In a meeting today with the organisers of the Congress of 15,000 Martyrs from Fars Province, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution singled out the events in the region and the steadfastness and struggle of the Resistance as factors that have changed the fate and history of the area. He highlighted that despite the killing of more than 50,000 innocent people, the Zionist regime has failed in its attempt to destroy the Resistance. Still, an even greater defeat has been the disgrace of Western culture, civilisation, and its politicians. He said, "In the confrontation between the Resistance Front and the Front of Evil, victory belongs to the Resistance."

Ayatollah Imam Khamenei described the current issues in the region and the events in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank as historic, saying, "If figures like the martyr Sinwar had not emerged to fight to the end, or if great leaders like martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had not combined jihad, wisdom, courage, and sacrifice and brought them to the fore, the fate of the region would have been different."

The Leader of the Revolution regarded the current outcome of events in the region as a significant defeat not only for the Zionist regime but also for Western civilisation and culture. He said, "The Zionists believed they could easily destroy the resistance groups; however, today, despite martyring over 50,000 defenceless civilians and several prominent resistance leaders, despite the immense costs and support from America, they have generated such shame and hatred worldwide that protests against these criminals even took place in American universities. The Resistance Front, the fighting youth in Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and other resistance groups continue to fight with the same determination and strength, and this represents a significant defeat for the Zionist regime."

He mentioned that the more significant defeat is that of Western culture and civilisation, saying, "The massacre of 10,000 pure and innocent children with two-ton bombs and various other weapons, while Western politicians did not even bat an eye, has led to the disgrace of these lying Western politicians and those who proclaim themselves the advocates of human rights. It reveals to the entire world the ignominy of Western civilisation, which is their greatest defeat."

Ayatollah Imam Khamenei called the front supporting the Zionist regime the "Front of Evil," adding that in the confrontation with this Front of Evil, the Resistance Front stands firm. By divine grace, victory belongs to the Resistance Front."

In the meeting, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution described Fars Province as a leading symbol of the combination of religion, heroism, and art. He commemorated the memory of the prominent martyrs of this land from the past to the present, including the recently martyred Masoumeh Karbasi, who was targeted in Lebanon by the criminal Zionist regime. He stated that the Congress of Martyrs of Fars Province should preserve the beautiful combination of heroism, art, and religion.

He cited efforts during the Pahlavi era to secularise Shiraz and Fars Province, saying, "Those who thought during that period that they could turn Shiraz from a sanctuary of the Ahl al-Bayt and a centre of religion and faith into a place of corruption with vulgar activities like the Shiraz Arts Festival were wrong. Of course, today, some remnants of that organisation in our beloved country are still trying to separate art from spirituality and heroism. However, the combination of religion, heroism, and art leads to the progress of the country and the nation."

Ayatollah Khamenei urged the Congress of 15,000 Martyrs from Fars Province organisers to assess the impact of cultural and artistic productions. He added that the youth need to understand the country's proud history, especially the years following the Revolution, and about actual events such as the details of the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran and the reasons behind the eight-year war with the Ba'athist enemy. This requires well-crafted and accurate narratives of the events of the Revolution.