In a meeting with a number of the families of the Defenders of the Shrine (active in Syria and Iraq) and Border Guard martyrs this evening (Sunday), Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stressed that the right to life in this country is indebted to martyrs and all people and officials should consider themselves beholden to martyrs and the families of martyrs. The Leader pointed to the recent hostile and threatening remarks by US officials and described them as nonsense, saying, "Since the victory of the Revolution, US statesmen have always sought to change the establishment of the Islamic Republic but they wont manage to slap the Iranian nation, but it is the Iranian nation who will slap them." At the beginning of this meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei described the concept of "martyrdom" as a deep notion with profound meanings and a highly profitable trade with God Almighty, adding, "Martyrdom is a ‘mercantile death and in this trade, God purchases the life of a human being, which is perishable and destructible, in return for eternal bliss and martyrs rise to a status where they possess the power of intervention."

He described the patience and perseverance of the families of the martyrs in the tragedy of losing their closest loved ones as very high value and reiterated, "The main reasons for the endurance of the Islamic Revolution and its might are great concepts and values such as ‘martyrdom, jihad, patience and perseverance of the families of martyrs and the enemy tries to dispossess the society of these values and unfortunately some people expatiate in this framework."

Pointing to the survival of the Islamic establishment despite facing harsh hostilities, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, "The uttering of gibberish by the US president is not a new issue because the Islamic establishment has faced various plots since its inception but the ill-wishers of the Iranian nation have not succeeded to do a damn thing."

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated, "Even when the Islamic establishment was a frail and budding sapling, they were unable to harm it, let alone now that this establishment has turned into a mighty tree."

Pointing to the recent comments by US officials about efforts to overturn the Islamic establishment, he addressed them, saying, "Throughout the previous 38 years, when have you not wanted to replace the Islamic establishment, but you have always failed and been given a lesson and this will also be the case henceforth."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the new White House officials as inexperienced and rookies and stressed, "These inexperienced individuals do not know the Iranian nation and officials yet but when they receive a slap in the face, they will then find out what law and order is."

Ayatollah Khamenei added, "US rulers have been struggling to overthrow the Islamic Republic establishment since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, but those who harbored this yearning carried this wish to the grave and such will be the case henceforth."

The Leader reiterated, "Everyone, whether the enemies, sincere allies and friends whose hearts throb at times, should know that the Islamic Republic is standing firm and with absolute power and the enemies will not be able to slap the Iranian nation but the nation will slap them."

Stressing that the value of martyrs must be established in the society, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said in tribute to the role of the Defenders of the Shrine martyrs, "Had it not been for the Defenders of the Shrine martyrs, today we would have had to fight ‘seditionist, evil elements and enemies of the household of the Prophet (PBUH) inside Iranian cities because they sought to cross into Iran from the borders of Iraq but they were stopped and were exterminated and are being completely uprooted in Iran and Syria."

Ayatollah Khamenei described the current security of the country as owing to the Defenders of the Shrine and the protectors of Irans borders and added, "The security of the borders and cities of the country is [ensured] courtesy of the struggles of the border guards who defend Iran with all their power and also prevent the inflow of narcotics; of course these efforts are not properly recognized and the border guards and Border Guard martyrs are deprived [of attention]."
He described the martyrs of security and intelligence operations as among the other people sacrificing their lives for ensuring security and preventing terrorist moves and the murder of innocent people and said, "Serving the country is not only the provision of water and bread but more importantly than these is the provision of security and that life in this country is indebted to martyrs as well as all the defenders of the Shrine, the countrys borders and cities."

Stressing the need for appreciating martyrs and their families, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated, "We are all beholden to martyrs and anyone who makes any move in line with consigning to oblivion the memory of martyrs or insulting or disregarding their families has, in fact, betrayed the country."

At the end of the meeting, Maghrib and Isha prayers were led by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the participants broke their fast alongside him.