Statements in Meeting with a Large Number of Basijis of the Country

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

I welcome all of you dear ones - brothers, sisters - the proud Basijis. Historically, these days are marked and significant: the martyrdom of Imam Baqir (peace be upon him), which was a martyrdom with a message; thus, Imam Baqir himself bequeathed that after him, for ten years, memorials should be held in Mina on the occasion of this passing. Among our Imams, this is unprecedented, unparalleled. The memory of Imam Baqir signifies the remembrance of the revival of the authentic Islamic movement in the face of distortions and alterations that had occurred.

Another memory is that of the Day of Arafah and the Day of Eid al-Adha; from the Day of Eid al-Adha to the Day of Eid al-Ghadir, there is indeed a connected period related to the issue of leadership. The Almighty God mentions in the Quran: "And when Abraham was tested by his Lord with words, and he fulfilled them, He said, 'Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people.'" (Quran 2:124) Abraham was appointed by the Lord to leadership. Why? Because he passed the difficult tests. This can be accounted for from the Day of Eid al-Adha to the Day of Eid al-Ghadir, which is the day of the leadership of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). This too followed hard tests. Amir al-Mu'minin spent his blessed life with tests - tests from which he emerged triumphant - from the age of thirteen or eleven and acceptance of prophethood to the Night of the Bed, a devoted and self-sacrificing youth for the Prophet, ready to sacrifice his life for the Prophet - this is practically proven in the event of the Prophet's migration - and then the great tests in Badr, Uhud, Hunayn, Khaybar, and other places. This lofty position is the continuation of these tests; thus, hearts have turned to the connection between Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Ghadir. Some have also named this the "Decade of Leadership," which is an appropriate name.

The Basij Week is also an important period; it is a great memorial. Well, many weeks have been declared throughout the year; however, this one has exceptional privileges; why? Because the Basij itself is an exception; it is an unparalleled event. In a country, from a reality, from a system, people defend with all their being, with their best elements, with their most faithful individuals, and do not recognize limits in various fields of jihad and defense; I do not find this elsewhere; at least in this world close to our time - which is a world of revolutions, transformations, and various systems - I have not encountered such a thing; this is specific to our revolution; and this was the radiant heart of our great Imam that reached this truth and, with divine inspiration and divine assistance, realized it and provided the great foundation of the illuminated hearts of the faithful people, such a product was given to the revolution. This is the Basij.

When the true meaning of the Basij is considered, the Basij is the symbol of resilience, permanence, and national dignity. A group of the best and most faithful people, in every field that the country and the system need, enter without hesitation, bring all their abilities to the forefront, and do not seek reward or recognition; this is very significant. We have become accustomed to it; like many important things that a person becomes accustomed to and does not pay attention to their importance. Such a thing does not exist elsewhere.

Well, the first field that attracted the Basij was the defense of the country's independence and borders. It was a matter of life, a matter of setting aside all the pleasures of life; it did not distinguish between old and young; everyone came: women came, men came, teenagers came, elderly people came, entered the field, and were tested. What test could be greater than this? At that time, there were also those who were unwilling to sacrifice their lives, their wealth, or their comfort for the country, for the revolution, and for the independence of the country; however, a large number of people came to the forefront, brought everything they had to the field - from life, from wealth, from comfort, from reputation - and preserved the independence and dignity of the country.

Rest assured, if the presence of the oppressed Basij in the eight years of sacred defense had not been, today the fate of the country would be different; the enemy would have dominated, and this public movement, this public enthusiasm, this youth who came, would not have placed all their families in the atmosphere of defending the revolution and defending the country and defending the system; this was a very great event.

After the war period, the Basij has been at the forefront in all events, leading, breaking the lines. If the discussion of political power and political steadfastness has been raised, this great movement of the Basij people across the country has established this slogan, showcased it to the world; if it has been a cultural discussion, if it has been a construction discussion, how much great work has been done throughout this country by the Basij forces. Even in scientific fields - it was pointed out; these statements were good statements - in scientific arenas, faithful youth, whose characteristic is that they are faithful, do not seek fame and recognition, utilize all capacities; the goal is the ideals of the Islamic system. This is the meaning of being Basiji. Youth with these characteristics entered the field. Today, the honors of the country are created and shaped by the hands of these valuable and devoted individuals. Not recognizing these truths - that is, not recognizing the meaning of the Basij - itself is an injustice to the Basij.

Some have imagined that the Basij is limited to these numbers of Basij battalions or Basij military organizations - these are certainly among the best Basijis - but the Basij is not just this; the Basij is extensive, in all fields. Perhaps hundreds of times or more than hundreds of times those who are in military frameworks are in non-military frameworks, in various sectors; in universities in one way, in workshops in another way, among different classes of people in one way, in villages in one way, in cities in one way, among nomads in one way, in seminaries in one way. The Basij is present; a comprehensive, powerful, and unending presence. The Basij is not dependent on money, nor on titles and glory, nor on orders from above. The criterion of the Basij is insight and faith. Faith springs from its heart, compels it to work; insight also informs it how to move, how to discern the criteria, how to traverse the path. This is the meaning of being Basiji.

No other organization can be compared to the Basij. This form of Basij organization is also not repeatable, not imitable; it is specific to the Basij itself, and its characteristics belong to the Basij. Not recognizing this is an injustice to the Basij. And when a person knows the truth of the Basij, then they understand the secret of the oppositions and hostilities and animosities that are directed by the enemies of the revolution and the enemies of the country and the enemies of the system towards the Basij; one understands the reason for these hostilities. The high peaks are more often targeted. The prominent symbols are more quickly noticed and become targets of hostility.

The enemies know how important the presence of the Basij, the reality of the Basij in the country and among the Iranian nation is; therefore, they strive to attack this effective, efficient, and penetrating truth. Of course, this is a form of oppression. Oppression does not at all mean weakness. The strongest people in the world have also been oppressed. Amir al-Mu'minin is the strongest person of various eras and is also among the most oppressed. Our revolution and the Islamic Republic system are among the most powerful and effective phenomena of contemporary times, yet they are also oppressed. Our great Imam - a powerful and strong person who could shake the world and did shake it - was among the most oppressed people of his time. Therefore, oppression does not contradict power. The Basij is oppressed, but it is powerful, effective, and impactful; this impact will remain, and the Basij elements and Basij organizations must strengthen and deepen this day by day. As long as the Basij exists, the Islamic system and the Islamic Republic will not be threatened by the enemies; this is a fundamental pillar. In various matters, the Basij has fully demonstrated its effectiveness.

What is important for various faithful groups - who are present everywhere in the country, in all classes, without any differences; that their name is Basij; their description as Basij is a true and real description - is to be vigilant, to conduct damage assessments, and not to allow the enemy's plans to succeed in causing harm and affliction; this is important. In all successful movements, two tasks are necessary: one task is the foresight of the paths for progress; the second task is to observe deficiencies and eliminate afflictions and recognize damages, so that weaknesses can be addressed. This is foresight; this, like the foresight of the path of progress, is among the obligations and duties of every movement.

Everyone has understood today that the confrontation of global arrogance with the Islamic Republic is no longer of the same type as the confrontation of the first decade of the revolution. In that confrontation, they tested their strength; they failed. The confrontation was hard; it involved war, coups. At the beginning of the revolution, they initiated a coup, and they failed; they instigated ethnic rebellions, were suppressed, and failed; they initiated a prolonged imposed war that lasted eight years, and they failed; thus, they will not pursue these paths, meaning the likelihood is weak. Of course, vigilance must always be maintained regarding all aspects. However, this is not the priority of global arrogance in confronting the Islamic system. The priority is what is today called soft warfare; that is, war through cultural tools, through infiltration, through lies, through spreading rumors; with advanced tools that exist today, communication tools that were not available ten, fifteen, or thirty years ago, have now expanded. Soft warfare means creating doubt in the hearts and minds of the people.

One of the tools in soft warfare is to create distrust among people in a society, to make them ill-hearted, to create divisions; to find an excuse, to create divisions among people with this excuse; like the events after this year's elections, where they created an excuse and caused a division among the people. Fortunately, our people are insightful. Such actions in other countries completely changed the situation; in other places, creating doubt in the hearts of people against each other; bringing up an excuse like the excuse of elections, creating doubt, making hearts dirty against each other, putting people against one another; then in the midst, the mercenary and hostile elements are incited to commit wrongful acts, and the officials of the country cannot discern who was who, what happened. This is among the fundamental plans. They pursue such actions.

Well, you see in such a situation what is most important for a person? Insight. I have repeatedly emphasized insight for this reason. The people must know what is happening; they must see the hand that is orchestrating the scene, creating chaos so that amidst the chaos of the people, a treacherous element, a mercenary and obedient element can come and do what they want, and it becomes impossible to find them among the people; this is what the enemy wants to do. Any action that leads to insight, that can separate the treacherous element, the ill-wisher from the masses and the people, is good. Any action that confuses the atmosphere, makes people hesitant towards each other, creates an atmosphere of accusation, where the guilty and the innocent are mixed, this atmosphere is harmful, it is opposed.

My insistence is that the people, the Iranian nation, various political currents, all must unite against those few individuals who oppose the essence of this revolution, who oppose the essence of the country's independence, whose goal is to hand over the country to America and global arrogance. The enemy has such elements within nations; in our nation, there are also such people, a few of this kind can be found. The essence of the nation, the masses of the people - from the elite to the general populace - must be separated from those few self-sold individuals; mistakes must not occur. I see in some statements, in some words, the atmosphere becomes so confused that individuals become disoriented; people become distrustful of each other, of their elites, of their officials; this is not right.

Now some - whether the press, or some various elements - are not receptive to advice; they do not seek our advice; it is unclear who determines the policies of some of these institutions and media and where it is determined - their livelihood depends on creating divisions - but those who want the interests of the country, who wish to prevail the truths, my advice to them is to disregard these minor and non-principled differences. Spreading rumors and disseminating rumors is not right. One sees openly and explicitly that accusations are made against the officials of the country - those who bear the burdens of the country - they spread rumors against them; it does not matter whether it is the President, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Head of the Expediency Discernment Council, or the Head of the Judiciary; these are the officials of the country. The officials of the country are those to whom the management of a task has been entrusted; the people must trust them, have good thoughts about them. Rumor-mongering should not occur; the enemy wants this. The enemy wants to spread rumors; it wants to create distrust among people towards each other, towards the officials.

You saw in the early events after the elections - this sedition after the elections - the first thing that happened was the creation of doubt in the work of the official officials of the country; in the work of the Guardian Council, in the work of the Ministry of Interior. These doubts are very harmful; the enemy wants this. The Basij youth must consider faith, insight, motivation, and adherence to standards and criteria; all of these must be taken into account together.

Among the important things that must be considered is the diversity of the fields of Basij presence. This approach that was recently announced for the Basij - the approach of science, scientific innovation, cultural work - is a very blessed thing. There are many tasks that must be accomplished, which are only possible with a Basij spirit and with this fervent faith. Rest assured, as long as the Basij exists in this country, as long as this spirit of sincerity and selfless service exists among our people - especially our youth - the enemy will not be able to inflict any harm on this revolution, this system, and this country.

Those who, with the enemy's signal, with the enemy's encouragement, with the enemy's applause, want to confront this system, this constitution, this great popular movement, are hitting their heads against the wall; they are doing futile work. Be careful, be vigilant; one cannot label anyone as a hypocrite merely for a mistake or error; one cannot say that anyone who utters a word contrary to what you and I think is against the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist. Great care must be taken in discernments. My emphasis to you dear youth, my beloved children, the enthusiastic youth of this country across our dear homeland, is this. Motivations must be preserved with intensity, strength, complete faith, and complete hope for the future; but care must be taken in discernments and in various instances. Carelessness in instances can sometimes cause great damages and losses.

Trust in the Almighty God and seek help from the Almighty God. I am praying for you. God willing, the attentions of His Holiness the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him) will encompass all of you and all the youth of this country and all our dear people, and God willing, the pure prayers of that great one can assist us in all these paths and support this dear nation.

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