Speaker Qalibaf: The Strategic Victory Behind the 12-Day War
In a powerful address, the Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, detailed the ideological and strategic foundations of what he described as a pivotal 12-day conflict, framing it as a historic victory for the Axis of Resistance.
The Imam’s Foresight and the Soldiers of the Revolution
Speaking at a ceremony honoring former Secretary-Generals of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Qalibaf began by recounting the historical context laid by the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. He quoted the late leader’s decades-old criticisms of the former monarchical regime’s alignment with Israel and the United States, and his defiance in the face of global powers.
“Some questioned the Imam’s audacity to speak against America, Israel, and the Shah,” Qalibaf stated. “But the Imam confidently replied that his soldiers were the infants who would grow up to take up the tools of struggle.” He pointed to figures like the late Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safieddine as prime examples of those very soldiers who “changed the course of history.”
A Regime of “Imposed War and Peace”
Qalibaf characterized Israel as a regime that has consistently pursued a dual policy of “imposed war and peace,” occupying lands and never ceasing its aggression. He credited the resilience of the Resistance, spearheaded by figures like Nasrallah, for forcing the Israeli regime out of Beirut and back to Lebanon’s borders after 18 years, and for the monumental achievements during the 33-Day War in 2006.
“The Resistance fighters did not hesitate for a moment in this struggle and maintained their unity in every sense,” he emphasized.
Palestine: A Global Human Cause
A central theme of Qalibaf’s speech was the transformation of the Palestinian issue from a solely Islamic concern to a global humanitarian one. “Thanks to the blood of the martyrs,” he declared, “the issue of Palestine is not just a matter for the Islamic nation today, but a global issue and a question for all of humanity.”
He cited international opinion polls showing growing support for Palestine, even within the United States, as a direct achievement of the Resistance’s sacrifices.
The Unbroken Strength of Hezbollah
Addressing recent events, Qalibaf vehemently dismissed any notion that Hezbollah has been weakened. Reflecting on his visit to Lebanon following the martyrdom of senior leaders, he asserted, “When I said ‘Hezbollah is alive,’ I was not giving a slogan; I was stating a fact.”
He pointed to the Israeli regime’s failure to advance into Lebanon even after significant events as proof that “Hezbollah flows in the blood and veins of the people.” The continued pressure from the U.S. and its allies to disarm Hezbollah, he argued, is itself an admission of the group’s formidable power.
The 12-Day War: A Shift in the Military Doctrine
Delving into the recent conflict, Qalibaf painted a picture of a stunned adversary. He revealed that from the seventh and eighth day of the 12-day war, high-ranking American officials and others were desperately seeking a ceasefire. “The firepower and the nature of the operations were utterly unbearable for the enemy,” he claimed.
He contrasted Israel’s military doctrine, which he identified as air power, with Iran’s, which is missile power. “If we had a weakness in the air, they had weaknesses on the ground and in the air,” Qalibaf stated, highlighting that Palestinian resistance groups have now engaged the enemy for over two years, inflicting continuous losses.
In a striking revelation, he noted, “There were moments when we struck his most vital center with a single missile. He realized that we no longer need 300 drones; we can hit him with one missile.”
Acknowledging Sacrifice, Vowing Continuity
While celebrating the strategic victory, the Speaker also paid solemn tribute to the “great martyrs” lost, acknowledging the significant sacrifice of an experienced generation of commanders. Despite this, he insisted, “The Resistance is alive and powerful.”
He concluded by praising the unwavering unity of the Iranian nation and the collaborative spirit between the parliament and the government to overcome economic challenges, which he stated are unacceptable and a target for enemies seeking to disrupt national solidarity.
