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

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

I warmly welcome you dear ones and I am pleased to see the youthful and vibrant faces of you, the valuable collective of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

We must all be grateful to those who brought about and immortalized the 19th of Bahman (February 8) through their actions—not through words, nor through contracts—but through their determination. When an action is performed sincerely, correctly, based on sound thought and filled with sincerity, its characteristic is permanence. Many perform superficial actions; some may carry out directive tasks that lack sufficient sincerity; the passage of time erases and destroys them. However, the event of the 19th of Bahman was not one of those; it was one of those incidents that sprang from the depths of faith, sincerity, and resolute determination. At that time, it was true that there were only a few days left until the definitive victory of the revolution, but no one could predict that the 19th of Bahman would lead to another 22nd of Bahman (February 11). It was a risky prediction. The resolute determination of those youths, who were similar to you, was that they came and demonstrated their faith, their determination, their connection with the nation, and their correct understanding and perception of the depth of the incident that was occurring through their actions. Of course, it was dangerous, but they acted, and the 19th of Bahman became immortal.

This incident was not a spontaneous one. The Air Force demonstrated a core essence of itself through this action; this essence was also revealed during the war; both in the offensive and defensive sectors. During the eight-year defense, when the Iranian nation felt that there were no security barriers around it and the enemies came and bombarded without any fear or hesitation; the Air Force showed that essence. The best, first, most brilliant, and most honorable actions of the Islamic Republic's army at the beginning of the imposed war were those of the Air Force; this was a continuation of that essence. And it is still the same today.

What is important is that a person, a collective, has a correct evaluation and understanding of the developments occurring around them. From movements that may not be visible to many eyes, the insightful and perceptive individuals understand what is happening; this is very important. The transformation that occurred in the Islamic Revolution was of this kind. Some did not understand it; they did not recognize it. Some confused it with a blind movement that has occurred in many parts of the world; they treated it that way. Some brought out their bowls of greed to exploit this incident for their personal benefit. All of this stemmed from short-sightedness. The revolution was primarily a transformation in Iranian society and subsequently in the Islamic Ummah, and then in the grand equations of world politics. It completely changed the geography of power in the world—especially in some regions. Such a great event occurred. Today, this greatness is showing its signs.

The transformation that was happening in Iran was that a closed, oppressive, tyrannical system, with worldly leaders and rulers who were hedonistic, self-centered, oblivious to humanity and human beings, and on the other hand dependent, captive to the policies of others, and inevitably submissive to the arrogant powers, was brought out of such a situation. The fundamental transformation was this. And it turned into a mature, aware society, with a resolute determination, with a people possessing the power of choice and the right to choose, with dignity and honor among the human community and influential on other societies. This was the main transformation, and it occurred.

Today you see, hear, and read that in various issues of this region, all the world powers believe that Iran's presence, Iran's existence, and Iran's vote are decisive. Even our primary enemies are saying that for solving the issues of the Middle East or the countries of this region, no decision can be made or implemented without Iran's presence. Where is this and where was that situation where the great country of Iran, with its history, with its immense historical legacy, with its people, was merely a pawn in the hands of the dominators and colonizers who could place it wherever they wanted, exploit it, and disregard its people?

From an economic perspective, the country's resources were at their disposal; the country's oil, various mineral resources, human resources, and geographical situation were all at the disposal of others to use as they wished. This was the great transformation.

Of course, this transformation has other meanings. A nation that has the will, that has the power to transform such a political system into a desirable and popular one, will certainly achieve inevitable successes in its economic endeavors, in deepening and expanding its culture, in the path of its human ethics, and in implementing its heartfelt beliefs, which it has. This was the great transformation that some did not understand, and some still do not understand.

The great powers—whose goal is nothing but oppression and domination over nations—are unwilling to understand that when a nation awakens, when a nation understands the value of its determination and will, when a nation knows that if it wants, decides, and acts, no power can stand against it, it cannot be confronted with such a nation. They may impose costs on this nation; however, domination over that nation is no longer possible; enslaving that nation is no longer possible; imposing their beliefs and desires on that nation is no longer possible. This is something that the great powers still cannot understand.

Thirty years have passed since the beginning of this great transformation; various schemes have been employed by the enemies of the Iranian nation and the enemies of the Islamic Republic to try to subjugate that nation again; to restore the hellish domination they had over dear Iran for decades and were unwilling to relinquish. Today, the challenge of the Islamic Republic with its powerful global enemies is over this issue. The issue of nuclear energy and the issue of missile development and such are just excuses. The issue is something else. The issue is that a nation has been able to repel the violent domination of others through its courage and determination. However, they want to try to restore that domination. Of course, they have not been able to, and they will not be able to in the future.

From the depths of the various sanctions that have been imposed on our country for years, suddenly the "Hope Satellite" emerges and is launched into space. From all the strictures they imposed, suddenly the ability to enrich uranium—which is a limited and confined task and is entirely the domain of the great powers and should not go anywhere without their permission—grows and takes shape in this country and shows itself. This indicates that the enemy has not been able to, their sanctions have no effect, and their threats have no effect. Why? Because this nation has preserved its resolute determination, which is based on deep faith, and is moving forward; and they cannot.

While the equipped and ultra-modern propaganda apparatus of these powers is advertising day and night against the Islamic system, the Islamic movement, and the Islamic Republic, the spread of this thought brings about the Gaza incident; a small group, a limited territory, stands against a government that considers itself one of the top military powers in the world. That enemy brings all its resources into the field to try to subjugate this nation and cannot. Is this a small incident?! Is this insignificant?! Before that, the events in Lebanon two years ago, where they also employed all their resources and even the Americans provided military assistance to the Zionist regime, which itself is a nuclear bomb producer and exporter of military equipment, yet the Americans provided it with equipment to enable it to overcome a group of faithful and determined youths who were defending themselves—and they could not; in the thirty-three-day war. Are these small matters?!

These are the points that have changed the geography of power in the world. It has altered the shape of the unjust global system that divides the world into dominators and the dominated. The world, after the 17th and 18th centuries, when the phenomenon of colonialism emerged, had become accustomed to a few limited governments controlling the fate of the countries of the world—governments and nations—based on their military power, not based on moral power. There is a time when a government, due to the strength of its thought, due to its moral fervor, naturally gains influence among a group of nations or governments; however, colonial influence was not like that. Colonial influence was coercive, based on military power, and by the force of the bayonet. The world had become accustomed to a few having this bayonet while the majority of governments and nations submitted to them; then, depending on their cleverness, among those who had submitted, some would have better bread and livelihood; some would not even have that bread and livelihood. Like slaves and servants of a master, where some might get a morsel, while others are left hungry and are slaves.

This habit was broken by the Islamic Revolution. It became clear that no, the dominating powers of the world do not have the final word. The final word is spoken by the nations; it is the determination and faith of the nations that speaks the final word. The Iranian nation taught this. Of course, revolutions had occurred in the world before the Islamic Revolution, but no revolution—throughout the history of revolutions, if you look at the Great French Revolution and before and after it—has been able to maintain its principles over decades as the Islamic Revolution of Iran has maintained its principles and moved in its straight line; it has not submitted to this or that; it has moved directly forward.

The future version is the same; all the Iranian nation knows this and must know this, and you must know and understand this. The path to the ultimate and complete victory of the Iranian nation is that this straight line, the line of faith; faith in God, faith in oneself, faith in national power, national self-confidence, and the path of movement and struggle in all its forms; scientific struggle, practical struggle—and where necessary, military struggle—should not be lost.

The fact that our nation comes out every 22nd of Bahman (February 11) with enthusiasm, excitement, and resolute determination, participating in this great march and showing themselves is a symbolic movement of the steadfastness and resilience of the nation in pursuit of these ideals. The nation shows that we are here. Therefore, you see that over these thirty years, the 22nd of Bahman has taken place under heavy snow and cold and on frozen grounds, and under scorching sunlight—in areas where the weather has been hot—and the people in these marches have come and maintained their presence; they have not allowed the 22nd of Bahman to lose its shine and brilliance. This year, God willing, it will be the same. The Iranian nation will again come out and show their presence. And this truly makes the enemy feel a sense of loss against the Iranian nation; both the presence in the march is like this, and the presence in various arenas—these various elections, the coming of the people, the presence of the people, these great displays of science and technology—which, fortunately, our nation continuously shows; the efforts of our youth are constantly emerging and manifesting, and this must increase day by day.

You have specific and defined responsibilities in your share, in the collective of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic; both in the main part of the Air Force and in the air defense sector, you have important duties. The most important duty is to feel that you must fill the gaps. Wherever you are, fill the gaps in equipment, organizational gaps, and managerial gaps. When a collective has the determination to progress, it does not wait for someone to tell it to go from one place to another. In the very field where it is working, it assesses needs and strives to address that need and fulfill its duty completely. This has, by God's grace, existed in the Air Force until now, and it will continue to exist. When I look at the youthful, faithful, determined faces of the Air Force, I feel this; from the reports and the information that one has, one can understand this.

We honor the memory of all the dear martyrs of the Air Force and the Islamic Republic's army, as well as the dear martyrs of various groups who have struggled in this path and have been martyred, sacrificing their lives and watering this flourishing tree. We honor the memory of our dear Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), who has been the leader of this great movement. And we thank the esteemed officials of the Air Force and the activists of various sectors and the innovators and those who laid the foundation for these innovations in the Air Force, and we hope that God Almighty grants you increasing success and resolute determination so that you can, God willing, bring the army and the armed forces to a point where the Iranian nation feels that no harm threatens it from the enemy.

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