Foreign Minister Araghchi honors martyred teachers and students at National Education Directors meeting

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaking at the 39th National Meeting of Education Directors across the country, outlined the efforts of the diplomatic apparatus during the American-Zionist military aggression against Iran and stressed the importance of accurately recording the historic epic of the Iranian people and transmitting it to future generations, especially through education programs.

At the ceremony, the Foreign Minister commemorated the martyrs of the Sacred Defense and the martyrs of the American-Zionist aggressions of the past year and a half against Iran. He paid tribute to the lofty status of the martyrs of Islamic Iran, the prominent figures and martyred commanders, and above all Iran's Martyred Leader.

Referring to the epic created by the Iranian nation during this military aggression, Araghchi recalled the martyred teachers and students of Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab as one of the enduring manifestations of this epic. He said: “The forty-day imposed war had its legends—from the mujahid Leader and Martyr of Iran to the teachers and students of Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, whose oppressed martyrdom turned into an everlasting epic.”

He added: “That a school was deliberately targeted by a missile attack and 168 students and teachers were killed in an instant is a crime that will never be erased from the historical memory of the Iranian nation or the conscience of humanity. The small city of Minab stood with dignity and pride and became a symbol of the steadfastness and resistance of the Iranian people.”

Araghchi also praised the spirit of resistance and epic endurance of the Iranian nation in defending the homeland against the savage aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime. He identified the secret of the Iranian people’s steadfastness and victory as reliance on the infinite power of God, the wise leadership of the Supreme Leader, national solidarity and cohesion, and the powerful defense of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The head of the diplomatic apparatus, referring to Iran’s victory on both the battlefield and in diplomacy, stated: “Diplomacy and the field move in coordination and solidarity with each other. Diplomacy, relying on the country’s defensive and military power, consolidates the achievements of the battlefield in safeguarding the security and national interests of the Iranian people.”

In another part of his remarks, the Foreign Minister highlighted the strategic role of the country’s educational and training system in raising specialized, committed and capable human resources. He said: “A progressive and powerful education system is one of the foundations for consolidating the authority of Islamic Iran, and we must redouble our efforts to strengthen education in our country.”

Araghchi also paid tribute to the sacrifice and outstanding role of the country’s educators during the enemy’s military aggression and emphasized the need to support the education community and strengthen the international capacities of the education system.

Describing the capacities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advancing educational diplomacy, he stressed the readiness of the diplomatic apparatus to facilitate and strengthen educational interactions and communications between the Islamic Republic of Iran and other countries and to transfer successful educational experiences, methods and technologies.

Referring to the importance of the active presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in international scientific and educational forums, including UNESCO, Araghchi described these forums as an opportunity to explain and defend Iran’s positions and interests as well as a platform for presenting and introducing the country’s scientific, educational and training achievements.

At the ceremony, Ahmad Kazemi, Minister of Education, paid tribute to the round-the-clock and tireless efforts of the Foreign Minister and the officials of the diplomatic apparatus in defending and safeguarding the country’s national interests.

The Minister of Education also expressed appreciation for the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advancing the country’s educational and training objectives and praised the role of the ambassadors and representations of the Islamic Republic of Iran around the world in supporting international education programs and developing educational and training cooperation.