Statements in Meeting with a Group of Commanders and Personnel of the Air Force

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

I extend my warm welcome to dear brothers, the officials of very sensitive positions in a significant part of the armed forces, namely the Air Force of the Islamic Republic and the defense forces. I congratulate all of you, all the personnel of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the defense forces, and your families on this day, which is indeed the day of the Air Force. We also thank the choir group for their good performance.

The issue of the nineteenth of Bahman, which you commemorate every year, goes beyond merely recalling a sweet memory; yes, it is an important memory, a sweet memory, and it is appropriate to preserve such memories. However, the matter is deeper than that. The incident of the nineteenth of Bahman carries a profound and lasting significance; it was an event where the youth of the Air Force of the monarchy rose up and pledged allegiance to Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) with such clarity and courage - I was present at that ceremony; some of them held their identification cards high to show them - this has a meaning, a significance that must be preserved; this is a revolutionary duty. What is that significance? It is that the revolution was a compelling and attractive truth that could draw hearts - unbiased and enlightened hearts - towards itself, no matter where they were in the country; even in a place like the Air Force of the monarchy, which was the darling of the ruling apparatus of that day, indeed the darling of America. The Air Force was treated like a favorite; both the Americans and their agents in our country - who unfortunately were at the helm of affairs and held power - treated the Air Force in this manner. Yet, this very Air Force, under the influence of the attraction of the truth of the revolution, became so excited that it performed such a great act; that is, in broad daylight, in front of so many agents and amidst various threats that existed that day, they rose up and pledged allegiance to the Imam in Iran Street, sang songs, stood firm, and held their identification cards high. The important significance of this incident is this; the extraordinary attraction of the revolution, and the truth that was embedded within the revolution that drew hearts towards itself; we must recognize, understand, and preserve this.

Beyond the country, the same event occurred in the world. This revolution had the ability to penetrate and manifest itself in all corners of the country; for instance, consider that not only in cities but also in villages, people would rise up and move from one point to another, chanting slogans; slogans in favor of the Imam and the revolution, and against the tyrannical and dictatorial regime; thus, the entire nation rose up. In addition, this same event occurred on a global scale - albeit gradually - in every part of the world; in Asia, in the depths of Africa, even in Latin America, nations were excited by the emergence of a people who had the courage and bravery to stand against America and openly reject American bullying. Many struggled to tune into Iranian radios. I saw people in Arab countries who had learned Persian just from listening to Iranian radio. This is attraction; it is the attraction of the revolution that was able to draw hearts - the masses, intellectuals, youth, and academics - from all over the world that were not heavily influenced by enemy propaganda; this event occurred everywhere. Seeing a nation standing up against bullying excited those nations who were themselves facing the bullying of America and Western powers; it made them supporters; it made them interested. This occurred almost universally in all places - one must say - of the oppressed world; in Africa, in Asia, in remote areas, in Latin America, it was nearly ubiquitous. We became fully aware of this; many individuals would come and go, and one could clearly observe the impact of the revolution and the influence of the name of the Imam.

Well, what was the opposite point? The opposite point was those powers that this massive movement was against; at the forefront was the government of the United States of America. They were severely agitated and terrified by the fact that such a massive and expanding movement was engulfing all the nations under their influence, and they were compelled to react and showed harsh reactions. The first remedy that came to their minds was to extinguish the center; that central point from which all this excitement arose, they aimed to extinguish it so that naturally, the issue would fade away in other places. Therefore, they exerted all the pressure they could.

The enmity of America with the Islamic Republic began from day one; the youth should know this. They did everything they could; indeed, there is no action that a government like America could take against a nation, against a country in military, economic, security, or cultural communication terms that they have not done; they have done everything they could up to today. Their enmity is with the revolution and has been; their enmity is with the people who have accepted and embraced this revolution. It is incorrect for some to portray it as if America's enmity and the enmity of the arrogant regime is with individuals - they were enemies with the Imam or today they are enemies with Ali Khamenei - this is not the case; their enmity is with the essence of this concept, with the essence of this movement, with the essence of this direction characterized by steadfastness, independence-seeking, and dignity-seeking, and with a nation that has accepted these and is acting upon them; their enmity is with these. And this enmity has existed since that day, is present today, and continues. A nation that stood firm on this stance over these many years and endured its difficulties is despised by them. Some American politicians have made mistakes and have even stated this verbally; in recent years, they have explicitly said that they are enemies with the Iranian nation; they oppose the Iranian nation; today, every action taken by the Americans and their allies is aimed at bringing the Iranian nation to its knees; it is aimed at humiliating the Iranian nation.

Of course, they are mistaken; they are mistaken in their analysis; this is a reality that the Americans are mistaken in analyzing the events of this region and specifically analyzing the events of our dear country; they are making strategic mistakes; it is these mistakes that are continually harming them, striking them, and thwarting them; they have calculation errors.

An American official said just a few days ago that the Iranians are trapped; the Iranians come to the negotiating table with their hands tied in the nuclear issues. Well, this is a calculation error; the Iranians are not trapped; now, God willing, you will see on the twenty-second of Bahman what the Iranian nation will do and what presence it will have; then it will become clear whether the hands of the Iranian nation are tied. The hands of the Iranian nation are not tied, and this has been demonstrated in practice and will continue to be shown; the officials of the country will also, God willing, with their initiatives and courage, demonstrate that the hands of the Iranian nation are not tied. He imagines that he has cornered Iran! He says the backs of the Iranians are against the wall! No, sir, you are mistaken! It is you who are in trouble. All the realities of our region indicate that America has failed in its objectives in this region and outside of it. America has failed in Syria, America has failed in Iraq, America has failed in Lebanon, America has failed in the Palestinian issue, America has failed in Gaza, America has failed in dominating the issues of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and is despised among those nations; outside of this region, it is the same; America has failed in Ukraine; it is you who have suffered defeat; it has been years of defeat after defeat!

The Islamic Republic has advanced. Today, the Islamic Republic is not comparable to the Islamic Republic system of 35 years ago. The accumulation of experiences, the accumulation of work, numerous advancements, immense regional influence, the embedding of the principles of the revolution in the depths of the hearts of the youth of this country; are these small matters? These events exist; these are truths.

In various matters, they are making the same calculation errors. Thanks be to God, with the efforts of the people, with the efforts of you youth in all parts of the country, in all other sectors, similar to the activities that the respected commander just mentioned that have taken place in the Air Force, are being carried out on a wide scale in all the institutions of the country; this is happening while under sanctions, while the enemies have imposed sanctions; we are making progress in sciences, we are making progress in technology, we are making progress in various social issues, we are making progress in various international matters; various experiences, consecutively, are creating a valuable reserve for the Islamic Republic. We are moving forward and making progress, despite the enemy, to the chagrin of the enemy; it is they who have failed. They wanted to uproot this root; they were unwilling to tolerate the Islamic Republic system [but] today they are compelled to tolerate the Islamic Republic system. In various matters, through various political, security, economic, and cultural means - all kinds of tricks - they are trying to inflict every blow they can, but it is fruitless; the Islamic Republic is advancing with power.

Now they have taken the nuclear issue as an example and are pretending that the Islamic Republic is helpless in the nuclear issue; this is not the case.

Let me say this here: Firstly, I agree with any agreement that can be reached; of course, not a bad agreement. The Americans repeatedly say, "We believe that not reaching an agreement is better than reaching a bad agreement"; yes, we share this belief; we also believe that not reaching an agreement is better than a bad agreement, an agreement that is detrimental to national interests, an agreement that humiliates the great and magnificent Iranian nation.

Secondly, let it be known to all: Our officials and our negotiating team and our government are making every effort to take the weapon of sanctions out of the hands of the enemy.

Their effort is to take the weapon of sanctions out of the hands of this treacherous enemy. Of course, if they can do so, that would be better [but] if they cannot, let everyone know, both our enemies and our friends in the world, that there are many solutions available domestically that can neutralize the enemy's weapon. It is not the case that we should think that the weapon of sanctions is undoubtedly a working weapon; no, if we strive, if we pay proper attention to our own resources - which, thanks be to God, this spirit exists - we can neutralize the weapon of sanctions, even if we cannot take it out of the enemy's hands.

Thirdly, in this matter, a good point was made by the respected president a while ago in a speech, and that is that negotiation means that both sides try to reach a common point; well, this means that one side will not have all that it desires and expects realized. The Americans are like this. The Americans and a few European countries - who follow America like children and are indeed making mistakes, they are making a strategic error, these European countries are subservient to America - with utmost expectation, their demand is that whatever they want, with the same characteristics they want, must be realized; well, this is wrong, this is not the way of negotiation. The Iranian side has taken some actions that could bring it closer to an agreement. They have done multiple things: they have halted the expansion and development of enrichment machines; well, they deemed it necessary to halt it for a period; the production of twenty percent uranium - which is a very significant achievement in reaching the knowledge and technology of twenty percent, is a very significant achievement; those who are knowledgeable in the field know that the importance of reaching from five percent to twenty percent is much greater than reaching from twenty percent upwards; this significant work was done by our committed youth and technologists - they have halted it, the exigency of negotiation required that they halt it; they have currently halted the Arak factory, which is one of the very significant technological works and a great technological achievement; they have currently halted Fordow, which is one of the best innovations that our forces and our domestic elements were able to secure and guarantee for the security of our centrifuge devices. They have done all these significant works, thus the Iranian side has acted logically, has acted according to the logic of negotiation; the opposite side is being greedy, is being audacious, is demanding tribute; well, if our officials show steadfastness in these areas, they are right, no one should blame them, they must show steadfastness and they are showing steadfastness. That is, the Islamic Republic has moved with logic from the beginning and in various matters; we based our work on logic during the imposed war; we acted logically in accepting the resolution; in the various matters that have existed since the war until today, we have acted everywhere based on logic and reasoning; the Islamic Republic has never shown illogic; in this matter, it is also moving with logic. However, the opposite side does not understand logic; the opposite side relies on illogic based on force - they themselves say that we have been able to force Iran to halt the expansion of its nuclear devices, to stop this and that; they are right, the Islamic Republic has done these actions according to the logic of negotiations - they admit it; however, they are being greedy. Well, the Iranian nation will not submit to greed and bullying.

We agree with the progress that our government officials have initiated and are striving for - they are truly making efforts and spending time and energy - we agree with reaching a good agreement. I also agree, and I am confident that the Iranian nation will not oppose any agreement that preserves its dignity, respects it, and safeguards its interests; however, these characteristics must undoubtedly be observed; the dignity and respect of the Iranian nation and the fundamental issue of the progress of the Iranian nation must be preserved and maintained. The Iranian nation has not become accustomed to listening to the bullying of enemies and submitting to bullying and tribute-seeking; whoever it may be on the other side, whether it be America [or others]. One day, America and the former Soviet Union had united against the Islamic Republic and despite all their differences, they bullied; the Islamic Republic did not yield to their bullying, the Islamic Republic prevailed, the Islamic Republic succeeded; today it will be the same. Today, the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic system will not yield to bullying.

This statement that one hears now that they say, "At one point, let’s agree on the general principles, then on the details," I do not approve of this; I do not approve of this. With the experience we have from the behavior of the opposite side, I feel that this will become a means for continuous excuses regarding the details. If they are going to agree, they should finalize all the details and the generalities in one session and sign it. It is not logical to agree on the generalities separately, and then based on those generalities - which are ambiguous, open to interpretation, and analyzable - go to the details; no, this is not logical.

Everything that is contracted between our officials and the opposite side must be clear, explicit, and unambiguous. It should not be the case that the opposite side - which advances its agenda through stubbornness and bargaining - can again make excuses regarding various issues, create difficulties; no, all of this is to ensure that the weapon and tool of sanctions are taken out of the enemy's hands. If they can accomplish this, that is good. Of course, sanctions must genuinely be taken out of the enemy's hands, sanctions must be lifted; an agreement must be reached in this manner; otherwise, if they do not succeed in this regard, the Iranian nation and the officials and the respected government and others have many paths to take, and they must certainly pursue those paths to neutralize the weapon of sanctions and make it ineffective.

God willing, on the twenty-second of Bahman, the Iranian nation will show that anyone who seeks to humiliate the Iranian nation will face a counter-strike from the Iranian nation. All of the Iranian nation, all the well-wishers, agree that national dignity is extremely important for a country. If there is dignity, security will also come; if there is security, progress will be practical; otherwise, if a nation is humiliated, everything will be put at stake; even its security, even its wealth, and everything. National dignity must be preserved, and the officials know this, and the Iranian nation, God willing, will demonstrate its power and determination on the twenty-second of Bahman, bringing the enemy to its knees. O Lord! Bestow Your grace and blessings upon all the Iranian nation; grant us all Your guidance; O Lord! Unite the dear martyrs of the imposed war and before and after it, and all the martyrs of the armed forces and the Air Force with the Prophet; unite our great Imam - who was the driving force behind this blessed movement, that great man - with the Prophet.

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