Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday praised the 1979 Islamic Revolution’s triumphs over the Pahlavi monarchy, crediting the people with crushing recent “American-Zionist sedition” and vowing to decisively counter future threats.
Speaking on the first day of the Ten Days of Fajr to thousands from various walks of life, Khamenei called Feb. 1, 1979 — or 12 Bahman in the Iranian calendar — a “history-making day” when Imam Khomeini returned triumphantly to Tehran amid massive crowds, toppling the “personal, despotic, anti-religious and dependent” shah’s regime and birthing a “popular, religion-based” government that defies “arrogant powers.”
He highlighted the revolution’s core shifts: from dictatorship to people-driven rule, anti-religion to Islamic governance, and U.S. dominance to independence — features that “angered America” and sparked 47 years of hostility. “America wants to swallow Iran,” Khamenei said, citing the country’s oil, gas, mines and strategic position as the root of U.S. greed, dismissing human rights rhetoric as “nonsense.”
Khamenei recounted how Khomeini instilled self-confidence, reversing Qajar and Pahlavi eras’ “self-abasement” that left Iran “humiliated and backward” in science, technology and global standing. Today, he boasted, Iran has advanced so far that “Americans copy weapons made by Iran,” fueled by youth with “hope and determination” despite enemy claims otherwise.
Turning to unrest on Dec. 18-19 (27-28 Dey), Khamenei labeled it an “American-Zionist” plot with “ISIS-like violence,” including paid ringleaders trained abroad, attacks on police stations, IRGC centers, banks, mosques and the Quran, and efforts to manufacture fatalities for propaganda. He said rioters hid behind legitimate bazaar protests, resembled a “quasi-coup” and were guided by CIA-Mossad intelligence, but perceptive merchants distanced themselves, and millions rallied on Jan. 12 (22 Dey) to expose the truth.
Praising police, Basij and IRGC for their roles, Khamenei stressed the people — as in 2009 — ultimately “reduced the flames to ashes.” He warned of future seditions but predicted Iran’s stability would despair enemies, urging officials to honor the masses amid economic planning.
On U.S. threats, Khamenei mocked officials’ “all options on the table” bluster and aircraft carrier boasts, saying Iran won’t initiate war but any U.S. attack would ignite a “regional war.”
The speech tied 12 Bahman blessings to milestones like the Feb. 11 victory anniversary and April 1 referendum, with progress continuing “by God’s grace.”