'New cards' await if enemy miscalculates: Iran cleric warns

Hawzah News Agency- Ayatollah Arafi stated that the recent war and aggressions by the enemy had broadcast "new cards of power and light" from Islamic Iran and the resistance front to the world. He warned that should the enemy commit "any foolishness," Iran would reveal further cards.

Tributes and domestic affairs

The cleric offered condolences on the passing of Grand Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani, praising his high stature in jurisprudence and Islamic sciences. He also marked the Week of Sacred Defense, saluting the martyrs of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war and thanking the armed forces, particularly the police force (Faraja), which he said had borne significant losses in the recent conflict.

Ayatollah Arafi stressed the police force's high standing and its heavy responsibilities, calling for a jihadi, revolutionary, and scientific approach in dealing with cultural and social issues, especially regarding hijab and chastity. He called for a unified front among officials, with the police, judiciary, and Basij at the forefront, and the people as the main foundation, to resist the spread of corruption, particularly in Qom, the center of Islamic scholarship.

He also emphasized the need to honor and support the country's elites and top talents, describing them as the "drivers of fundamental programs" and essential for progress in science, technology, and spiritual and social fields.

Analysis: The war of narratives

In a detailed strategic analysis, Ayatollah Arafi described the "war of narratives" as a complement to the actual battlefield. He outlined five key points:

1. Collapse of the myth of deception: The true face of the "Great Satan" and the Zionist regime has been exposed. The US and Israel have revealed their demonic nature, ignoring all legal and human rights norms, as seen in their support for the killing of children and the targeting of religious leaders.
2. The disgrace of treachery: Some regional countries have shamefully colluded with the US and Israel. He specifically condemned the UAE's officials for meeting with Netanyahu, who he said had killed 70,000 Arab Sunnis and Muslims. He warned that Muslim nations will one day hold these treacherous rulers accountable.
3. End of "strategic patience": The great Iranian nation has, for the first time, shattered the fear of direct confrontation with the US and Israel, proving its capability to resist and fight.
4. Changing regional equations: Iran's years of strategic patience with mercenary countries and bases used by enemies have ended. The "lairs of the devil" in the region were targeted, and any future direct action will provoke a forceful response.
5. Dawn of new power: The war revealed new cards, including the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. The sun of Iran's power and that of the resistance has risen, and more cards remain to be played if the enemy continues its aggression.

Sermon on piety

In his first sermon, Ayatollah Arafi called for piety as a shield against Satan's plots. He highlighted three key moral elements in Iranian society: "dignity and honor," "patience and perseverance," and "the spirit of insight and vision," which, along with trust in God, have left lasting blessings. He noted that political and social trust in society is evident, shaped by the rich concept of resistance in our era.