Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Hossein Taeb made the remarks Saturday at a ceremony marking World Mosque Day and the fourth national commemoration of mosque activists, held at the holy Jamkaran Mosque in Qom.
Paying tribute to fallen martyrs, particularly the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, Taeb said the event was taking place as global arrogance, led by the United States and Israel, has attempted to pave its way forward by striking at the pillars of the resistance front following defeats on multiple fronts against Iran.
Mosque as the Base of Resistance
Highlighting the central role of mosques in the formation and continuation of the Islamic Revolution, Taeb said a mosque is not merely a place of worship but a base of cultural, social and even military resistance for the Iranian nation.
He noted that the strategies laid out by the late founder of the Islamic Revolution and the current Leader have turned mosques into centers of resistance against global arrogance, enabling the Iranian nation and freedom-seekers worldwide to clearly see the possibility of resisting and defeating the enemy.
US Miscalculation on Targeting the Leader
Taeb said Americans mistakenly believed that by targeting the Leader of Muslims — the reviver and builder of mosques — they could destroy the base of resistance and push the nation off the scene. "But the result was the opposite. His martyrdom not only failed to weaken the resistance front, but made the people's presence in mosques and on the ground even stronger."
He added that resistance bases today are witnessing both the people's presence in mosques and their participation in social and political arenas — people of diverse views and behaviors who have stood against global arrogance.
Iranian Nation Not Deceived by Return to Negotiations
Referring to the recent war and the enemy's conduct, Taeb said the ruthless enemy entered the conflict with all its military and propaganda might, but when it realized the Iranian nation would not back down, it was forced to seek a ceasefire and then negotiations. However, it went on to violate even the provisions of the agreement it had signed.
The Basij chief noted that under the understanding reached, the enemy was obligated to fulfill its commitments within 60 days, refrain from threats, avoid attacking the resistance front, and hand over management of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran. "But it accepted none of these commitments and once again resorted to breach of promise and pressure. Nevertheless, the Iranian nation was not deceived by this apparent return to the negotiating table."
Devastating Operations Exposed US Military Weakness
Taeb said the devastating operations carried out by Iran's armed forces exposed the weaknesses of the US military before the eyes of the world — an army that, despite its enormous budget and full access to intelligence and operational capabilities, imagined it could finish off Iran in a short period.
"Not only did the Iranian nation and armed forces not weaken in the recent war, but it was the enemy that was forced to retreat, accept a ceasefire and come to the negotiating table."
Mosque-Centered Neighborhoods as Basij Strategy
On the role of mosques in resolving social and local issues, Taeb said the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has stressed the need to develop effective social services, expand social groups and activate Basij units with the mosque at the center.
"We need a mosque that can play a role in providing social services," he said, adding that the Leader has emphasized the formation of a Basij of arenas alongside the Basij of mosques.
He said identifying neighborhood problems and working to resolve them through the activation of resistance cells must become the main strategy of the Basij. According to Taeb, Iran's president also holds a positive view of this approach and sees the mosque as central to solving neighborhood-level problems.
"The mosque we seek is one where the prayer leader is at its heart and the Basij serves as his arm in bringing coherence to the people's movement and connecting the capacities of the neighborhood with its needs," he stated.
National Unity as Backbone of Power
Taeb emphasized that the backbone of Iran's missile power today is the unity and cohesion of the people. "If mosque-centered neighborhoods are formed and their residents come together on the basis of affection, interaction and empathy, national unity will be preserved more than ever. As long as this unity holds, the country can withstand enemy pressure and refrain from retreating from its national positions."
He added that the country's primary issue today is unity, and the more unity grows among various segments of society, the more Iran's armed forces can be called upon to pursue a more aggressive and crushing strategy.
Trump's Rhetoric Driven by Desperation
Turning to the latest positions of the US president, Taeb said the enemy's trajectory today is a downward one, and Trump's rhetoric stems from desperation rather than initiative.
He cited opinion polls inside the United States showing that a large portion of Americans consider war with Iran a mistake.
"Americans are now seeking to reduce tensions with Iran and return to hybrid warfare in order to create social discontent and security problems in the country. Another enemy strategy is to sow discord between Iran and its neighbors," Taeb said.
He concluded that the United States has realized its miscalculation regarding Iran, and Europe has also understood that it holds a weak position in Trump's security equations. "Today, the global map of power is changing, and the United States and the Zionist regime can no longer claim centrality in the world or the region."
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