Tehran – The chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warns of Western-led cultural attacks aimed at eroding the country’s identity and values, and vows that the Islamic Republic will stick to all forms of external pressure.
Attending the closing ceremony of the 18th Resistance Film Festival in Tehran on Saturday, Major General Hossein Salami said Iran continues to face military, political and media pressure from foreign enemies but remains determined.
“We see the enemy clearly. We hear the threat and witness the military deployment. But the more pressure it puts on, the stronger and more unity our people will be,” Salami said.
He described conflict as not just a geopolitical struggle, but a civilized struggle. It is a battle of “light and darkness” in which the West attempts to impose ignorance, cultural blindness and dependence on other countries.
“Our enemies acknowledge that their goal is to separate thoughts from actions, separate people from their identities, and shape them according to their will,” he pointed out. “They want us to follow their political agenda, their worldview and their forged ideals.”
The IRGC chief called on Iranian artists to stay vigilant and use their craft to resist this pressure. He described the art of resistance as a form of national and cultural self-defense. It is art that preserves Iran and Islamic values in the face of foreign influences.
“True art comes from the heart. It expands the human spirit and reflects the infinite depths of our identity. The art of resistance protects us from being buried under the cultural tile ble of our enemies,” Salami said.
He emphasized that a “culture of resistance” is a source of honor and dignity for the Iranian state, giving people the power to endure firmly and reject humiliation, conquest and defeat.
“The enemy tries to embarrass us to protect our beliefs. If we talk about our values, we will be ocked. If we protect our sanctuary, we will be blamed,” he said. “But we stand on our grounds. We know the truth we must defend to ensure the survival of our nation.”