Politics
‘Resistance Economy in Light of National Unity, Security,’ Leader announces slogan of New Year
In a message on Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei congratulated both the Eid of Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr, which have coincided this year, to the Iranian nation and to the Muslims worldwide.
“It is also necessary to congratulate everyone regarding the remarkable victories of Islam’s fighters,” he said, also expressing condolences to all the families and survivors of the honorable martyrs of the US-Israeli aggression, as well as those of the January foreign-backed unrests.
Three wars in one year
In the first section of the message, he provided an overview of the important events of the past year.
“In the past year, our dear people have experienced three military and security wars,” he said.
“The first war was the June war, when the Zionist enemy, with the special help of the United States and in the midst of negotiations, martyred some of the country’s best commanders and prominent scientists and subsequently about 1,000 of our fellow citizens,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.
“Because of a gross miscalculation, the enemy thought that after a day or two, it would be the people who would overthrow the Islamic system,” he noted, adding that however, the “vigilance” of the Iranian nation and “bravery” of Islam’s fighters foiled the Zionist plots.
The message categorized the “January Coup” as the nation’s “second war,” referring to the foreign-backed riots.
The Leader stated that the United States and the Zionist regime operated under the assumption that the Iranian populace was aligning with the enemy’s vision due to imposed economic pressures.
These adversaries “used their mercenaries to create countless disasters and martyred more of our dear fellow citizens than in the previous war and caused a lot of damage,” added Ayatollah Khamenei.
Transitioning to the current and ongoing conflict, which he designated as the “third war,” the Leader recounted its tragic beginning.
“On the first day of which, with tearful eyes and sad and broken hearts, we bade farewell to the kind father of the Ummah, our great Leader,” he said, referring to the US-Israeli assassination of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on February 28.
The Leader spoke of bidding farewell to numerous other casualties of the US-Israeli terrorist aggression, specifically mentioning the children of the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab and the “brave and oppressed stars of the Dena Destroyer.”
The enemy’s goal is to disintegrate Iran
The address further analyzed the strategic intent behind the current war. The Leader asserted it was launched after the enemy failed to rally a significant popular movement in its favor.
The enemy, Ayatollah Khamenei explained, operated under “the illusion that if it martyred the head of the establishment and a number of influential military figures, it would create fear and despair in you, our dear people, and cause you to leave the arena.”
Ultimately, he warned, their goal was realizing “the dream of dominating Iran and then disintegrating it.”
People dealt a ‘confusing blow’ to enemy
Despite these challenges, the Leader praised the public’s response during the holy month. He noted that citizens “combined fasting with jihad and provided a vast defense line, as wide as the country,” establishing strong fortifications throughout squares, neighborhoods, and mosques.
This widespread mobilization, the Leader noted, dealt the adversary “a confusing blow.” As a result, he observed that the enemy “began to utter numerous contradictory words and many absurdities, which is a sign of lack of mindfulness and the existence of cognitive weakness.”
Enemy facing more than drones and missiles
Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted the nation’s recent triumphs over internal and external threats, emphasizing that the strength of the Iranian people far exceeds the military calculations of their adversaries.
Reflecting on the events of the past year, the Leader noted that the public had already suppressed a coup attempt on January 12. He further observed that the demonstrations on February 11 and March 12—the latter coinciding with Quds Day—served as a powerful display of “opposition to global arrogance and your tirelessness.”
During these events, he stated, the enemy was made to realize that they were “not only dealing with missiles, drones, torpedoes, and military affairs.”
He emphasized that “Iran’s front line is much bigger than his [the enemies’] humble and small mentality.”
The Leader expressed his gratitude to the citizens for “creating this great epic,” while also commending the “brave, honest and popular president and other officials” for their presence among the people “immaculate and without formalities.”
He also hailed the “incredible unity” currently witnessed among the Iranian people. The Leader noted that this cohesion exists “despite all the differences of religious, intellectual, cultural and political origins” and has resulted in a “breakdown” within the enemy’s camp.
He described this unity as a “special blessing from the Almighty.”
Turning to national security, the Leader issued a warning regarding “media operations” conducted by adversaries. He stated that these efforts intend to “undermine national unity and consequently national security by targeting the minds and souls of some among the people.”
He urged domestic media outlets, regardless of political or intellectual differences, to “refrain from focusing on weaknesses,” warning that negligence in this area could allow the enemy to reach its goals.
People’s livelihood a ‘focal point’
Ayatollah Khamenei also addressed the “economic war” facing the country. He noted that the late martyred Leader had consistently focused on the economy as the “slogan of the year.”
To counter the enemy’s exploitation of “economic and managerial weaknesses,” the Leader asserted that “providing people’s livelihood and improving the living and welfare infrastructures and creating wealth for the general public should be considered as a focal point and a kind of defense and even significant progress against the economic war waged by the enemy.”
New Year slogan and economic strategy
Ayatollah Khamenei said that his understanding of the nation’s challenges is rooted in direct engagement with citizens. He shared an anecdote about his personal efforts to hear the “words of our dear people from all walks of life,” stating, “During one period, for instance, I would ride along with you in a taxi – arranged at my request – through the streets of Tehran, with an anonymous group, listening to your conversations.”
He noted that he regarded this method as “superior to many opinion polls” and found that his own understandings often aligned with public criticisms regarding “economic and managerial matters.”
Based on these insights and expert studies, the Leader announced the formulation of a new “expert-tested remedy” for the country’s challenges. Formally designating the theme for the new year, he declared: “Resistance Economy in light of National Unity and National Security.”
On relation with neighbors
Elsewhere in his message, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized a “serious and genuine” policy of engagement with neighboring nations.
The Leader identified several “spiritual elements” that strengthen these ties, including a shared devotion to Islam, sacred sites, shared ethnicity, and “common strategic interests, particularly in confronting the front of arrogance.”
He specifically highlighted the importance of eastern neighbors, noting that “I consider our eastern neighbors to be very close to us.”
He made a specific appeal for regional harmony, urging that “our two brotherly countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, establish better relations with each other – if only for the sake of divine pleasure and to avoid division among Muslims.”
He added that he is personally “ready to take the necessary steps” to facilitate this improvement.
Leader warns of ‘false flag’ operations
Addressing recent security developments, the Leader clearly rejected Iran’s involvement in strikes against Oman and Turkey. He said that “the attacks against Turkey and Oman – both of which have good relations with us—targeting certain locations in these countries, were in no way carried out by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic or the other forces of the Resistance Front.”
“This is a ploy by the Zionist enemy, employing the false flag tactic to create discord between the Islamic Republic and its neighbors, and it may also occur in some other countries,” he highlighted.
The message concluded with a prayer for the upcoming year, expressing hope for “triumph and all kinds of spiritual and material relief” for the nation, its neighbors, and the Resistance Front. The Leader closed the address by quoting the Holy Quran (28:6):
“And We desired to show favor to those who were oppressed in the earth, and to make them examples and to make them the inheritors, and to establish them in the land, and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts from them that of which they were apprehensive.”
- Early calls from US include urging Iranians to topple their govt.
- Goals range from weakening Iran’s military to ending missile threats.
- Timeline estimates vary from under four weeks to indefinite duration.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump and his top officials have offered shifting objectives and reasons for the US-Israeli war on Iran, which critics say shows a lack of planning for the conflict and its aftermath.
Stated objectives and expected timeline have varied, including toppling Iran’s government, weakening Iran’s military, security and nuclear capabilities and its regional influence, as well as supporting Israeli interests.
Here is how Trump described his war goals and timeline:
February 28: Calls for Iranians to topple their govt
The Iranian people should “take over” governance of their country, Trump said in a video on social media as the US and Israel launched their attacks. “It will be yours to take,” he added. “This will be probably your only chance for generations.”
Trump described the attacks as “major combat operations”.
February 28: Weaken Iran’s military, influence
Trump said Washington would deny Iran the ability to have a nuclear weapon, although Tehran has insisted its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Iran does not have nuclear weapons while the United States does. Israel is also widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with nuclear weapons.
Trump insisted he would end what he described as Tehran’s ballistic missile threat. “We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” he said. “We’re going to annihilate their navy.”
Trump claimed Iran’s long range missiles “can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland.”
His remarks echoed the case of President George W. Bush for the Iraq war, which had false claims. Neither experts nor US intelligence support Trump’s assertions and both assess that Iran’s ballistic missile programme was years from threatening the US homeland.
March 2: Shifting timeline
Trump said the war was projected to last four to five weeks but could go on longer.
“We’re already substantially ahead of our time projections. But whatever the time is, it’s okay. Whatever it takes,” Trump said at the White House. In a social media post, Trump said there was a “virtually unlimited supply” of US munitions and that “wars can be fought ‘forever,’ and very successfully, using just these supplies.”
In a notification to Congress, Trump provided no timeline. Trump earlier told the Daily Mail the war could take “four weeks, or less,” then told The New York Times four to five weeks and subsequently said it could take longer.
March 2: Rubio says US attacked Iran because Israel did
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Israel’s determination to attack Iran forced Washington to strike.
“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” Rubio said.
March 3: Trump contradicts Rubio
Trump said he ordered US forces to join Israel’s attack on Iran because he believed Iran was about to strike first.
“I might have forced their (Israel’s) hand,” Trump said. “If we didn’t do it, they (Iran) were going to attack first.”
March 4: Call to ‘destroy’ security infrastructure
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the goal was to “destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure.”
March 6: ‘Unconditional surrender’ call
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,” Trump wrote on social media.
March 8–11: Just the start but also ‘pretty much complete’
Hegseth told CBS News in an interview aired March 8 strikes on Iran were “only just the beginning”.
A day later, Trump told the same network “I think the war is very complete, pretty much.”
“We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough,” Trump told reporters later on the same day. When asked if the war was beginning or complete, he said: “Well, I think you could say both.”
On March 11, Trump again said he thought the US had won but: “We’ve got to finish the job.”
March 13: Softens call for internal uprising
In a March 13 interview, Trump told Fox News the war will end “when I feel it in my bones”.
Trump softened his call for Iranians to topple their government. “So I really think that’s a big hurdle to climb for people that don’t have weapons,” Trump said.
March 19: Hegseth says no time frame
Hegseth said Washington was not setting a time frame for the war and Trump would decide when to stop.
“We wouldn’t want to set a definitive time frame,” the Pentagon chief said. “It will be at the president’s choosing, ultimately, where we say, ‘Hey, we’ve achieved what we need to.’”
March 20: Trump considers winding down but no ceasefire
Trump posted on Truth Social that “we are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great military efforts” in the Iran war. Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters “I don’t want to do a ceasefire” when asked about the war.
- Mission will continue operations from Naples regional command.
- Nato says move temporary due to evolving threat environment.
- Iraq agrees redeployment, no disagreement over withdrawal: official.
Nato’s mission in Iraq has been fully relocated to Europe because of the Middle East war, the alliance said, with the last staff from a non-combat force of several hundred leaving the country on Friday.
The mission was in an Iraqi military base in Baghdad’s Green Zone near the US embassy, which has been targeted several times since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran three weeks ago.
A statement from the alliance’s European command said: “Nato Mission Iraq has adjusted its posture, safely relocating all its personnel from the Middle East to Europe.”
Nato’s mission in Iraq provides assistance, advice and training to the Iraqi security forces involved in counterterrorism operations, aiming in particular to prevent any resurgence of Daesh group.
The mission will continue to operate from Nato’s regional command in the Italian city of Naples, the alliance said.
General Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, offered thanks to the Iraqi government and allies “who assisted in the safe relocation of Nato personnel from Iraq.”
“I would also like to thank the dedicated men and women of Nato Mission Iraq, who continued their mission throughout this period. They are true professionals,” he said.
Nato said earlier Friday it was “adjusting” its mission in Iraq, with a French military source confirming the force was being temporarily relocated because of the regional war.
Alliance spokesperson Allison Hart emphasised that “Nato and Iraq’s political dialogue and practical cooperation, including through Nato Mission Iraq, will continue”.
According to its website, the mission established in 2018 currently has several hundred personnel from Nato allies and from partner countries Austria and Australia.
It has been headed since May 2025 by General Christophe Hintzy from France.
“A decision was taken to relocate them in line with Nato’s posture regarding non-combat missions,” a French military source told AFP. “Given the current threat environment, it is less relevant to keep them in place.”
An Iraqi security official told AFP there had been “no disagreement” with Iraq’s government regarding the redeployment, calling it a “temporary withdrawal” in light of the Mideast security situation.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced the martyrdom of its spokesman Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, in terrorist US-Israeli strikes.
In a statement released on Friday, the IRGC expressed condolences and congratulations to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the Iranian people, military commanders, and media personnel over the martyrdom of Naeini in a “cowardly” crime by the aggressor regimes on the dawn of the last day of the holy month of Ramadan.
It said that Naeini’s “conscientiously” services over the past four decades in the IRGC, especially during the 1980s’ Iraqi-imposed war and Iran’s retaliatory True Promise operations, turned him into a prominent figure in the history of sacrifice and jihad (endeavor for the sake of God).
“His evolutionary viewpoints and efficient patterns in the field of ‘soft war’ will guide the IRGC forces and officers of the cognitive war in their fight against arrogant powers,” it added.
IRGC also vowed to continue the “hopeful and rigid” path of the brave and faithful commander in its battle against criminals.
The IRGC further pledged not to allow any disruption in the popular force’s soft and spiritual power and the fading of its glorious sound in the hearts of the faithful.
Naeini was the spokesperson for the IRGC over the past two years. He also served as the deputy for the IRGC’s Public Relations Department.
The criminal US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.
The Iranian Armed Forces have responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied lands as well as US military bases and assets across the region.
They have conducted their retaliatory strikes based on the principle of “eye for an eye,” inflicting heavy losses on the enemies.
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