Statements in Meeting with Members of the Supreme Council of the Basij of the Oppressed

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 and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen family and companions, and those who follow them with goodness until the Day of Judgment.

First, I extend my warm welcome to you, dear brothers and sisters, the elites of the Basij community of the country and the chosen ones who have combined intellect, knowledge, and love, stepping into a field where the end of presence in this field is certain victory and, God willing, acceptance before the Almighty God. God Almighty mentions in one part of the Quran those who "He loves them and they love Him" - they love God, and God loves them - and in another part of the Quran, He introduces them, saying: "Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in rows as if they were a solid structure"; meaning these young men, women, elites, wise, and believers who have taken all their abilities and existence into their hands and entered the field; this is the meaning we attribute to the Basij. God willing, may He reward you, grant you success, never deprive you of His guidance and direction, and increase His blessings upon you day by day.

The statements of these two dear brothers - the esteemed Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the President of the Basij Organization - were precise and correct; they were strong, measured, and calculated statements. I will also share a few sentences.

We have seen the Basij in action from the beginning until today; in various fields, but all in action. In the Sacred Defense - the eight-year war - in construction; in diverse technologies - from stem cells to nuclear energy, these are the works of the Basij - from the presence of doctors in hospitals near the front lines, which I myself saw during that time when the enemy could hit these centers with short-range mortars. Doctors from Tehran and other cities were ready; as soon as they were informed from the front, their bags were packed, and they would set off to work in such situations; from the artistic activities of the Basij, prominent, active, and effective artistic works that have evolved day by day until today; we have observed the Basij everywhere in action. However, the field is very vast - which I will refer to later - from scientific action to artistic action, to military action, to construction action, to economic action, and all of these.

What seems to me to have been less addressed and needs to be addressed is the intellectual background and the intellectual support of the Basij. The Basij is an ideology, a thought, a logic, a system of thought. The reason why we see educated, elite, and genius individuals from various fields attracted to the Basij is that the Basij is not merely an emotional movement; there is a strong logic behind the Basij; this logic, when combined with action, creates this uproar; it produces astonishing events. What is the foundation of this thought?

I will share a few short sentences about this thought - the thought that is the basis of the Basij, the intellectual support of the Basij. I will mention two points in this regard, which deserve thinking, discussion, and work.

The foundation of this thought is the belief in human responsibility; human responsibility. Human beings are responsible beings. The opposite of this thought is the state of irresponsibility, "let it go," "go enjoy yourself," "take care of yourself." The foundational thought of the Basij is this divine responsibility, which I will now mention has solid religious foundations. Not only responsibility towards oneself and one’s family and close ones - which exists - but also responsibility towards the events of life; towards the fate of the world, the fate of the country, and the fate of society, whether Muslim or non-Muslim. This sense of responsibility is not only towards like-minded, Muslim, and believing individuals but even towards non-Muslims and non-believers. The opposite of this is the state of negligence, irresponsibility, laziness, and similar attitudes. The main foundation of the Basij is this sense of responsibility. This thought of human responsibility is part of the clear tenets of Islam. That is, no one can doubt that Islam considers human beings as such: beings who are responsible, who are required to act.

You observe various rulings: for example, the ruling of enjoining good and forbidding wrong. Enjoining good means you are all responsible for promoting goodness, commanding it; forbidding wrong means you should prevent ugliness, badness, and filth; stop it by various means. What does this mean? It means responsibility for the public health of society. Everyone is responsible: I am responsible; you are responsible; that one is responsible. Or the issue of jihad. Islamic jihad is essentially helping nations that have been placed behind the veil of colonial, arrogant, and tyrannical policies so that the light of Islam does not reach them; the light of guidance does not reach them. Jihad is to tear apart these veils and curtains; this is Islamic jihad. The discussion of whether jihad is defensive or offensive or similar is a subsidiary discussion; the main discussion is: "What is the matter with you that you do not fight in the way of Allah and the oppressed among men, women, and children?"; why do you not engage in jihad, do not fight, do not battle in the way of God - and immediately [it says] - and in the way of the oppressed, to save the oppressed? This sense of responsibility means you go and put your life at risk and hold your life in your hands in dangerous fields to save the oppressed; this meaning is the same responsibility. Or this famous hadith: "Whoever wakes up and does not care about the affairs of Muslims is not a Muslim"; and many such verses and narrations in Islamic texts that are part of the clear tenets of Islam; that is, Islam wants human beings to be responsible; both towards themselves, towards their close ones, towards their society, and towards humanity. If you pursue this thought in Islamic texts, you will observe astonishing things from this concern and this sense of responsibility.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) implores the Almighty God, pleading, "O Allah, guide my people"; his people were those who beat him, rejected him, threatened him with death, and inflicted so much hardship upon him, yet he implores God to save them, to heal them, to guide them! This is the Prophet. When Amir al-Mu'minin hears that the troops of Muawiya have plundered that city, he sorrowfully says - "I have heard that the men of this plundering army entered the house of a Muslim and the other of a covenant" - the men of this plundering army entered the homes of Muslims and covenant holders (covenant holders are non-Muslims living under the protection of Islam; Christians, Jews) and insulted the women, took the jewelry of the women, and then the Imam says that if a Muslim dies from this sorrow, it is justified. You see; this is the extent of the sense of responsibility. He does not say if the commander of the Muslims dies, it is justified; he says if a human being, if a Muslim dies from this sorrow, it is justified. This is the same sense of responsibility. The main foundation of the Basij movement is this: the sense of divine responsibility.

The second foundation that complements the first is insight, awareness. What does this mean? It means understanding the time, understanding the needs, understanding priorities, understanding the enemy, understanding the friend, understanding the means that must be used against the enemy; this understanding; insight. One cannot fight with just one weapon. In all fields, one cannot go with just one weapon. Which weapon should we use? Where is the enemy? I have often said that those who lack insight - like those unfortunate ones who got caught in the sedition - are like those who want to strike an enemy in the darkness of night, in thick fog, in dust; well, they do not know where the enemy is; one of the first conditions of military wars is information; go and gather information and see where the enemy is. If you go without information, you might hit a place where a friend is; you might strike someone who is not your enemy and help the enemy; sometimes it happens this way. If there is no insight, this can happen; as it was said: "The one who is knowledgeable about his time is not attacked by doubts"; doubts and ignorance do not assault someone who is knowledgeable about his time; he understands what he should do. If this is not there, problems will arise, even if that sense of responsibility exists.

Some had a sense of responsibility during the struggles but did not understand where to spend it; they spent it in ways that were detrimental to the great movement of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified); after the revolution, it has been the same; even today, it is the same. Some feel, they have a sense of responsibility, they are motivated, but they spend this motivation incorrectly; they spend it in the wrong place; they do not aim their weapon where it should be aimed; this is due to lack of insight. Now, a few years ago, in the issue of the sedition, we said insight; some scoffed at the term insight! Yes, insight; without insight, the more responsibility and motivation there is, the greater the danger; there is no longer any certainty about this ignorant and blind person who does not recognize the friend, does not recognize the enemy, and does not understand where to spend this feeling, this force, this motivation. This became the second pillar, which is very necessary. If this second pillar is absent, his enjoining good will be mistaken, his jihad will be mistaken, his matters of concern will go wrong, and he will go astray.

May God's mercy and pleasure be upon Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) who thought of all these things; that keen and insightful eye, that divine insight, without having studied politics anywhere or learned from anyone, received all that was necessary in this regard as inspiration from the Almighty God; it was inspired to that pure heart. The Imam established the Basij and showed the direction. The Imam did not just say move, get going, feel responsible, be a Basij member; no, he said what to do. He told us to shout at America with all your might. This means giving direction; it means teaching us what to do, which way to go, where to aim; he taught us this.

During the war, in the eight years of Sacred Defense, he repeatedly said: "The war is the top priority." We were responsible in the country - I was the president, another was responsible for something else - we had a thousand executive tasks around us. When a responsible person has so many executive tasks, he sometimes becomes negligent, but the Imam showed the way to everyone - to the officials, to the people, to the youth - that the war is the top priority. This was the case. He directed everyone to go towards this work; this is important.

In the issue of moving to Syria to fight the occupying regime of Israel, our youth were happy - two of them even came to me, both of whom are now among our high-ranking martyrs - that they want to go fight. The Imam was not aware; after he became aware, he said that the way to fight Israel passes through Iraq; he stopped it. And those who had gone returned. See; this is understanding priorities, recognizing priorities. The Imam showed the way, the direction.

He said that preserving the system is one of the most important obligations; that is, all subsequent issues are secondary to this issue. This direction was shown to us. You may have a disagreement with your friend over a small or large issue, but in preserving the system, both of you are equally responsible.

Those who did not understand this Imam's statement made serious mistakes in some places. The Imam was showing the direction. This great man moved in this way.

So, the foundational thought, in the first degree, is that sense of responsibility, which is a very solid intellectual support for you who want to move in the field of the Basij, and the necessary condition that is considered the second foundation is insight; one should not be negligent for a moment regarding these two things. That sense of responsibility - that is, for God, "Patience and seeking reward"; O Lord, I am making this scientific discovery, I am conducting this study, I am creating this artistic work, I am engaging in this struggle, I am performing this economic action, I am helping Zayd, I am struggling against Amr, for You; because You have asked me for responsibility - this sense of responsibility and sense of divine commitment; then awareness: we should know where we are, where our place is, where the enemy is, who the enemy is, and with what weapon we should fight the enemy. This is the second pillar. With this perspective, both the circle of Basij members becomes clear, and the fields of Basij activity become evident.

But the circle of Basij members. Who is a Basij member? Anyone who is engaged in activity within this ideological and human framework that I have mentioned is a Basij member. Of course, the Basij resistance force symbolizes this great national public movement; it symbolizes order, discipline, correct orientation, and education. The name and title of Basij is inclusive; the Basij resistance force is the main fortress, the main place and headquarters of this vast umbrella that encompasses the entire nation; it inspires order, inspires presence, inspires movement; whether in society, in various classes, in universities, in schools, in religious seminaries; in every place; the presence of the Basij resistance force means this. Guiding, directing, discipline, order, determining various duties for this collective as far as its capacity and possibility allows - just as the brothers have explained - naturally, the resources are limited, and until now, it has reached the point that tens of millions have come, thanks be to God. This is the circle and scope of the human presence of Basij members.

But the fields. The fields are endless. The fields have no limitations. The field of defense, the field of politics, the field of construction, the field of economy, the field of art, the field of science and research, religious organizations, mourning ceremonies; everywhere and in every way; these are the fields of Basij presence; everywhere.

In all these centers, we also have models; we have prominent models that have shown that they are outstanding, great. In the war, we had great commanders, prominent personalities; now some were scientific elites, they came to war and became soldiers and active fighters; like the late martyr Chaman. Chaman was a scientific elite, he was also an artistic elite; he told me: I am an artist in photography. He came to war, wore military clothes, became a soldier; but before entering this field, he was an elite. Some, before entering this field, were not elites; this field elevated them to the heights; like Usta Abd al-Hossein Banna, who was a bricklayer apprentice; he entered the battlefield, reached the sun, soared, and became an elite, and what an elite! These are outstanding. We have prominent elites in science and research, like the late Kazemi Ashtiani, who initiated these stem cells and this vast organization and trained many people - his colleagues are the same; today, thanks be to God, this movement continues - or like martyr Shahriari; we mention martyr Shahriari these days because these days mark the anniversary of his martyrdom; the rest are the same: Rezayinejad, Alimohammadi, Ahmadi Roshan; these were elites in the field of science and research who worked in a Basij manner; martyr Shahriari worked in a Basij manner. On the day when they wanted to close the doors to the Iranian nation - with those methods that many people have heard about in the news, many others are behind the scenes that will later be revealed how much malice they had - so that the product of these radio drugs would not reach the people and the Islamic Republic would face problems and they said "we will not sell" so that this center in Tehran would be shut down - martyr Shahriari - also got to work, they worked, and later they told us that we managed to produce twenty percent, then they informed us that we also made the fuel tube and fuel plate; the enemy was bewildered. This was a Basij work; this was not an ordinary work. In all the fields we mentioned, there were and are thousands of great individuals who worked hard, and we named some.

Well, this thought that is the Basij thought and our great Imam created this in Islamic Iran, has been exported. We have said many times, the concepts of the revolution and the concepts of Islam are like the fragrance of spring flowers; no one can stop it; it spreads, it goes everywhere; it is a soul-refreshing and life-giving breeze that naturally takes over everywhere; now they may make a fuss, shout; it has gone, it has been exported, and now you observe this thought actively in various countries; it is active in Lebanon, it is active in Iraq; the Iraqi youth moved and joined their army and managed to achieve these victories; in Syria, it is the same, in Gaza, it is the same, in Palestine, it is the same, in Yemen, it is the same, God willing, in Quds Sharif and for the liberation of Al-Aqsa, it will be the same.

Well, this has become clear. Now I say that for this reason, Islamic Iran is invincible. Those who threaten the Islamic system and the Islamic Republic, saying we will do this and that, should know: the Islamic Republic, thanks to the Basij thought and the Basij action and movement, is invincible. Every Iranian is potentially a Basij member, except for a few who are either afflicted with self-worship, or lust, or greed for money, or have their hands under the stone of the enemy; we set them aside; they are few, not many. The overwhelming majority of the Iranian nation are potentially Basij members; the reason for the invincibility of the Islamic Republic system is this. However, everyone must be attentive; the test is always there, for everyone; the movement must not weaken; the direction of the movement must not be mistaken; the direction of the movement is against global arrogance, it is in confrontation with global arrogance.

We also mention America repeatedly; our nation, ourselves; [because] the issue of America is due to global arrogance, because America is an arrogant government, because its method is arrogant; we have no issue with America as a geographical entity or as a nation, as a human entity, like other countries; our issue with America is the issue of American arrogance; they are arrogant, they are haughty, they are bullies, they are greedy; the same words they have said in recent days regarding these nuclear negotiations, you see; they negotiated for months and now they have extended it, [then] they started talking as always.

Well, now I will say a few sentences in this regard: first, I am not opposed to the extension of negotiations, just as I was not opposed to the original negotiations; we did not oppose the original negotiations either; we explained the reasons to the people; I also mentioned the reasons in my speech; now we do not oppose the extension of negotiations. I should also add that our negotiating team is truly and honestly hardworking and serious; they stand firm, speak logically, do not yield to bullying, and are working; everyone should pay attention to this. Now the details and what goes on in these discussions, the public is mostly unaware; no, they are working diligently, logically, and with concern; they are acting logically. Unlike the opposite side, mainly the Americans, who say one thing today and another tomorrow; in private meetings, they speak one way; in public statements, they speak another way; today they say one thing, tomorrow they retract that statement; when there is no straight line and no straight path, this is the case; they want to use this place and these negotiations for their internal problems; therefore, they have to speak one way here and another way there - [but] our team is not like that; our team stands firm and logically against them. Of course, among these negotiators and these few who are facing Iran [there are] - Iran is alone, they are an army; several countries are behind each of them, with an army of diplomats, public relations, photographers, analysts, and the like - the Americans are the most unethical, the British are the most cunning. Well, now they have extended the negotiations; everyone should know - both those who are negotiating and those inside who are concerned about this issue and are looking at these negotiations - that if these negotiations do not reach a conclusion, the one who suffers the most is not us, it is the Americans. We are straightforward with our nation. We share the truth with our nation, we tell our people, they have understood so far, and it can be definitively and demonstrably shown with multiple reasons that the real intention of arrogance and the West against Iran is to prevent the growth and power of the Iranian nation; the real intention is to prevent the increasing dignity of the Iranian nation; the nuclear issue is an excuse, there are other excuses alongside this. The main issue is that the talents of the Iranian nation are gradually emerging, it is progressing in all dimensions; political dimensions, scientific dimensions, various social dimensions, and it is gaining power; they are unhappy with this, they are disturbed by this, they want to stop this; sanctions and pressure are also intended for this purpose, sanctions and economic pressure are for this reason, so that they can prevent the expanding efforts of the Iranian nation; therefore, they impose sanctions, they exert pressure, economic pressure is indeed an important factor. We speak comfortably with our nation; they are not like that, their nation does not accept them. The popularity of their president is decreasing day by day; this is data they provide themselves; the day this president was elected, his popularity was high; until today, it has decreased day by day; because the people are disillusioned with their political system.

In the recent elections in America, the number of participants was very low, which they themselves acknowledged; that is, the people themselves do not accept this structure and this system, they have no hope for it. Compare this with the 65% and 70% participation of our nation at the ballot boxes. Now they have issues with their own nation; the news from Ferguson and the state of Missouri and similar reports you have heard, they are fighting with their own people! Their own reports say that the American police have killed more than four hundred citizens in a year for various excuses; the police, not the judiciary! They do not have a good relationship with their own nation, their nation does not accept them, they have problems, they need a success, a great victory. We do not; we do not need that.

One of the members of the negotiating team said a good thing some time ago, he said if we do not reach an agreement, the sky will not fall to the ground, the world will not end; well, let it not happen. This is a correct statement. We do not suffer as much as they think; they imagined that if such a thing happens, it will be like this; no, there is a solution, the solution is the same resistant economy that first mitigates the enemy's blows, reduces them, which is for the short term, in the medium and long term, it elevates the great movement of the people. This is how the resistant economy works. Those who are experts in the field of economy, after we announced the resistant economy, their judgment was this. We have solutions, they do not have solutions.

With all this, well, they act arrogantly. Just listen to their recent statements; they come and stand and say Iran must gain the trust of the global community. They call themselves the global community! America, Britain, France, and a few arrogant countries have become the global community; is this the global community? About 150 countries of the Non-Aligned Movement that held a meeting in Tehran two years ago are not the global community? Nearly fifty presidents and heads of state who came to Tehran and actively participated in that summit, are they not the global community? The billions of people living in these countries are not the global community? Just these few countries - and those whose leaders are mostly disconnected from their own people - are the global community? "You must gain the trust of the global community" means gain our trust, means the trust of the Americans! We do not want to gain the trust of America. We do not need you to trust us; your trust in us has no importance for us. We do not trust you either, and your people do not trust you.

Then they say the security of Israel must be preserved. First, Israel will become increasingly insecure; whether a nuclear agreement is reached or not; know this, the security of Israel will not be ensured whether a nuclear agreement is reached or not. But the fact that you say the security of Israel must be preserved, I say this statement is also not a sincere one. For the American statesmen and women, the security of Israel is not the main issue; the main issue is something else. The main issue for these gentlemen is to keep the network of Zionist capitalists satisfied, which has taken their lifeline in its hands. This is their main issue; otherwise, whether Israel exists or not, what importance does it have for them? What is important for them is that they have given their lifeline to the hands of the network of Zionist capitalists; those who bribe them, those who threaten them; they bribe them - monetary bribes, they give them money - [they also] take bribes; they give them promises of positions and if they do not collude with those who hold the pulse of the American economy, there is no news of reaching high positions - like the presidency, like the ministry, and so on; this is their issue. They also threaten; if these act against the will of that dangerous network, they threaten them, or they threaten to force you to resign, or to create a scandal for you! You have seen this in the lives of Americans in recent years; they accuse one, defame another, create a sexual scandal for one, force one to resign, and they have even assassinated some of these leaders and great figures; their hands are free! You are afraid of this, you observe this; the issue is not the security of Israel, the issue is your own security. They are arrogant, they speak this way, and our water does not mix with the arrogant. Well, if a logical statement comes up, we have no issue; we accept logical statements, we accept fair and wise agreements, but where there is bullying and greed, no; the Islamic Republic, from top to bottom, both its people and its officials will not accept this; they should know this.

A couple of sentences to you dear Basij members and all Basij members across the country: I invite dear Basij members to ethics. What does ethics mean? It means patience and endurance, perseverance and resistance, honesty and sincerity, courage and sacrifice, purity and chastity. Basij members need these to keep the components of this solid structure strong. If you want this lofty structure to remain as solid as a strong and stable fortress against the enemies, you must observe these considerations; show patience, show perseverance, show ethics, show purity, consider the great models of early Islam. We must avoid arrogance, we must avoid tyranny. Malik al-Ashtar, with his status, with his courage, with his position with Amir al-Mu'minin, was walking in the street, a young boy did not recognize him, mocked him, perhaps threw a pebble at him; he saw a person walking, began to mock; then Malik al-Ashtar passed by, those who saw that scene told the boy, "Did you understand what you did, did you understand who you mocked?" The boy did not know Malik al-Ashtar; he said no; they said, "This was Malik al-Ashtar"; the boy became flustered; now he himself or he and his father or friends hurried to apologize in some way so that it would not cause them trouble; they followed Malik al-Ashtar, saw he had come to the mosque, praying; they went forward and began to apologize; Malik al-Ashtar said, "I came to the mosque to pray and to ask God to forgive this young man's mistake!" You see, this compassion, this sense of responsibility, this patience, this nobility, this is what it is. You and I must learn these.

I also strongly recommend the strengthening and non-wear of ideological, faith-based, and practical beliefs; be careful. We, in this path of life, where we face temptations; the temptation of money, the temptation of desires, the temptation of position, the temptation of friendship, we become worn down; we become worn down; be careful not to become ideologically worn down, you should influence the environment, do not let that environment, if it is bad, influence you.

All sectors in this great national divine Basij movement should be taken into account, and I have particularly recommended some that I feel have been neglected - I particularly recommended to General Naqdi - that it should not be the case that a sector, a group is overlooked. Define the relationship between these sectors; create connections; sometimes the student Basij is unaware of the Basij of doctors or engineers or industrialists, no; they should be informed, they may help each other. Each of these different sectors of the Basij can help the progress of another; define these, keep them in your collective.

Seek great works from the Basij elements; great works can be accomplished by many talented people of our nation. The government should also help; government agencies in various sectors should assist in the growth and expansion of the Basij. Regarding these economic issues - just as we previously said that the foundation of the resistant economy is to strengthen domestic production and reduce imports that are either unnecessary or have domestic counterparts - government officials should pay attention and seek help from the Basij; with this situation, I have no doubt that, God willing, the future belongs to the Iranian nation; just as we have said many times.

May the blessed soul of Imam Khomeini be at peace, may the pure souls of our dear martyrs be at peace, and may God join us with those martyrs.

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