Speech to Basij Resistance Forces, a Group of Nurses, and Navy Personnel

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

The enthusiastic gathering of Basijis and devoted defenders of the revolution and Islamic values carries the purity of jihad and the fragrance of martyrdom. The war fronts and the sacred defense, over many years, were colored by the blood of dear Basijis and illuminated the face of the revolution. Basij Week is truly an opportunity and a pretext to keep alive the values and spirit of the Basij among all the people, especially the enthusiastic youth and sincere, devoted defenders. I express my sincere devotion and respect to each and every Basiji across the country, men and women, old and young, and as our great departed leader Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) said, I too wish and ask God to be gathered with the Basijis. The Basij is an honor and a value. Strive to preserve this Basiji spirit for the country, the revolution, and Islam.

Today among us are some of our nurse brothers and sisters. On the occasion of honoring nurses these days, it is my duty to sincerely thank all our dear nurses. The efforts of these dear ones have always been, and especially during the hardships of war, exhausting and very valuable. Nursing is a sacred profession. This profession is worship and one of the most prominent examples of service to the oppressed and the weak. God willing, nurse brothers and sisters will continue this work with seriousness and enthusiasm, and our nursing staff in hospitals will be strengthened in terms of quantity and quality, God willing. I also welcome these brothers and sisters.

Today is the day of the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and some brothers from this force are present in this gathering. Their efforts over these years—whether at the beginning of the war, especially at the end of the war, and in between these two periods—were important, valuable, and courageous. Brothers should pay attention that the sea is a sensitive area, and the Persian Gulf is a significant point. The enemies have set their greedy eyes on this point and have brought and are bringing their fleets and military forces from thousands of kilometers away to this region to protect their illegitimate and unjust interests. This is a threat against the nations and countries of this region, and especially a threat against the Islamic Republic; be vigilant.

The issue of our Navy—both the Army Navy and the IRGC Navy—is important. These two forces, alongside each other and with different duties, must carry out this great task, and we hope that, God willing, they will be completely successful. I also welcome the dear cleric brothers in the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran who are present today and thank them for their efforts and services in advancing the Islamic and spiritual quality of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

These days, we have a fundamental and major issue at the global level that all segments of the people, military and non-military, governmental and non-governmental, urban and rural, old and young, must be aware of, and that is that as time passes, global arrogance increasingly feels that the Islamic Republic system stands firm and resolute against its illegitimate and unjust interests and its aggressions, and is an obstacle to its expansionism and greed. They have understood this well.

Perhaps for a while, they thought that after the passing of our great Imam (may his soul be sanctified), the flame of idealism in the Islamic Republic would diminish, subside, or extinguish. They thought that after the passing of the Imam (may his soul be sanctified), gradually everything would end, meaning the revolutionary sentiments and the spirit of struggle and sacrifice among the people, and also their enmity with the agents of oppression, arrogance, and colonialism in the world, would end.

They expected such a thing; but they saw that it did not happen, and as time passes, the people's adherence to the path that the late Imam, our leader and great teacher, outlined, and their affection for the Imam and the revolution does not diminish. They realized that the government and the people, their representatives, and various officials, stand firm everywhere in this country to defend Islam and the revolution.

They have understood well that the people are not willing to trade the dear Islamic and revolutionary values for anything. The issue of Iraq's aggression against Kuwait also clarified this for them, and they saw that although in the case of Kuwait, Iraq is the aggressor and the Iranian nation condemned the aggressor in every way and form—our government and nation said this from the beginning—this stance did not prevent our people and officials from criticizing America's unwarranted aggressive interventions. They thought that after we saw Iraq's aggression against Kuwait, we would forget America; unaware that our nation is nurtured by the revolution and the Imam, and our officials are students of the Imam.

Is it possible for our nation to forget the enmities of global arrogance, especially America? Is it possible to ignore America's greed, excessive demands, and overt and covert aggressions? They understood that the enmity of the Iranian nation towards the enemies of Islam, and at the forefront of them, the American regime, is unending. They understood that the Iranian nation stands to defend revolutionary Islam and pure Muhammadan Islam (peace be upon him and his family). They understood that the government, the people, and the officials are not people of compromise and bargaining. Now that they have understood these things, they have started their wickedness from all sides—it had not stopped; they intensified it—and like during the time of Imam and this period between the passing of Imam until today, they have filled the global loudspeakers with propaganda against the Islamic system. Today, this is the situation.

Today, the Iranian nation must be vigilant; because the enemy, under various names—including in the name of human rights—is thinking of enmity and striking the revolution and Islam. The defense of human rights by the likes of America is both laughable and tearful for the nations and the oppressed of the world. On one hand, it is laughable and a mockery; because the first-degree violators of human rights are beating the drum of human rights! Who are the claimants of human rights? Those whose hands are dripping with the blood of the Palestinian people today. Now, whatever they did in the past years, in the East and West of the world—in Africa and Asia and in various places—destroying and killing nations and mocking humanity and human rights, remains in its place. Today, the Zionist regime, with the support of America and its allies, is subjecting the Palestinian nation to the worst and most atrocious conditions of pressure and torture, and the blood of the Palestinian people and martyrs is on its neck. Such people speak of human rights! Is this not a mockery and ridicule?!

On the other hand, it is also tearful. For humanity, there is no greater calamity than for human concepts and values to fall into the hands of these wicked politicians in this way. They accuse Islamic Iran of violating human rights; while Islam is the greatest guarantor of human rights. Why do we, as a nation, defend the Palestinian nation? Why do we, as a revolution, defend oppressed nations? What kinship do we have with the people of South Africa? Why do we defend those oppressed in various parts of the world who, due to the dominance of seemingly democratic but practically fascist governments, do not dare to observe their Islamic manifestations? You saw that in France, they do not allow a Muslim girl to wear a headscarf! You saw that in America, government agents beat a Muslim in front of people for performing religious duties, for praying at the airport! Why do we feel obliged to rush to help any oppressed person who raises their voice and cries out, or at least echo their cry? This is due to Islam's command to preserve human rights.

You are the leaders of oppression and arrogance who have violated human rights. You are the ones who have mocked the United Nations, the Human Rights Commission, and human concepts, and want to make them all your playthings. For us, the value of human beings and human rights has been and is so great that we have been willing to confront and face all the arrogant powers of the world for them. America's servants and other arrogant governments ruled this country for many years, killing hundreds and thousands of these people in these streets and spilling their blood on the ground. Even now, similar incidents occur elsewhere by other servants of America. Their prisons are full of oppressed people; but in global forums, no one raises their voice!

If you were supporters of human rights, why do you not protest against reactionary, oppressive, despotic, and wicked regimes that have not heard a word of democracy and have never placed a ballot box in their country as an example?! Why do you only protest against the Islamic Republic, which is the manifestation of freedom and people's involvement in affairs, and in various matters, holds free and successive elections, and people express their heartfelt words and slogans in the streets and public gatherings?!

You are not supporters of human rights; you are supporters of irreligion and your own dominance over countries and nations. You are upset about your filthy hand being cut off from the wealthy and vast country of Iran and being threatened in other countries. You are blood enemies of the revolution. This revolution eliminated your servants here. You have a grudge against the revolution; human rights is an excuse. What do you understand about what humanity is and what its rights are? The Iranian nation must vigilantly understand and recognize all the enmities of this wide spectrum of arrogance and the enemies of Islam and the revolution; as, thanks be to God, the overwhelming majority of this country understands and recognizes.

My dear brothers and sisters across the country! Know that today America and its allies and mercenaries are waiting for an opportunity to take revenge on the revolution. They are waiting for an opportunity to take revenge for the wicked Mohammad Reza and the oppressive family and the SAVAK agents of his era from our revolutionary youth. They are looking for a loophole to infiltrate the revolution. Be vigilant; as, thanks be to God, you have been and are vigilant.

Our nation will cut off any interference and any mischievous finger of the enemy and will confront it with a clenched fist. From here, I tell our wicked enemies, who, in addition to wickedness, are also senseless and ignorant and have not recognized our revolution and nation, and for thirteen, fourteen years have been making wrong analyses and wrong understandings about this nation and this country, and for this reason, they keep failing, that know you have made a mistake in recognizing the Iranian nation. This nation is committed to Islam. This nation loves the servants and servants of Islam. This nation seeks its own happiness in Islam. This nation, with commitment and faith in Islam, God willing, will be able to untie all the knots you have imposed on its life. This nation is not one to surrender.

The Basij should be vigilant throughout the country. All armed forces—the Army, the IRGC, and the law enforcement forces—must be vigilant. Everyone must be vigilant; but the Basij needs double vigilance. Basij members, wherever they are—in the city, in the village, among the tribes, in the university, in the seminary, in high school, in the market, in the office, in the factory—must be vigilant. The enemy does not come to strike the revolution and Islam from one path; it comes from various paths. You must open your eyes, be aware, and recognize the enemy. The great Imam clearly defined these lines for us.

Whatever you see the enemy showing sensitivity to, you too become sensitive to it and understand that the enemy wants to penetrate from here. When you see the wicked enemies propagandizing against the nation and the revolution and the people's adherence to the revolution, know that the enemy fears the people's adherence to the revolution and their presence in the revolutionary scenes. Your presence in the revolutionary scenes and your vigilance and readiness will disappoint the enemy.

Of course, we have observed divine grace and help and God's clear support in all our affairs, and we continue to observe it. God Almighty has shown much kindness to this nation and this country and has helped this nation in hardships, and God willing, divine grace and mercy will continue to be upon this nation.

We hope that God Almighty grants all of you success and includes the prayers of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) for you and makes the sacred spirit of Imam (may his soul be sanctified) pleased and satisfied with you.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings