Statements Following the Visit to the Exhibition of Achievements of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and his pure, infallible progeny, especially the Awaited One on earth.

This visit today was a very sweet and desirable experience for me. Of course, we knew that our dear brothers in the armed forces, in the aerospace division of the IRGC, and in the Ministry of Defense are doing outstanding and good work; however, seeing and observing it up close certainly has a different impact. If various sectors in the country — one of which is the armed forces — assess their needs and work based on those needs, I believe the growth and progress of the country will be faster and better; this is a lesson for us. What is decisive is both scientific precision and research work, as well as the motivation and determination that stem from faith. Fortunately, our youth — like you — have been able to accomplish great things in every field they have entered with determination and faith. Here, too, one can observe signs of that determination and faith; it is evident that what has been achieved has been done with a steel will, perseverance, and a belief in a duty that one has; belief in this duty is very impactful, it helps a lot; the main support is this faith and conviction that one possesses. What you have achieved has been obtained through innovation; innovation is very important; it should not be lost.

Today, thanks be to God, you are at a good level, but this does not mean that this level, which seems good to us today, will remain good for us tomorrow; no, because others are also working, others are also advancing. The news that continuously reaches us from various places, from different military or non-military entities, indicates that the movement towards progress in the world is a continuous and collective matter, and everyone is striving. We must strive not to fall behind, not to lag. Well, thanks be to God, the movement and progress of our group — that is, you and others like you in various sectors of the armed forces — has been both rapid and desirable; that is, it is a desirable progress and has advanced at a good speed, which is very good; however, if this momentum decreases, we will fall behind, because others are also moving, working, and progressing. Of course, our situation in some areas is very good, including those that were shown today; in some areas, however, our situation is not as good, we have shortages, we have deficiencies, we must also identify those, recognize our needs, and strive to address the points of need — this is a necessary and obligatory task — and in any case, we should seek help from the Almighty God.

I would like to say a word about the current issues in Palestine, which is also important. The current events in Gaza have revealed many hidden and concealed truths to the world. One of these concealed truths is that the leaders of the well-known and reputable Western countries, despite all their claims, are absolutely not opposed to racial discrimination; rather, they support racial discrimination; why? Because the Zionist regime is a manifestation of racial discrimination. The Zionists consider themselves a superior race and regard all of humanity — all kinds of people who are not Zionist and not Jewish — as inferior; that is why when, for example, they kill several thousand children in a few days, they do not feel any pangs of conscience, and it is as if they have eliminated several thousand animals! This is the reality of the Zionists. Now, the President of the United States, the Chancellor of Germany, the President of France, the Prime Minister of England, are defending such a being and such an identity and are helping him; what does this mean? It means that the issue of racial discrimination, which today is one of the important issues of the world and humanity has opened its eyes to it, and racial discrimination is one of the most abhorrent beliefs and tendencies, [but] all these well-known gentlemen believe in racial discrimination and have no opposition to it; otherwise, if they were opposed, this should have been reflected in their actions regarding the issue of Gaza and Palestine. The people of Europe and the people of America and nations must clarify their position regarding this situation, determine whether they, like their leaders, are supporters of racial discrimination [or not]; if not, they should specify their stance. This is one point.

Another point is that the Zionist regime, despite all the glitter and bombardment it shows, has so far failed in its movement. From the beginning, they said their goal is to destroy Hamas or the resistance, to incapacitate them, to bring them to their knees; so far, they have not been able to do this; it has been about forty days or more that with all their military might and all the resources they have, they have been engaged in such atrocities and have not been able to accomplish this task. The reason they are dropping bombs on people's heads is that they are agitated; due to this inability, they are agitated. Now, the Zionist regime is extremely agitated, upset, and thus is committing these atrocities; they strike hospitals, they strike the sick, they strike children, they strike women, because they have failed. When we said, "The Zionist regime has failed," this is a reality. This advancing into hospitals and into the homes of defenseless people is not victory; victory is when they can defeat their opponent, the military force opposing them; so far, they have not been able to and, God willing, they will not be able to.

The issue takes on more significant dimensions when one considers that this "inability" is not exclusive to the Zionist regime; America has also been unable — they are in the field, after all; America is in the field — the Western countries [that] are helping have also been unable. In observing the historical movement of humanity, this is a very important issue; we have reached a point where a detailed armed military equipped with various weapons cannot prevail against its opponent in such a scene, which apparently has none of those capabilities! This is a significant phenomenon, this is a truth.

One more sentence regarding the duties of Muslim governments. Some Muslim governments, in assemblies and in statements and so on, sometimes condemn the bombings — now some do not even condemn! — [but] this is not enough; they must cut off this vital artery of the Zionist regime, they must not allow oil, energy, goods, and the like to enter the Zionist regime, they must at least cut off their political relations [with the Zionist regime] for a limited period — suppose for a year or less or more — if they want these atrocities to cease, this catastrophe to stop, this is their duty. Nations must also not allow the suffering of the Palestinian people to be forgotten; they must, God willing, continue these gatherings and movements.

We are completely hopeful for the future, we are certain of the divine promise that, God willing, the divine promise will be fulfilled, and we will act upon what we consider our duty, God willing.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.