Hawzah News Agency- Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Fouladi, head of the Iranian Army's Organization for the Preservation of Sacred Defense Works and Values, made the remarks Thursday evening at a memorial ceremony for Iranian Army martyrs from the Isfahan, Yazd, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari regions, held at the new Golestan Martyrs Hall in Isfahan.
'Three Imposed Wars'
Fouladi drew parallels between what he described as three imposed wars on Iran, saying the younger generation must understand that Iran did not initiate any of them. He argued that the second and third wars were also imposed during negotiations, making the framing of "war or peace" a false dichotomy.
"Iran has endured three imposed wars, negotiated multiple rounds with enemies, and faced hundreds of conspiracies and seditions," he said, urging Iranians not to lose sight of these experiences and objectives.
Citing Iran's geopolitical position, he noted that the country suffered 9 million casualties during World War I despite declaring neutrality, 2 million deaths in World War II, and nearly 188,000 martyrs in the first imposed war.
Religious Justification for Defense
Referencing the Prophet Muhammad's conduct, Fouladi said that if war were inherently evil, the Prophet — described in Islam as a mercy to the world — would not have engaged in it. He noted that more than 80 wars were imposed on the Prophet over 10 years, with the Prophet personally commanding 27 of them.
"We should not fear war, and the enemy has shown from the beginning that it understands only the language of force," he said.
Enemies 'Identical' Across Conflicts
Fouladi asserted that Iran faced the same enemies in all three wars, describing a "Western, Arab, and Hebrew triangle" arrayed against the country in the first imposed war. He said the enemies attacked out of anger over the Islamic Revolution and a desire for revenge.
He added that all three wars began with the enemy assuming Iran would collapse within three or four days — Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein believed he could take Khorramshahr in one day and Khuzestan in three, while in the recent war, enemies assumed Iran would be finished within days or weeks.
'Negotiation Alone Will Not Work'
Fouladi stressed the need for defense capabilities, saying the "martyred Imam" (Ayatollah Khamenei) emphasized strength and that Islam and the Quran call for power and readiness to deter enemies.
"Negotiation, sitting at the table, and signing agreements alone will not yield results," he said. "The Foreign Ministry can carry out its duties, but the enemy cannot be trusted, and the Quran contains directives regarding those who break treaties and pledges."
12 Enemy Objectives 'Failed'
The general said the enemy announced at least 12 objectives in the recent war, including regime change, determining Iran's leadership under enemy influence, partitioning the country, controlling governance and the Strait of Hormuz, dominating oil and gas resources, destroying nuclear and missile industries, and preventing Iran's influence in the resistance front.
"None of these objectives were achieved," he claimed.
Past Confrontations with the US
Fouladi noted that Iran has prior experience confronting the US, saying American forces entered the eight-year war. He cited the April 18, 1988 naval battle in the Persian Gulf, in which the Iranian Navy engaged the US fleet, with the destroyers Sahand and Sabalan and the missile boat Joshan participating.
He cited a Quranic verse permitting defense for those who have been wronged, saying "we defend by divine permission."
'American Prestige Shattered'
Fouladi described the US military as one of the world's most expensive, with a defense budget 100 times that of Iran, 13,000 aircraft, and 12 to 13 aircraft carriers. He noted that since World War II, no power had dared fire a single bullet at the US.
"Iran destroyed 18 American bases, targeted F-15 fighter jets, refueling aircraft, AWACS, helicopters, and various expensive drones, and brought down their $4 million missiles with $10,000 drones," he added.
He said this demonstrated that America's self-image of invincibility is disconnected from battlefield reality, and that Washington has been "retreating step by step" from its objectives in the region and the Persian Gulf.
Strait of Hormuz as 'Deterrent Tool'
Fouladi said the enemy initially spoke of regime change and various objectives but now focuses on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to allow oil tankers to pass.
"The heavy cost of war has returned to the enemies themselves, and the Strait of Hormuz has transformed from an international waterway into a political quagmire, a symbol of America's limited power, and a tool for Iran's deterrence," he said.
He noted that the US faces political constraints among its allies, as well as difficulties in weapons, missiles, and combat tactics. The credibility of Washington's security umbrella among Arab countries has also been affected, he added.
Describing what he called a "Hollywood show" of American military power, Fouladi said: "The reality of the American army is a Hollywood reality, and in this war, it became clear that being a superpower does not depend on defense budgets, the number of aircraft, and aircraft carriers."
He concluded: "The superpower today belongs to whoever can impose their will on the enemy, and any defender who stands against an aggressor and prevents them from achieving their goals is victorious, while the aggressor is defeated. We succeeded in this war, we are succeeding, and we will succeed — and as the martyred Imam predicted, this success was achieved through the presence of the people. The people's presence over these 200 nights is itself a divine miracle."
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