Efforts to broker a deal between the US and Iran are reaching a climax on a hugely symbolic day for Iranians — the anniversary of the 1982 liberation of Khorramshahr, seen as a turning point in the war against Iran during that decade.
The conflict began in September 1980 when former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded his neighbor in the wake of the revolution that brought Iran’s clerical leaders to power. The violence, which caused devastating loss for both nations, came to an end in August 1988 with a UN-backed deal.
A host of top officials have issued comments marking the day, which appear as much directed at the US as serving commemorative purpose.
With a deal appearing close, today could also prove a pivotal moment in Iranian history.
“No tyrant has the power to stand against Iran’s devoted and faithful soldiers,” parliamentary speaker and key negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote.
In his message marking the anniversary, Ghalibaf praised the “unmatched bravery” of Iranian fighters. “These fighters taught the world that honor and dignity belong to a nation that combines faith, determination, patriotism, and courage with expertise and hard work — and such a nation will never taste the bitterness of defeat,” he said.
Iran’s president echoed Ghalibaf, drawing a direct comparison between the country’s current conflict and that of 44 years ago.
“Khorramshahr today is Iran, the Persian Gulf, and the Strait of Hormuz,” Masoud Pezeshkian said in a post on X. “Resistance, self-sacrifice, and repelling aggression are rooted in the culture of this land.”