Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei defended Iran’s approach in waging a war against Iraq, describing this decision as “one of the most rational events” in the eighties.
Khamenei made the remarks in a televised video address, delivered at the beginning of "Holy Defense" week marking the war's anniversary.
“The Sacred Defense was one of the most rational events of the Iranian nation. Some accuse the Sacred Defense’s people of recklessness. This is absolutely not the case. Even accepting the resolution 598 in those circumstances that Khomeini interpreted as drinking the cup of poison, was wise,” he pointed out.
Khamenei added that Khomeini accepted resolution 598 that was adopted unanimously on July 20, 1987, nearly a year later. It called for an immediate ceasefire between Iran and Iraq after an eight-year war.
He further expressed his country’s intention to defend itself against any aggression.
“Trying for eight years, doing everything they can, and yet achieving nothing – is there a greater victory for Iran?” Khamenei said. “The Holy Defense showed that aggression towards this country is very costly,” he added.
Further, he warned that there have been efforts to distort the history of the Sacred Defense to create misperceptions about it.
Khamanei’s speech came after the United States unilaterally declared that UN sanctions against Iran were back in force and threated to impose "consequences" on states that fail to comply.
The move was dismissed as legally void by other world powers.
Iran and the United States have come to the brink of direct confrontation twice since June 2019.
In recent years, testimonies from military commanders about the Iraq-Iran war have stirred controversy in Tehran.
In December, Dr. Mohsen Rezaee, secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, tweeted that the Iranian forces carried out an attack against Iraq’s Basra on Dec. 26 in 1986 despite receiving information that plans of the operation had been leaked. This led to hundreds of losses in the Iranian army in the ensuing battle.
Rezaee was the chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard at that time.
