President Ahmadi-nejad’s rhetoric about the power and influence of the Islamic Republic all across the world, but has added a new element—saying that might and grandeur stems from Iran’s devotion to martyrdom.
Khamenehi expounded on this theme in a speech in Qom last week to the families of those killed in the Iran-Iraq war.
His emphasis on martyrdom likely was a result of the audience he was addressing. What was interesting was how he wove the theme of martyrdom, a theme Khamenehi often raises, together with Ahmadi-nejad’s theme of Iranian influence.
Many in Iran mock Ahmadi-nejad’s claims that Iran is the most powerful nation in the world. Khamenehi seemed to be responding to those critics—and he was clearly endorsing Ahmadi-nejad’s claims of global power.
“How is it possible that a nation becomes well-known among the nations of the world?” Khamenehi asked. “How is it possible that a nation influences events in the world rather than being influenced by them? How is it possible that a nation is placed in this kind of supreme position? How is it possible that a nation has influence upon the nations of the world without developing military weaponry and having widespread propaganda tools?
“You saw how the Lebanese people welcomed the president of Iran,” he said, alluding to Ahmadi-nejad’s recent state visit to Lebanon. “What makes it possible that the president of a nation receives such attention in another country and by the people of another country that has no direct link to Iran.
“How did our nation gain this kind of honor? To answer all these questions we should pay more attention to the importance of the martyrdom issue. When the youngsters and parents of a nation have given their lives to prove their loyalty to God, and they have accepted martyrdom as a value, then this nation will gain great power. Naturally, this nation has been changed into a powerful country without having weapons and extensive assets. It can be a superior nation in the world.
“You see, a group of 100 persons is equal to any other group consisting of 100 individuals in quantity. They are equal; 100 to 100 people; 1,000 to 1,000 people; 10 million to 10 million people; all of these are equal in quantity. One of these groups might be more powerful in terms of physical strength and financial means.
“However, when a group has less physical and financial power but has religious faith, then everything is changed. This group believes it will be victorious if it trusts in God. When this group of 100 people is ready to make sacrifices, then it becomes a supreme power and it can defeat its opponents who cannot buy this sort of supreme power by their financial assets.
“In the Battle of Badr [a battle in the early years of Islam], the number of the enemies of the prophet was several times greater than the number of Muslims. The enemies had lots of money and their equipment was much better than what the Muslims possessed.
“However, the Muslims won. Why? Can victory be achieved only by physical power, swords and financial means? Definitely not; victory depends on a power that has nothing to do with money, financial capabilities or even atomic weapons. It depends upon belief in martyrdom and religious faith. You will win when you have this kind of power!
“If we calculate in such a way—which is the right way of calculating—the Iranian nation is more powerful than any other. Who has given this grandeur to the Iranian nation? Our dear martyrs,” Khamenehi said.