Speech on the Occasion of Air Force Day Meeting with Iranian Air Force Personnel

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

First, I must congratulate you, dear brothers of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the 19th of Bahman, which this year coincides with the birth of the great commander of Ashura. I also commend the distinguished elements and brilliant figures that your force has shown to the Iranian nation and presented to the revolution over these years.

The fact that we consider the 19th of Bahman as a significant milestone and associate the Air Force with this day is truly an emphasis on a value-based issue, and certainly, history will judge it. Even today, despite being in the midst of events where it is usually difficult to understand and comprehend their dimensions, the open eyes and awakened hearts of our nation are judging, and they have judged over these past years.

It is very important that the favored force of a regime, despite all the propaganda and indoctrination, finds the courage and awareness at a critical juncture to confront oppression and rebellion openly and connect itself to the Islamic and rightful front; and this happened. On the 19th of Bahman, the young and determined faces of the Air Force—many of whom, thanks be to God, are present among the responsible and working elements of the force today, and some of whom have attained martyrdom—took a stand against the dependent Pahlavi regime and encouraged the people; this action had a very remarkable effect. I was with Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) that day and witnessed the events and the transformation that was tangibly taking place in the pillars of our country's system.

Precedence in jihad, precedence in accepting divine and Islamic values, and precedence in understanding the truth is a value; our Air Force acquired this value and combined it with another value, which is steadfastness and truthfulness in the fields of danger.

Our Air Force fought valiantly in the fields, both before the official start of the imposed war and especially from the beginning of this long and costly imposed war. All elements of this force made efforts—and truly, unless all elements strive and various sectors work hard, the result will not appear so well—but especially our fighter pilots showed distinctions and made sacrifices that words fail to describe the truths that emerged from these dear ones and other elements of the force in the battlefield. I do not forget those days when, in the intensity of the war and amidst bitter events, our young pilots made sacrifices in the sky, and the devoted believers of this force endured hardships on the ground in confronting the enemy's aggression; all these are part of the spiritual record and divine and heavenly reserve of the Air Force during the most challenging tests of this nation.

Perhaps if we want to judge by the way of nurturing distinguished elements, the Air Force is one of our exemplary institutions. This force gave the Iranian nation a figure like Martyr Babaei. Thanks be to God, there are many figures similar to Babaei within this force; those who combined knowledge and mastery of the art with sincerity and infinite love for Islam and Islamic goals and readiness to act in the interests of this nation and this country. Today, thanks be to God, we have such individuals, and my hope is that such figures will increase day by day in this force. These young ones, these fresh faces, these pure hearts, and pure spirits that enter this force with sincerity must pursue scientific and research ranks with the same spirit of sacrifice, sincerity, and readiness to endure hardships and difficulties when necessary.

God willing, value aspects must dominate all efforts of this force; as far as I know, this is the case. The issue of the Islamic system and the critical responsibility placed on the shoulders of the Iranian nation at this time is an extraordinarily sensitive issue. It is appropriate for each individual, alone and in their conscience, and with inspiration from the realities that have happened and are happening, to have an analysis of this process. My brothers! The issue is very important; more important than what simple-minded people want to imagine. The issue is not just that a nation has risen against a tyrannical, dependent, servile, and corrupt system and replaced it with a desired and favorable system; the matter is much higher than these.

I do not want to claim that from the day the Iranian nation entered this struggle, it was consciously and precisely thinking about the high goal that lies ahead today and the heavy responsibility that rests on our shoulders today. What is certain is that the Iranian nation was fed up with the continuation of the tyrannical, corrupt, dependent, and servile rule of the Pahlavi regime and the problems it had created for this country, and love for Islam and affection and love for the Islamic call brought it to the field; as a result, it removed that corrupt and anti-Islamic system with all its remnants from the scene of this country to establish an Islamic system; just as Imam and the great leader of this nation had proposed it, and the people understood it and gave their blood and lives for it and fought. But after the establishment of the Islamic Republic, the issue took on much broader dimensions and became global. Why? Because the nations of the world, especially the Islamic nations, suddenly felt that there was a common pain between the Iranian nation and the entire one billion Muslims, and that was the pain of being distanced from their origin and being caught in the hands of the idols of global arrogance that affect all aspects of these nations' lives and ruin their lives.

The great Islamic Ummah gained this awareness widely after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. This led to enmity with Islam and specifically enmity with the Islamic Republic becoming part of the fundamental programs of global arrogance and the two superpowers of the East and West, deciding to render this Islamic system—which had caused them so much trouble—ineffective and powerless in influencing nations. Hostilities began; among these hostilities was the imposition of war; among these hostilities was the economic blockade; among these hostilities were anti-security and hostile efforts within the ranks of various sectors of the nation; among these hostilities were various propaganda against the Islamic Republic and against this nation; among these hostilities were false accusations against this country and this nation and the officials of this country. Throughout these thirteen years, the cycle of these conspiracies has not stopped for a single day and has appeared in different forms every day; it has continued until today and will likely continue for a long time.

What is noteworthy in this context and presents itself as a shining truth for the world and for history is the failure of these conspiracies against the Iranian nation. The reason for this failure is the survival of the Islamic Republic system and its increasing strength; they did not want it to be this way. The reason for this failure is the victory of the Islamic Republic in the imposed war; something that any person with a little reflection can understand this clear and obvious victory.

When the whole world joins hands and attacks a nation to remove it from the scene and change its borders, but after eight years they cannot, that nation has achieved the greatest victory; this is in addition to the side victories we had during the eight years of war.

Many of the innovations you are doing today within the Air Force are due to the spirit of self-sufficiency that emerged during the war; otherwise, at the beginning of the war, we were not like this. At the beginning of the war, we had many airplanes; we had many spare parts; we also had ready airplanes; but what we did not have was spontaneity; this spontaneity gradually emerged.

I do not forget that a few days after the start of the imposed war, the Air Force officials brought me a list showing that by a certain time—which was at most about thirty-something days—all our F-4, F-5, and F-14 airplanes would be grounded! The last item on the list, which had the longest duration, was our transport airplanes. Looking at this list, it was clear that we would not have any flyable airplanes in about a month and a half! This is a disaster for a nation.

Some people at that time thought that we were doomed; the Americans thought the same; they thought it was over; it was a war, and within a month, two months, six months, they would destroy all the aerial and non-aerial equipment of the Islamic Republic; then this nation would be forced to raise its hands! The clear truth is that this nation engaged in self-building, internal development, and spontaneity in the face of these conspiracies. Today you have something that a nation does not easily acquire, and that is self-reliance and the discovery of inner and spiritual and inherent power. For this reason, you are much stronger today than those days and all the past of the Air Force and the army in its historical period.

The Iranian nation, with this spirit, stood against the superpowers—who were seriously determined to bring this nation down—and succeeded, and the superpowers were left unsuccessful. It is naive to think that the enemy will give up after failing at this stage; as we see today the enemy's propaganda. Of course, today what they can pressure is the stage of propaganda and political conspiracies against the Islamic Republic; because in various stages, thanks be to God, the nation has emerged from the water and mud and has reached growth and prosperity. One of these propagandas is the thing you repeatedly hear and its noise is loud these days; emphasis on the equipment and military power of the Islamic Republic. Something they never wanted to speak about, today they are exaggeratingly promoting it in their global media that yes, the Islamic Republic has bought such equipment from such a place; it has brought or will bring such things; it has gathered such scientists; it is preparing such equipment for itself! What is this for? It is to intimidate the Islamic countries near and around us from the Islamic Republic, as has been their long-standing policy; intimidating the neighboring Muslim countries from the Islamic Republic and creating a distance between the Islamic Republic and them; while the Islamic Republic poses no threat to its neighboring countries; the Islamic Republic is their supporter.

In the Persian Gulf region, they saw that over the past few years, if there was a danger and a fire was kindled, it was either from a non-Iranian country—meaning the Iraqi regime that kindled the fire in the Persian Gulf and brought foreign powers to this region—or from the Americans and their allies who turned the region into a fire zone; they make the region insecure.

During the war, we always told the Americans, you who say we bring our ships into the Persian Gulf to maintain the region's security, know that you are against security; your presence is against security; today we say the same and this truth exists. To justify their presence in the Persian Gulf and the region, to force countries to pour their oil dollars into the coffers of American arsenals and procure weapons from them, to create a state of fear and alienation between the Islamic Republic and its neighbors, they exaggerate in their propaganda that the Islamic Republic is seeking to acquire weapons! Whatever our armaments have been so far and whatever they should be in the future, it is solely for defending the borders of this country and this revolution and the values upon which this revolution is built. The armaments of our armed forces pose no threat to our neighbors; we can defend our neighbors.

The world saw during the time when the borders between us and Iraq were left without any barrier, and Iraq was occupied elsewhere—either occupied with the occupation of Kuwait or occupied with the retribution of occupying Kuwait—if we had any motivation for aggression against neighbors, it was the time to enter Iraq's borders; just as any other government in our place would likely have done this; but we did not. In the Islamic Republic, there are no aggressive motivations.

We are moving based on Islamic thoughts. We are acting and managing the country with wisdom derived and emanated from Islamic principles. On the day when it was possible to enter Iraqi territories and at least advance to areas close to our regions with natural features, we did not do this. Those who are familiar with map reading and strategic issues understand very well what actions the Islamic Republic could have taken that day; but we did not; we did not with knowledge and awareness and attention.

The armed forces of the Islamic Republic are for defense against the wolves that show their teeth to the Islamic Republic; for those blood-stained claws that for years ate and plundered from the unclaimed table of this nation, and now that the Islamic Republic cuts their hands, they show their claws to the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation. Our armed forces are for confronting those elements that are enemies of virtues and do not want this country or any country or any nation to see independence; whether they themselves or their mercenaries; which, with great regret and shame, we must say that some of them even have Iranian origins; those who sought refuge with the enemies of this country and against this country and against their father and mother and family and homeland, stained their claws with blood! The armed forces and the strength of the weapon and the arm of the Islamic Republic are for confronting these basenesses and vile ones; not for aggression, not for invasion.

If we talk about the security of the Persian Gulf region and consider ourselves a part of it, this stems from a natural right. The Persian Gulf is a limited domain and a closed and sealed region where the Islamic Republic has the largest share in terms of borders; it is natural to have a role in its security and protection. We never wanted to be the gendarme of this region and we will never allow any other power—whether from within this region or from outside this region, and today especially America—to want to assign the gendarmerie of this oil-rich and very valuable region of the world to itself. With this spirit of feeling duty-bound to protect Islamic values and the borders and people of this country, each and every one of our military personnel—whether the Revolutionary Guards, or various army forces, including the Air Force—must engage in their military work and perform their duty at whatever level they are. Today, what you are doing is a conscientious, religious, national, value-based, and human duty.

The great powers do not want nations to breathe and stand on their own feet; you see that they want to expand their power in the world day by day.

Of course, history is a good teacher. History has taught us that no power with such arrogance as we see today in the great powers and especially in America will continue and endure; they will fall headlong; just as in the very recent past, that other superpower fell headlong! Everyone falls in their own way; everyone falls for a reason. These greediness, these hands reaching out to the world, this confrontation with the pure and sincere feelings of nations, certainly will not have a good future; these are very fruitless and unsuccessful. Of course, the Iranian nation must be vigilant; you armed forces must also be vigilant.

I am aware of the progress of the Air Force and I consider them very valuable. You have done good work. What is happening today in the Air Force indicates the vitality and healthy pulse of this force. This heartbeat that exists today in the Air Force is a good thing; maintain it; always bring that value truth to it; be careful that these movements and this work that is being done, proceed in harmony and side by side with revolutionary and Islamic values. Do not let revolutionary and Islamic values be alien and neglected in any corner of the army—including the Air Force—and other armed forces. The strength and rootedness of this nation and you dear ones stem from those spiritual and Islamic motivations and that spirit of courage and steadfastness.

I once again commemorate this dear day—which happened thirteen years ago. I hope you preserve this memory as best and as beautifully as possible in your hearts and in the reality of your lives. It would have been good if those who participated that day had recorded the details and nuances of this event, so that it remains for those who are not informed or for future generations and is considered and its subtleties are discovered. We hope that Almighty God will help you more and more; may the sacred heart of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) be pleased and satisfied with you and may his pure prayers include you and may the pure soul of our dear Imam and our great martyrs be pleased with all of us.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings