Speech at Imam Ali (PBUH) Military University

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

This is one of the sweetest and most beautiful ceremonies and rituals of our armed forces; that is, the entry of a group of our dear youth into the military attire, and the graduation of another group. First, I congratulate all the dear ones who have graduated and those who have entered the sacred attire of soldiering. The Military University is that promising field where capable saplings must grow in a suitable environment and reach maturity to create the honorable men of the Islamic Republic of Iran's army in the future.

There are two characteristics in our army, which, if present in any army, deserve to be proudly boasted about:

The first characteristic is that the army in our country is rooted in the hearts of the people; unlike armies that are separate from the people and stand against them, and the people are alienated from them, and their pride is only in their outward adornment and nothing else. In our country, by the grace and power of God, the army is a popular base and a focus of the emotions of all our nation's people.

The second characteristic is that you prepare and equip yourselves for a sacred and lofty goal. If armies anywhere in the world and belonging to any country limit their goals to nationalist and ethnic objectives, your goal is a human one.

It is true that the fortified defense of the nation is also these armed forces of ours, and it is true that the correct meaning of patriotism and love for the homeland is what a righteous and truthful army does—defending the homeland with life, not just in claims and by name—but none of these have caused or will cause our army to not think of lofty human and divine goals.

In the report of the Military University's performance, you also speak of occupied Palestine. In the hearts of each of you faithful and pure youth, the hatred of the enemies of Islam and the love for Islamic values, the great Islamic homeland, Islamic brothers, and Islamic aspirations surge. We are Muslims and Iranians. Our Islam is not only not in conflict with our Iranian identity, but they complement and align with each other. Today, the dome of Islam and the base of high divine thoughts and Islamic values is this blood-soaked and heroic homeland that for many years the youth of the armed forces and each member of this people, in the proud ranks of the popular mobilization, have defended. These two characteristics are unique to you.

We welcome Islamic motivations in every nation and in every army of the world's armies. It is unfortunate that they have not been given this opportunity; but you have this opportunity. This oath of yours is one of the strongest and most sacred oaths; and this ensures the strength of your religious foundation and the strength of this country's defensive and military foundation. The enemies of Islam should know that the Islamic Republic is strong and stable; because it relies on the hearts, faiths, and thoughts of all the people and its brave youth, and its armed forces are the arms of this nation and a part of this proud body.

Today you see how the state of the world is. This conference that is being held today in Madrid and decides, is an act of coercion against Muslim nations, and a great injustice to the Palestinian nation. The leaders of world politics should not think that by sitting, talking, and clapping they will be able to take control of the destinies of nations and move countries here and there at their will. Our contemporary history has shown the baselessness and weakness of such decision-making. After World War II, powerful people sat, talked, and rose; they dragged nations for several decades after their decisions; but what happened in the end? You saw how the nature of history and God's tradition in history slapped all of them in the face? You saw how their words and decisions were nullified and left no trace against the will of nations and the tradition of history? The issue of Palestine is the same. Forty years ago, they sat and created a fake state and a fabricated nationality in a usurped homeland; today they also want to put an end to the issue in their imagination; but they are mistaken.

Of course, those who participate in this betrayal will become detested by nations; but nations and God's traditions in history will follow their path; this is not something we say today. They do not need to mobilize their massive and abundant propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We have no reservations or considerations with anyone in defending the great and rightful aspiration of Palestine.

Nations do not have a platform. Nations do not find a place where they are allowed to speak their words. Give nations the opportunity; do not block nations in the streets of Egypt, Jordan, and other Islamic countries with tear gas, batons, and firearms, so it becomes clear what Islamic nations say and want. This is the word of all Islamic nations.

Dear youth! Dear children of this land and Islam! Appreciate this era of work and effort; build yourselves in terms of various trainings, physically and also spiritually and in strengthening the foundation of faith. Heavy burdens and indeed very honorable duties are on your shoulders. I sincerely thank all those who have worked in organizing the training courses of the Islamic Republic's army, especially the Military University—at any level.

Thanks be to God, today on one side the Islamic Republic's army, and on the other side the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, like two robust saplings, are in the process of flourishing and growing, so that the enemy who does not want and cannot see, becomes blind. The Islamic Republic, in its loving embrace, nurtures its children more and more in the right and honorable paths every day.

We hope that Almighty God grants success to all of you and guides all of us in the path of duty and includes us in His help.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings