Statements of His Eminence in the Gathering of Students and Graduates of the Military Sciences University

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

The graduation ceremony of the Military Academy of the Army of the Islamic Republic today is a herald and promise of hope for the future. This year, it is also significant that the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran celebrates the graduation of its valiant youth after a war that, thanks be to God, ended in victory. It is fitting to honor the memory of all the esteemed martyrs of the imposed war, especially the martyrs of the Military Academy; those young men who performed many of these exercises on the battlefields and in confrontation with the enemy and attained martyrdom. We should also remember the martyred commander of this university, the late Martyr Namjoo, who worked hard and laid a solid foundation, as well as the previous commander of this academy, the late Brigadier General Second Class Maki. He was a competent officer and a capable manager, and his services to this academy were valuable; we honor their memory.

Fortunately, the Iranian nation and you officers, youth, and students have witnessed with your own eyes that when a nation and a military organization fight and stand firm, what honor befalls them. There is a difference between experiencing this firsthand and reading about it in books. Undoubtedly, this victory was due to steadfastness. The events that occurred in the region and those related to international issues could only lead to the victory of the Iranian nation when the armed forces demonstrated the necessary power and capability; which you did, and you brought victory to yourselves and your heroic and brave nation.

A nation that cannot defend itself will gain nothing in any of the world's events and global equations. A nation that looks to foreigners and hopes for their help cannot defend itself in times of danger. That nation is worthy of respect that can organize its youth into its armed forces and instill in them the power, faith, and belief that they can defend it in times of danger. Our nation had this greatness, and our armed forces went through this difficult but sweet experience.

If anyone thinks it is permissible to neglect the management, organization, and qualitative enhancement of the armed forces even slightly after victory, they are mistaken. For ten, eleven years, our armed forces—both the army and the Revolutionary Guards—have not had the opportunity to fully organize and enhance the quality and order of their organization. The war was a field of experience and a field for becoming stronger; but it absorbed all opportunities, wills, and forces. Today, this opportunity is available to our armed forces.

The eight-year war period and the two years of neither war nor peace in our nation's life are very rare, unique, and instructive experiences; lessons must be learned from them and they should not be forgotten. Every day and every hour of those difficult years is a lesson for us; but while using those experiences, today all the initiative, effort, and management of the armed forces' leaders—both the army and the Revolutionary Guards—must be devoted to creating order, quality, and complete preparation of the armed forces, so that the defensive power of the nation remains at the peak of power in the eyes of the enemies and also in the eyes of friends who feel empowered by the power of the Islamic Republic.

How good it is that while compiling lessons from military operations—operations that the armed forces themselves and these instructors and many of those who have passed higher military courses have experienced and touched closely—and presenting them as lessons in military scientific centers, students are taken to the sites of those operations at appropriate times. These names you hear, these glorious operations that today are a source of pride for each and every member of the armed forces and are very memorable for those who were there, are events that have happened and a land has witnessed them. It is very good that our youth, students of the Military Sciences University, or the Command and Staff College, go and see those areas up close and learn about the operations from the ground. Let those things that have become a source of pride for our nation remain in the glorious history of our nation.

Islam gave dignity and power to the military forces and our nation. Islam spread its pleasant shadow over this nation and granted our nation true security and peace, which is liberation from the domination of the great global powers. Today, many nations of the world see themselves trapped in the grip of powers that dominate the world or parts of it, or are on the way to dominating it. Our nation is free by the grace of Islam. From this sacrifice and strength of our nation, the flag of Islam was also raised, and therefore today nations are excited in the name of your heroism. This is a great honor. The entire nation must preserve this, and in military organizations—especially educational centers—it must be carefully observed and maintained.

Fortunately, today many young people are present in the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran who have joined the army from the beginning of their service during the rule of Islam and out of love for Islam and to obey the command of the Imam of the Ummah (may God be pleased with him). Many others are also in the armed forces whose true service life and efforts in the battlefields have passed during the rule of Islam. They love Islam.

Fortunately, the Army of the Islamic Republic is full of brave, strong, dedicated, committed, and sincere individuals who can introduce it as a model army in the world. Preserve this dignity, this eternal badge, and this sacrifice and sincerity as much as possible and better, and in all the army's structures—sections and units, from the highest to the farthest and smallest—consider adherence and commitment to Islam and demonstrating the signs of Islam as a duty, a support, and also a guarantor of your dignity and power.

Our nation loves you and should love you. Today, the affection of our nation for an officer, a military person, and an army and Revolutionary Guard member is not just for superficial glitter; rather, in this respect and honor, more than that and before that, spiritual respect and reverence and admiration for their sacrifices are involved.

Once again, I congratulate you on the completion of this course. I thank the officials of the Military Sciences University and other sections that either had graduates today or participated here in some way. The new situation of the Command and Staff Colleges should also help to further advance this high and superior center of knowledge in the Army of the Islamic Republic. I hope that the officials of the Army of the Islamic Republic will always be successful and supported in continuing this glorious path.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings