Statements at the Joint Morning Gathering of Military and Law Enforcement Forces of Kerman Province

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

I express my gratitude and thanks to the Almighty God for allowing me to meet the brave military forces of this province - from the Army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Law Enforcement Forces, and the Popular Mobilization Forces - in this splendid manner.

The presence of the armed forces, their readiness, their initiative in various designs, and their unity of word is one of the great divine blessings that wherever we enjoy it, we must thank God.

Thanks be to God, the glorious records of the warriors of this province are inscribed in the history of the difficult days of this country. The 41st Division of Tharallah, the breakthrough division, victorious and ready for action in all fields, with brave, capable, and thoughtful commanders throughout the war and after, has left behind good memories. The army units at the level of this province have each performed significant duties in various fields, and I have been closely acquainted with the status of the military units in this province for many years.

What is important for the armed forces - whether the Guard Corps, the Army, or the Law Enforcement Forces - is the feeling that they are the defenders of the national security of this country. In various arenas, this security is divided among different organizations with various duties. Security is a very important issue, and without security, a country faces problems in all areas and fields of activity and effort; in the field of science, in the field of economic advancements, in the field of livelihood and citizenship issues, in the field of nation-building, in all areas that can bring great national honors to a country, the main and fundamental prerequisite is security. This security is provided by the armed forces.

Part of this security relates to border security. The borders of any country are exposed to threats and breaches by invading, aggressive, and greedy forces and global powers. Throughout history, there have always been individuals who have associated their survival with the annihilation of other nations. Your Kerman has faced numerous assaults and invasions throughout history. Our dear country, Iran, has repeatedly been subjected to aggression over centuries. For us, the people of Iran, these issues are no longer historical matters.

In our time, an aggressive neighbor, an intrusive, greedy one, afflicted with the madness of power-seeking, encouraged by powers opposed to Islam and intending to dominate our dear Iran, attacked our country, and this nation defended itself valiantly.

After many years, it was the first time that our nation could emerge victorious and proud from the battlefield against foreign aggression. For two hundred years, in every military attack on our country, our nation suffered defeat; our people became passive; the enemy infiltrated our homes; but this was the first time that, thanks to Islam and the Islamic Revolution, our nation and armed forces were able to create glory; they were able to thwart the enemy; and that enemy did not enter the field merely with its own forces but had the entire world of global arrogance behind it, many of whom were in its service. Our nation and armed forces triumphed over such an enemy; of course, they worked hard and made efforts.

These blessed images surrounding this field symbolize a world of sacrifice; each one is a mountain of love, enthusiasm, and eagerness for defending the truth; for defending Iran; for raising the proud flag of dear Islam in this country. Our nation triumphed; it restored security to our borders; the enemy became hopeless of launching another attack on this country for a long time.

Today, despite the bluster of the leaders of global arrogance, they are all shaken in the face of the iron will of the Iranian nation and the armed forces of Iran; they all know that a military attack on this country will be very costly for them; they will bury their wishes. Therefore, border security is an important part of national security.

Another part is citizen security. The nation needs to enjoy citizen security in their living environment, and aggressors, rebels, instigators, and the fifth column of foreign forces and enemies within the country should not be able to fulfill the enemies' objectives in this country and to the detriment of this nation. Internal security is of great importance. Part of the efforts of our dear armed forces - whether the Guard Corps, the Basij, or the Law Enforcement Forces - is devoted to maintaining citizen security; the homes of the people, the living environment of the people, the business environment of the people, the educational environment of the people must be secure. The people must be assured that our armed forces can stand against the instigators, the troublemakers, those who seek to fish in troubled waters, those who see their survival in disrupting the secure and calm atmosphere of the country. This security is best provided by the armed forces.

Another aspect is cultural and moral security. People care about their youth and children and are worried that they may fall into addiction, moral corruption, or be tempted in ways that lead them away from the right path of life. Who alleviates this concern and anxiety? What alleviates it? Cultural security. Cultural security is largely provided by the Basij forces, the faithful, dedicated forces.

The composition of the armed forces in our country is a logical and excellent composition. The Army in its place, the Guard Corps in its place, the Basij in its place, the Law Enforcement Forces in their place; each is engaged in work with specific duties, and the product of all these is the security of the country. And when the enemy intends to attack - whether cultural aggression, urban and citizen aggression, or aggression from beyond the borders - the presence of these forces is a source of pride for this nation; it is a source of dignity and honor.

Today, you dear young people, our faithful, brave, and zealous youth have been able to create glory for this nation. You have stood against all these conspiracies against this country, all these provocations of sick elements, all this mercenary-making through money - which the treacherous American government explicitly states that it provides money to its mercenaries in Iran, this dangerous path of drug caravans - the production of drugs has increased tenfold under the eyes of the Americans since their arrival - and you have stood against these caravans of evildoers. Our armed forces have vigilantly contained all these conspiracies, all these seditions, and these long borders; this is a source of pride.

Know that you must increase your readiness day by day. What has been secured in terms of security so far is valuable; however, the establishment of security throughout the country must be such that there is no concern from any side for our nation. Security is a very important concern for this nation and must be a very important concern for our governments and officials. One of the most important issues that can provide us with significant criteria for determining the future government is the issue of security. Security is one of the primary needs of this country. Those who are responsible for the affairs of the country must correctly understand the meaning of security, its importance, and the ways to achieve security for this country and realize how important security is for the country.

You must prepare yourselves; scientific readiness, practical readiness, experiential readiness, various exercises, maintaining order and discipline, readiness in terms of equipment - weapons and ammunition and other equipment necessary for the armed forces - unity and brotherhood among the various organizations of the armed forces.

Commanders and officials must update their planning; they must adapt themselves to the various events and changes - which constantly alter the needs of the country - and continuously review the plans; there must be practical, effective, comprehensive plans available for the commanders. Each of the various levels of responsibility of the armed forces - from top to bottom - has responsibilities that, if well recognized and executed, will ensure the issue of security - which is a very important issue.

O Lord! Bestow Your mercy, blessings, and assistance upon these dear young people and these self-sacrificing men who have taken up arms for the defense of dear Islam, for the defense of the sanctities of this nation, for the defense of our dear Islamic homeland.

O Lord! Humiliate and disgrace the enemies of this nation even more. O Lord! Increase the honors of this nation in the shadow of the sacrifices and struggles of the martyrs of Your path day by day.

O Lord! Gather the pure and sacred souls of our martyrs - whose lives, security, dignity, and independence we owe today to their pure and sacred blood - with their saints.

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