TEHRAN- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei met with thousands of people from the provinces of Kerman and Khuzestan at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah on Saturday.

According to the khamenei.ir, Ayatollah Khamenei spoke about the latest developments in Gaza, stating that, “This incident is unparalleled in two ways. From the side of the Zionist regime, this kind of brutality, criminality, bloodthirstiness, child killings, malice, cruelty, and the dropping of bunker-breaking bombs on patients and hospitals was never seen before. And also, on the side of the Palestinian people and fighters, the way they exhibited patience, resistance and the way they infuriated the enemy was unprecedented.”

The Leader added that, “Even though water, food, medicine and fuel are not reaching these people, they are still standing strong like a mountain and it is this resilience that will lead them to victory, for God is with those who are patient and the signs of victory can be seen today.”

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that the Zionist regime remains powerless against the Palestinian fighters despite all its equipment and assets, and this, the Leader stated, is another important aspect of this unparalleled confrontation. “The Zionist regime’s defeat in this incident is equivalent to the defeat of the United States. Today, no one in the world considers the occupying regime, the U.S. and Britain to be any different from each other. Everyone knows that they are one and the same.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the vetoing of several UN Security Council resolutions for a ceasefire a “shameless” act of the U.S. government, while denouncing the United States’ complicity with the Zionist regime to drop bombs on children, women, patients and other defenseless people.

“The Palestinian nation and the Resistance Front and the Front that stands with the Truth gained a great victory by discrediting the West and the U.S., and by exposing the nature of all of their false human rights claims; because Israel would not have been able to commit all of these crimes had it not been for America’s support. Today, the hideous, monstrous, evil faces of the US and England have been revealed to everyone all around the world,” he noted.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that it is the duty of the world’s governments and nations to help the Resistance in any way or form. “Helping the Resistance is everyone's duty, while helping the Zionist regime is a crime and treason.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also denounced some Islamic states for their criminal act of assistance towards the Zionist regime, stressing that “Muslim nations will not forget this issue.”

In addition to this, he emphasized that it is the duty of Islamic governments to prevent goods, oil and fuel from reaching the Zionist regime, the regime which itself has blocked off water access to the people of Gaza.

On the same note, Ayatollah Khamenei remarked that, “Muslim nations should call on their governments to cut off any ties and assistance to the Zionist criminals. If they are not able to cut ties permanently, they should at least do it temporarily in order to put pressure on the evil, cruel and bloodthirsty regime.”

The Leader added that, today, the world’s conscience has been hurt in the face of the Zionist regime’s savagery. “People in the U.S. and Europe are coming to the streets and some of their political figures, university heads, and scientists are protesting against their governments' support of the Zionist regime. But despite this, some governments still continue to help the brutal regime.”

He underlined that, “With God’s help, the Front that stands with the Truth will undoubtedly be victorious and the usurping Zionist regime will be eliminated. I hope that you young people will see that day with your own eyes.”

During the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei also touched upon Iran’s upcoming parliamentary elections which are set to take place on March 21, 2024. He called on the Iranian nation to prepare itself for holding the elections in the best possible way, in line with the following four characteristics: “A strong and lively participation, true competitiveness of factions and the inclusion of their differing views, true lawfulness, and the provision of complete security.”

In explaining the importance of the principle and logic of elections in the Islamic Republic, the Leader outlined that, “Both the ‘Republic’ and the ‘Islamic’ aspects of the system are dependent on the elections, because there is no other way to acquire a republic, a democracy, and the involvement of the people in the administration of the country than by holding elections.”

Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed out that if elections are not held, the country will be faced with a dictatorship, chaos, insecurity, and riots. “Elections are the only correct and true path that can ensure the national sovereignty of the people,” he added.

Culled from Tehran Times