TEHRAN- The Islamic Republic of Iran, the chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says, is certain that the Palestinian resistance will prevail against the Israeli regime in the Gaza Strip, where the Tel Aviv regime is perpetrating genocide.

Addressing an event in the north-central holy city of Qom on Sunday, Major General Hossein Salami said, “Today, we’re witnessing the enemies' crimes in Palestine.”

He went on to add, “They are seeking to attain victory for themselves by killing children, women, and defenseless people.”

The Israeli regime has so far failed to achieve any of its goals in the Gaza Strip.

“We believe in these dear people’s victory, and know that divine victory is with the devoted people, who do not give up resistance in this lopsided war.”

Following the October 7 al-Aqsa Storm, a surprise operation orchestrated by Hamas during which about 250 Israelis were taken prisoner, the Israeli regime declared war on the coastal enclave.

Thus far, the military assault has claimed the lives of about 30,000 people, most of them women and children, with unwavering political and military backing from the United States.

Nonetheless, the resistance groups in the region have promised to keep fighting the occupying regime and hold off on freeing the detainees until the war is completely stopped.

“Glorious political epic”

Elsewhere in his remarks, the top commander said that the Iranian nation will create a “glorious political epic” by staging maximum engagement in the parliamentary elections on Friday, March 1.  

“The nation will once again serve the enemy with a hefty punch in the mouth, and will show that they will not accord the least value to the enemy’s demand,” he said.

“The enemies are trying to dissuade the people from turning to the ballot boxes,” he said, “but the nation knows that this is a political battle between us and our enemies, who are after our elimination and seek to separate us from Islam and destroy our will.”

The senior general added, “Iran’s enemies will suffer defeat in the political battle too.” 

Iran is scheduled to hold the sixth term of elections for the Assembly of Experts and the 12th term of elections for the parliament on March 1 since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Constitutional Council has approved 14,200 candidates for the March 1 parliamentary election. 

The Constitutional Council spokesperson, Hadi Tahan Nazif, stated that a comprehensive evaluation process resulted in the qualification of a total of 14,200 candidates for parliament, with the final week focusing on scrutinizing appeal files.

He also stated that the number of candidates for the Assembly of Experts election increased to 144 people.

Tahan Nazif emphasized that the names of these qualified candidates were promptly communicated to the interior minister, and the Constitutional Council concluded its evaluation on February 8.

Mohammadreza Shahcheraghi, deputy minister of interior for political affairs and the head of election headquarters, said around 59,000 polling stations will be opened on the day of elections and nearly 800,000 people will be involved in holding the elections.

On February 17, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi announced that 103 parties and 20 electoral coalitions had declared their readiness for the late winter election.

Minister Vahidi further revealed that several other coalitions are also gearing up for participation.

On Sunday, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, called for massive turnout in the polls, saying that the path of reform passes through elections.

Participation in election is mandatory, according to Ayatollah Khamenei, who called elections “the main pillar of the Islamic Republic.”