Major General Mousavi: Our enemies now seek by psychological operations and fake narratives what they couldn’t gain by military means

According to the Army’s Public Relations Office, Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, spoke at the graduation ceremony for officer-cadet students of the Army’s academies — held at Imam Ali Officer Academy with the attendance of Army Commander Major General Hatami and other commanders and officials, and webcast to other officer academies. Congratulating the graduates, he called them officers of the front of resistance and the future commanders of the Army, and told them that their student years were a unique period in which they witnessed the steadfastness and victory of a faith-based resistance against the world’s bullies despite all apparent power.

Major General Mousavi said the world today looks upon Iran’s faith, will, courage, and unity with respect, and that the world has come to believe in the power of resistance. He added that Palestine has become a beloved name across the world and Gaza a symbol of steadfastness and of victory of blood over the sword.

Referring to the consequences of the Al-Aqsa Storm operation, the Chief of Staff noted that the operation was the starting point of major events in the region and the world. He said Americans and Zionists, who for years presented themselves as righteous through a media empire, have been thoroughly exposed and humiliated; their true criminal, bloodthirsty, and child-killing faces have been revealed to the world, and Palestine — which had been on the verge of being forgotten — became the foremost issue globally. The cry of truth and victimhood reached the world, and the false and tyrannical were disgraced.

Mousavi added that even the most skeptical people now believe the position of Iran’s Islamic Revolution is principled and just: if it calls for defending the oppressed and the weak of the world, it has chosen the correct side of history; and if it stands against bullying, that demonstrates its wisdom, dignity, and independence.

He said the Zionist regime, with U.S. support, attacked [or planned to attack] Iran hoping to escape its shame, universal hatred, and internal disintegration, but it suffered a crushing defeat and, in desperation, requested a ceasefire.

Noting current efforts to make up for that defeat in the media and hearts and minds, he declared: “We are in the midst of an all-out cognitive war — a war to change mental frameworks, perceptual systems, beliefs, and people’s hopes. What they could not obtain by force, bullying, and military operations, they now pursue through distortion, rumor, psychological operations, and the manufacture of false narratives.”

The Chief of the General Staff said their aim is to damage national cohesion and unity and to weaken the extraordinary bastion of resistance of the great Iranian nation, stressing that the armed forces must keep their readiness at the highest possible level and continuously raise it.

He emphasized that the media and intellectual elites must outpace the enemy’s distortion and psychological operations by clearly explaining the facts and enlightening the public. Universities and research centers should produce analysis and thought, because today’s war is not merely a war of tools and structures but a war of meanings and narratives, and the people must keep the social bastion of resistance firm with calm, trust, and faith.

Mousavi stated that although our enemies are inherently savage and aggressors, it is unlikely they would attempt another foolish move after the blow they have received — if they are rational.

He added that they closely monitor their movements: “We are not warmongers but we are prepared; we are aware of the rules for de-escalation and currently have no intention of acting, but our measures this time will be completely different.”

Mousavi said the enemies themselves admitted to having planned for 15 years: they armed and prepared themselves, repeatedly rehearsed plans, organized their infiltrators, and believed they had chosen the best time to execute their plan — yet, under the leadership of the Supreme Leader, by God’s grace, and with a vigilant nation and brave armed forces, this country struck them an unforgettable slap.