must never give in to despair when we face setbacks.”