TEHRAN – The essence of the power of the Islamic Republic of Iran is rooted in this sacrosanct word: people.

The people that played the main role in the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution have continued to act as a driving force after the revolution.

When the Iraqi Ba’athist regime invaded Iran in 1980, despite the unprepared state of the armed forces, the people rose to fulfill their roles across Iran and fight the enemy, culminating in the expulsion of the aggressor regime and the liberation of Khorramshahr—a momentous triumph in Iranian history.

The people’s role was multifaceted, extending beyond defense to all spheres of life. This dynamic persisted during the 8 years of the war that the nation still remembers as "sacred defense."

Though the 8-year war caused widespread damage, the people, through their relentless efforts, largely compensated for these damages during the reconstruction era after the war.

Their presence in political arenas, consistent participation in rallies, and steadfast resolve have demonstrated to the world that enemies' unprovoked invasions and attacks on Iranian soil would ultimately yield no favorable outcome.

The people’s unwavering commitment to keep the Islamic Revolution alive and dynamic has driven significant progress in the country’s development and strength, particularly in the fields of defense and peaceful nuclear technology, despite continuous pressure and threats from Western nations.

The Islamic Republic, grounded in the support and will of the people, has not only resisted its enemies but has also advanced steadily toward progress and development.

The enemies have waged wars on multiple fronts—political, social, cultural, economic, and military—against the Iranian nation.

From unjust sanctions targeting food and medicine to the recent wars—the 12-day war in June 2025 and the current U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in 2026—the Iranian nation has been the target of enemy aggression, with the hope of demoralizing and disheartening them.

The enemy’s primary goal has been to alter societal calculations and instill a sense of surrender.

However, martyrdom and experiencing sanctions have taught the people that wherever they resisted, deadlocks have been broken, and new opportunities have emerged.

As the Islamic Revolution ages, the people’s support for the government grows stronger.

The demonstrations in January and February 2026 expressing solidarity with the Islamic Republic and condemning chaos and terrorism created by the U.S. and Israel, the mourning rallies for the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the oath of allegiance to the third leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the backing of the armed forces, and the strong participation in the 2026 Quds Day are all part of people’s visible undertakings in the scene.

This year’s Quds Day was unlike any before. The rally took place as Iran has been defending against U.S.-Israeli aggression.

The criminal enemy launched attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities early morning on March 13, aiming to instill fear and panic and to prevent this year’s rally from taking place.

Yet Iran’s strength and resilience rest on the awareness and courage of its people. They transformed this momentous day into one of the most enduring in modern Iranian history.

The wise Iranian nation has proved it has no fear of danger or stepping into battle.

The climax of this triumph occurred when, amid the grand, enemy-defying march in Tehran, the enemy launched another attack, resulting in the martyrdom of one of the demonstrators.

Millions of proud Iranians, who gathered under fire, knowingly stepped onto the battlefield and the frontlines of defense, aware that this could cost their lives.

The Iranian people have proved that “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” are not empty slogans. These chants represent the defense of independence, dignity, life, and humanity on a global scale.

The people’s presence has become a living reality in the fabric of Iranian-Islamic society. A reality that, though taken for granted in normal times, emerges from hardship like a diamond in the rough, revealing its power, strength, and value—untouched by polish yet unmistakably radiant in its unrefined brilliance.

This precious gem has been forged through the martyrdom of hundreds of thousands, whose enduring influence is evident in every aspect of Iranian life.

Iran's society, with all its diversity, reveals its peak of power, faith, adaptability, and unity in times of crisis.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has many sources of power, but none is greater than national solidarity in countering the enemy’s political, economic, and psychological pressures.

In this war, the people have witnessed that the U.S. and Israel have martyred their spiritual and national leaders, attacked elementary schools, residential homes, medical centers, and fuel depots.

Despite enduring economic hardship and sanctions for two decades, the Iranian people have shone brightly in terms of resistance and resilience during both the 12-day war and the current war, teaching the world the lesson of homeland protection.

This reality must be contrasted with the false and absurd claim by U.S. President Donald Trump that large Iranian gatherings in cities are “artificially created by AI and fake news.”

This is precisely the same miscalculation that Iran has repeatedly warned the United States about. A miscalculation that has caused the war Trump expected to end quickly to turn to a quagmire that the U.S. cannot escape from, with all the financial cost for the global economy and average Americans.

While numerous assumptions and characterizations can be made about leaders like Trump and Netanyahu, one fact remains: they lack the capacity to learn from experience in their dealings with Iran, and thus fail to recognize that the Iranian people do not surrender, just as the world has witnessed during this war.

The people are always present, diligently fulfilling their duties whenever and wherever called upon.

Thus, the words of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, in his latest message become even more meaningful: “The foresight and wisdom of the great Iranian nation, their perseverance, courage, and presence, have made friends admire and enemies marvel. It was you, the people, who led the country and guaranteed its sovereignty.”