Statements in Meeting with Commanders and Personnel of the Air Force and Air Defense Force of the Army

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, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and virtuous family, especially the remainder of God on earth.

Welcome, dear brothers and devoted personnel of the very sensitive and important Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I thank the esteemed commander of the force for his remarks; I also thank the choir group for their poetry and performance; it was very good.

This meeting has been held for many years on a day like today to commemorate an unforgettable and astonishing incident. You young people have grown up in an environment that, thanks be to God, is not easy to imagine. The Air Force during the Pahlavi era was one of the closest forces to the center of power, to the court, and to the Americans. We must learn from this incident; it has lessons and insights.

The first lesson that we should pay attention to is that the tyrannical regime was struck from a place it did not expect; just as God Almighty says in the Quran regarding the Jews of Banu al-Nadir, "So God came upon them from where they did not expect." The Air Force, with its dependent commanders and the special conditions it always had during that period—namely, its close ties to the Americans and American managers and training schools—suddenly entered the field at the most critical moment in favor of the revolution, starting with the 19th of Bahman when they came to meet with Imam and pledged allegiance; then they stood firm against another part of the army that had attacked them, and the strange events of those days, which I do not know if the details of these matters have been recorded anywhere for the force, if not, they should be recorded to document what happened at the Tehran base and the attack they faced and the defense the people provided for them. This is one issue where God Almighty struck the enemy from a place they did not expect. This is one side of the matter.

The opposite point is that the believers were strengthened from a place they did not expect; this is referred to in Islamic definition and in our religious literature as "unforeseen sustenance." "And whoever fears God, He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect." Those who were involved in the struggle did not imagine that such a great achievement would come to them, that a piece of the most sensitive centers related to the army of that day would come to serve the revolution and pledge allegiance to Imam.

Well, this is one of the lessons of the 19th of Bahman; this should also exist in our calculations today; I want to say this. You must know that the enemy may be struck from a place they do not expect, and you, who are servants of God and believers in God and on the straight path, may receive benefits from a place that is "unforeseen sustenance" and you do not expect it. In my opinion, this is a very fundamental point that we should pay attention to; all the events of the world are not based on material and worldly calculations; this is also part of the calculations that sometimes God Almighty creates a shortcut, a movement like this.

Another issue is trust in God's promise. God Almighty has clearly and explicitly promised in several places in the Quran that if someone strives in the way of God and in the way of religion, He will grant him victory; this is God's promise. In one place, He says: "And God will surely aid those who aid Him." In this expression of "God will surely aid," there are several signs of emphasis, meaning that God Almighty will certainly aid those who support God's religion and Him. Well, this is a promise, a divine promise, and we must trust this promise. On the same day of the 19th of Bahman, despite the fact that this incident occurred and they saw that a group from the army came to pledge allegiance to the revolution, there were still those who were not sure, who were not confident, who were not hopeful that this work would yield results; however, Imam had confidence in God's promise. Imam and those who followed Imam's thoughts and opinions knew that this promise would certainly be fulfilled; they did not allow the movement to slow down. When there was confidence, when there was hope for the future, they did not allow the movement to slow down. These are important calculations that one should know that God Almighty fulfills His promise; this is also a verse of the Quran: "And who is more faithful to his covenant than God?" No one is more faithful than God Almighty in the promise He makes. God Almighty has promised and will act upon this promise.

Well, these issues are not merely personal matters; they are social and public issues. A believing society, a group of believers, a believing Air Force, when it has such confidence, then with firm determination, it turns threats into opportunities. Well, now it has been reported that we have repaired a certain number of fighter or passenger planes, we have overhauled them and produced large amounts; when did these things become possible for our Air Force? When they turned away from others; that is, others threatened, saying that we will not give, we will not sell, we will not allow. The military goods belonging to us are still in the warehouses of American military companies; they still exist and have not been given to us; what they have done with them, we do not know. And interestingly, a few years ago, they even asked us for storage fees; for goods for which they had taken our money, they did not give the goods, and they wanted storage fees. Well, this means that the Islamic Republic must not have the capability to manage an efficient Air Force; but what has been the result? The result is that our Air Force, which could not repair a piece of a certain fighter or a certain plane at that time, today builds the entire plane; that is, it has turned threats into opportunities, danger into profit; this is the characteristic of a believing group.

If you look at the overall situation in the country, it is the same. From the very beginning of the revolution, we have been under sanctions, and in recent years, the sanctions have continued with even greater intensity—meaning they have intensified—they themselves boast that they have arranged the most severe sanctions against the Islamic Republic. These sanctions are a true crime; it is a crime that they are committing; it is a significant condemned threat in terms of world public opinion; because the issue is not about the sanctions of America itself; the issue is about the coercive sanctions of others through America. For example, suppose various American agencies are trying to constantly contact companies, individuals, and governments to prevent them from trading with Iran; that is, a comprehensive sanction. Well, whether they can or cannot is another matter, but they are doing this, which is truly a criminal act.

These sanctions can also be an opportunity that has already created many opportunities for us, and after this, it can create a great opportunity for us. If we officials act wisely, it can save the country's economy from dependence on oil, cut the umbilical cord of the economy from oil. The main and significant factor of our economic problems is this: dependence on oil, which has led to a lack of attention to internal forces, internal talents, and various internal capacities, because we are assured that we will sell oil, and the country's income will be secured; this is the main factor of the country's problems. If we can accomplish this, we will have turned the greatest opportunity from the enemy's threat—namely from these sanctions—into our own advantage.

As they are also aware; let me mention this as well. Their smart ones, of course; we are not concerned with those who are confused and unaware; their smart ones pay attention to this point. In reports I have seen, they recommend not to let Iran experience an economy without oil; among themselves, it is said that do not let Iran experience an economy without oil. Create a backup route; now you do not lift the sanctions, but find a way to ensure that Iran does not become completely isolated, because if it becomes isolated, it will turn to a non-oil economy. They are aware of this and are pursuing it; we officials must be vigilant. The officials of the country, especially the economic officials, must be attentive. Well, then, the important lesson of the 19th of Bahman is these: trust in God's promise, expectation of "unforeseen sustenance," encouragement for continuous presence and movement that leads to divine assistance.

In those days of the 19th of Bahman and a few days before the 19th of Bahman, America brought all its capabilities to the field; sending a high-ranking military official—Hauser—to Tehran and contacting those at the top, hoping to do something, a coup, to stop the revolution; there were many actions they took. Despite all this, the nation triumphed, and they were defeated. This is due to trust and reliance on God's promise. Of course, today their actions and tools have become more complicated, there is no doubt about that; today the enemies act more intricately, but our work has also become more complicated. Today, by God's grace, there are movements in the political body of the country, in the military body of the country, in the technical body of the country, and in various sectors of the country that are completely calculated, precise, logical, intricate, and progressive movements that have managed to secure the strategic depth of the country and immobilize the enemy.

What I want to convey is that you—especially the youth—in the Air Force of the Islamic Republic should work with hopeful hearts, with a completely hopeful outlook towards the future, to carry out the necessary tasks to strengthen this force. Each of you, wherever you are, should consider that point as the main point, the center, and carry out the responsibilities that are upon you—those related to technical matters, those related to flight matters, those related to organizational matters, and the other important tasks that exist—with diligence. We need the country to become strong in all aspects, one of which is military aspects. We do not want to threaten anyone; our insistence on military strength and military authority is not for threatening any country or nation; it is not for threatening, it is for preventing threats, it is for preserving the security of the country. If you are weak, the enemy is encouraged to harm you; if you are strong, the enemy does not dare to come close. Let us become strong so that war does not happen; let us become strong so that the enemy's threats are eliminated; both you and the Aerospace Force of the IRGC, and the Ministry of Defense's industry in the equipment sector, in human management, and in the many tasks that a group like yours is responsible for, all of you should exert your utmost efforts so that, with God's grace, you can reach the point that is necessary for an independent, free, and dignified society, God willing. I am completely hopeful.

Since the beginning of the revolution until now, we have been completely familiar with the Air Force, with the commanders of the force, and with the high-ranking officials of this force. Today, thanks be to God, the force has advanced significantly, taken great strides, and accomplished great works; today, there are very capable and competent elements in the Air Force of the Islamic Republic and the Army of the Islamic Republic. I have seen some young people who have done great works, and thanks be to God, the force is full of capability and potential for advancement; may you make the utmost use of this capability, and may you become stronger day by day, God willing. I also pray that God grants you more and more success every day.

And know that the enemy of the Iranian nation is doomed to defeat; the reason is that the enemy of the Iranian nation is moving in the path of falsehood, in the wrong path. If the past leaders of America did things under cover, now they are openly and without cover showing their corruption, their deviations, their warmongering, their instigations, and their greed for the possessions and wealth of others. The path is the path of falsehood, the path of Satan; and this path of Satan is what God Almighty said: "Those are the ones whom God has cursed, and whoever God curses will not find a helper." Whoever God curses and distances from His presence will not find assistance, will not find a supporter; the reality is just that. But you have a supporter, and that supporter is the Almighty and Wise God, and God willing, He will support you and lead you to your goals.

God willing, may all of you be successful and supported, and may you move forward day by day.