Qalibaf: Iran's resistance inflicted political, military defeat on US, Israel

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says the Islamic Republic’s resistance and steadfastness in the recent war dealt a decisive political and military defeat to the United States and the Israeli regime.

Qalibaf made the remarks during a Saturday meeting with Bangladeshi National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, who is in Tehran to attend the funeral ceremonies for the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

He said Iran has never initiated a war and was even engaged in indirect negotiations with the US when it came under attack.

"Even in the recent period, we were negotiating, but the United States and the Zionist regime bombed the negotiating table by attacking Iran,” he added.

Qalibaf, who serves as Iran’s top negotiator in talks with the US, emphasized that Iranian armed forces delivered an unforgettable lesson to the aggressors through smart management of the battlefield and asymmetric warfare, shattering their myth of invincibility.

He reiterated that Iran does not seek war but will stand with full force against any act of aggression.

The Parliament speaker urged Muslim countries to unite against the US bullying and unilateralism, saying, "We are certain that the blood of the martyred Leader of the [Islamic] Revolution and other martyrs will lead to the liberation of the Holy Quds, and the future belongs to the resistance front."

He reiterated that unity among Muslim nations, the fight against global arrogance, and the promotion of peace, justice, and independence have been among Iran’s most important strategies since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been at the forefront of defending the Islamic Ummah and confronting the crimes of the United States and the Zionist regime, particularly in its support for the Palestinian people,” Qalibaf said.

He further praised the late Ayatollah Khamenei as a “wise figure, a great commander, and a teacher of resistance”, saying the Iranian people will continue along the same path under the guidance of the new Leader and will defend the country's independence and dignity with full readiness.

Ayatollah Khamenei was martyred in a terrorist US-Israeli strike on February 28, the opening day of their joint war of aggression against Iran.

The aggression, which also claimed the lives of many senior officials and countless ordinary civilians, prompted Iran to stage at least 100 waves of retaliatory strikes against sensitive American and Israeli targets across the region.

The reprisal forced the United States to announce a unilateral ceasefire on April 7.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s martyrdom loss for Muslim world: Ahmad 

For his part, the Bangladeshi speaker said the passing of Ayatollah Khamenei is not only a loss for Iran but for the entire Muslim world. 

Ahmad hailed Iran’s conduct during the negotiations and its efforts to promote peace, expressing hope that a durable and lasting peace would be established in the region.

Pointing to deep-rooted historical ties between Iran and Bangladesh, he expressed interest in enhancing parliamentary, political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two sides.

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