Speech at the Allegiance Ceremony of a Large Group of Exemplary Basijis

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

I also extend my condolences to you, dear brothers and sisters of the Basij, and the children of the Imam of the nation, on this great and heart-wrenching loss.

It is true that the passionate and sincere twenty-million-strong Basij of the country has lost a kind father. Truly, the relationship between you and that luminous and compassionate heart was like that of a father and child. Perhaps it never happened that in the presence of that great figure, the Basij and the sacrifices of the faithful and sincere youth in the battlefields and revolutionary scenes were discussed, without that great figure recalling this passionate popular movement with tenderness and affection. Sometimes individuals among the vast and numerous Basij would meet with Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), and that dear father would respond to them with affectionate and paternal kindness.

Now we do not have that great presence among us, and this is a bitter reality. We who believe that the spirit of the faithful is free, perceptive, and dominant over worldly affairs, can perhaps confidently say that the sacred spirit of the Imam is currently observing the state of our society and is attentive to his children. This nation was his children. Truly, what does that great figure expect from us and his children? This is the main point. Mourning is necessary; it is not in our control. How can we not weep over this calamity and cover our overflowing emotions towards that unique dear one? These are preserved in their place; however, the main issue is the continuation of his path and the implementation of his will. If he were alive today, what would he want from us? It is important that we put his wishes into practice.

The core and elite of the nation is the "Basij." You, at any age and from any class—whether a thirteen-year-old teenager or a ninety-year-old elder—and in any part of the country where you live, should constantly reflect and ask yourself what the dear and beloved Imam wants from me and whether I am fulfilling what he expects from me. This direct line will guide us to realize the goals and ideals of the great Imam.

The expectation that the Imam had from the Basij was constant readiness and presence; because the Basij is the main support of the revolution. Our forces—the army and the Revolutionary Guards—Thanks be to God, are good forces. Each of them has merits that we do not see in any other armed force in the world. The Revolutionary Guards is a passionate, revolutionary, tested, and experienced force that has made the Islamic Republic proud in the battlefields for ten years and is the fruit of the tree of the revolution. The army is also an organized and efficient force that, despite the enemy's investments, has been placed in the service of the revolution and has become a powerful arm for it. Besides the ten-year presence in the battlefield, it has trained, supported, and provided valuable grounds. Today, the army is a very efficient, faithful, and sincere force and a reserve for the revolution, and there is no doubt about this belief.

However, what our revolution—with its great claims—relies on is the "Basij" force. If we separate the Basij and popular forces from those two forces, the army and the Revolutionary Guards will not be able to support the revolution in its global dimensions. The axis of defense of the revolution is these vast millions of Basij. In ordinary life, the Basij is part of the millions of masses; but it must have organization, training, and retraining. It should not be content with the training given over a few months; rather, it should be repeated.

If a Basiji is engaged in school, university, seminary, factory, farm, or office, he should know that he is part of the great popular and revolutionary army and should be proud of it. In any group where its members are part of the Basij, they are superior and more advanced than others in terms of service to the revolution; because whenever the system is threatened, the chest of the Basiji will shield the revolution. Therefore, anyone who enters this field is the most valuable person in society and should be proud of this success. I am also proud to be a Basiji. As a Basiji, wherever the revolution needs me, I am ready to serve. We should all be proud of this membership; because the Basij performs the most fundamental work of the revolution.

Preserving the existence of the revolution is our first task, which is embodied in the continuation of the Islamic Republic system. For this reason, Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) repeatedly said: preserving the Islamic system is the most obligatory duty. The revolution is not separate from the Islamic Republic system. No one should think that these two are separate. The embodiment of the revolution is the Islamic Republic system, which all the world's bullies had joined hands to uproot.

Today, the enmity and hostility of American arrogance, the great global capitalists, the occupying Zionist regime, and reactionaries continue and oppose it. When our revolution succeeded, the Islamic Republic system was born. Therefore, defending this system is the first, most sacred, and most obligatory duty of the Iranian nation, and a Basiji is someone who shields his chest and takes on the defense of the revolution with whatever means he has; because in reality, he has defended Islam and the Quran.

Of course, those in the world who are waiting to speak against the Islamic Republic with any excuse or without any excuse, misunderstand that by encouraging people to be more prepared, we are warlike and have no interest in peace! No, it is not like that. We have proven to the world that we are not warlike and have shown that we are sincerely interested in the existence of peace throughout the region—indeed, the whole world.

We believe that in peace and tranquility, internal and external constructions can be pursued. We are not warlike—we were not from the beginning—they imposed the war on us. We are a nation that defends ourselves; we defend well. We are not a people who retreat and turn our backs on the enemy; we face danger. In the past ten years, we have shown this truth.

Currently, despite the fact that the Iraqi regime and others talk a lot about peace, we accept these statements and welcome negotiations that lead to a lasting peace. We do not hide the fact that as long as the enemy's forces are on our soil, we will not have the necessary trust in the other party. What kind of peace-loving is it that they claim; while they have not yet taken the first necessary action?! They must withdraw their forces from our soil, then talk about peace.

We always consider readiness to defend the revolution necessary. Not a day should pass for us where the importance of public readiness is neglected. This is something that will not be praised or pitied by anyone. The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) taught us and said: "And whoever sleeps, his enemy will not sleep about him"; if you fall asleep, know that your enemy is awake. Therefore, the Basij organization—especially the youth in all segments of the people—must continue its work and path with strength, power, readiness, enthusiasm, and a sense of necessity, and take on the duty of defending the revolution as before.

Our Basiji sisters, who are veiled, chaste, and committed to religious manners, remind one of the early days of Islam, are also involved in this sacred and important defense and have a prominent role in the millions-strong presence of the Basij.

The respected officials of the Basij must give great importance to organization; because the main issue is organization, and within the framework of good organization, good training, support, and intellectual nourishment take shape.

You Basijis must behave in a way that earns the respect and affection of the people. You must be an example of ethics, humility, kindness, and adherence to regulations. This wrong idea must be removed from the minds of others that a Basiji is someone who does not follow regulations; on the contrary, the one who is more Basiji is the one who follows regulations more; because this person cares more about the system and regulations are the essential requirements for the proper administration of the system.

Therefore, in the work and living environment, be sure to observe ethics, regulations, order, and discipline and know that your existence is an inexhaustible reserve for the revolution. As long as the revolution and the Islamic Republic system rely on these feelings, faiths, and sincerity, no enemy at any level can strike the revolution and the Islamic Republic system.

God willing, may God preserve, support, and protect you and bring your hearts closer to Himself and grant you the success of obedience and servitude and always keep His hand of grace over your heads.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings