Iran Commemorates ‘Sacred Defense Week’, Holds Major Military Parade

Local Editor

The "Sacred Defense Week" commemoration took off in Iran on Friday, with an opening ceremony held in the morning. A major military parade at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in southern Tehran took place to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of eight years of defense against Iraq's invasion of the country under executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered a speech at the ceremony saying "Our sacred defense was not defending a territory, a nation or a school of thought alone. It was well beyond that. It was defending human dignity, the rights of all nations and those of the oppressed people of the world."

He criticized the countries claiming to be advocates of human rights for supporting Saddam's invasion of Iran and added their backing of the then Iraqi regime against Iran proved the arrogant powers' false claims and their will to dominate the world.
The ceremony was participated by senior military and government officials as well as foreign diplomats, military attaches and reporters.
The latest military and defense achievements made by the Iranian experts were put on display at the parade.

September 21 is the start of the Sacred Defense Week in Iran which marks the anniversary of the beginning of Iraq's imposed war against the country in 1980.

Source: News Agencies, edited by moqawama.org