Following the death of Ali Khamenei during the February 28 attacks by Israel and the U.S. on his residence in Pasteur Street, it was announced that Mojtaba Khamenei, one of his sons, had been elected by the Assembly of Experts as the third leader of the Islamic Republic.
On Friday, May 15, Iranian media released a new text message attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei. Published on the occasion of “Persian Language Day” and the “Commemoration of Ferdowsi,” the message describes the Persian language as one of the pillars of Iranian identity. The message attributed to the third leader of the Islamic Republic asserts that strengthening this language can aid in the expansion of “Iranian-Islamic civilization.”
A section of the message references the Shahnameh, describing it as a work for preserving the identity, independence, and resilience of Iranians: “Ferdowsi’s mythical stories represent the reality of the heroic lives and characters [of Iranians]. The humanizing, valiant, and Quranic concepts of the Shahnameh bring all ethnic groups and strata of Iran together in harmony and solidarity to preserve their identity, authenticity, and independence, and to fight against the aggressing Zahhak-like figures.”
