Statements of His Eminence at the Graduation Ceremony of Officer University Students and Awarding of Epaulettes

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

Firstly, I extend my congratulations to the dear graduates of the honorable and magnificent Officer University, who, thanks be to God, have succeeded in completing this course; and also to the dear students who have been able to receive their epaulettes and begin their academic work towards honorable results. I also congratulate the professors, officials, and managers of the academic and military affairs of this educational center, who, thanks be to God, show their success in the faces of you promising young people. Although, thanks be to God, all our military centers are a source of joy and delight due to their faith, efficiency, and history of struggle during the imposed war, and visiting them brings happiness and satisfaction; the Officer University, in this regard, is more advanced and eloquent than all our military centers.

The Officer University is a center for nurturing young people who have decided to stand in the proud ranks of defending their dear homeland and their glorious revolution. This is very valuable. Today, thanks be to God, our military forces—both the Revolutionary Guards and the Army—and also the popular forces that have joined the ranks of jihad, namely the Basij, have an exceptional status. This is not an exaggeration; it is a statement of truth. This is due to the blessings of the revolution and Islam and the blessing of the painful but glorious experience of the imposed war.

Our army today is a proud, honorable, and faithful army. Today, thanks be to God, both the appearances that are of interest and attention in the armies of the world exist in our army, as well as faith, struggle, piety, and sacrifice. Above all, our army is a people's army. Appearances are good, but they are not enough. Once, the appearances of the Iranian army were good, and they paid a lot of attention to it; but at the critical moment, when the enemy attacked the borders of this country in the years 1941, the army did not resist in the slightest. The claims made by the leaders of the corrupt Pahlavi regime, who said, 'We have taken care of the army and managed it,' were exposed in that critical moment. They thought they had built the army with great expense; but its benefit to the country was zero because they did not defend this country.

However, the army of the Islamic government and the proud system of the Islamic Republic stood manfully in the battlefields, resisted, sacrificed, and gave great martyrs. These days are the anniversary of the martyrdom of several great commanders of the army and the Revolutionary Guards. Valuable commanders in the three branches of the army during the imposed war—before and after it—sacrificed themselves for the sake of Islam and made their names and the name of the army bright and eternal. Today, too, when you look at the army of the Islamic Republic, thanks be to God, it is full of faithful and proud officers who take pride in defending their Islamic homeland; officers who do not fear the enemy, but the enemy fears them. Today, our army, the Revolutionary Guards, and our great popular Basij force have no fear in their hearts of the verbose and boastful enemies and these paper tigers; but the enemies truly fear this great force. Their statements also show this.

We pay attention to our army, the Revolutionary Guards, and our military and law enforcement forces and provide them with the necessary care. They are among the most honorable members of the Islamic Republic system. However, our effort is to reduce the reliance of this great force on outside these borders as much as we can. Therefore, our foreign purchases are much less than those of the countries on the Persian Gulf coast, which are not even as large as one of the proud and great counties of Iran. They buy more from abroad than we do; but in vain. Can tools, airplanes, and tanks save a country and a nation?! It is the wills and people who can defend homelands, values, and nations. Due to their bad policies and the corruption of their governments, they lack this great factor. They constantly spend money and save the weapon manufacturing companies from bankruptcy; but to the detriment of their nation and the region. Meanwhile, their cries and those of their cunning and deceitful masters are loud that 'the Islamic Republic is militarizing!'

The pride of a nation with sixty million people, with a brilliant history, with great people, with a popular government, and with a struggle experience that has dazzled people all over the world, is that it can defend itself, which of course it can. Yes; we strengthen our ability to defend ourselves against stray dogs and bloodthirsty wolves; but to the blindness of the eyes of the powers and Zionist companies of the world, we reduce our dependence on the outside. We build ourselves and create ourselves, and by the grace of the Lord, we create it well. They hid their weaknesses under false slogans for many years.

Today, some countries on the Persian Gulf coast have committed the greatest betrayal to their history and the history of Arab countries. That is, they have endorsed and supported Israel, which is the usurper of an Islamic country and an Arab nation, in its usurpation and oppression. Recognizing Israel means this! They lift the sanctions on Israel, and this is a betrayal to Islamic nations and Arab nations, and the greatest betrayal to the Palestinian nation. Will the governments of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council overlook this betrayal? Will the nations of these countries overlook the betrayal of their leaders?

The truths of the world are not changeable by political games and seasonal and temporary events. Palestine belongs to the Palestinians. The Zionist government is an usurping and false state. Israel has no real citizens except the indigenous people of Palestine. Those who have gathered from around the world to seize the homes of Palestinians will one day, with the effort of Muslim nations, be forced to return this home to its owners. That day may be soon or late; but it is certain and inevitable.

These are our positions. We are a free and independent nation. We think and act. We do not look at what this and that say to choose our instructions from the words of the powers. We place the interests of the nation and the country and the correct vision and sound reasoning as our guiding light. Our reliance is on God and this great nation, and you armed forces are the strong arms and powerful claws of this great nation. Build yourselves. Dear young people! My dear children! Build yourselves with knowledge and action. Students! Young officers! Strengthen your faith, military knowledge, discipline, sincerity, and courage as much as you can. Your role is an honorable and great role. Your pride is an unparalleled pride.

I hope that Almighty God will include the dear martyrs of the army of the Islamic Republic, the Revolutionary Guards, the popular Basij, and all the dear martyrs of this nation and all the servants of the military and law enforcement forces in His grace and mercy.

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