Statements at Imam Hussein University during the Guardianship Ceremony

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

First, I congratulate you dear youth on entering the proud field of guardianship; both the esteemed graduating students who received their degrees today and those who have begun their training. Our meeting today in this proud arena with you dear guardians was, as always, a sweet and desirable encounter. Innovations in the management of this field and the administration of its programs were observed, which are very good and commendable.

This university has a major difference from all other universities. Knowledge, learning, intellectual and mental growth, and character development are a primary goal in all our universities and educational centers; however, in this university, the issue of guarding the revolution is also raised. Well, the entire Iranian nation, in a sense, considers itself obligated to guard the revolution - whether official authorities or individuals of various ranks - but the characteristic of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is that this is a defined mission for it.

You dear youth, in the midst of the vitality and blossoming of youth, are preparing yourselves to guard the Islamic revolution throughout your service life and undoubtedly in all your lifetime; just as your predecessors in the Revolutionary Guards did in their time, in very difficult arenas. One of the beautiful scenes today was that the previous generation of the Revolutionary Guards, who witnessed the Sacred Defense, who experienced the early days of the revolution, stood in the face of the youth who are entering the field of guardianship today, exchanging the flag; this is a symbolic and very meaningful scene. In today’s symbolic meeting, the pure souls of the martyrs who reached the lofty rank of martyrdom during various operations throughout the eight years of the Sacred Defense, and before and after it until today, were present before you. The disabled veterans who sacrificed their health, youth, and physical strength for the sake of God and faced a very difficult and, of course, very fortunate trial of disability were present before you. Men who, like you, were going through the prime of their youth, today stand before you with white beards, with decades of service life behind them. This is a very important and instructive scene for you dear youth who want to guard your revolution.

This revolution changed the history of the country. The tyrants and oppressors of history had imposed a misguided movement on this nation for centuries, and in the decades leading up to the revolution, in addition to despotism, arbitrariness, and monopolism in everything, they had also squandered the dignity of this country in the face of enemies. This revolution came and saved this country and this nation from falling into this destructive and annihilating whirlwind; we have been placed on the straight path. Of course, the straight path will lead us to the goal; but when? In what duration? With what effort and struggle? This depends on how much effort we put in, how seriously we take it, how correctly we move; this is contingent upon our determination; but the revolution has laid this path before this great and oppressed historical nation. You want to protect this revolution, to guard it.

First, you must correctly understand this revolution. One of your important tasks, dear youth, is to deeply understand the theoretical foundations of the revolution. We have seen people who entered this field with emotions, without a solid theoretical foundation; they were toppled by a whirlwind, their path changed. Those who can stand firmly in this movement and on this path are those who have a deep understanding of the theoretical foundations of the revolution. It was said: "The believer is like a firmly rooted mountain; the storms cannot move him"; no whirlwind or storm can change their path, provided they have certain characteristics; among these characteristics, and the most important of them, is a correct belief and proper familiarity with the theoretical foundations of this revolution. This is one of the tasks you need to know.

Then, know the experience of the revolution, that is, the reality of this theory over the years; know the history of the revolution. This revolution is not merely a claim like many other things that are common in the world; there is a vast range of experience and action in front of it. This revolution has been tested, it has been experienced. These words are statements that have proven their truth in the field of action. If our dear Imam taught us to rely on God, to trust, to have good thoughts, to strive, and said that if you do this, you will be victorious, this happened; just as it happened in the early days of Islam; that Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) said in Nahj al-Balagha: "When Allah saw our sincerity, He sent down defeat upon our enemy and sent down victory upon us." This nation showed its sincerity, demonstrated its truthfulness; it entered the field and in the field of action, this thought and this ideology and these theoretical foundations were experienced. You must see this in the history of the revolution.

Why do foreign radios try to magnify our small weaknesses tenfold in our eyes - let alone in the eyes of others? It is because they want to erase this experience from our memory; so that we forget that our theoretical foundations have been tested; in the field of action, they have proven themselves. You can achieve this by being aware of the history of the revolution. That is why I recommend reading the memories related to the war, related to the defense period, the operations of Beit al-Muqaddas and the liberation of Khorramshahr; see who they were, what they were, what they did, how they did it, for this is necessary. Then God Almighty will send down defeat upon our enemy, and send down victory upon us.

Then, also, cultivate yourselves as righteous individuals. Everyone must cultivate themselves. I must cultivate myself, and you must cultivate yourselves. Of course, your task is easier than that of someone like me. You are young, you are ready, you are radiant, your hearts are pure; you can easily shape yourselves in the admired model of Islam and the Quran. This is one of your duties; of course, it also falls on the shoulders of the educators and managers and officials of this university and the entire IRGC and the managers of any organization where our dear youth are present; these are necessary. If these tasks are accomplished - which, with certainty and divine success, will be accomplished - then the future is what we have always repeated and said: a reassuring and certain future.

This revolution, from the very first day until today, every step it has taken has been a step that has promised the next step to us; this is very important. We have never encountered a dead end, we have never found ourselves in a corridor of despair and hopelessness; there has always been relief before us. Sometimes we have fallen short, we have been lax, we have not advanced - this has happened - but the path has never been closed and there has never been a dead end; every step we take has been a harbinger of the next step; today is the same.

And let me tell you, my dear ones! This step that the Iranian nation is about to take in a few days - that is, the step of the elections - is one of those steps that, God willing, will herald the next steps. We do not know who will become president, we do not know where God Almighty will direct hearts; but we know that the presence of the people at the ballot boxes - which is a powerful declaration of this nation’s presence in the arena of movement and rushing towards ideals - will undoubtedly bring with it other successes; it will provide security for the country, it will bring dignity, it will enhance international prestige, it will make your friends happy, and it will frustrate and sadden your enemies.

We have two or three weeks until the elections; for some time now - and it has intensified now - they are trying to dishearten the people regarding these elections. Why? Because if the people are encouraged, if they enter this field, if they show their enthusiastic movement as always - which, God willing, they will - it will be costly for them.

They comment on the elections; who are they? Those whose Guantanamo prison is a source of disgrace for them; their drones hovering over the impoverished villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan are a stain of shame on their hands; those who have instigated wars in our sensitive region and occupied two Muslim countries are among their disgraces; those who unconditionally defend and support the criminal Zionist regime are a source of shame and embarrassment for them - if they understand - these criticize the honorable and proud Islamic Republic! These comments have no response; they are not worthy of the attention of the Iranian nation and the proud officials of this nation. But it is instructive for all segments of the Iranian nation and for all of us to see how sensitive this election is for them. This is not specific to this election; for over thirty years, whenever we have an election, the same uproar occurs; they always create a fuss, they always try, and they always get a slap in the face. From whom? From this great nation. With divine success, this time too, they will receive a slap in the face.

Well, we must organize and arrange our own affairs. The people should look at the statements of the esteemed candidates who have entered this field, and we should also look; we must discern, prefer, and see who can strive more and better for the revolution, for the country, for the future, for national dignity, for resolving problems, for standing powerfully and honorably against the front of the adversaries, and for making the Islamic Republic a model in the eyes of the oppressed of the world. It is possible that one person’s judgment may differ from another’s; this is not a problem. I want to say this to everyone: you may be inclined towards one of the candidates, your friend may be inclined towards another; this should not cause you to stand against each other. For the elections and for selecting the highest executive authority in the country - which is very sensitive and very important - there are proper mechanisms; the mechanism of law. There is no obstacle to you being inclined towards one candidate while I am inclined towards another; you vote for one, I vote for another; ultimately, there is a majority, a minority, a criterion, a law; it will be acted upon accordingly. The people should not create unnecessary animosity among themselves just because this one is inclined towards that one, and that one is inclined towards this one; well, let it be. The esteemed candidates themselves should also observe this. They should carry out their work with enthusiasm, with fervor, with pride, but without conflict, without animosity. The delicacy of the work here is that there may be no stagnation, silence, or inertia; there may be vitality, movement, and lively discussions in the field - warm and heated discussions - while there is no spreading of hatred; this is possible. This is a point that it is good for the esteemed candidates to observe.

Another point is that the behavior of the candidates in excessive spending and advertising beyond what is necessary can make us and the people aware and alert regarding what will happen later. Those who either spend from public funds or use money that is questionable or possibly illicit cannot gain the trust of the people; great attention must be paid to these matters.

In electoral advertising, in electoral slogans, what is important is that the dignified, correct, wise, and rational positions of the revolution and the system are established. Let us not show a green light in our slogans to Zayd and Amr outside these borders or to people inside the borders. Well, the enemy is doing its work; it is slandering against someone, against some people, and more than anyone against the revolution, the system, and the elections. Of course, there are also unprincipled voices inside. Unfortunately, there are unprincipled tongues, unprincipled pens, and unprincipled voices inside that repeat the enemy’s words, which are intended to demoralize and depress the people; the people should not pay attention to these. The tomorrow of this nation is a bright tomorrow. The tomorrow of this revolution is a dignified tomorrow. The tomorrow of this country and this nation is a tomorrow that, God willing, with divine success, will become a model for all.

We ask God that you dear youth who are in this field, and all our guardian youth, and all our Basij youth, and all the youth who are present and active in our armed forces, and all the youth who are studying in educational environments, God willing and with divine success, be the pioneers and engines of movement towards this radiant direction. We hope that the pure souls of the martyrs and the pure spirit of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) will be pleased with all of you and us, and that we all will be included in the prayers of the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him).

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