Statements at the Naval Sciences Faculty of Nowshahr

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

I congratulate the dear young officers who have completed their studies and graduated; from today, they are officially part of the proud Islamic Republic Army. I also congratulate the dear young individuals who have received their epaulettes and will spend their time learning and acquiring knowledge at the officer training universities of the Islamic Republic Army of Iran.

The importance we place on the armed forces and those who serve in this capacity, contributing to their country and nation, is primarily due to the fact that the armed forces are the foremost factor in maintaining the country's security. The armed forces, as stated by Amir al-Mu'minin (the Commander of the Faithful), are the fortress of the nation, the rampart of the people, and the stronghold of the people of their lands, and they are the ones who ensure security. The value of security and its weight in any social structure and for any nation cannot be compared to anything else. If there is security, knowledge, progress, justice, dignity, and honor in both this world and the hereafter can be achieved in that society. Without security, human achievements become unattainable. This is the first reason that one can present for respecting the armed forces and valuing these institutions.

The second reason is that the armed forces are prepared to pay a cost in fulfilling this duty that cannot be compared to anything else. The armed forces have brought their lives to this field. The military defenders of the country's security—whether army, IRGC, or other branches of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic—have brought their lives to the field to maintain security. This is a significant matter. The reason our dear martyrs are never forgotten by the nation is that they sacrificed this capital. People of the world do not only refrain from sacrificing their lives but also from their petty desires. Men of truth, warriors, defenders of spiritual values, are willing to take their lives in their hands and step into this field.

My dear ones! Young gallant students of the officer training universities of the Islamic Republic Army of Iran! You are considered one of the solid foundations of this country's power. Every nation has the right and duty to strive for its own power. If nations do not reach the stage of power, they will be trampled in the struggles of global conflicts and power struggles. A nation that becomes accustomed to weakness and does not consider weakness a significant flaw is not worthy of dignity and honor. The powers, the booted oppressors of the world, the spear-wielding international dictators, will show no mercy to such a nation. Nations have the duty to empower themselves.

Of course, a nation's power is not solely dependent on the armed forces. National power is a multifaceted reality; the armed forces are the frontline of movement and a symbol of national power. However, a nation must be advanced in knowledge, ethics, faith, determination, and willpower to maintain its power. We rely on the spiritual elements of power. The primary element of spiritual power is faith; faith in God, reliance on God, and good opinion of God. This prepares the heart for entering difficult fields; it steadies the steps for traversing hard roads; it diminishes problems in the eyes and places great goals within reach and in the sight of individuals; faith in God. Without this faith, a person is merely a material being. Hearts do not beat with love for God and love for spirituality and virtue in those collections that lack faith in God; true power cannot be attained.

Power is not merely about possessing advanced weapons; it is not about having money and political and propaganda power either. If money and advanced weapons and destructive tools could create true power for a country, the Zionist regime would not have been so disgraced and humiliated against the faithful youth of Lebanon in the thirty-three-day war and against the brave souls of Gaza in the twenty-two-day war. If material elements of power were sufficient for true power, the United States would not have failed in its war against the impoverished and defenseless people of Afghanistan, in the occupation of Afghanistan, and in the occupation of Iraq. These are before our eyes; these are very important and valuable tests of the realities we have heard, read, and known.

When nations are illuminated by faith and clear goals, they gain the necessary determination and willpower. They do not extend their hands to harm the lives of others. Power is not about invading your neighbor; attacking defenseless and oppressed people; moving your army thousands of kilometers away to suppress a nation for military, economic, and political goals; these are not power. Material powers that have relied on such foundations and have grown and imposed their heavy weight on others in the world of politics and economics will face the consequences of their misdeeds; they will fall. Faithful nations, even if oppressed, when they strive, when they step forward with iron determination and pure intention, with correct goals, will hold the future of the world. A future without invasion, without oppression, without a race of terror, without an arms race; a future based on justice. My dear ones! You young people are the vanguards and pioneers of the movement towards such a world. You in the armed forces and our dear youth in various sectors of this country are the pioneers of this movement. The Islamic Republic of Iran has this new message, this clear message, this message of peace and prosperity for today's and tomorrow's world. Tomorrow belongs to you; strive for it. With firm determination, with correct intention, and by bringing all your existential capacities to the field, create and develop that solid core so that you can truly be the soldiers, pioneers, and vanguards of this movement.

Today, the armed forces, by divine grace in the Islamic Republic of Iran, have significant advantages, prominent and rare advantages. Increase these advantages day by day within yourselves. Take research, knowledge, and learning seriously. Value your youth for the emergence of the various talents that God Almighty has placed within you. Appreciate the opportunity to serve this country, this nation, with these noble and clear goals. Being at the forefront of defense and service to such a country, such a nation, and such a system is a great honor. This honor is now in the hands of us, the successive generations that have risen and emerged from the Islamic Revolution; cherish it.

Today, even the enemies cannot deny the power of Islamic Iran; they also acknowledge it. Of course, the enemy, with the intention of advancing the project of Iranophobia—with this intention, with this hostile stance—shouts about your power and the national power of this country and this system. Part of this work of theirs is correct, and another part is wrong and false. The part that indicates and reflects the power of the Islamic Republic system is true; it is correct. We started from zero in the thirty-year period of the Islamic Republic and reached very advanced places, but we are not satisfied with what we have achieved. However, what we have achieved is incomparable to the point we were at. I have been present in the armed forces since the first day; I have closely experienced the army, the Ministry of Defense, the facilities, the IRGC, the police forces with all their content and capacity. Today, you dear youth are at a peak that could not even be pointed out with a finger back then, and no one would have believed it. Scientific power, military power, self-belief, confidence, cohesion, progress in various sectors. This part of the enemy's words is true. However, the false part of this statement is what they present for the project of Iranophobia. This great national power of the Islamic Republic is a threat to no one. It is not a threat to neighbors; it is an opportunity. Yes, it is a threat to the bullies of the world, to the dominators of the world and the interveners in the affairs of nations; it is a threat to those who once exploited the vast natural and human resources of this nation the most and trampled on the dignity and character of this nation and still long for the return of those irretrievable days; but it is not a threat to nations. Our military exercises are not a threat; our missiles are not a threat. We build planes, we build ships, we bring gallant youths like you to the field; none of these are threats. This shows that a nation can flourish; when it trusts itself and relies on its God and fills its heart with faith. This encourages other nations. Other nations should know and see that if they seek dignity, this dignity is not with America, it is not in dependence on powers, it is not in spending and giving money to the pockets of the world's arms manufacturers and begging for their weapons; it is in the surge from within, in national self-confidence, in reliance on God and progress in these.

My dear youth! Gallant children! Value this training period, this youth, this dignity and good reputation of the Iranian nation, this political glory of this nation and this country and this system, and prepare yourselves for better tomorrows and the conquest of more fields. Tomorrow is yours; the future belongs to you.

Regarding the armed forces, which are a family in themselves, my strong recommendation is kindness, empathy, and unity, which, thanks be to God, is present today as well. The army, the IRGC, the Basij, the police force; all of you are children of this family and brothers to one another. Regarding the naval forces, of which you young people from other universities and all of us are guests today, I particularly emphasize that the naval forces today are a strategic force in many parts of the world and in our country; the naval forces should be viewed as a strategic force. The southeastern coasts of the country, which are under the control of the naval forces of the Islamic Republic Army, are very important areas and have great capacities for progress; pay attention to those areas and give them importance. Continue the naval operations, which, thanks be to God, have taken on an advanced form compared to the past, pay attention to submarines, and consider the defensive capabilities of surface vessels everywhere, especially in the southern seas. The naval forces today, thanks be to God, have good capacities; they also have good leadership. Today, your efforts can yield many fruits and bring prosperity for you, for the naval forces, for the entire Islamic Republic Army, and for the armed forces of the Islamic Republic, God willing. We seek this from God, we rely on Him, and we are confident that we will achieve what He wills and intends.

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