Statements of the Supreme Leader at the Grand Ashura Maneuver by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our Master and Prophet, Abul-Qasim Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen family, especially the remainder of God on earth.

For me, being among you dear young people, who without any exaggeration are considered today the elite youth of Islam and soldiers of the Quran, is a source of satisfaction, and I thank God for this blessing. Just as I am always grateful to God for the blessing of having young, faithful, revolutionary, determined, and resolute individuals like you in defending truth and righteousness. The generation you represent today, and the vast multitude of faithful and devout youth of which you are outstanding examples, are present throughout the country, and they are the ones about whom Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) said: 'The greatest conquest of the Islamic Revolution is the nurturing of such youth.' Indeed, it is truly so.

Regarding this grand maneuver of over one hundred thousand people, I will mention two points: The first point concerns the form. The form of the work indicates that in the Islamic Republic, by the grace of God, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has acquired the capability and power to have a comprehensive and strong presence at the desired point in a very short time. This is a source of pride. This is due to the blessing of faith and under the shadow of a will that arises from love and faith. This is the same spirit of the battlefield, the same spirit of 'Karbala Five' and 'Valfajr Eight.' This is the same determination to cross the 'Arvand,' the same 'Fath al-Mubin,' 'Beit al-Moqaddas,' and breaking the siege of Abadan. The essence is the same. The difference that has emerged is that today the organization is stronger and more organized, the command is more aware and insightful, and the forces are more familiar and interested in the nature of military work. In those days, the presence of the enemy on the scene called everyone to action. Today, what calls everyone to action is the presence of 'duty.' The Quranic verse states, 'And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war.' This is the highest level of what our country and nation witnessed during the imposed war. This frightens the enemies and makes friends happy, hopeful, and confident. This shows that the Islamic Republic can no longer be caught off guard. This shows that the Islamic Republic has not left the beautiful, fragrant flower defenseless so that the enemy's hand can reach out from every side and pluck it. This is the sword of Zulfiqar; a double-edged sword that both pleases friends and frightens enemies. It is both for creating necessary readiness in times of danger and for preventing the enemy's greed. Every hour you spend here in formation, during the parade, during training and maneuvers (meaning from the time you left your home and city until, God willing, you return there safely), all of it is a good deed and charity. Every step you take is a good deed and charity for that intention and goal. The presence of all those vast groups of warriors spread throughout this country, about whom the dear Imam of this nation said, 'A country that is Islamic, all its people must be military in this sense,' is a good deed and charity. This is for that goal and for that work. The warriors, the mobilization present everywhere, and the army and the Guard must have these preparations everywhere. This is from the formal aspect of the matter and has been done well so far. God willing, until the end of the maneuver, with your precision and vigilance, it will be carried out in the best way, and this will become a reserve for you in creating that armed force that combines the divine and technical aspects. As, thanks be to God, even now, to a large extent, it is so.

But from the spiritual and real aspect. The nations of the world and human history have learned and seen that a group of people and a country throughout history, in every part of the world, work hard, strive, put the enemy in its place, show sacrifice, and create pride until victory is achieved. The fate of most of these countries and nations has been such that after they have achieved victory with difficulty, they have gone into their homes, communities, cities, and villages and become busy with life, savoring the sweet and savory of life. They have forgotten that they had an enemy and at what a heavy price they achieved the pride of victory. They have fallen asleep, and the enemy that was defeated on the battlefield has come after them after the war and, with ease and without effort, has stolen and taken away the precious achievement that was so valuable to them.

Look at history and see that this is the fate of many countries. This is the fate of many heedless nations. There were those who even during the war, instead of thinking about the enemy's danger, thought about a comfortable life and not disturbing the material peace of life, and if a bit of their material peace was scratched, they would protest against everyone. After the war and the acceptance of the ceasefire from the year sixty-seven onwards, there have been such people and such spirits. We are like the rest of human societies, and the same afflictions, the same dangers, and the same fates threaten us.

Not that a country should not use the results of its powerful peace during peacetime. Peace and life belong to this nation. The country belongs to this nation. They must use the blessings of this country. They must build their country and must increase prosperity day by day. If you look at the Holy Quran, one of the concepts that is repeated a lot from the blessed Surah 'Baqarah' to the last Surah of the Quran (Surah 'An-Nas') is the concept of 'Satan.'

The fact that we have believed and brought Satan to the ground does not mean the work is finished. This is so that an aware, wise, awake, and analytical nation should not remain heedless of the existence, presence, danger, conspiracy, and malice of the enemy.

Today, by the grace of God, our armed forces, whether the army or the Guard, are engaged in construction work throughout this country: building roads, highways, dams, doing development work, setting up farms, and doing many other things. This means that the youth of this nation, even in military attire, always want and can be useful for their country. But my point is that the elite youth of this country and the devoted leaders of this nation are those who are always aware that this trust of Islamic governance that is in their hands today is a trust from all the prophets, saints, and Imams. This was the wish of all those who died in the period of human deprivation from divine governance, in exile, and suffered in torture chambers, wishing that God Almighty would grant them relief at some time. This is everyone's wish and the result of centuries. It must be protected with all power, strength, vigilance, and awareness.

Of course, we have cultural protection, economic protection, scientific and political protection. But if there is no military protection; if these preparations are not there, all of them can be wasted in half a day. They make a fuss against us that 'the Islamic Republic is militaristic.' The trumpet and pen and everything are in the hands of the enemy; what do you expect from the enemy?! Do you expect the enemy to praise and commend Islam, Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), the Islamic Ummah, and the Islamic Republic?! Of course, they speak ill! Of course, they slander; they also slander militarism! This should not cause us to be unprepared.

The world should know that we are not people of aggression, corruption, oppression, and creating injustice; but we are not people of submission either. The world should know that military threats, nuclear threats, economic blockade threats, and collusion threats do not affect the Iranian nation; because the Iranian nation relies on God.

The other day I read this part of a prayer somewhere: 'Your neighbor is mighty, Your praise is great, Your favors are sanctified, and there is no god but You.' This nation is the neighbor of God. This nation relies on God. It believes in God and moves for God. Whoever relies on God is dear. God does not leave His ally and His sincere servants in the middle of the field.

My dear ones! Did God leave the Iranian nation in these sixteen years?! By God, even after this, as long as you are on this path, God will not leave you. This path is the path of God, the path of honor, and the path of paradise; but God's grace for the people of this path is not only specific to the realm after death. 'And another [favor] that you love - victory from God and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers.' The nature of this path is such. Now America and the arrogant powers of the world and the Zionists and the company owners and their lowly mercenaries and their despicable servants can say whatever they want. They do not understand and do not analyze Iran's issues. This nation is a dear and faithful nation. This system is a divine system. Our faithful nation is an ancient nation; but young. Today, youth form the main face of this nation. This young and enthusiastic nation stands to complete the path of happiness it has started and to be a model for other nations. If you can pass this pass, which you have already passed more than half of it, it will be an experience for other nations. America is also afraid of this. America wants to somehow prevent you from completing this pass; or to overthrow you in the pass, which it knows is impossible. It knows that it will not happen; so it tries to make you gradually believe that 'what is the need; it is good to go back!' It tries to make you believe that 'follow the path that the travelers have gone.' Like the other governments and states and those whom America likes and they also like America, let us live. But America has misunderstood. By the grace of God, the favors and kindnesses of the Master of the Age, the spirit of the world of existence, and the darling of all existence, whom God has favored us with knowledge and love, will include this nation.

I sincerely thank each and every one of you dear ones who attended; especially the dear commanders of the Guard and those who have worked so hard in this maneuver. I hope that, God willing, you will spend these hours until the end of the maneuver with precision, care, expertise, and greater success, and complete this great work in the best way. God willing, you will make the holy heart of the Master of the Age and the pure soul of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) more pleased with you than ever, and God willing, you will make the memory of the dear martyrs of the war and revolution and the great commanders and those whose legacy is all that exists, more alive day by day, and make the veterans, the self-sacrificers, the missing, the freed, and their dear families proud and happy.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings