Statements of the Leader of the Revolution in Meeting with Exemplary Basij Members from Across the Country

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 Muhammad and his pure family, especially the Awaited One on earth.

I express my gratitude to the Almighty God for the opportunity to be present at this magnificent and very good meeting. Today coincides with the first of Muharram. There is a connection between the identity and essence of the Basij and the identity of Muharram and Ashura. The Basij takes pride in following the school of Ashura. Of course, Ashura is the pinnacle of sacrifice and selflessness. Throughout history, the entire world has recognized the issue of Ashura and Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him) and his loyal companions with this characteristic: sacrifice, selflessness in the way of God and in the realization of divine goals; however, the issue of Ashura is not limited to this. Yes, the most prominent and evident characteristic of Ashura is this sacrifice and martyrdom; but there are other truths in the event of Ashura. From the beginning of the movement from Medina, the seed of knowledge was sown - this is one of the characteristics of the Ashura event - the seed of insight was sown. If a people, a nation, lacks insight, various truths will not correct their actions; their problems will not be resolved. Therefore, sincerity, timeliness, and sowing the seeds of a growing historical movement are important characteristics of Ashura. The event did not end at noon on Ashura; in fact, from noon on Ashura, a movement began in history that continues to grow and expand. After this, it will remain the same. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) brought all his possessions to the field for the exaltation of the word of truth and for the salvation of the people. These are some of the characteristics that one can generally see and demonstrate in the event of Ashura.

The Basij is this path; this movement; these goals; these tools and means. The Basij is a collection of selflessness from the people, for the people; forming a collective in the great movement of a struggling nation. Presence in defense, presence in science, presence in art, presence in construction, presence in politics, in culture, in helping the oppressed, in aiding the helpless, in production, in technology, in advancing various issues of the country, in sports, in international brilliance, in every good deed; this is the Basij movement; a popular movement, for the people, in the hearts of the people, from the people themselves, from all classes, women, men, youth, elders, teenagers, from various professions; that is, forming a true Hezbollah.

The Basij is political, but not politicized, not factional; the Basij is a struggler, but not undisciplined, not extremist; the Basij is deeply religious and devout, but not rigid, not superstitious; the Basij is insightful, but not self-satisfied; the Basij is of the nature of attraction - we have said maximum attraction - but is not lenient in principles; the Basij is zealous, guarding the lines of distinction; the Basij supports science, but is not obsessed with it; the Basij embodies Islamic ethics, but is not hypocritical; the Basij is engaged in the development of the world, but is not worldly. This has become a culture.

The Basij culture means that collection of knowledge and methods and sources that can create vast collectives within the nation that guarantee the direct and sustainable Islamic movement of that nation. This is a thought; it is not just in the mind, it exists outside and in reality. The Basij movement has changed the destiny of Iran, indeed determined it, even beyond Iran. From the very first day, the Basijis of our Imam acted in various fields of the revolution until the victory of the revolution and after the revolution in a way that became enduring, a model, a legacy of the Iranian nation in the arena of history. Today, the youth of New York and California also repeat the slogans of the people of Egypt and Tunisia, drawing inspiration from them; they do not deny it. The youth of Egypt and Tunisia have also drawn inspiration from Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad and have learned from them and have not hidden it. And the first teacher in the new era was the Basij of our great Imam; from whom everyone learned and from the disabled veterans and the martyrs of this revolution learned how to defeat the myths of material power, how to break idols in the name of God, how to stand firm, how to resist.

These are the truths that today the existence of the Basij, the reality of the Basij, the movement of the Basij, the goals of the Basij, make us familiar with these truths. The Islamic revolution and the revolutionary nation, with such a culture, with such teachings, with such a spirit, have been able to make many impossibilities possible and realized; and this movement will continue. The enmity of the enemies cannot have an effect. Of course, the enemy acts with enmity - there should be no doubt about this, nor should we expect anything else from the enemy - however, when we observe the great movement of the Iranian nation from the beginning of this revolution, this movement, this general uprising until today, we see it has a clear trajectory. The Iranian nation is moving forward, reaching new heights, overcoming various challenges in various fields; and the enemies retreat and yield in this confrontation; they are compelled to do so. With this movement, the destiny of the Iranian nation is a definite victory.

Today, throughout the Islamic region and the Arab region, Islamic movements and Islamic awakenings are observed; this is exactly what for thirty years those who were familiar with the truth of the revolution expected, and the enemies of the revolution have trembled at the thought of such a thing for thirty years; they had fears and anxieties about the events that have occurred today. The designers of conspiracies against the Islamic revolution predicted that such events would occur; and they did occur, and this will continue and will not stop.

Today, the Muslim nations in the Arab region have raised their heads, have become aware, have awakened. The enemies cannot suppress them and cannot divert their path. The movement has begun and has affected the state of the world. The same movements that you see today in the Western world, in America and Europe, indicate the immense changes that the future of the world will witness.

We are not surprised by the reactions of the enemies; we are not surprised by the threats that are made, by the sanctions they impose, by what the arrogant countries do in this period in confronting the Islamic Republic system. They know that the center of this movement was the Islamic Republic and the steadfastness of the Iranian nation that has been able to spread this spirit in the region that it is possible to stand against the hegemony of global arrogance. Global arrogance has always advanced its work through intimidation - they intimidated nations, they intimidated the leaders of countries - when this veil of terror is broken, when nations realize that this hegemony is not real and is merely superficial, this weapon will be taken from the hands of global arrogance. And today, this has happened. Therefore, they are angry, they are furious, they are putting pressure on the Islamic Republic.

Of course, it is wrong to accuse the Islamic Republic of having instigated these movements; this is an unfounded and baseless accusation; there is no need for this. The Islamic system, with its existence, with its steadfastness, with its sincerity in this path - which the Iranian nation has shown to be sincere in this path - has been an inspiration, and this inspiration exists. The nations have awakened and found their path. The enemies also act with enmity. Of course, these hostilities create challenges. The Iranian nation has become accustomed to confronting these challenges, and God willing, we will overcome all the challenges that the enemies create and will be victorious, and the Almighty God has destined this victory for the Iranian nation and ultimately for the Islamic community and the establishment of the luminous truths of Islam in the world.

We hope that the Almighty God grants the ability to continue on this path to all our dear nation, to our dear Basij youth, to all the youth of this country, and to the officials. Everyone should know that they are responsible in these matters; both the officials of the country and various classes. The people are present in the field. The readiness of the people in various matters is complete. The officials must also appreciate this nation and this readiness and perform their duties, the tasks that are on their shoulders, in the best possible way in the three branches of government, and the nation should move forward with unity.

These Islamic movements around the Islamic world are undoubtedly enduring movements, progressive movements. Nations are awakening one after another. The puppets of global arrogance will be removed from the scene one after another, and God willing, day by day, the glory of Islam and the power of Islam will increase.

O Lord! Make us worthy of these great blessings; make us grateful for these great blessings. O Lord! Illuminate our hearts with the light of Your love and knowledge and that of Your saints; include us in the prayer of the Awaited One (may our souls be sacrificed for him).

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