Statements at the Graduation Ceremony of Cadets from the Army Officer Universities

In the Army Officer University of Imam Ali (peace be upon him)

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 Muhammad and his pure family.

Meeting with you dear youth at this ceremony is a sweet and hopeful encounter; it is always like this, and every year it is felt that, by divine grace, the group of students from the officer universities in the various forces of the army have greater spiritual and material advancements. This is a great source of joy for us and, in the true sense of the word, a good tidings.

We have repeatedly stated that the real wealth of the country is you young people; wherever you are, you are a treasure for the dignity, survival, independence, and progress of the country. Of course, some sectors are more important, including the sector of national security, which is your responsibility. You young members of the armed forces bear one of the most important and greatest responsibilities of the country. Those who received their epaulettes today and those who received their ranks today have actually taken significant steps on a path that is truly a glorious path; the path of preserving the security and dignity of the country. When we say security is one of the most important sectors, it is because every other advancement is contingent upon security. If there is no security, there is no scientific advancement, no industrial and economic advancement; if there is no security, there is no peace, assurance, and tranquility in the souls of the people. In an insecure environment, great dreams and brilliant ideals are forgotten in minds; everyone is concerned with preserving their own lives. When there is security in the country, then it is a space, a foundation for the growth of all elements of a country's growth and progress; you have such a responsibility.

In various fields, security is important. I would like to mention that today one of the fundamental issues of the country is the issue of the economy and the livelihood of the people, and that the economy also requires security; the economic foundation of the country must be laid on a secure basis. Our problem, our historical problem, our remnant from the tyrannical eras, is our economic dependence on oil; this has caused us to have security concerns in all eras regarding economic issues; the price of oil has decreased, increased, oil sales have been banned, the movement of oil has become problematic, a certain oil customer has not paid us. When everything revolves around oil in the economy, the economy is insecure; the economy must also be secured. I mention this here because, although the military environment is not an economic environment, the importance of security should be understood for all sectors; even for the issue of the economy, which apparently has no connection to military attire and the uniform of the army and the guards.

Dear youth! Know your worth, know the worth of your country, know the worth of your security, know the worth of the Islamic Republic that has granted this dignity, this peace, this pride to this country. This country, this geography, this dear Iran - for which you rightly hummed and repeated this beautiful anthem - with this historical past, with these endless elements of talent, was once under the heel of American, Zionist, British, and similar advisors. This nation, this country, this glorious history, these bubbling and overflowing talents were led to humiliation by the weak, dependent, and despicable rulers. Islam came and saved the country; the Islamic Republic came and honored Iran, made Iran powerful.

My dear ones, our intelligent and talented youth! Today, the conflict of global arrogance with us is that they are upset because your power has spread across the region. This is the power of the Islamic Republic. What we consider a national power element is, in the eyes of our enemies, a disturbing factor, and they fight against it. They oppose the development of the power of the Islamic Republic among nations in the region and beyond because it is a factor of power, because it is the strategic depth of the country; they oppose the defensive power of the country and the military power of the country; they oppose everything that is a means of power and a national power element.

What is the way to confront? Young people! Think. The way to confront the enemy is that we, contrary to their wishes, rely on our power elements. We have announced, and we will announce again that the defensive capabilities and the defensive power of the country are not negotiable. They can come and negotiate why you have this or that defensive tool? Why do you produce it? Why do you research it? We have no negotiations, no deals with the enemy regarding those things that increase, secure, or support national power; we are moving forward on the path of the country's power; and this is your responsibility.

Dear youth! The future of this country belongs to you. The youth of yesterday fulfilled their duty. About 30 or 35 years ago, in this very university - it was described as the 'Feyziyeh of the Army'; it is indeed correct; this place is like the Feyziyeh of the Army; this is a place where many martyrs from professors, students, commanders, and managers have been seen - during the Sacred Defense, the students of this university voluntarily insisted on coming to the battlefield to fight; the army did not bring them because it was against the army's regulations, but some of the students from this university voluntarily came to fight in the part known as irregular warfare. For many years - for decades - this ceremony has been held here every year; people like you received their epaulettes or ranks here and, thanks be to God, reached high positions in the army; this is one of the honors of this university. Prepare yourselves; the country belongs to you; you must bring the country to the peak of dignity, under the shadow of Islam and inspired by the great Islamic Revolution; the Islamic Republic is responsible for such an important duty, and you are engaged in the Islamic Republic system, thanks be to God. I pray for your increasing success from the Almighty God; I thank your commanders, your professors, and those who strive and work. I also thank those who prepared the beautiful and profound arrangement of the field.

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