1) Message from Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati, Secretary-General of the World Assembly of Islamic Awakening, to the Expert Meeting on “Explaining Narratives and Addressing Doubts about the 12-Day War between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Zionist Regime”

According to the Communication and International Relations Center of the Supreme National Defense University, Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati, Secretary-General of the World Assembly of Islamic Awakening, issued a message to the Expert Meeting on “Explaining Narratives and Addressing Doubts about the 12-Day War between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Zionist Regime.” The event was held in commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the martyrdom of the proud commander of Islam, Martyr Haj Qassem Soleimani (may God’s blessing be upon him), with the participation of a number of professors, scholars, and prominent domestic and international figures supporting the Resistance across the region and the world, hosted by the Supreme National Defense University. The full text of the message is as follows:

“In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful”

Praise and gratitude be to Almighty God, who once again, in the arena of the historic struggle between truth and falsehood, cast the light of truth upon the darkness of disbelief, arrogance, and occupation, and granted victory to the great nation of Iran as the standard-bearer in defending the oppressed of the world.”

“Honorable faithful brothers, esteemed scholars and intellectuals;

Today we have gathered to present an analytical, documented, and realistic examination of the true narrative of the imposed 12‑day war, and to revisit the truth of this decisive battle in the face of distortions, doubt‑mongering, and the enemy’s cognitive warfare.”

“Honorable dignitaries, esteemed scientific, cultural, and political elites, respected professors and scholars;

It is with great pleasure and pride that I stand before you—the intellectual and practical vanguards of the Islamic Revolution—to present an analytical and reasoned account of the 12‑day war between the camp of truth and the camp of falsehood, namely the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the Zionist regime. This discourse is grounded in the Qur’anic principles of the struggle between truth and falsehood and inspired by the wise guidance of the Supreme Leader (may his shadow be extended). It was a war that manifested a clear embodiment of the historic confrontation between light and darkness.”

“In this analysis, various dimensions of the twelve‑day imposed war and its authentic narratives will be examined, with particular emphasis on the decisive role of the Iranian nation’s social resilience, the wise and unparalleled leadership of the Islamic Revolution, and the continuation of the path of the martyrs—especially the esteemed Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani.”

The glorious victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and the establishment of the sacred Islamic Republic of Iran created a strategic rupture in the global power structure, transforming Iran into a leading regional power and an influential actor in international affairs. This trajectory, reinforced by the expansion of the Islamic Revolution’s discourse at both regional and transregional levels, heralded the prospect of realizing a “New Islamic Civilization” in the era of modern jahiliyyah (Age of Ignorance).

Finding itself overwhelmed by this new geometry of power, the system of domination, over the past four decades, has sought to contain, weaken, or eliminate the Islamic Revolution through the design and execution of hundreds of direct and indirect conspiracies. One of the most prominent of these was the imposition of the eight-year war and the comprehensive support provided by more than thirty countries worldwide to Iraq’s Ba‘athist regime in its aggression against the Iranian nation.

Today, after nearly four decades, the same system of domination has once again unleashed its past malevolence—this time directly, with the Zionist regime at its core—imposing a war upon Islamic Iran; oblivious to the fact that today's Iran is not the Iran of the 1980s, having taken profound, deep, and forward-looking strides across all dimensions.

The twelve-day imposed war was not merely a confrontation between Iran and the Zionist regime; rather, it constituted a war waged with NATO’s support, under the leadership and direct involvement of the United States, and with the participation of several other countries. Just as during Ronald Reagan’s presidency the United States took direct action against the Islamic Republic through its military presence in the Persian Gulf and the so-called “Tanker War,” in this conflict as well the U.S. government effectively entered the war in support of the Zionist regime by targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Based on false assumptions and illusory calculations, the Zionist regime believed that a surprise attack could break the will of the Iranian nation and, in its vain fantasy, even bring the Islamic Revolution to an end. Among these miscalculations was the assumption that economic sanctions and the enemy’s psychological warfare had diminished the social resilience of the Iranian people—an assessment that swiftly collapsed in the face of the people’s conscious presence, exemplary unity, and resolute support for the country’s territorial integrity.

The awakening of nations across West Asia, the defeat of takfiri projects and ISIS, and the repeated failures of the United States and the Zionist regime in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Syria pushed the enemy toward implementing a grand strategy aimed at containing Iran’s regional influence. The apex of this project manifested itself in the cowardly assassinations of prominent commanders of the resistance—Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani and Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis—and subsequently major figures such as Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Ismail Haniyeh. Yet the enemy remained oblivious to the fact that the school of Imam Khomeini (may he rest in peace) and the justice-seeking message of the Islamic Revolution have resonated far beyond geographical borders and will not be disrupted in their course of resistance.

Another strategic miscalculation by the enemy was its failure to recognize the pivotal role of the wise leadership of Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyed Ali Khamenei (may God prolong his life) in managing both the battlefield and public opinion. His steadfastness, courage, and astute decision-making not only preserved national unity and strengthened social hope, but also enhanced the country’s defensive power and ensured the effective presence of all pillars of the system on the ground—thereby completely nullifying the illusion of a leadership vacuum.

Moreover, the enemy made a grave miscalculation in assessing the military capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The fact that Iran’s precision missiles penetrated multiple layers of advanced air defenses and struck sensitive targets in the occupied territories—and even U.S. bases in the region—demonstrated that the balance of power had fundamentally shifted. This very reality compelled the enemy to seek a ceasefire.

The 12-day imposed war was a remarkable display of unity among the different ethnicities, generations, and segments of the Iranian nation—a unity that, by setting aside differences, created a social and cultural capital that could serve as the foundation for lasting solidarity and balanced national progress in the future.

Esteemed Professors,

Today, the Zionist enemy and its supporters admit that their decades-long plans and military exercises have been rendered futile. Heavy economic losses, a deepening identity crisis in the occupied territories, increased reverse migration, and intensifying internal divisions have exposed the true face of this failure. Nevertheless, they strive—through falsifying reality and waging a battle of narratives—to present a fabricated image of victory; an effort that is doomed to fail.

In conclusion, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining national unity, self-confidence, and enhancing capabilities, it is incumbent upon the entire Islamic Ummah to steadfastly continue the path of dignity, progress, and the realization of the ideals of the Islamic Revolution through conscious and wise adherence to the Supreme Leader, leading ultimately to the establishment of a new Islamic civilization.

Ali-Akbar Velayati