Message to the Grand Assembly of IRGC and Basij Commanders

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

Dear brothers, esteemed commanders and officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij of the Oppressed!

Thanks be to God that the spirit of Ruhollah, that righteous servant and heir of the prophets and saints (peace be upon them), has left a miraculous and enduring mark on the annals of history; that is, he has nurtured noble individuals and pure souls with a prophetic upbringing who, in the darkness of ignorance and materialism imposed by the tyrants of the age and the emperors of wealth and power, shine like bright stars, spreading the light of virtue and spirituality around them and demonstrating spiritual and moral ascension and true values to the world.

Thanks be to God that the efforts and struggles of that heir of the prophets and follower of their path were blessed, and his and his nation's reward was granted with a great victory that had been the aspiration of all Islamic reformers and deep thinkers for centuries. This victory was guaranteed with brilliant conquests in various fields, and above all, in the field of nurturing and purifying the souls of the youth who are the steadfast pillars and vigilant guardians of the revolution and the Islamic system, and he was granted the ultimate victory, which is the key to all triumphs.

You young men and valiant ones who have earned the greatest honor of the revolutionary era by your record of struggle in an eight-year war, are among the most valuable achievements of our late great Imam in his years of arduous efforts.

Some of you have tasted the cup of martyrdom and have been honored with proximity to the friends of God and ascension to the celestial realm, while others remain alive and ready, poised for your great duty, awaiting God's command and divine decree: "Among them are those who have fulfilled their vow, and among them are those who await, and they have not changed in the least."

The great Imam had a fatherly affection for you, the devoted and sincere young fighters, and his enlightened heart was pleased with you. This affection and satisfaction is a precious asset that must be cherished and preserved. Undoubtedly, the affection and satisfaction of the pure soul of that descendant of prophecy and leadership will have the same blessings as his satisfaction and affection during his blessed life.

Now, we are in an era where jihad in the path of God, though not as explicit as during the war, but with the same difficulties and perhaps with more subtlety, rests upon all of us. Jihad in this era, for those in the armed forces or affiliated with them, entails separate matters:

First, maintaining spiritual readiness to defend the revolution, the country, and the Islamic Republic system. It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that: "Whoever does not fight or does not consider fighting in his heart, dies on a branch of hypocrisy." That is, one who is not in the battlefield or does not contemplate jihad in his heart and soul will leave life with a form of hypocrisy.

We, as the great departed Imam stated, are serious in our policy to achieve peace within the framework of the Security Council resolution and will never take the lead in undermining it; but maintaining various readiness, especially spiritual readiness for a valiant defense of Islam and the revolution, is the highest duty that today is incumbent upon you and all armed forces. The IRGC, Basij, and army must maintain this readiness at the highest level and not allow the slightest slackness in their manly determination and resolve.

I especially emphasize to all Basij forces that their separation from their affiliated organization—the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—should never mean detachment from the military defense scene and immersion in personal or professional life. Their pure life depends on maintaining the highest possible level of spiritual and organizational connection.

Second, strengthening educational and organizational readiness. The IRGC and the army, each within the framework of their specific mission, must be engaged in strengthening their education and organizational solidity and keeping their personnel and military equipment ready, and no slackness or negligence should occur in this great duty. Now, a valuable treasure of military experiences is at your disposal that must be used to create greater readiness.

Of course, all dear ones must note that although the long-term missions of the army and the IRGC differ, today the definite duty of all is to repair and strengthen the defensive lines at the borders, and each of the two organizations and each unit of their combat units must consider the duty of strong and powerful presence in the border trenches more important than any other task and not neglect it for a moment.

Third, complete cooperation and brotherly affection between the brothers of the IRGC and the army. The enemy, out of complete enmity and hostility, tries to create division among our armed forces by spreading rumors, and some friends, out of ignorance, sometimes fuel the rumors made by the enemy. Sometimes the rumor of the dissolution of the army and sometimes the rumor of the dissolution of the IRGC is spread, which both and any such talk is from the enemy or in his interest.

I, following our great and wise departed Imam, firmly say: Both these organizations will remain and be strengthened as two arms of the Islamic Republic. Each will have a mission separate from the other and complementary to it, and the IRGC, in addition to its combat mission, will also have the heavy duty of organizing and training and mobilizing the twenty-million-strong army.

The army and the IRGC, with help, cooperation, and positive competition, will be able to, as always, create a strong barrier against the enemies of Islam, the revolution, the Islamic country, and the Islamic government, and respond to any aggression with power and even erase the thought of aggression from the enemy's mind.

In conclusion, I once again emphasize to you dear ones, commanders and managers of the IRGC and Basij, and to each and every fighter and Basiji that the Islamic Republic system must have defensive and combat power commensurate with its revolutionary claims and ideals. This will only be possible with the work and effort and maintaining the spirit and readiness of you, the children of Islam and the Imam.

Rely on God, seek help from Him, supplicate to Him, converse with Him, and employ all your efforts and strength in this clear path, and God is with the believers and those who rely on Him. I, with all my strength, will be at your service and support you, and God is the best supporter.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings

Seyyed Ali Khamenei

1989/09/17