Sayyed Nasrallah’s Full Speech during the Memorial Ceremony Held for Late Judge Sheikh Ahmad Zein

Translated by Staff

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivers speech at the memorial ceremony of the late Judge Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein

3/31/2021

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and peace be upon our Master and Prophet, the Seal of Prophets, Abi al-Qassem Muhammad Bin Abdullah and his good and pure household and his good and chosen companions and all the prophets and messengers.

Honorable scholars, dear brothers, may peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you all.

Before I begin the speech, I would like to thank His Eminence the Sheikh, our dear poet, for thinking highly of me and his sincere love. I am grateful. I am usually not worthy of this good opinion.

Peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you all.

At the beginning, I would like to extend my condolences and feelings of sympathy on the passing of our great, dear, beloved, mujahid, resistance fighter, and father His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zain. I turn to the members of his honorable family, to his brothers who are present, to the scholars, to his students and those who love him, and to his companions, especially in the Muslim Scholars Gathering in Lebanon. While commemorating such great men, we usually speak of their personal qualities. And if we wanted to talk about the personal characteristics of His Eminence the late Sheikh, it would take a long time.

As an introduction, and I do not want to repeat what the honorable scholars said before me, but I want to add to and then conclude what they said, with a few words. When you stand before His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein, you are talking about a cultured and superior model of faith, religiosity, knowledge, honesty, sincerity, and purity. Before I continue, all the attendees and listeners know that you and I are not complementing him when we talk about these qualities. This is a fact that all people know. They have known and watched him closely over the years, not one, two, three and four years. Sheikh Ahmed was present in all fields, in all arenas, in all circumstances and situations. Some of these qualities are purity and high morals, humility, transparency, kindness, love, clarity, and fatherhood. He was a father to many and a big brother to others. He had patience and the ability to bear harm – I will return to this later. He was a resistance fighter, a mujahid, and rebellious.

One of the most important qualities in His Eminence’s personality is clarity, a clear vision, a clear attitude, clarity in expressing a position, and more importantly, courage in expressing one’s position. Many of us, when faced with certain events, have clarity of vision and implicitly have a certain position. They express this position in narrow circles, but they do not have the courage to express it in public due to consequences that might harm them. I can say the very brave end. The Sheikh never made such calculations. He expressed his positions courageously, clearly, and bravely. I can even say extremely courageous. 

But the traits that I would like to talk about before I segue into some of the topics of my speech is his steadfastness and firmness – the brothers gave me more time than the rest of the speakers even though they are more knowledgeable. His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein had a firm footing regarding unity and resistance since he got involved in public affairs and assumed responsibilities. Since the beginning, he walked on a fixed, clear, straight, and continuous path. There was no place for fluctuations or whims. He was not like some politicians, media professionals, figures, and even religious scholars in our country – this is especially found in Lebanon – that would change affiliations. As we say it: they move the rifle from one shoulder to the other. These people change banners, faces, and discourse. His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein was Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein since the beginning, tens of years ago, when facing all the terrible events, crashing waves, difficult days, and dangerous challenges. You find him, as I said, firm, resolute, has a clear insight. He never softened, backed down, doubted, and hesitated. This is one of the scourges, after all, in the Arab and the Islamic world.

We know that many people who have always raised Palestine’s flag from the sea to the river were changed by oil money, loyalty of the sultans, political transformations, and greed for positions. Others changed due to personal frustration and despair. When it comes to jurisprudence, renunciation has special sensitivity. Now, we see this in politics. A person, for example, is Islamic, Arabic, nationalist, or leftist. But when he but when he renunciates what he believes in, you find him gone too far. He goes to the extreme and abandons his past, his slogans, his positions, and his history.

In any case, when God Almighty praises the believers – {Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah.} – the praise here is for their honesty, for the believers who are true to their pledge with Allah Almighty. 

{Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death].}: It is not a condition that he be killed, but his life in the world has ended. {And among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration.}

Steadfastness and firmness, faith with honesty and fulfillment of the covenant to God Almighty lead to {And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration.} as well as to this stability and this firmness.

Looking at His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein’s political views and life and understanding his positions, we start from here in particular. We know that the basis and origin of this firmness is that the position and the vision basically started from principles, constants, rules – call it whatever you like. This is not a passing issue, enthusiasm, or circumstantial emotions as a result of an event or something like that. No. Rather there is an intellectual, scientific, jurisprudential, and religious basis from which he proceeded and created this vision. In light of this vision, he walked on a path and remained on it.

When there is a vision based on principles and rules in addition to faith, honesty, and loyalty, the result is this stability.

What did Sheikh Ahmed do? I will speak here not only to glorify the Sheikh, but for us to follow his example. From the beginning, His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed made his name based on these principles and rules. Here, we are talking about his political views in the region – the issue of Palestine, Al-Quds, the occupied land from the sea to the river, the sanctities, the oppressed, tortured, displaced Palestinian people – these people are displaced in camps in Palestine and outside in the diaspora. They have been resisting since before 1948. They are adhering to their rights and making sacrifices. They are calling on the whole world, O Muslims, and O free people.

Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein, the believer and the faithful scholar, who recently came from Al-Azhar and wants to address the public issue, had the cause before him. He wants to build on it. A very clear cause is the starting point. The importance of any Islamic, national, or resistance movement is when its principles stem from a very clear cause, in which there are no doubts, no ambiguity in it, and no remarks about it. It is then that a person moves with certainty. Take the Palestinian cause and confronting the Zionist project in the region. This project dreamed and still dreams of establishing a Greater “Israel” from the Nile to the Euphrates. Another cause is confronting the American hegemony project in the region. This is in addition to the ambition that our country and our Arab and Islamic people are independent, sovereign, free and dignified and live their lives as they wish. These are the clear causes, especially the conflict with the enemy and Palestine. There is ambiguity regarding them. It is clear in terms of religion and intellect. There is no debate regarding them whether you wanted to talk about them in terms of law, religion, jurisprudence, philosophy, human ethics, and values. If we look other subjects, things might be different. There might be suspicions, problems, and ambiguities. But when it comes to Palestine, there is no ambiguity and suspicion. However, some are trying to cast suspicion, and in fact, they are in serving the sultans, and not Islam, the nation, or the cause. There is no time now to get into this topic.

Hence, he started from here. He considered this as the criteria, the balance, and the determining factor. Why do we understand Sheikh Ahmad so well? Because Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon started from the same causes, position, and vision – even though at a later time since Sheikh Ahmad belongs to the first generation, while we are the later generations. He started from here. This is the determining factor. Today, if we wanted to understand each other, we must start from here. 

Accordingly, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein was with Palestine from the first day to the end. He was against any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause. He was against any settlement at the expense of the rights of the Palestinian people. He was with the Palestinian resistance with all its Islamic or national factions or whatever they are. He was with everyone who stands with Palestine. He was with the resistance in Lebanon and against the Zionist project.

Therefore, he naturally found a friend, a brother, and an ally in Imam Sayyed Musa al-Sadr as well as all the Sunni, Shiite, and Christian scholars and leaders in the Lebanese arena that adopt the idea of resistance, supporting the south and defending it, and supporting Palestine and the Palestinian cause. And so, he continued after 1982. His position regarding the Islamic resistance was based on the same old and firm basis, with Sheikh Ragheb the martyr, with Sayyed Abbas the martyr, with all the martyrs of the resistance, with all the scholars, leaders, and mujahideen – those who were martyred or are still alive. He was a brother, a companion, and a supporter. Everything that His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein was able to offer in the path of this resistance, he offered and was always ready.

Iran:

Likewise, when we take the events that took place in the region. When the Islamic Revolution in Iran was victorious under the leadership of Imam Khomeini, and the Muslim, revolutionary and Mujahid Iranian people overthrew the Shah’s regime – the Shah whom I like to mention was Shiite according to his identity card, although he did not care for religion or sect. The people overthrew the Shah who was Shiite. I remember some of Shiites or some Shiite religious sites at that time opposed Imam Khomeini’s revolution against the Shah, claiming that he will overthrow the only Shiite ruler in the world.

This revolution did not take sectarian or doctrinal consideration into account. The revolution triumphed and uprooted the Shah, who was America’s agent and tool in the region. They overthrew the Shah who was challenging and humiliating many Arab countries, “Israel’s” strategic ally, the Shah who provided oil to “Israel” for free, the Shah who was the enemy of the Palestinian people. The people also uprooted the embassy of “Israel” and turned it into the embassy of Palestine. They welcomed the leaders of the Palestinian movements and the Palestinian resistance factions with rallies involving hundreds of thousands in Tehran and other Iranian cities. They announced their decisive position.

He was fair, at the humanitarian, moral, religious, and intellectual level. To him, Palestine and Al-Quds were the central cause that was clear and a priority. Since he was fair, he had to stand with the Imam, the revolution, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. We are talking about the Islamic Republic of Iran and not the Shah’s Iran. Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein belonged to the first generation that hastened to this clear position. He went far, with sincerity, honesty, boldness, and courage. And as the brothers before me said to the point of declaring allegiance to Imam Khomeini. His position remained firm. Then an eight-year war was thrust upon Iran. A torrent of sectarian and ethnic accusations were made against it – you are magi and Safavid, etc. There were torrents of accusations and rumors as well as buying people’s loyalty to show enmity towards Iran. Despite this great current that prevail in the Arab and Islamic world, with well-known wealthy and oil-rich countries standing behind it, His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein was not shaken. He was not shaken, nor were the attendees here. This applies to those present and to many brothers. But we are talking about Sheikh Ahmed as a mentor here, and to whom this memorial service is dedicated.

This position remained after the departure of the Imam and continued with His Eminence Imam Khamenei.

Syria:

Based on this same rule, we go to the most difficult situation – in my opinion it is the most difficult situation – Syria. 

The position His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein and the scholars present at our gathering took over Syria caused them a lot of harm. Let us say things as they are and frankly. We were all harmed because of this situation, but our brothers, the Sunni scholars and Sunni figures – whether they are Islamic or national – were especially affected. What happened in Syria was huge, enormous, and dangerous. There were many doors to sedition, misinformation, fact changing, and losing one’s direction. But whoever starts from the same principle that Sheikh Ahmed did, will get to the same position. 

In any case, today, ten years after the events in Syria, the facts are being revealed day after day regarding those behind these events.  Who exploited people's pain? The role of America, the European Union, some Arab regimes, the nature of the global war, the objectives of this war are all becoming clearer day after day. The events, figures, statements, press interviews, articles, documents are all becoming clearer day by day. We discover that the position that Sheikh Ahmad took and the one we took at the beginning of the Syrian crisis was sound, correct, proportionate, and consistent with the principle from which we started. And every day proves that the most important targets of what happened in Syria were Palestine, the Palestinian cause, and the axis of resistance and the resistance, which is the only hope for the liberation and the restoration of Palestine.

Sheikh Ahmed's position on Bahrain was based on the same foundation. Sheikh Ahmed's position on the war that was imposed on Yemen was based on the same basis, and of course this position was valuable.

I remember the early days. We all know the background of the war on Yemen and what its objectives were. I do not want to go back and waste time reminding you of that, but the Saudi regime wanted from the beginning to give this war a different dimension. The Imam of the Grand Mosque performed the first Friday prayer following the start of the war on Yemen. In his sermon – the audio was recorded and publicly published –he declared that this war on Yemen is a holy war, and it is the war of Sunnis and Shiites. Who here can point out sedition? Who can break this lie? The ones who can do this are Sunni scholars, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein, the Muslim Scholars Gathering, the International Union of Resistance Scholars, the Islamic movements, the resistance factions, the national, Islamic, and Arab Sunni figures. A Shiite preacher cannot tell the Imam of the Grand Mosque that you are deceiving and misleading and this war has nothing to do with Sunnis and Shiites. Rather, it has to do with the American and “Israeli” objectives, and the Saudi regime represents you in the region. This is what Sheikh Ahmed and his brothers did.
Here, I want to conclude this passage to say that the most difficult stage in the political life of Sheikh Ahmed as well as ours and yours was in fact during the past ten years. This last decade was the most difficult stage, especially for you the committed elite that is resisting and sacrificing. Allow me once again to speak frankly. One of our Sunni brothers who was speaking was His Eminence Sheikh Maher Hammoud. He was speaking with a heart ache and wondering: why are these people who took such committed, bold, and courageous position so few in the Arab or the Islamic world?

I would like to say here that your position during the past ten years had a historical significance. It is not a question of a few or many. This is an excellent few, the bold few, and the supporters of the prophets and their companions were few. In Karbala, those who made history with [Imam] al-Hussein were few. It was this few that were able to thwart the great conspiracy and great sedition that was brought to our region during the past ten years, from 2011 until today. The most powerful weapon that remained in the hands of America, “Israel”, and the arrogant [forces] after the victories of the resistance and the rise of the axis of resistance and the great popular awareness that extended to the entire Arab and Islamic world is sectarian strife. 

We all remember how the Arab and Islamic people, from the farthest corner of Mauritania to the farthest corner of Indonesia, interacted with the victories of the resistance in Lebanon in 2006 and in Palestine during several wars in Gaza. A great transformation and development took place. The “Israelis” and the Americans weakened in the region. They had to take advantage of any developments and circumstances. I have always said that the last battle and the last weapon in their hands is sectarian strife and giving the war a Sunni-Shiite dimension. They gave the war and the confrontations during the past ten years this dimension.

They also tried to mislead people knowing that what happened and is still happening in Tunisia has nothing to do with Sunnis and Shiites because there are no Shiites in the political sense at the very least. A large Shiite sect, and we say A Sunni-Shiite conflict in Tunisia. There is no such thing. Similarly with the war in Libya, there are no Sunnis and Shiites. The revolution in Egypt and the elections and after the overthrow of President Morsi and the new situation and what is happening in Sinai. What do these events have to do with Sunnis and Shiites? In many Arab and Islamic countries, the events taking place have nothing to do with Sunnis and Shiites. Yes, when the crisis reached Syria and Iraq, they tried to turn it into a Sunni-Shiite matter because there are Sunnis, Shiites, and Christians – sectarian and denominational diversity. In Yemen, they tried to make it a Sunni-Shiite issue, and this was the most dangerous and difficult thing.

And I tell you that this was the most difficult thing. I am not talking about feelings, I am speaking from the heart of the battle, the field, the military, political and media fronts. In the past ten years in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, and Yemen. The battle in Afghanistan between the Taliban and the Afghan government is not a Sunni-Shiite battle.

In fact, the position of this wonderful and distinguished Sunni elite is the one that thwarted this sedition. His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein was among this elite. Our people must appreciate, thank, understand, and realize this position. If the great sedition were to spread in all fields and ignite them, it would’ve burnt everything. I am not exaggerating your position, but I am describing it accurately. And I know what to say and how to describe this matter. That is why you suffered all this harm because you were essential. This position was no less than all the blood, sacrifices, and efforts that were made to militarily defeat the project of new control over the region.

From here, I delve into some other points. You have been entrusted with this path and road. When we commemorate the memory of His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein today, we are talking about a great symbol of Islamic unity. He spent his life, his youth, and his old age working for this project – bringing Muslims together, cooperation and integration at the Islamic level, at the national level, at the Islamic-Christian level. You have been entrusted with this path. The institution, the Muslim Scholars Gathering, that His Eminence the Sheikh presided over – he was the founder and presided over its board of trustees for many years as well – is our charge that we must cooperate to preserve it.

Today, God willing, our dear brother, His Eminence Sheikh Ghazi Hanini, is the one who will assume the position of His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein. He will shoulder this responsibility with the cooperation of all the brothers, so that this gathering continues with its message and path. In fact, this gathering presented a unique model in the Arab and Islamic world in terms of Islamic and fraternal work. I do not want to say joint work or rapprochement. The main feature of the Muslim Scholars Gathering is the relationship between the Sunni and Shiite scholars that has risen to a fraternal relationship and a relationship of love, communication, the feeling of unity in the situation, and one family. This model must be preserved, strengthened, and developed in Lebanon and spread in the rest of the Islamic world.

Also in a few minutes, I would like to talk about some files or related developments in which His Eminence Sheikh Ahmad had a clear and great position. But because of the time limitations, I will only talk about two or three files briefly.

Yemen:

One of the most important events and developments, which is the first headline on television and satellite channels and that receives great attention in our region and has a great impact on what is happening and what will happen in our region, is the war in Yemen. 

I will say a couple of words just to be fair. A while ago, when I spoke and said that the new American administration announced that it wanted to end the war in Yemen and assigned a special representative, I said in terms of form, this matter may seem positive regardless of the content – whether the content is real or deceptive – because the previous administration was pushing hard towards the continuation of the war and escalating it.

Today, there are calls to stop the war in Yemen. A few days ago, a Saudi initiative was also announced to stop the war, and the UN and the American envoys are communicating and negotiating in this matter. There is, in fact, a new political media war against these oppressed, mujahideen, and resistance fighters in Yemen by wrongly portraying the scene and saying that Saudi Arabia wants to stop the war, but the Ansarullah refuses to.

The wrongdoing against Ansarullah is further overshadowed by the fact that the misleading media is reporting that the group’s leadership are refusing to end the war because they are linking the future and fate of the war in Yemen to the Iranian file, the Iranian nuclear file and the challenges it will face from the United States, and this is a great injustice and deception. Let me say a couple of words to give them justice. I am using this podium to channel their voice the way they analyzed and understood matters. The truth is that the brothers in Yemen – as they understand and explain it – have been in a cease-fire and not an end to the war. Meanwhile, other forms of war on Yemen and the Yemeni people will continue. That is let us stop the war, the military operations, the shooting. But the siege remains; Sana'a airport, the ports, and the borders will remain closed; there will be no medicine, food, or anything that can enter Yemen; then we negotiate and establish a political dialogue. In light of what we agree on, we solve the rest of the problems. This is a great deception. Neither the dear brother, Sayyed Abdul-Malik, nor the leadership of Ansarullah, nor the scholars of Yemen are deceived by this offer. It does not even deceive the children of Yemen.

And I tell them, in order to make use of time, you are wasting time. The Americans and the Saudis are wasting time. You are in front of those you have been fighting for six years. You’ve even entered the seventh year. You have seen how these people are. If I want to describe them, they are people with great faith and great resistance and steadfastness during jihad and fighting. Do not think that you are capable of deceiving them because they are knowledgeable in politics and are wise. They will not be deceived, and they are fully aware of their situation. That is why the Ansarullah are refusing. It is not a matter of a ceasefire. The first step is a ceasefire and the lifting of the siege. After that, we can sit down and establish a national dialogue and agree on everything. The misleading part is a cease-fire without lifting a siege. What does that mean? It means what they failed to achieve in a military war, they want to achieve through humanitarian and social pressure. We all lived through wars.

During the 33-day war, for example, as long as there was shooting, the mujahideen were on the fronts and the people were presenting martyrs. No one will tell the resistance: My house is demolished, the salary is cut, and I am displaced, wounded, and hungry. There are no hospitals, universities, schools, etc.

Yes, when the war ends and the cannons stop and people calm down, the leadership of the Ansarullah and the government in Sana’a will face great and very dangerous challenges. There will be attempts to incite people against the government as they do in other countries. On the other hand, they will want to negotiate and establish a national dialogue, while putting pressure on it – hunger and disease. This means that you are sitting at the negotiating table and want to build the future of Yemen. But you are doing so with millions of hungry and sick people. Hospitals need medicine and oxygen, people want to eat, pandemics need to be confronted, and the country needs to be rebuilt. They destroyed everything in the past six years. So, there is misinformation here.

No, the brothers in Yemen want a military and humanitarian cessation of the war. This is the exact expression. No one should be deceived by saying cessation of the military war. The cessation of the war must be military and humanitarian. Therefore, they have clarity in the situation and will not be deceived about their rights. Be sure of this. Now they have entered the seventh year, and they have the upper hand and are stronger. They are in a position to make initiatives and in the offensive within the framework of defense. Therefore, nothing worse than they’ve been through can befall them. They were patient, and they persevered. 

I conclude this part by issuing a call. Today, I do not want to evaluate the war, and I do not want to take lessons from this war, although there are many lessons for the people of our region to learn from. The war on Yemen and the Yemeni steadfastness during six years gives many lessons and experiences for Lebanon, Palestine, all the peoples in the region, and the most vulnerable in the world. But there is no time for this matter now. I don't want to gloat – say what you did and said and what we did and said in the past six years.

Rather, I want to appeal to Saudi Arabia and the Saudi rulers, not to waste time. They [Ansarullah] will not fall for your games. If you are serious and honest regardless of the background of the decision to stop the war, end it and lift the siege. Let the Yemenis negotiate among themselves. They will be the ones to choose the mediators for this dialogue. Take advantage of the time and do not waste more.

Palestine:

Regarding the Palestinian issue, I will say a couple of words since we are in the cusp of Land Day. Of course, this Palestinian steadfastness is always a sign of hope. Do you remember during the past few years, the years of Trump’s rule, when Trump imposed the deal of the century on the Palestinians? These are the experiences of Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran – the experiences of history.

Because the Palestinians were patient and steadfast and because they did not submit to Arab pressures – instead of some Arab regimes coming to help them to persevere, they put pressure on them to accept. Now, Trump is gone. We have always said that it is a matter of steadfastness, patience, resistance, and time. Time is very important, brothers – today, no one hears the phrase "deal of the century". Even as a term today, it no longer exists. It no longer exists as a term or a project in the media, in writings, in dialogs, in correspondences, and in political literature. Regardless of if whether the current administration can deal with Trump’s accomplishment, this has become a fait accompli. It cannot continue with the deal of the century as Trump wanted it. Hence, we can say, as the Palestinian leaders said, that this deal is dead. The deal of the century is dead, but why did it die? Did anyone help the Palestinians kill it? No, it is because of the steadfastness of the Palestinians and the fall of one of the angels of this deal, which is Trump. This means that this deal in clinically dead. It is not yet fully dead. Everyone knows that the deal has three angels, Trump, Netanyahu, and Mohammed bin Salman. As you can see, I am not burdening Saudi Arabia for them not to tell us that we are obstructing the formation of the government because you are talking about Saudi Arabia. Today, the second angel of the deal of the century is in a difficult situation. It is unknown whether Netanyahu will be able to form a government. Is the other party going to be able to form a government? Are they heading towards new elections? In any case, the second angel today is in a difficult position, and he may fall. I don't want to pre-empt things, and I don't want to analyze. The second angel of the deal of the century may fall. At least, if it remains, the “Israeli” elections highlight a leadership crisis in the entity, which has no precedent in the history of the entity. There is also fragmentation in the parliamentary blocs in the Knesset, in attitudes, and in opinions. This weakness in the entity can be built on.

“Israel”:

In the past few weeks and months, almost every day, except for maneuvers, the “Israelis” are raising their voices and talking about anxiety as a result of the development of the resistance axis and the growth of its capabilities.

On the other hand, the resistance, is developing and accumulating its capabilities. Hence, “Israeli’” concerns are justified. They are not making up these concerns. Today, the axis of resistance is not a silent axis or in a state of stagnation. No, the axis of resistance, dear brothers, has passed through the worst and most dangerous stage in its life and history during the past ten years, from what happened in Lebanon to Syria, Iraq, and the region, as well as the severe siege on Iran and the harshest sanctions against it, etc. Yes, this axis confronts these threats with more hard, serious, and tireless work. It does not show off its accumulated capabilities and strength that will decide the future. The “Israelis” are talking about anxiety. They are threatening war and fearing war. This would not have been possible had it not been for the growth of these capabilities and the hard work on development.

I want to conclude with the third part regarding a general view that is related to the international and regional situation, and also some advice to people in Lebanon and in the region. There are very important international developments taking place in the world. It is clear that the priority of the US administration is China and Russia. China is an economic power and is likely to become the first economic power in the world. And Biden says that won't happen in my term. Russia, which is not an economic threat, is viewed from a military, political, and security angle. There is an American effort not to allow the formation of a coalition, a front, an axis, in which Iran is on the side of China and Russia. Therefore, there is an effort to address the nuclear file with Iran and to emphasize diplomacy. Emphasizing diplomacy is not out of an American generosity, but rather a sign of Iran's strength. Iran in this file is strong, solid, and superior. What it did not give to Trump under the harshest sanctions and daily threats of war, it will not give it now as it is on the way of overcoming the siege and sanctions.

These are the priorities of America. It is studying how to address the region's files in one way or another. They are working on how to end the war in Yemen and how to fix the scene in Afghanistan. So far, the approach is not clear. According to the information regarding Syria and Lebanon, they have made their choices yet. It is clear that they are occupied with Palestine.

Following this quick reading, I would like to tell America’s friends in our region and to those who are betting on the American administration in our region that the new American priority is not in our region, with the exception of “Israel”. Their priority is Russia and China and how to solve the Iranian nuclear issue. Therefore, if you are waiting for the Americans and a solution to your crises, an end to your wars and problems, and the settlement of your situation, then you will be waiting for a very long time. Secondly, America is no longer the America you know.

Imam Khamenei touched on this subject a lot last year. And I call on you to reflect on it – “America's decline”. America is heading towards decline. In other words, it is heading in a downward trajectory. America is now in decline, and many of its challenges are internal – the coronavirus, the economic situation and its repercussions, racism, fanaticism, and internal wrangling. The United States of America has not experienced dangers like this before. This needs a long discussion. But there is a strategic reading. We are not talking about a year or two but rather a course. The United States of America’s course is one of decline and fall, and the path of the axis of resistance in the region, including states, movements, and people, is an ascending path. Priorities will vary. That is why, here, we are calling upon everyone, states, people, regimes, movements, and sects not to wait for America, the world, or international developments. Take part in regional dialogs, national dialogs, and dialogs between the countries and people of the region. Let us address our problems and crises. Today is better for you than tomorrow.

I believe that everyone who belongs to the axis of resistance because they are honest, sincere, and concern for their homelands are ready to reach solutions and certain settlements that make us overcome all these difficult stages. This is the horizon that we see forward. This is the international and regional development. 

“Israel”, as its master, is on the path of decline and a downward trajectory. The wishes of His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein that the brothers talked about are strong and present. God willing, some of us will enter Al-Quds and pray in it. This is the horizon that we see.

I will talk about the Lebanese issue in a couple words. I would like to say that everyone agrees that the approach that helps, eases, or puts matters on the path to a solution is the formation of a government.

There are complications, but what I want to add today and tell the Lebanese is that we are not in a position to despair. Do not despair. There are serious and collective efforts from more than one side to cooperate in an attempt to overcome the remaining obstacles. The matter needs prayer and effort, and I think that everyone should know that the country is running out of time and has exhausted its spirit. If anyone is still waiting for something or expecting something, it is time for them to put all these things aside and seriously opt for a real and quick solution to end this predicament that the country is currently experiencing.

We pledge to His Eminence, our great, beloved, and dear sheikh, His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Zein, that we will continue on his path. We will preserve this path. We will carry on with his goals and achieve them. We will fulfill his wishes. God willing, the day will inevitably come when these homelands and sanctities be returned to the nation and its people. May God have mercy on our dear and beloved Sheikh. And may God put him with his prophets and messengers, and may he dwell in His vast gardens. May God bless you all. 

May peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you all.