TEHRAN (IRNA) -- President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said here on Thursday that liberation of Iran’s southwestern city Khorramshahr in 1982 -- during Iraq’s imposed war on Iran (1980-1988) -- after almost 20 months of occupation was a “divine gift” to Iranian nation.

“Liberation of Khorramshahr marked beginning of countdown for fall of tyranny, corruption, and selfishness,” said President Ahmadinejad, addressing the Fourth Congress for Appreciation of War Veterans at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall.
President Ahmadinejad said Khordad 3 (May 23) marks a decisive and crucial event in Iran’s Islamic Revolution history.
“I believe Khordad 3 opened a new chapter in history of mankind,” said the president.
“Khorramshahr liberation reflected God’s power and will.”
Somewhere in his remarks, Ahmadinejad said Iranian nation pioneers the path to reforms, fraternity, justice and monotheism worldwide.
------------ Liberation of Khorramshahr, message of Islamic system’s might: speaker
Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel in his pre-sermon Friday Prayer address in Tehran University referred to liberation of Khorramshahr as “turning point of imposed war” and “message of Islamic system’s might to entire world.”
Expressing sympathy with Tehran’s worshipers on sad occasion of prophet’s gracious daughter, Fatemeh’s demise, Haddad-Adel reiterated, “Liberation of Khorramshahr shed the light of hope on the hearts of the Iranian nation and the nations that are our friends, while disheartening the enemies and their supporters.”
He reiterated, “We are responsible for informing the Iranian young generation of the realities of the sacred defense, including the selfless braveries displayed by our gallant warriors contracted with the wretched mean conduct of our enemies, so that the future generation would know the price Iran has paid to safeguard this sacred land and his holy revolution.”
Haddad-Adel said, “Our other duty is keeping alive the memories of the late Imam Khomeini, the brave combatants of Islam, and the martyrs of our sacred defense, particularly those who played roles in liberation of Khorramshahr, such as martyr Mohammad Jahan-Ara, as well as the entire armed forces’ commanders and personnel that contributed to achieving that great victory.”
Elaborating on the significant economic and geographical status of Khorramshahr and the process of that important Iranian port city’s occupation and liberation, Majlis speaker read some parts of the message sent by the late Imam Khomeini following the liberation of Khorramshahr.