Mohammad Ali Samadi: Defending Iran is rooted in the historical memory of this nation A researcher of...

Mohammad Ali Samadi: Defending Iran is rooted in the historical memory of this nation A researcher of the Sacred Defense, on the sidelines of a trip to the southern regions of the country and meeting with the people and forces stationed along the coastal strip of the Persian Gulf: 🔹 In days when parts of the southern coast of the country are under threat and attacks from America, we felt we should be alongside the people of these areas. Our presence was mainly to pay respects and express gratitude; to tell the people that in hard times, the country appreciates their steadfastness. 🔹 The people of the south, especially the residents of the Persian Gulf coast, have direct experience of defending the country. They have faced America multiple times during the eight years of the Sacred Defense and also in the confrontations of the 60s in the Persian Gulf, experiencing the reality of this confrontation more closely than many of us. 🔹 We did not come from Tehran to perform a special task or to lift a burden off their shoulders. We merely wanted to write our names alongside the people who have borne the burden of defending this land for years and to tell them that their steadfastness is acknowledged and we appreciate their efforts. 🔹 The men of the battlefield are present there; commanders and fighters who have years of experience defending the country’s waters and are well capable of fulfilling their responsibilities. We also showed up merely to offer encouragement and to convey our regards. 🔹 The Iranian culture has always demonstrated the ability to stand firm and defend itself. Nations that have managed to establish a lasting civilization over thousands of years undoubtedly possess the art of defending their land and identity as well. 🔹 Iran is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. If this nation did not have the ability to defend itself, it would never have been able to navigate through historical ups and downs, wars, attacks, and numerous crises and remain standing today. This historical continuity indicates that defending Iran is part of the collective and unconscious memory of this nation. 🔹 This spirit cannot be extinguished by the loss of some people or causing damage to a country. Defense of the land is rooted in the culture, history, and identity of a nation, and this characteristic has been a factor in the survival of Iranian civilization throughout the centuries. 🔹 I believe that the Iranian nation, as the heir to one of the greatest civilizations in history, will continue on its path with this cultural and historical capital, and this spirit of defense and resistance will remain an inseparable part of Iranian identity.