Larijani: U.S. Burned Heart of Iranian Nation — and We Will Burn Their Hearts as Well
Larijani says U.S. attacks failed to break Iran, warning Washington that aggression burned the nation’s heart and will be met with firm retaliation.
Iran, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the United States and the Zionist regime failed to fracture Iran despite military escalation, assassination, and sustained pressure, stressing that national unity and institutional control remain intact.
Speaking in an interview, Larijani said the killing of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution was intended to break the will of the Iranian people, but instead intensified public resolve.
“The United States and the Zionist regime burned the heart of the Iranian nation,” Larijani said. “And we will burn their hearts as well.”
“The People’s Stronghold” in the 12-Day War
Larijani said the recent 12-day war demonstrated that the core defense of Iran was not only military capability but the cohesion of society itself.
He stated that the enemy confronted a “people’s stronghold,” as Iranians preserved unity and solidarity despite months of attempts to exhaust the nation and the state through pressure and destabilization.
According to Larijani, hostile forces sought to exploit unrest to overthrow the political system by first engineering division and eroding unity, but the effort collapsed as the nation displayed cohesion, including a mass show of solidarity on January 12.
No Fragmentation, Temporary Leadership Council Announced
Larijani said Iran will not allow any attempt to fragment the country, emphasizing that internal disagreements must not be weaponized during confrontation.
He confirmed that a temporary leadership council will be formed soon, describing the process as orderly and rooted in institutional continuity rather than crisis improvisation.
He added that adversaries misread the maturity of Iranian society, which remained cohesive despite extensive psychological warfare and propaganda campaigns.
Armed Forces Fully in Control
Addressing the military situation, Larijani said Iran’s armed forces are fully in control, drawing on experience from previous wars.
He noted that while earlier conflicts resulted in heavy casualties, recent engagements saw minimal losses, reflecting improved preparedness, command discipline, and operational capability.
Larijani acknowledged that the coming days may involve fluctuations, but said the overall trajectory remains stable, with the conditions for sustaining operations firmly in place.
Civilian Needs Secured Amid Wartime Conditions
Larijani said the government has secured basic necessities and essential supplies to prevent hardship for the population during wartime conditions.
He added that arrangements have been made to facilitate intercity travel, underscoring institutional functionality and continuity despite external aggression.
US Bases Declared Legitimate Targets
In a direct warning, Larijani said American military bases in the region are not the sovereign territory of host countries, but American soil.
He stressed that Iran has no intention of targeting regional states, but confirmed that Tehran conveyed a clear message to Washington via the Swiss embassy: any renewed aggression would be met with strikes on US bases.
“It must be made clear once and for all,” Larijani said, “that the Americans cannot impose their will on the Iranian nation.”
Larijani concluded that Iran is not seeking war, but will not retreat from one imposed upon it, asserting that assassination, pressure, and coercion have failed to alter Iran’s political course.
He said the confrontation will be shaped by unity, institutional resilience, and sustained resistance, not by shock tactics or external dictates. (PW)