Speech by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces at the Grand Gathering of Basij Participants in the Imam Ali (peace be upon him) Camp

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, the chosen Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, the infallible guides, especially the Awaited One of God on earth. I thank the Almighty God for the great blessing of being able to participate in the gathering of you, dear and energetic Basij youth. The existence of the Basij should compel us to express gratitude to God; the enthusiasm of the Basij youth should compel us to express gratitude to God; the ever-increasing qualitative and quantitative development of the Basij should separately compel us to express gratitude and thanks to God. Today, in a world of political power and economic and political global arrogance, all factors are directed towards creating apathetic and unmotivated beings from the youth of the world, especially from the youth of Islamic countries; they aim to transform the young generation of Islamic countries into individuals of little value and harmless to themselves - a task they are carrying out in various third-world countries, particularly in Islamic countries. And of course, the politically powerful countries of the world, whether they want to or not, are grappling with the calamity of corruption, addiction, and the deviation of their young generation. In such a world, it is a cause for gratitude to see that the youth of our country are nurturing a vast multitude of girls and boys who are motivated, present in the fields of science, religion, jihad, political presence, and demonstrating power and enthusiasm to the astonished eyes and disbelieving hearts of the world. This is a reason for gratitude. I thank the Almighty God for the existence of the Basij, for your existence, for your enthusiasm, strength, and faith, and for your readiness, my dear children. Today, this military and cultural camp has been formed while a large number of the Islamic Ummah's youth have raised the flag of jihad in Palestine and in the holy Quds, defending their dignity, identity, and existence with their lives, bodies, and the capital of their lives; they are engaged in struggle and, outside the beloved land of Palestine - in other Islamic countries - they chant slogans in their name and memory and announce their presence. It is in such circumstances that your grand camp has been established here. I will speak about the Basij and about Palestine. Regarding the Basij, my point is that the policy of international power centers from the beginning of this century until today has always been to separate nations from the equation of power; that is, from the day European countries and then America planned to take control of the Islamic countries of this region, to exploit their oil, to utilize their geopolitical position, to take advantage of their consumer markets, and to use their cheap labor; another fundamental and vital decision was made alongside this, and that decision was to exclude the nations of this region from the equations of power; because if nations enter the equation of power, the power-seeking apparatus of global arrogance is defeated. How do they exclude nations? The way to ensure that nations have no voice, role, or determination in the affairs of this region is to bring to power elements that are supportive of themselves, who have no relation to the people and no popularity among them. An example of this in our Iran is a person like Reza Khan; then his son. These individuals had no connection with the people. When in a country like Iran or in some North African countries or other countries in this region, nations are faced with power, with such rulers, it is obvious that they will not support them. When the nation does not support the ruler, the authority of that ruler is in the hands of the foreign power center. They say do this, they are forced to do it; they say do not do this, they are forced not to do it; they say recognize the Middle East peace, they are forced to recognize it; they say lower the oil price to this extent, they are forced to lower it; they say remove this individual from your government, or appoint this individual to a certain position in your government, they are forced to do it! Why are they forced? Because if they do not, they will face the wrath of the global power center and they have no nation to support them. The result is that decision-making in these countries is done by corrupt and subservient rulers, which is the decision-making of the global power apparatus; that is what we have referred to since the beginning of the revolution as "global arrogance"; that which belittles nations; that which does not pay attention to the rights of nations; that which does not consider the interests of nations. This has been the policy of global arrogance; they have done this. In our dear Iran, this policy was pursued for decades before the revolution. If you look at other countries - I will not name names or specify times - you can see multiple examples. What is the opposite of this? The opposite is that the nation in a country enters the equation of power; says "yes" and "no"; makes its demands public; demands its rights; intervenes in its country's affairs with open eyes, with firm determination, and with steady and stable steps. This is what our great Islamic revolution and the unparalleled leader of this revolution did in this country - which had been bound like a spell - they opened this path. Before the revolution, for decades in this country, there was talk of parliament and elections and such things. The people in that era did not go to the ballot boxes; they did not recognize elections; they did not recognize the government; they were unaware of decisions; everything was decided and acted upon in the absence of the nation. From the very beginning of the revolution, it is the nation that is in the middle of the field. If the officials of the country make a decision, if they show courage and if they take a firm action, it is with the support of this nation. When the nation is in the middle of the field, it becomes a partner and participant in the equation of power. No longer can the international bullying powers impose anything on them or ride on their backs; nor can the rulers show weakness and submit to the demands of foreigners; because the nation demands. The individuals of the Islamic Iranian nation are aware. Of course, motivations are not the same everywhere; enthusiasm and will are not alike; not everyone is equally present to invest and act for the lofty goals of their country and nation. One is ready to give their life, another is ready to give their wealth, one is ready to give some of their time, one is ready to give a few words, one is ready to be a spectator and admire. Not everyone is the same. Among the vast multitude of our sixty-five million nation, there are those who, if their life is needed, will give it; if wealth is needed, they will give it; if their physical presence is needed, they will provide it; if it is about construction, they step into the field; if it is about defense, they come to the forefront; if it is necessary to prepare themselves scientifically for the goals of the country, they do it; whatever lofty goals are asked of them, they are ready to offer it; those who have this characteristic are called the Basij. The meaning of Basij is that the responsible agencies of the country should not rely solely on official and governmental organizations to solve major problems, to take significant steps, and to defend the country. In war, we have powerful armed organizations; we have the army and the Revolutionary Guard; but when the defense of the country's borders or independence or dignity is at stake, it is not only the official organizations that enter the field; rather, the entire nation helps them and enters the field, just as they did throughout these twenty years during the war, before the war, and after the war. This is the meaning of Basij. Basij means the presence of the best, most energetic, and most faithful forces of the nation in the fields that their country needs for national interests and lofty goals. Always the best, purest, most honorable, and most distinguished individuals possess these characteristics. Basij in a country means that group that is ready to carry this flag of honor and invest in it; which is not easy. We thank God that from the very first day of the revolution, the spontaneous force of the people was present in all fields, and Imam recognized the value of this force, and the entire nation recognized this great spontaneous movement among themselves; those who were not present or were not ready to enter these dangerous fields praised and encouraged the prepared youth and selfless individuals. This is what angers the global power apparatus, the apparatus of global arrogance, those who want to unjustly take the fate of countries and nations into their hands. Here, we must understand the secret of the propaganda attack on the Basij. Why is the Basij insulted in global propaganda and on radios? Why do those who always look to the mouths of foreigners to repeat their words, speak ill of the Basij and treat it, which deserves honor and respect, with contempt and indifference? Because they recognize the role of the Basij in preserving national independence, in maintaining national pride, in safeguarding national honors, in securing national interests, and ultimately, above all, in elevating the flag of Islam and the Islamic Republic; they are seriously hostile to the Basij; but their enmity is of no benefit. Today, thanks be to God, our youth from various strata feel life and vitality in the Basij; our young generation appreciates it. Today, among our vast multitude of Basij youth, there are distinguished figures from the seminary and university, outstanding scholars, top-ranking students, winners of high medals in global scientific competitions, outstanding high school students, excellent factory workers, distinguished individuals in various sectors, outstanding reciters, artists, professors, and distinguished individuals from various strata, who are present and gathered. Can the enemy diminish this high value with their hostile and futile propaganda in the eyes of the people? I say to you dear youth, to you believing Basij boys and girls, from every stratum: My dear ones! The country belongs to you; the country belongs to the young generation; you must build this country; you must preserve and elevate the foundations of glory and greatness that this revolution and the capable hand of the architect of the revolution have laid down; you must compensate for the decades of backwardness of the pre-revolution era with your strength, your will, your knowledge, and your faith. Among the youth, anyone who feels this sense of responsibility and this sense of interest in the goals, along with sincerity in their being, is a Basij member. Whether they are in the resistance force or not; whether they have officially received a Basij card or not. Whoever is faithful, whoever seeks lofty goals, whoever is ready to invest their existence for their country, for their Islam, for the Islamic system, and for all their nation, with their existence, with their talents, with their life and body, is a Basij member; wherever they may be. Our dear Basij youth should take pride in the special Basij battalions - the Ashura and Zahra battalions in the resistance force, in various sectors of the Basij - that they have been able to embody this feeling with their organizational presence in the Basij. And here I turn to a very important issue of our days; that is the issue of Palestine. My dear ones! There is also a Basij in Palestine; the Palestinian Basij that has drawn the world's attention today. When the fate of the Palestinian issue is in the hands of a few politicians, and the people have no role in it, and the youth have no say in it; the fate becomes what you have seen: humiliation after humiliation; retreat after retreat; giving ground to the enemy; vacating positions one after another in favor of the arrogant, aggressive, shameless enemy. This is when the people are not in the scene. The people have been sidelined; the genuine motivations that attract the people - that is, the motivation of faith - have been forgotten, and for decades the Palestinian issue has been postponed. At the beginning of the revolution, I told one of these Palestinian leaders who had come here, why do you not raise the slogan of Islam? They made futile excuses. They did not want to do it; their hearts did not believe in Islam. Today, for more than twelve or thirteen years, the Muslim nation of Palestine has come to the forefront with the name of Islam and with the slogan of Islam. The enemy immediately understood what was happening. When the intifada began in Palestine a decade ago, the enemies - that is, the Zionists and their American allies - were the first to feel threatened. They saw they had to destroy this because it is in the name of Islam. They sought a remedy; but they are unable to remedy it; because they are naturally bullies. The Zionist regime in the cursed land of Palestine is a racist regime. What can one expect from a racist regime?! A regime that has been established by the political and economic powers of the world has been created precisely to prevent the Islamic world from seeing unity; to prevent it from seeing dignity; to prevent Muslims from forming a great unit lest they become a threat. This is why it has been established. Can one expect fairness and justice from it?! Those who think they can negotiate with this regime are naive. Any negotiation for the Zionist regime is like opening a field for its advance. Yesterday they helped it in negotiations, today they come claiming the Al-Aqsa Mosque! When one does not know how to deal with such a bullying entity and wants to decide under the pressure of the powerful and wealthy Americans and Zionists, this is what happens; eventually, the people themselves came to the field. Three weeks ago, the presence of the filthy and despised Zionist element in Al-Aqsa Mosque made the people restless. If on that day, the leaders claiming the Palestinian issue or the leaders of the Arab countries had protested, the people would have felt that someone was there to speak for them; and perhaps the events would not have unfolded this way; but the people saw they had to come to the field themselves, and they did. Now, for three weeks, the flame of resistance has been ignited in the land of Palestine. I told these Palestinian youth, you should know, a generation has awakened; a generation has come to the field; can they extinguish it with these words? Some commit crimes and terrorism, killing some of the youth and the oppressed; but the blood of these individuals waters the tree of the Palestinian movement and the Palestinian revolution. The issue is such that the arrogant power of America or its proxy - the Zionist regime - cannot remedy it; it is not remedyable. A nation has been expelled from its home, from its homeland, from its country, and those who remain are condemned by the foreigners who have been brought there; can this nation be silenced? The power apparatuses complain from the Islamic Iran that you oppose the peace process. Of course, we oppose; but you should know, even if the Islamic Iran were not opposed, if none of the nations and governments of the world helped, it is a delusion to think that a nation can be erased from the pages of history and replaced by a fabricated nation! The Palestinian nation has culture, history, and civilization. For thousands of years, this nation has lived in this country; then you come to separate this nation from its home, from its city, from its history, and expel it, and then gather a number of migrants, vagabonds, various opportunists from the countries of the world and create a fabricated nation?! Is this possible?! For a short time, you can carry out these actions with force and pressure; but can these actions continue?! Just as they will not continue, and today its signs have emerged. My first point regarding Palestine is that there is no power in the world that can extinguish the motivation for freedom and the return of Palestine to its rightful owners in the world and in the hearts of the Muslim nations, especially in the hearts of the Palestinian nation. There is only one way to remedy this. I say to those who consider the Middle East issue a global crisis and say we must try to contain the Middle East crisis, the only way to contain or eliminate the Middle East crisis is to dry up the roots of the crisis. What is the root of the crisis? The imposed Zionist regime in the region. As long as the root of the crisis exists, the crisis will also exist. The solution is that the Palestinian refugees from Lebanon and any other place they are should return to Palestine. These millions of Palestinians living outside Palestine should return to Palestine. The original people of Palestine - whether Muslim, Christian, or Jewish - should hold a referendum and decide what regime should govern their country. The vast majority are Muslims; some are Jews and Christians who are the original inhabitants of the land of Palestine and whose ancestors lived here. They should bring the regime that this population desires to power; then that regime will decide what to do with those who have come to Palestine over the past forty, forty-five, and fifty years. Whether to keep them, return them, or settle them in a specific location; this is up to the regime governing Palestine; this is the solution to the crisis. Until this solution is implemented, no other solution will be effective; the Americans, with all their displays of power, will not be able to do anything. They have done everything they could; the result is what you see. Of course, they are very angry about the situation in the occupied Palestine of these three weeks, about the uprising of the youth, about the courage of men and women, about the high determination and will of those oppressed and angry people, and they constantly want to blame this and that. No, sir! The factor of the Palestinian uprising is not the Islamic Republic; the factor of the Palestinian uprising is not the people of Lebanon; the factor of the Palestinian uprising is the Palestinians themselves; the factor of the Palestinian uprising and intifada is the accumulated pains and sorrows in the existence of this young generation that has come to the field today with hope and vitality. Of course, we admire them; we consider them as part of ourselves; we see Palestine as a part of Islam and feel brotherhood and kinship with the Palestinian nation and the Palestinian youth; but they are the ones leading the intifada. These agreements that have been made in "Sharm el-Sheikh" and other areas, between the irresponsible parties of the issue, have no effect. They will be a source of shame for the signatories and those who made these agreements. They are of no benefit; they will have no effect. A very near future Arab summit will be held. I find it necessary to remind the Arab leaders of the great responsibility that is upon them today. Today, the Islamic Ummah expects from the Arab leaders. The Americans tried to influence the Arab summit in "Sharm el-Sheikh". They should not be influenced. Today, any decision made at the Arab summit will be judged by the eternal history. The Arab leaders can earn eternal glory for themselves with correct decisions at this summit. Of course, the Palestinian issue will not be resolved with these summits; but these summits can present the demands of the Palestinian nation to the world. The most urgent and immediate demands of the Palestinian nation are that those responsible for the massacre of Palestinians in these three weeks must be tried and punished in an Islamic or Arab court. The vile individual who wounded the feelings of the Muslim people with their presence in Al-Aqsa Mosque must be punished. The holy Quds and the city of Jerusalem must be completely cleansed of the Zionists; the Palestinian nation must be allowed to freely decide about its future and destiny. These are the immediate demands that the Arab leaders can raise. I say to my Palestinian brothers and sisters: Continue your jihad. Continue your steadfastness. Know that no nation can gain its honor, identity, and independence except through steadfastness and struggle. No nation will be given anything by the enemy through begging. No nation reaches anything by being weak and bowing to the enemy. Every nation that has achieved something in the world has done so through determination, will, steadfastness, and holding their heads high. Some nations do not have this ability; but the nation that believes in Islam, the nation that believes in the Quran, the nation that believes in God's promise, the nation that believes "Indeed, God will help those who help Him" - whoever helps God and His religion, God will surely help them - has this ability. My other recommendation is that today all the enemy's efforts are to sow discord among the Palestinian ranks. Even those treacherous Palestinian elements who collaborate with the enemy are striving to create discord. Do not succumb to this enemy plot. The elements of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah - the youth of Fatah who have just entered this field - should not abandon this field and should all be united. The leaders and commanders who speak and give orders in favor of the enemy should not be obeyed. The entire Palestinian nation should unite around the sincere, faithful, and self-sacrificing elements. The Palestinian nation - which today the eyes of the Islamic world are upon - should know that the hearts of the Islamic Ummah admire them and pray for them; and if there were a way to help, today the Islamic Ummah would send its assistance; whether the governments agreed and were willing or not. The Islamic Ummah does not abandon Palestine, does not abandon the Palestinian nation, does not turn a blind eye to the Palestinian youth. I also say to our dear nation, appreciate this epic of support and sacrifice for your dear Palestinian brothers - that you, thanks be to God, are proud and distinguished in the Islamic world for your open and comprehensive support of your Palestinian brothers - this is very valuable. The whole world knows that our dear Islamic Iran, the nation and government, all the people, men and women, are interested in, sensitive to, determined about, and if they can, they will help the Palestinian issue. How good it would be if the financial assistance of the able people were gathered and those who can help financially do so. If we cannot help in terms of armaments; if there is no possibility for human resources for the nation and the youth to go there; but financially, we can help them; we can treat some of their pains; we can soothe some of their wounds and influence the hearts of their mothers and the determination of their fathers with these affections. Did you see the teenager who was killed in his father's arms?! This was not the only case; there are many others. The greatness of this movement is so immense that such sacrifices do not seem great to them; just as during the imposed war, you made so many sacrifices that did not seem great to you; but your sacrifices amazed the world. Today, the Palestinian nation is the same; it does not seem great to them, but it astonishes the world. One martyrdom - like that of the teenager in his father's arms - stirs a storm in the hearts of the nations of the world. These are very valuable. O Lord! On this Friday morning, on this day that belongs to Your guardian and Your righteous servant, the Awaited Imam, may our souls be sacrificed for him, we swear to You by that great one and by the family of the Prophet and by the sacred existence of the noble Prophet and by all the saints, send down Your support upon the people of Palestine and upon all the fighting Muslims around the world. O Lord! Make the Iranian nation proud, victorious, and successful. O Lord! By Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, grant our Basij youth vitality, motivation, success, and support in all fields. O Lord! Destroy the enemies of Islam and Muslims. Strengthen the unity of the Islamic Ummah day by day. Make the sacred heart of the Awaited Imam, may our souls be sacrificed for him, pleased and satisfied with us, with this gathering, with all the people of Iran, especially with the dear Basijis. O Lord! Make the pure soul of the Imam pleased and satisfied with what is happening and passing through this country by these faithful youth, and include all of us in the prayers of that great one. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.