Commander Kargar: Armed Forces Parade Will Not Be Held This Year
Iran’s commemoration of the 46th anniversary of Sacred Defense Week will proceed under the slogan “Labbaik Ya Khamenei,” with museums and memorial sites prepared to receive visitors.
Brigadier General Bahman Kargar said Iran’s armed forces parade will not be held this year because of wartime conditions. He made the announcement ahead of the 46th anniversary of Sacred Defense Week, which will be observed under the slogan “Labbaik Ya Khamenei.” He also said a new 20-year strategic plan for the Foundation for the Preservation and Publication of Sacred Defense and Resistance Works would begin in 2026, while museums and memorial sites nationwide prepare to receive visitors.
TEHRAN — The armed forces parade will not be held this year because of what Brigadier General Bahman Kargar described as wartime conditions, according to remarks reported by Iran’s IRNA news agency.
Kargar, head of the Central Headquarters for Commemorating National Defense and Resistance Occasions, made the announcement on Saturday during a meeting with media representatives held ahead of the 46th anniversary of Sacred Defense Week.
He said this year’s commemorations would be organized under the slogan “Labbaik Ya Khamenei.” The source did not provide further details about the circumstances Kargar cited or whether alternative military ceremonies would be held.
During the meeting, Kargar also discussed the performance and future planning of the Foundation for the Preservation of Sacred Defense and Resistance Works. He said the foundation’s previous strategic document was a 10-year plan that began in 2015 and concluded in 2025.
According to Kargar, performance evaluations reviewed by the foundation’s board of trustees showed that 93 percent of the objectives set out in that strategic plan had been achieved. He described the result as unprecedented among the country’s strategic institutions and as a model for developing and implementing long-term plans.
With the previous plan completed, the board of trustees approved a new 20-year strategic document for the Foundation for the Preservation and Publication of Sacred Defense and Resistance Works, Kargar said. The new document is scheduled to take effect officially from the beginning of 2026 and will serve as the foundation’s roadmap for promoting the culture of resistance and preserving the legacy of the Sacred Defense period.
The announcement comes as preparations continue for public programs marking Sacred Defense Week. Kargar said museums, memorials and educational centers across the country would be open to visitors during the commemorations.
The foundation said that 46 memorial sites located in former defense areas, along with memorials dedicated to unknown martyrs, were ready to receive visitors and guests. These facilities are expected to provide specialized services and present accounts and heritage from the Sacred Defense period, according to the report.
The source report ended with the phrase “to be completed,” and did not include a full schedule of Sacred Defense Week events, details about the canceled parade, or information about possible replacement ceremonies.