Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has praised Iran’s progress in various domains, saying the country has grown in all directions over the past 40 years.

According to The Iran Project, The Iranian nation has shown patience and perseverance for over 40 years, while all the arrogant world powers stood against it, working and plotting against it,” the Leader said in a meeting on Sunday with dozens of Quran reciters and memorizers attending the 41stInternational Holy Quran Competitions in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

“Yet, not only has the Iranian nation not been harmed, but it has also advanced and grown. Today’s Iran is not the Iran of 40 years ago—we have progressed in every aspect,” he added.

The Leader stressed that the Islamic Republic is confronting global arrogance alongside other countries in the world.

However, he went on, “What distinguishes Iran from many other nations is the Iranian people’s courage to denounce the United States as an aggressor, a liar, a deceitful and arrogant power while proclaiming down with America.”

Ayatollah Khamenei also extolled the sacrifices of Palestinian resistance groups against the Israeli regime and underscored the imminent victory of people in the besieged Gaza Strip against the occupying entity.