Statements of the Supreme Leader in a Meeting with a Group of IRGC Commanders

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

First of all, I welcome all of you dear brothers and sisters who are present, especially the esteemed families of martyrs and the disabled veterans. I hope that the radiant hearts of all our brothers and sisters in the IRGC and Basij are continuously blessed by the grace of the Almighty. Secondly, the approaching occasion of the Sacred Defense Week, the formation of three forces in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and later their elevation to five forces, and their coincidence with the days of the martyrdom of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) and these great and enduring days in history, all deserve attention and contemplation.

Over the twenty years since the revolution, the history of the IRGC has been a lesson-filled and contemplative narrative that can be utilized by our subsequent generations—both today and in the future. The emergence of a group inspired by divine duty and a sense of responsibility, recognizing the needs of the time, growing, attracting the necessary elements from the youth and faithful members of society, bearing fruit, and fulfilling its duties in the most sensitive situations in a manner that astonishes most observers—both domestically and globally—while steadfastly, diligently, consciously, and cautiously moving along the path it has charted; young people thinking, acting, deciding, and taking action like seasoned elders—these are events that have occurred and are worthy of reflection and consideration.

Today, even after these years of tumult and ups and downs, when we look at the body of the IRGC—the entirety of this organization—we observe the same characteristics, the same orientation, and the same capabilities within it. Observing this phenomenon, this movement, and this trajectory is beneficial for anyone who wishes to draw from the reserves of their past. What are these past reserves? The past reserves are these very events. No wise and discerning nation should forget its past, which is a collection of events, and a nation that is wise and discerning will not forget. Therefore, those who, at a time in history before our era, attempted to seize nations and take their destinies into their own hands, one of their actions was to sever these nations' ties with their past.

A few years ago, in one of the Latin American countries that had been under the powerful grip of European colonialism for many long years, it was portrayed that those regions had no past, no history, and no glorious ancient culture in their records—this was how they were presented and reflected in the world. In studies and excavations they conducted, they discovered signs of a great civilization that was not very ancient. At that time, the president of that country told me this, and it was also reported in newspapers and media. One would be very astonished to see how a nation—let's say—had a magnificent and great civilization a thousand or two thousand years ago, and completely forgets it! How can a nation not know what glories exist in its past records? We were astonished by this. Then, when one looks at the conditions of certain regions of the world that are currently under the pressure of the well-known tyrants and oppressors, one sees the same state in them, where they forget their pasts! Of course, some pasts they cannot forget—they are unable to do so—if they could, they would cover them under the ashes of world events! Some they cannot forget, and some they try to conceal.

Even today, look and see how there is an effort to completely forget something called the Palestinian nation; as if there has never been any land called Palestine and no nation that owns this land! They have prepared the groundwork in this way, and one observes with complete astonishment and regret that some even submit to this, and today in the world, there are those who submit to such a tyrannical, strange, and foolish phenomenon—those who have submitted to this deal! Today this event occurs: a so-called Palestinian entity is brought into a part of the vast land of Palestine, and there—a mere four percent of the country of Palestine—a half-hearted and false sovereignty is granted, and what they demand in return is that the issue of Palestine, the matter of the land, and the matter of the nation be completely forgotten and set aside, and anyone among the Palestinians who mentions the name of the Palestinian nation, the name of the country, and the history of Palestine, those who have made this detrimental deal are tasked with suppressing them!

Well; this deal is very unreasonable and foolish. Who would be willing to accept such a deal?! If before this action was taken, the matter had been presented to the nations of the world—especially the Islamic nations—and they had said that we intend to make such a deal, that in a corner of the land of Palestine—this tiny piece of land!—we would grant a fictitious and false sovereignty to a few Palestinians, and in return, completely forget the entire issue of Palestine, the Palestinian nation, the country, and the current refugees of Palestine, perhaps very few in the Islamic world would believe that such a thing could happen; but today this issue has occurred! That is, a despicable and worthless group that truly does not deserve to be called Palestinians—let alone represent the Palestinian nation—are doing this! The opposing side—the usurping government and the United States that stands behind the usurping government—naively thinks that the issue of Palestine is resolved! Unaware that the Palestinian nation remains in its place. A nation cannot be erased from history. Fortunately, one feels that today among this nation, there are righteous, brave, wise, and zealous individuals who are committed to Islam, and such a deal will not take place.

The Islamic world—especially the Arab world—must be aware today that the enemies' tactic is to divert them from this important issue, which is the main issue of the Islamic world today and especially the main issue of the Arab world, and to shift their minds to secondary matters and false issues, so that they can carry out this action. Of course, they will not be able to do so. If they remain heedless, they will bring nothing but loss upon themselves; that is, the reputation of the heedless will be lost, but the issue will remain as solid as it originally was, and undoubtedly one day the Palestinian nation will reclaim its land under its rightful sovereignty; there is no doubt about it.

Neglecting the reserves of history and the narrative of life—which history is a collection of events—has these consequences. We must always pay attention to history and past events, especially to events close to us. The eight-year imposed war and the emergence of the IRGC and the experiences of the IRGC are among these. The IRGC was born out of necessity, yet amidst opposition. There were oppositions—there were not few oppositions, everyone opposed for some reason and in some way—but there was a need, determination, reliance on God, and the division of correct goals; therefore, the oppositions had no effect, and this blessed offspring was able to grow and demonstrate great works at every stage.

Today, it is the same. Today, this organization and all organizations that were established with the lofty goal of Islam and revolution, considering the great and noble Islamic goals for this nation and this country, hold the same ruling; that is, because they are needed, with determination, bravery, awareness, and reliance, they will pursue their path and draw closer to their goals.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is an entity whose existence is essential and necessary for the country and the nation of Iran and all the lofty goals that this nation has outlined for itself. The IRGC is not merely for a military organization. A military organization can take various forms, with different goals and behaviors and various characteristics. Of course, thanks be to God, today in the Islamic Republic, all military organizations are, in a sense, spiritual and divine organizations with divine goals; the army is the same, the police force is the same, and the IRGC, whose birth was in this manner, is also the same. Each has its own characteristics. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was established to defend the revolution, the integrity of the revolution, and the goals of the revolution, and to confront the enemies of the revolution. The revolution, whatever enemies it has, and whatever enmity they hold, naturally stands against the IRGC; because it is the guardian of the revolution. All those forces that exist in this “God-made” nature and in these divine laws and traditions to defend the revolution and the truth of Islam—all those spiritual forces, all those inner capabilities and potentials—are all at the service of this organization that was created to defend the revolution.

The revolution is not a mental, intellectual, or imaginary matter; it is a real matter. The revolution is a public movement; it is the path that this nation takes to achieve true salvation and happiness and to free itself from the common predicaments of the oppressed countries of the world today. The revolution seeks to make this nation and this country honorable, proud, prosperous, possessing material and spiritual distinctions, and enjoying material and spiritual elevation and perfection. The revolution aims to eradicate foreign domination and the subjugation and humiliation that have long sought to impose themselves on this country and this nation; to eliminate and nullify the misfortunes that foreign dominations and enemies have created. This is the revolution; despite those who have tried to misrepresent the name of the revolution, the concept of the revolution, and the identity of the revolution through their malicious propaganda and have sought to turn the concept of the revolution from a brilliant, attractive, and cherished concept into an ordinary concept, and if they could, into a negative concept. These efforts are underway. Even some have emerged to use the line that the enemies of Islam and the enemies of the revolution and Iran have provided to portray the very concept of the revolution as a negative concept! Yes; of course, the revolution is the greatest calamity for those who have long clutched at a country—nothing is more negative for them than the revolution—but for a nation that seeks to free itself from the hundred-year and hundred-fifty-year material and spiritual, cultural, and economic domination, the revolution is the remedy, the healing, the divine blessing, and the only way.

The Iranian nation chose this path and embarked upon it and succeeded, and along the way, it did not falter. They—the enemies—did not expect this. Today, this nation, with intensity, strength, and power, moves toward the same goals with the same force. The analyses of the enemies have all proven to be wrong. The Iranian nation will reach those goals; be assured. The Iranian nation will achieve what it has set out to accomplish in the name of God. This is the revolution; this is the sacred and valuable concept, and this is the meaning of guarding the revolution, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was established to guard this revolution in those areas that relate to this military-spiritual organization.

Do not forget that past. Make maximum use of that past and all the positive experiences that could advance you, which fortunately are all documented and preserved. Many of you are those who were present in the scenes and in the decision-making processes. You are the ones who were there then, and thanks be to God, you are still here today and have emerged from that great experience successful and honored. Utilize those experiences. Others who were not there, the youth who are just coming in, should be made aware of that glorious past and utilize those experiences. Consider the historical reserves of the past and the events of the past as among your dearest reserves. Do not let it be neglected, for this neglect will bring about great losses. Much of the enemies' efforts are aimed at creating a gap between the past of each generation; that is, between those glories, between those experiences, and between those achievements, to root them out, to sever them from themselves and their past, and to fight against them.

I hope that the Almighty God grants you all success and that the attentions of His Holiness, the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him), and the pure supplications of that great one encompass you, and that the pure spirit of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the pure souls of the martyrs pray for you, and God willing, these spiritual reserves will yield great achievements for you.

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