By Tasnim News (Politics) | Created at 2025-01-01 14:09:10 | Updated at 2025-01-04 08:08:10
2 days ago
Ali Akbar Velayati, who is also an adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, delivered a message to the 15th international conference of the World Assembly of Islamic Awakening, held in Tehran on Wednesday, January 1.
What follows is the text of his message:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
The Islamic Revolution, led by Imam Khomeini (may Allah bless him), at the end of the 20th century and the emergence of the concept of "Resistance" -not merely a term but an ideology and theory- has influenced the destiny of West Asia for decades.
In this context, the rise and formation of the "Axis of Resistance" under the leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah protect him) as an identity-driven entity and a regionally enlightening and identity-shaping collective, has transformed many regional and international dynamics in the years following the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
Throughout the 20th century, numerous subnational, national, and transnational actors protested the norms and structures governing international relations. However, their efforts yielded no tangible results. Against this backdrop, the Islamic Revolution in Iran triumphed, challenging both bipolar and unipolar systems, leaving a profound impact on the international order. This movement disrupted both Eastern and Western blocs, demonstrated the obsolescence of traditional paradigms, and introduced religion and worldly matters as a unified method, marking the dawn of a new era.
The early 21st century, however, has been marked by evidence of the decline of US hegemony and the rise of new regional and global powers. Current events and processes indicate a changing world order, with a significant increase in actors challenging existing norms, principles, and powers of the international system.
The formation of the Axis of Resistance as a defensive and security coalition in West Asia, and the emergence of a "Geopolitics of Resistance" following its establishment, represent significant achievements of the Islamic movement in recent years.
The United States, striving to maintain its dominance and avoid decline through the dual tools of threat and appeasement, has sought to suppress or derail various movements and groups opposing its unilateralism across Central America to Southeast Asia over the past century. Over the last fifty years, to preserve its hegemony against the Axis of Resistance and to expand its influence while continuing colonialism and exploitation, the US has provided unconditional and boundless support to the Zionist regime to prevent the formation and empowerment of the Axis of Resistance.
Conversely, one of the most fundamental components of the Resistance’s ideology, consistently emphasized by this coalition, has been the fight against Israel and support for the Palestinian cause in the region. The issue of Palestine, along with opposition to Israel, constitutes a defining and enduring element of the Resistance groups’ shared stance on the regional order.
As the primary objective of global hegemony in the region has been ensuring Israel's security, the Resistance identified the liberation of Al-Quds as its central goal. This foundational principle, established in the early days of the Islamic Revolution's victory, steered the Arab world away from normalizing relations with Israel -a trend initiated by the Camp David Accords signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. This policy opened new avenues for combating Israel, leading to the creation of revolutionary and popular resistance movements against Israeli occupation, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Islamic Jihad in Palestine, as well as the launch of the Intifada movement in the occupied territories. All these were inspired by the Islamic Revolution's model, its Ummah-centric vision, and the wise leadership of the Islamic Revolution’s Leader.
Today, we witness widespread public outrage and unprecedented events in international forums against the Zionist regime, all of which are the fruits of resistance and the Operation of October 7.
The waves of Intifada, the inspiration of the Islamic Revolution, the expulsion of the Zionist regime from southern Lebanon, the 33-day war of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Islamic Awakening, the 22-day, 41-day, 8-day, and 2-day wars in Gaza, the adoption of intelligent defensive doctrines in Iraq and Yemen, and the belief and commitment of Palestinian youth against hegemonic schemes like normalization efforts and the "Deal of the Century" testify to this reality. Most recently, the design and execution of "Al-Aqsa Storm" inflicted a strategic and identity-shattering blow upon the body of imperialism and global hegemony. This operation proved to the world that the starting point of change in the region and the new Middle East lies with the success of the October 7 operation -not in the will of the US or the cursed prime minister of the Zionist regime.
The Zionist regime and its international backers, deluded by false assumptions, believe they can weaken the steadfast Palestinian nation and dismantle Islamic Resistance by exerting pressure, committing genocidal crimes, and creating situations like those recently seen in Syria. Yet, according to divine traditions, the greater the oppression, tyranny, and aggression against the resilient Palestinian nation, the stronger and more enduring their resistance will grow. The perseverance and fortitude of the heroic Palestinian people will, in the near future, yield fruitful results in Syria and other parts of the world, showcasing how the logic of Islamic Resistance reshaped the rules of engagement. The blossoms and fruits of this admirable resistance will demonstrate the glory, dignity, and pride of a heroic struggle.
