Statements of His Eminence in Meeting with the Commander and Personnel of the Air Force on the Occasion of Air Force Day

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

Dear brothers and reminders of great days and invaluable, unforgettable experiences; welcome. Indeed, the army in its various sections holds great honors everywhere; however, in our history, the memory and remembrance of the Air Force are tied to these days. At the very beginning of my speech, let us draw a significant conclusion that will always benefit us; then we will address our intended topic. That conclusion is that timely and significant decisions sometimes have decisive impacts on the destiny of a group, an individual, and a nation; like the decision made by some Air Force personnel on that day for that courageous act, which has continued throughout the history of the Air Force until today and, God willing, will continue forever.

My dear ones! The main point is that the enemies of nations employ various strategies to conquer, undermine, and destroy their resistance. One of these strategies, which is very evident in some parts of the world today, is to seize the armies of those countries. When the army in a country is seized by foreigners, in reality, security also departs from the political atmosphere of that country. Wherever the foreigner deems necessary, through this armed arm, they either disrupt or completely change the situation of that country.

This also indicates the significant role of armed forces in countries. In the previous regime of Iran, it was somewhat like this. They even imagined that when the political apparatus of this country - of which the Pahlavi dynasty was a part - was forced to retreat, their agents in the Iranian armed forces would still be able to secure American interests. Of course, they had not recognized Iran and Iranians, our deep beliefs, and the authenticity of the people of this country, and they miscalculated. I do not mean the accuracy of their calculation; I mean the general calculation regarding the armed forces in different countries. Look at the countries whose armies are subservient to foreigners, see how they operate there and what situation the countries are in.

The opposite point is that in a country, the army and armed forces are so integrated with the country's authenticities that they themselves become defenders of those values. In our country, it is like this. Today, the army in the Islamic Republic of Iran is a decisive element in defending Islamic and revolutionary values. The armed forces - the army, the IRGC, and the Basij - are all like this in the country; meaning they themselves are the pillars and supports of the Islamic Republic system's value system. Of course, this situation has not been easily achieved. Faithful elements within the army have a right to life over the entire army, especially for creating such a desirable and satisfactory situation that, thanks be to God, exists today. One of the reasons for the global arrogance's anger towards the Islamic Republic is also this.

The reason you see so much malicious propaganda about militarism in the Islamic Republic is that they know the armed forces in the Islamic Republic are not idle elements indifferent to the fate of this country and its moral and revolutionary values; rather, they are intensely committed and are preparing themselves to defend these values. They see this and do not like it. Their anger manifests itself in the form of their false propaganda. Of course, their propaganda is truly false. They say Iran is a threat to neighboring countries. This is a lie. They say Iran is against the security of this region. This is a lie and slander. It is not that we want to prove it is a lie; any intelligent person, any ordinary person familiar with the issues, understands that these have no meaning.

If the Persian Gulf region is secure, we, who have the longest coastline in the Persian Gulf, will benefit the most from the security of this region. If the Persian Gulf is not a place for foreigners, we, who have many interests in this vast and large gulf - which is shared between us and other countries - will strive more than others for the security of this region. This is natural. No one wants to make their home insecure. Those who make the Persian Gulf insecure are those who want to exploit the insecurity or at least the rumor of insecurity here and pretend that there is insecurity in this region so that they can sell weapons, establish a military presence, and gain political influence in the Persian Gulf countries. This statement belongs to them; otherwise, anyone who looks at the geography of the region understands that in this region, Islamic Iran is more committed to the security of this region than other countries. Therefore, the enemy's propaganda is false.

But where does this false propaganda originate from? It originates from the fact that you are awake and the armed forces are standing. If the armed forces were sidelined, indifferent, and insufficient, unable to defend the dignity and existence of their home or defend their values and beliefs, the enemy would not be so angry. This reaction of the enemy is a good criterion for our situation. This is a fundamental and main point. Today, the armed forces are like this.

Of course, I must say that some sections of the armed forces have had a special impact on creating this situation. Among those sections that have had an impact is the Air Force. Thanks be to God, the Air Force has done a lot of work during this period, made many sacrifices, had good commanders, and had guiding and managing elements at high levels who were very faithful, very good, very efficient, and accepted by all, and some of them were martyred, and some, thanks be to God, are still there and are managing and guiding this force. This is the state of the Air Force.

Today, you who are in the Air Force, to believe in your value and personality, do not need anyone to tell you this or for someone to make an unrealistic compliment about you; in your Air Force record, you have a collection of honors, glorious sacrifices, good flights, good technical work, timely defenses, timely attacks, outstanding efficiency, and good renovations. These are in your history and record, and no one can deny them. This is the authenticity and value of the Air Force.

What I am telling you and asking of you is that you should not be content with this amount. The Air Force, most likely, will have a more important future role than its past role. The Air Force has a decisive position in many places; both its main role, which is the protection of the country's sky and support, and the roles that occasionally arise for the Air Force, which is aggression and taking on the main role in a struggle and a war; whether offensive or defensive role. Therefore, in the direction of advancing the Air Force, you must plan infinitely for this force. Never say that we did these things and this is good and feel that it is enough and satisfies you. No; if we wanted to move like this, our Air Force would not have reached where you are.

During the war, we lost many of our air capabilities. Of course, we replaced some; but what we lost, in terms of value, may be more than what we replaced. However, now our Air Force is more advanced, better, and ahead than ten years ago, than sixteen years ago. Today, you know things, are familiar with tools, have capabilities in fields that you did not have ten years ago. That is, you have progressed day by day; while to the extent of this progress, you did not have new aircraft, new fighters, and new tools.

Of course, the country does not withhold military equipment for itself. Whatever comes to you has come to the country and is for the defense of the country. No one is stingy; the enemies are stingy. Global facilities become limited for some orientations and some actions. The enemy's siege sometimes does not allow one to do and prepare what one wants. Of course, this siege is not permanent and eternal; it is to be eliminated. Just as in many fields, we broke that siege with our own power, not with the favor of this or that. No one has done us a favor. Thanks be to God, we are not under the obligation of any pole of power in the world. The Islamic Republic has done whatever it has done itself and has done it relying on its own power. It has been the same in breaking sieges. It is the same in this field.

So, what is this progress due to? It is due to the efforts of faithful, enthusiastic, and determined elements. Elements that, wherever they are, make their environment lasting, solid, and impregnable, and a source of pride for the nation. Thanks be to God, such people have been in the Air Force, they are now, they are not few, and despite the propaganda and activities of the enemies, they have increased day by day. Today, our faithful and active young people, our enthusiastic hearts, our increasing progress, are more than ten and fifteen years ago; because the elements are more, they are more efficient, and thanks be to God, the quantity and quality have progressed. So, it is the human element that has efficiency.

From the head of the force, which thanks be to God, the command and high-level staff of the force are faithful elements and accepted and satisfactory to us, to the various elements from commands and managements wherever they are, they must feel a deep sense of duty towards their work. Everyone must feel a sense of duty. In all sections, in training human resources, in keeping power standing, in flying tools and flying devices and protecting and guarding the country's sky - which is the most important part of the work - in defense, in technical work, in construction, in innovation and creativity, in organizational work, in scientific education and training, in military discipline and observing these aspects and generally in everything, you must feel responsibility and create progress.

Everyone must make double efforts. Today is the era of construction. Your construction is to build the Air Force. You must build this force. You must double this blessed process that has emerged in the army, in the armed forces, and in the Air Force. The respected and dear brothers in the ideological and political sections must also help guide hearts and souls and strengthen faiths and this feeling that today the country needs the active work of each and every faithful and efficient individual.

We are in a very sensitive period of our country's life. My dear ones! You know that in the life of a nation, twenty years, thirty years, and fifty years is a fleeting moment; it is not a long time. From the day this movement started until today, it has been about thirty-some years. From the day this revolution triumphed until today, it has been eighteen years. These thirty-some years and these eighteen years, in the life of nations, are like an hour and a fleeting moment. These fleeting, sensitive moments are decisive; just as in your life, sometimes some days and some hours and some short years have been decisive. For example, if during a period when you could study, you have studied, your fate is one thing, and if you have not, it is another. If you have exercised, your fate is one thing, and if you have not, it is another. If in your youth, you have observed ethics and self-purification, your fate is one thing, and if you have not, it is another. In the life of nations, it is the same.

In these decisive moments - that is, in these years of the revolution until today and for years to come - if this nation, with determination, perseverance, intelligence, and innovation, feels responsibility and acts upon it, its fate will be one thing, and if, God forbid, today we act like some of our predecessors in the Qajar and Pahlavi eras who were negligent and made the fate of this country miserable and stagnant for decades, God forbid, the fate will be something else. This is why I say do not get tired and do not neglect to strive, innovate, feel responsibility, value every moment; do not neglect to use all your abilities to advance the work entrusted to you. Wherever each of you is - from top to bottom, in various sections - consider that place an exclusive and decisive trench, which it indeed is.

I ask God Almighty for success, guidance, and His help for you, and I hope, God willing, each of your days will be better than the past days.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings