Leader's message on National Persian Language Preservation Day and the commemoration of Ferdowsi

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

More than being just a tool for speech and writing, the Persian language is a framework for cognition and a thread that binds the thoughts and boundaries of Iranian identity. Persian language and literature are one of the greatest capacities for promoting the rich culture and civilization of Islamic Iran on the global stage. The recommendation of our wise, martyred Leader (may God elevate his rank) for the Persian language to become stronger serves as a guiding light for establishing the authority of the "Iranian-Islamic Civilization."

In the Third Sacred Defense, the dear nation of Iran has once again demonstrated – as it did in the two previous imposed wars – that Ferdowsi’s legendary tales are a reality in life and a reflection of their heroic character. The valiant, Quranic concepts that build human beings in Shahnameh unite all Iranian ethnicities and social strata in preserving their identity, independence and in the battle against the "Zahhak-like" aggressors. This epic of presence, defense, and victory places a significant duty on the people of culture, literature, and the arts to rise as Ferdowsi did and bring about a "bi’tha (rising) of the artists" in the wake of the people’s own bi’tha. They must blend thought, the pen, and the tongue with art to make the narrative of the nation’s great uprising eternal in history.

Furthermore, the courageous resistance and glorious victory against the onslaught of those demonic characters and the world’s devils have made the nation better prepared to safeguard the independence of its civilization and to confront the American invasions in language, culture, and lifestyle. Through the initiative and innovations of those active in the cultural sphere, this preparedness will equip people with a defense in both language and discourse, thus fostering the growth and development of children, teenagers, and young people. In this way, they will be able to traverse the remaining stages toward the ultimate victory with greater steadfastness, with the help of Almighty God.

Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei
Ordibehesht 25, 1405 
[May 15, 2026]