Speech at the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran

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

We give thanks to the Great God that as time progresses, the signs of strength in the foundation of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran become more apparent. Thanks be to God, today the army in all its sectors possesses strength, and in the eyes of the people, it is beloved and a source of hope, and it can be said that it is in its best state since the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Today, the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran is also in a favorable condition and in its rightful place within the army. This is a divine blessing.

There have been many problems; from the beginning of the revolution's victory until today, disturbances from various directions have persisted; but the will of the revolution and the lofty will of our great Imam and the people's desire have overcome all obstacles and disturbances.

The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran must value what they have today; and in my opinion, the most superior aspect in this field is the army's popular position and base. The army, in the experience of the imposed war and before that, was able to demonstrate its Islamic essence in many instances and places. Of course, there have been deficiencies and shortcomings; but the correct thought is to always focus on the positive points, define the path towards the goals, and pursue it with seriousness. Negative points, problems, and obstacles will naturally fade away and disappear in a movement and march accompanied by determination.

What I have always recommended to the army and repeat today is that the army must increase its spiritual and material capabilities day by day. More important than material capability is spirituality; that is, the spirit, faith, and love for responsibility and selfless and devoted effort in this path. Wherever the nation stands behind the army and behind the officials, there is success. Wherever in any part of the world you see humiliation, weakness, and inability to face difficult events, the fundamental reason is the gap between the active hands of that country's system and the people.

Why can the usurping Zionist regime today, with the support of America and the money of the world's Zionists, so blatantly impose its will on the Arab nations? Why, after decades when Muslims and Arab masses boycotted negotiations with Israel—a fake, rootless, imposed, and usurping regime in the region—and considered it disgraceful, is the idea of negotiation unfortunately accepted among political elements and many Arab governments today? Because the people are not present, because the people's hands are not joined with the active hands of those countries, because the regimes go one way and the nations another; the result is weakness. Otherwise, if the Arab regimes that today accept negotiations with Israel relied on their nations, why would they feel compelled and forced to sit with the domestic enemy and usurper of their land and talk about the usurped land? If the nations were allowed on the scene, if they respected the emotions, thoughts, will, and power of the nations, the nations would not allow the Arab countries and regimes to become so weak.

Has the issue of Palestine and the usurpation of this Islamic land changed from half a century ago until today? Are historical and geographical truths changeable? Palestine is Palestine; it is an Islamic land, belonging to its nation and people. An enemy comes and usurps your home, then arrogantly demands that you sign off on this usurpation! What humiliation is greater than this?!

Our stance against Israel is the same as always. Israel in the region is a malignant cancerous tumor that must be cut and eradicated. Contrary to the superficial view of those who look at America's superpower support for Israel and consider this impossible, this is not impossible; it is achievable and will happen. Superpowers are not eternal. Material powers are here one day and gone the next. Yesterday, there was a power called the Soviet Union in the world as a superpower; but today it is not. This is the scene of historical experience before our eyes.

I do not think that some proud Arab governments would be willing to endure this humiliation; and they should not, and the nations will not tolerate it at all. If the Americans think they will solve the Middle East issue in this way, they are mistaken. They must know that any regime that sits at the negotiating table with the usurping Zionist regime will have its position among its people shaken, and instability in the region will increase day by day.

Nations follow their own path. Regimes opposed to the nations will face the same fate we saw yesterday in the Camp David negotiators. The presence of the nation behind the government, behind the army, and behind the capable hands and arms has this great property that the army and armed forces feel powerful; they do not feel alienated. You have this advantage; preserve it.

Look to yourselves, not to foreigners. We provide equipment for the army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. We equip our armed forces to the extent of our capacity and power, with all our might; but our constant recommendation is to think of initiative and your own hands, arms, and capabilities. The ground forces, air forces, and naval forces have abundant talents within them that must be maximally utilized, and thanks be to God, we see that today they are being utilized; but increase this day by day. The Joint Staff will also play a guiding, coordinating, and completing role in relation to these efforts across all armed forces.

I hope, God willing, you will be successful and that our army will be such an army that is worthy of our great and heroic nation. We send greetings to the souls of the dear martyrs of the armed forces and ask the Almighty Lord for their forgiveness. We also honor the memory of our great Imam, that pioneer of the power and divine will of the Iranian nation and that great teacher of the freedom of the world's nations, and we hope that day by day, in the path of the Imam and towards the goals of that great man, all the Iranian nation and you soldiers and all the armed forces will be successful.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings