Abadan was not merely a besieged city; it was a strategic point in the war, and preserving it affected the defensive front as well as the liberation of other occupied areas. Recognizing its importance, Imam Khomeini called on the armed forces to break the siege of Abadan and emphasized that this must be carried out.
This order transformed the situation from a prolonged, exhausting stalemate into a clear objective—an objective for which the combatants remained at the front until it was achieved. Finally, after 375 days of siege, Operation Samen al-A'emeh was launched on September 27, 1981 (5 Mehr 1360 in the Iranian calendar). After 42 hours, the operation ended successfully.The lesson of this experience is not limited to the history of the war: when facing a crisis, correctly identifying the problem, setting a clear objective, and persevering until it is achieved can turn a situation of siege into the starting point for a breakthrough.“And I warn the Guards, the security forces, and the commanders of the security forces that this siege must be broken. There must be no negligence in this matter; it must definitely be broken.”Adapted from the entry “Breaking the Siege of Abadan” / Imam Khomeini Encyclopedia