Rezaei vows no retreat from national rights under threats

Tehran - BORNA - In his first message following his appointment, Rezaei described his new responsibility as a “heavy trust” placed upon him by the Iranian people, the country’s fallen soldiers, the Islamic Republic and history.

Rezaei first expressed his gratitude for the confidence placed in him by the Leader and for the support of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The appointment was formalized in a decree issued by Ayatollah Khamenei on Sunday, naming Rezaei as his representative to the SNSC, Iran’s highest national security decision-making body.

The veteran commander said Iran is going through a sensitive and decisive period in its contemporary history, noting that the country is undergoing a major movement aimed at restoring its historical standing and glory.

He emphasized that the country’s security decisions must be made with greater strength, a precise understanding of circumstances, prudence and courage.

“It must be emphasized once again that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not retreat from the rights and interests of its people in the face of any threat,” Rezaei said.

He added that the objective was not simply to steer Iran through a difficult period, but to ensure that the country emerged from it “safer, more united, more powerful and with greater capacities for progress and development.”

Rezaei also outlined a broad definition of national security, saying it could not be separated from public welfare and livelihoods, economic stability, social cohesion, defense capabilities, diplomatic power and the country’s social capital.

He said these elements collectively constituted Iran’s national power and should serve the common objective of protecting the country, the Islamic Revolution and its values, as well as the nation’s future.

On foreign policy, Rezaei said Iran would prioritize strengthening deterrence, resisting the bullying of adversaries and responding “immediately and decisively” to any aggression.

At the same time, he called for making maximum use of diplomatic capacities and pursuing interaction “with authority” while maintaining the country’s readiness to confront any threat.

Rezaei, a former longtime commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), is one of the most prominent figures in Iran’s political and military establishment.

He was among the pioneering military commanders during the eight-year Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. He later served as secretary and a member of the Expediency Discernment Council and as vice president for economic affairs under former President Ebrahim Raisi.

More recently, he served as a senior military adviser to the Islamic Revolution Leader.

In the final section of his message, Rezaei pointed to the importance of unity at a pivotal moment for Iran.

“Today, more than ever, national unity and solidarity between the people and officials are a strategic necessity,” he said, adding that Iran needs trust, stronger national cohesion and unity, as well as prudent decision-making, to move through the current period.

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