Statements of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in Meeting with Commanders and Staff of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran

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

I am very happy that, thanks be to God, I once again meet with you, dear brothers, sons, and beloved youth from the proud Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at this annual occasion. Welcome to all of you. The anthem that was performed was good in poetry, good in melody, good in execution, and excellent in themes; God willing, may our hearts and yours always be blessed with the divine mercy and guidance, which is the most important support.

With a conventional and ordinary look at the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran over these continuous years, one can understand important truths. There was a time when you could not even repair and work on a single piece of aircraft that you had. Today, you are building training aircraft; you are building fighter jets; you are building simulators; you are conducting important radar work; you are producing complex parts. The immense flow of talent, love, innovation, and movement towards self-belief and self-sufficiency in the Air Force, in the entire army, in the armed forces, and throughout the country is a current that even the opponents of the Islamic Republic, the enemies of the Islamic Republic cannot deny today. The system of domination, which has tried to seize the control of nations and countries around the world with the help of wealth and power, with weapons and military aggression, has tried to convince that nations cannot find a path to greatness, character, identity, and independence without relying on superpowers and the owners of wealth and power—behind whom are lined up Zionist and non-Zionist companies—you have shattered this belief. Today, observe the Iranian nation; compare it with nations that have been under the control of America for thirty years; see where you are and where they are. The Iranian nation has spoken its independent voice for thirty years; it has repeated its rightful words; it has said 'no' to the oppressors, and here it stands. There are and have been governments and nations that have been under the control of America for these thirty years—subservient governments that have trampled their nations under the feet of the oppressors—they are still there; see where they are, and where you are. The Iranian nation has proven through its movement, its independence, its self-belief, and its reliance on God that it can and must stand against the domination of foreigners and oppressors, and it can stand firm. This has been proven by the Iranian nation. Where was the Iranian nation thirty years ago in the caravan of science, civilization, progress, technology, and political influence? Where is it today? Thanks to steadfastness, thanks to reliance on God, thanks to bringing all its talents into the field; this is an experience; it is an experience for the Iranian nation itself and future generations, as well as for other nations, and the Air Force of the Islamic Republic is one of the examples of this steadfastness and movement based on self-belief. We must continue this; we, the Iranian nation, must continue this. This path is a blessed path.

The enemies of the Iranian nation have used everything in their power against this nation over these thirty-plus years; there is nothing they have not used against the Iranian nation; they have incited, started wars, supported the enemies of the Islamic Republic with all their might, engaged in hard opposition, and soft opposition; they have fought this nation with everything they had; however, the nation stood firm; it resisted; not only could they not bring it to its knees and break it, but they could not prevent its progress—this nation has progressed. They used everything at their disposal; they plotted, staged coups, incited military actions, attacked aircraft, imposed harsh and severe sanctions; day by day, they increased the sanctions, hoping to remove the nation from the scene; hoping to discourage the nation; hoping to create distrust towards Islam and the Islamic Republic; but they have failed. This is the record of the Islamic Republic.

These days, during the days of the Fajr decade, it is a good opportunity for our wise individuals, our aware individuals, our youth, and all our nation to evaluate the work that has been done over these thirty-plus years; to see their own advancements; to see their successful efforts; to see the divine assistance; to see the weakness of the enemies' plots; as it is said, "And they plotted, and Allah plotted, and Allah is the best of plotters." This has become a general guideline for us to see how we should choose our future path. You in the Air Force should move forward with this perspective, with this orientation; various sectors of the country, all segments of the nation, and the country's officials should move with this perspective.

Of course, the enemy causes annoyance and harm, but they can do nothing beyond annoyance and harm. I mentioned a few days ago that the Almighty God says: "They will not harm you except for annoyance"; their work is to bring you harm, but they cannot block your way, they cannot close your path. All these years, the Americans have boasted against the Iranian nation; they have said and done everything they could, they have propagated, they have employed a wicked media empire against the Iranian nation; the result has been that today, thanks to God, the Iranian nation is more vibrant, more determined, more resolute, more active, and witnessing greater flourishing in various fields than ever before; their effort has been to separate the nation from the Islamic Republic, from the revolution. Every year on the 22nd of Bahman, the Iranian nation, with its presence in this arena of national and revolutionary public display, has thwarted the enemy; their effort is to separate the nation. The previous inexperienced U.S. Secretary of State explicitly stated that we impose these sanctions to put the people of Iran against the Islamic Republic; the Iranian nation has responded to them in its actions, in its marches, and you will see on the 22nd of Bahman, the Iranian nation will once again thwart the enemy with its powerful movement...

The beauty of this work is that the nation is insightful, awake, understands the meaning of the enemy's actions, navigates the enemy's movements; it understands why the enemy has adopted this policy, moves in the opposite direction, insists on its own achievements, shows its presence in this vast arena of national dignity, proves its presence; this is the beauty of the matter. The public insight of the people in the face of the propaganda that the enemies conduct—mostly the Americans and the Zionists—does not lead them to make mistakes; they do not fall into the error that the enemy seeks to lead the Iranian nation into; this is the great beauty of our national and grand affairs.

Now recently, the Americans have once again raised the issue of negotiations, repeating that America is ready to negotiate directly with Iran; this is not new. The issue of negotiations has been repeated by the Americans at every juncture. Now today, those who have just come to the field are once again repeating that you should negotiate and say that the ball is in Iran's court, the ball is in your court, you are the ones who must be accountable, you are the ones who must say what does negotiation under pressure and threat mean? Negotiation is for proving goodwill. You do ten things that indicate bad faith, and then you say negotiation?! Do you expect the Iranian nation to accept that you have goodwill?! We certainly understand why the Americans are once again repeating the issue of negotiation these days, why they are saying it repeatedly in various languages; we understand the reason. According to the Americans themselves, their Middle Eastern policy has suffered a defeat. America is facing defeat in its policies in this region. They need to reveal a trump card, as they say; this trump card, in their view, is to bring the revolutionary and popular Islamic Republic to the negotiation table; they need this. They want to announce to the world that we have goodwill. No, we do not see any goodwill. Four years ago—in the early days of this current U.S. administration—when they were making the same statements, I announced that we do not prejudge, we do not make premature judgments; we will look to see how their actions are, and then we will judge. Now, after four years, what is the judgment of the Iranian nation? They supported internal sedition, assisted the seditionists, invaded a country like Afghanistan under the pretext of fighting terrorism, trampled and destroyed countless people; with the same terrorists, they are now cooperating in Syria, supporting them; they have used those same terrorists wherever they could in Iran, they have employed their agents, allies, and spies of the Zionist regime, they have explicitly assassinated scientists in the Islamic Republic, they have not even been willing to condemn this, they have supported it; this is their performance; they imposed sanctions on the Iranian nation that they wanted to be crippling, and they stated that they would be crippling. Who did you want to cripple? Did you want to cripple the Iranian nation? Do you have goodwill? Negotiation based on goodwill, under equal conditions, between two parties that do not want to deceive each other, makes sense. Negotiation as a tactic, negotiation for the sake of negotiation, negotiation to sell a greater superpower pose to the world, this negotiation is a deceptive move; this move is not real. I am not a diplomat; I am a revolutionary; I speak clearly and honestly. A diplomat says one word, intending another meaning. We speak our words clearly and honestly; we firmly and resolutely state our position. Negotiation makes sense when the other party shows its goodwill; when the other party does not show goodwill, you yourself say pressure and negotiation; these two are not compatible. You want to hold a weapon against the Iranian nation and say: either negotiate or I will shoot. To scare the Iranian nation, know that the Iranian nation will not be intimidated by these things...

Some people, out of naivety sometimes, and some out of malice—one cannot make a definitive judgment about individuals, but the actions of a naive person do not differ in essence from those of a malicious person—are pleased that yes, come; no, it is not like that; these negotiations do not solve any problem; negotiations with America do not solve any problem; where have they fulfilled their promises? For sixty years, from the 28th of Mordad 32 until today, in every case where the officials of this country have trusted the Americans, they have been harmed. One day, Mossadegh trusted the Americans, relied on them, considered them his friends; the events of the 28th of Mordad occurred, where the coup plotters were given the location of the coup by the Americans, and the coup agent came to Tehran with a suitcase full of money and distributed money among thugs to launch the coup; it was the Americans. They themselves admitted the planning of the operation. Then, they imposed the oppressive Pahlavi regime on this country for many years, established SAVAK, chained the fighters, tortured them; this was during that period. After the revolution, at one point, the officials of the country trusted them based on their optimism, and on the other side, the U.S. government placed Iran at the center of evil. You are the embodiment of evil; you are the ones who are causing evil in the world, starting wars, oppressing nations, supporting the Zionist regime, suppressing the awakened nations in this Islamic awakening saga as much as you can, and creating discord among them; evil belongs to you; it is your nature. The Iranian nation was accused of evil; a great insult. Wherever trust was placed in them, they acted this way. They must show goodwill. The title of negotiation is not compatible with negotiation under pressure; the path of pressure and the path of negotiation are two different paths; it is impossible for the Iranian nation to accept negotiating under the boot of pressure, under threat. What should we negotiate for? For what purpose?

Today, the Iranian nation is awake. America—the face of America—is known not only in Iran but in the region; nations are suspicious of America, and this suspicion has multiple indications for them; the Iranian nation has read America's hand; it understands what their intentions are; the nation is awake. Today, if anyone wants to re-establish America's dominance in this country, if they want to disregard national interests, scientific progress, and independent movement for the sake of pleasing America, the nation will hold these individuals accountable; and if I were to act contrary to this public movement and public will, the nation would protest; it is clear. All officials are obliged to respect national interests; to uphold national independence; to preserve the dignity of the Iranian nation.

We have negotiated, signed contracts, and established relations with countries that have not and do not have conspiratorial movements against Iran; the Iranian nation is a peaceful nation; the Iranian nation is a nation of tolerance; the unity of the Iranian nation serves the general interests of humanity; today, what the Iranian nation does is for national interests, for the interests of the Islamic Ummah, and for the interests of humanity. And undoubtedly, divine assistance is behind the Iranian nation. The people of Iran, with this insight, with this firm determination, with this steadfastness they have shown on their clear path, and God willing, will always pursue this, will be able to not only elevate the Iranian nation, but God willing, also the Islamic Ummah to the pinnacle of honor. The way is to maintain this insight; the way is to preserve our unity; the way is for the officials of the country to safeguard the interests of the country. These unethical behaviors that are seen in some areas and scenes from some officials of the country—which I will address in the future, God willing; I will speak to the people about these unethical behaviors—should be set aside. The nation is united, determined, and active. If there are differences of opinion on various issues among the nation, in the face of the enemy, in the face of global arrogance, in the face of those who have set their sights on uprooting this nation and this system, all officials and all segments of the nation are united; there is no difference in this regard among the people.

And God willing, on the 22nd of Bahman, the people will once again show, by the grace of the Lord, with divine success, that for the preservation of the foundations of this revolution, the entire nation is present in the scene and is ready, united, and aligned, and undoubtedly divine success will also be upon them.

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