At a commemoration for the 9th of Dey in Nahavand, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Hamedan and Friday prayer leader warned that external adversaries aim far beyond a change of government. He told congregants that the ultimate objective of hostile powers was not merely to topple a regime but to fragment Iran and eliminate the role of Islam in public life.
Addressing attendees at the Imam Khomeini mosque, Ayatollah Habibollah Shabani Motlaghi emphasised the need for national vigilance. He named the United States and Israel as primary actors behind what he described as long-standing plots against the Islamic Republic. The cleric argued that, so long as the Iranian people remained united around the faith and the leadership, those plans would fail.
Iran unity central to resisting foreign plots
Shabani Motlaghi said opponents were endeavouring to exploit ethnic, sectarian and class divisions to weaken national cohesion. He urged citizens to be alert to such tactics and to reject attempts to sow discord within the country. According to the cleric, unity — particularly around religion and recognised leadership — remains the most effective bulwark against external subversion.
Alongside calls for spiritual and civic solidarity, the Friday prayer leader placed strong emphasis on material concerns. He told the crowd that addressing livelihoods and the cost of living was the most pragmatic and effective strategy for countering hostile activity. “When justice prevails and people’s tables are not empty, avenues for infiltration and exploitation are closed,” he said, stressing the link between economic welfare and national security.
Shabani Motlaghi also urged the judiciary to take robust action against economic corruption. He argued that decisive, uncompromising measures against rent-seekers and financial malefactors would restore public trust and blunt foreign efforts to foment unrest or separatism. The representative to the Assembly of Experts for Hamedan framed anti-corruption efforts as both a moral imperative and a defensive necessity.
The 9th of Dey gathering, which marks a significant moment of popular mobilisation, served as a reminder of the public’s role in defending national interests. Speakers praised the demonstrated awareness and loyalty of citizens who, they said, had historically resisted what they described as the designs of hostile actors and would continue to do so.
Analysts suggest the remarks reflect broader domestic priorities: maintaining unity, addressing socio-economic grievances and strengthening institutions to reduce vulnerability to external pressure. By linking social justice and economic policy to national defence, the cleric presented a strategy aimed at both immediate stability and long-term resilience.
Whether through improved living standards, firm legal responses to corruption, or community-level solidarity initiatives, the message was clear: preserving Iran’s territorial integrity and religious identity requires combined civic, economic and institutional effort.
Key Takeaways:
- Ayatollah in Hamedan warns enemies seek not just regime change but the division of Iran and the removal of Islam.
- Calls for vigilance against US and Israeli influence and stresses social cohesion across ethnic and sectarian lines.
- Economic stability and strong action against corruption are presented as the primary defence against foreign interference.
