Statements at the Graduation Ceremony of Students of the Islamic Republic Army Officer Universities

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

I congratulate you dear youth. May the reward of your successful studies at the Islamic Republic Army universities, which is the prestigious rank of officer of the Imam of the Time, and also for the dear youth who received their epaulettes and entered this path, be blessed for all of you, God willing. The youthful faces of our officers today in the army, the IRGC, and all armed forces herald a spirit of youth and a hopeful future for the Islamic Republic.

It is the days of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Ghadir, but our Eid has been overshadowed by the ignorance of today’s era with the bloody events of Mina. We hope that the Almighty God accepts these sacrifices and devotion from the Iranian nation and the Muslim nations, and that the horizon before the Islamic Ummah becomes brighter day by day, God willing.

Regarding you dear youth who have entered the field of action in the Islamic Republic Army, there is much to say. In summary, among the prominent characteristics of an armed force are faith, courage, and knowledge. These three elements are among the very important factors in forming the identity of an armed force. Without courage, the armed force will not act in the face of danger; it will be incapable. Without faith, the armed force will develop a weak spirit. You see the new military tools that their users have no risk-taking; they board an airplane, come and bombard the defenseless people of Yemen, the market, the mosque, the wedding ceremony, the mourning ceremony, the place of business; meaning that when there is no spirit of faith, when God is not present, it does not matter whose bloodthirsty and deadly tools are poured upon whom, with whom they wage war using these tools. In the field of danger, where human existence and identity must show themselves, they are absent, but in facing the oppressed, the defenseless, the unarmed, they are brave; where they must show their power, they are absent, but where the opponent is a defenseless human, they boast of bravery with airplanes, missiles, and other deadly tools! We oppose general deadly military tools like nuclear weapons and chemical weapons for this reason; they are indistinguishable. It is well-known that Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) considered even the future of his opponent in battles before striking with the sword; it was calculated and deliberate. When there is no faith, it is like that; when there is no courage, it is like that; when there is no knowledge, the tools at hand will be blunt against the tools of the devils; all these are necessary. You are young, the light of our eyes, our dear ones, the future belongs to you, this country belongs to you; strengthen these main elements within yourselves as much as you can; your faith, your courage, your research initiative, your learning and scholarship.

This army also belongs to you; in a short while, you will be the stewards of this great collection; each of you in a section, in a point.

The report of the esteemed commander of this university, who was the commander of the field today, was a good report. I also have reports from other sources; fortunately, six army universities have done good work, successful activities that please one’s heart, but do not be satisfied at all; with a searching eye - my audience is the esteemed officials of the army - with a precise and discerning eye, find the flaws, the shortcomings, and elevate these universities to a desirable level, to a high level, and equip the dear youth studying in these universities, preparing for the future, with faith, spirituality, knowledge, and high spirits as much as you can.

Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran needs both hard war tools and soft war tools. The condemned world of the powers of the devils, a world where those at the top prioritize materialism, desires, money, and material facilities, is a perilous world for God-seeking individuals; they must keep themselves prepared, they must keep themselves equipped. If the Islamic Republic of Iran and the brave and revolutionary Iranian nation allowed the global usurping powers to dissolve them within themselves and their systems, meaning if they were to show no importance to their core, their identity, their essence, they would not be subjected to enmity. The oppressor and the tyrant demand obedience; if someone does not obey them, it is the beginning of enmity; one must be prepared.

Your preparedness as armed forces - whether army, IRGC, Basij, or other armed forces - does not only mean defeating the enemy in battle, but it also means keeping the country safe from the evil intentions of the enemies. When you are prepared, when you are equipped, when you are armed with faith, armed with knowledge, ready for sacrifice, the enemy does not dare to take a step towards you out of malice; yes, they threaten, they speak with words, but the Iranian nation has shown over nearly four decades of revolution that it is strong, powerful, robust, has identity, has essence, has substance, stands firm; a sample of this was the eight-year Sacred Defense.

You dear youth must certainly hear the stories of the Sacred Defense from the veterans and the old-timers; go see the areas; pay attention to the operational plans, the brave and sacrificial works from a military perspective; see what happened? The Iranian nation earned an everlasting honor during the Sacred Defense; thus, the power of the armed forces is also deterrent.

Today, in the world, great capitalists, large companies, world oppressors, power-seekers, equipped with knowledge and propaganda devices, are bullying and ruling over world politics; any independent nation that wants to stand firm is subjected to their enmity. Some countries stand firm, some stand firm a little, some endure; some ultimately cannot endure; Islamic Iran has shown that it is resilient, aware, insightful, respects its identity, and respects humanity. Standing firm against global arrogance is respect for humanity; it is respect for all nations and all humans. Of course, they show their teeth, but the crushing fist of the faithful can force them to retreat; it has always been this way, and it will continue to be this way.

Regarding the recent events in Mina, let me say a word. [This incident] was a mourning for us from two aspects, it was a calamity: [one] from the perspective of several hundred of our dear pilgrims who died unjustly [and] many of them perhaps died with thirsty tongues; their families, who were pleased that their loved ones were returning from Hajj and had opened their arms for them, now have to face their corpses; this is a great calamity. The number of our casualties is still unknown; it may reach several hundred. This is the first reason that the nation is truly mourning in this incident.

Secondly, for the Islamic world; as we have been informed, there have been more than five thousand casualties from the Islamic world and from various countries. Hajj is a place of security: وَ اِذ جَعَلنَا البَیتَ مَثابَةً لِلنّاسِ وَ اَمنا; (2) the Quran says we made the Kaaba a place of gathering and return for the Islamic Ummah and a place of security; it must be safe; where is the security? Is it security that during the rituals of Hajj, the hands of oppression are unleashed upon human lives?

Investigations must be conducted; I do not have a premature judgment regarding the causes of this incident [but] there must certainly be individuals from the Islamic world - including from our country - who go, investigate closely, and determine what the cause of the incident was; there is no discussion about that. The discussion is about the responsibilities that every government, every nation, every doctor, every nurse, every spiritually and emotionally healthy human has towards a number of injured; they did not fulfill these responsibilities. In the hospital, in the cold container, in the desert, they did not take care of the patient, did not take care of the desperate human, did not take care of the thirsty. Today, there are also problems in transferring their pure bodies to the country; our officials are pursuing this; they have worked, they are trying; these works and activities must continue, but the officials of Saudi Arabia do not fulfill their duties; rather, in some cases, they act contrary to their duties, they act maliciously.

If our country and our nation want to react against the annoying and malicious elements, their situation will not be good; we have so far exercised restraint. In various matters, we have exercised restraint; the hand of Islamic Iran is freer than many; our capabilities, our resources are greater than many; they know that if they want to compete with the Islamic Republic system, they will not find a rival in any arena. We have maintained the Islamic ethical decorum, the respect for brotherhood in the Islamic Ummah; we can react. If we decide to react, our reactions will also be harsh, will be severe.

They have tested the Iranian nation; in the eight-year war, all of these - these surrounding powers - and all the powers of the East and West supported and defended a corrupt and wicked element, and they all received a slap; that corrupt element received a slap, and consequently, all those who supported it received a slap; they have recognized Iran; if they have not recognized it, they should recognize it.

Today, tens of thousands of our dear ones are still in Mecca and Medina, in the rituals of Hajj; any slight disrespect towards them will create a reaction; failure to fulfill their duties towards the pure bodies of our dear martyrs in Hajj will create a reaction; they must be careful to fulfill their duties. Of course, the matter does not end here; the issues must be pursued. The Islamic Republic is not a proponent of oppression, nor does it accept oppression; we do not oppress anyone, nor do we accept anyone's oppression. We consider all humans - both Muslims and non-Muslims - to have rights; we recognize their rights and do not encroach upon those rights. However, if someone wants to encroach upon the rights of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic of Iran, we know how to deal with them; we will respond firmly. Thanks be to God, we have the capability; the Iranian nation is a powerful nation, the Islamic Republic is a stable and established power, and we can defend ourselves.

Dear youth! Know that the arena of honor, the arena of greatness, the arena of Islamic and Iranian identity is an arena that requires courage, sacrifice, knowledge, and deep faith; prepare yourselves; all youth are the audience of this message, but you dear youth in the armed forces are particularly addressed; you must prepare yourselves. Be a fortress in the true sense of the word; just as in this poem you read, and you referred to the armed forces as the fortress and bulwark of the country and the nation; be the bulwark of the country in the true sense of the word.

O Lord! Bestow Your mercy, guidance, and grace upon all the Iranian nation, upon all our youth, upon these dear youth, and upon all the armed forces.

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