Statements at the Eighth Graduation Ceremony of Students of the Officer Universities of the Islamic Republic of Iran

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

I express my gratitude to the Almighty God for the blessing of having faithful young people, pure and clean officers who herald a bright future for the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran and for the country's defense system. You dear youth - both those who have completed the training period of this university and have attained the rank of officer, and those who have entered this field of knowledge, experience, and faith, and God willing will reap abundant benefits - are my dear children and the distinguished children of the Iranian nation. I congratulate all of you on your achievements and sincerely thank your commanders, managers, and officials who bear this heavy burden. Today's program was also a beautiful, meaningful, and profound one; may the Almighty God establish and sustain these words in the core of your hearts, minds, and actions for many years to come, according to these slogans and this method.

The armed forces in any country are one of the pillars of that country's power. Certainly, the military power of any country can reflect its general and international capabilities. However, the meaning of power within the armed forces should not be viewed with negligence and simplicity. Capable armed forces are those whose motivation, spirituality, and resolute determination can shape, direct, and guide their methods, behaviors, and movements in the realm of responsibility. Without faith, insight, and resolute determination, and without a long-term perspective on the enemy's ranks, the number of personnel or the abundance of military equipment and resources will not be decisive. A large number of personnel in the armed forces, or even advanced equipment, or even up-to-date training alone are not sufficient to empower and strengthen the armed forces of a country and nation; it is necessary to have faith, determination, a sense of responsibility, and an understanding of the true nature of the responsibilities of the armed forces; these are what can truly make the armed forces the pillar of a nation's power. The armed forces of the Islamic Republic - whether the proud Army of the Islamic Republic, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Basij forces, or others present in the armed forces system - have proven their capabilities over many years; they have demonstrated their spiritual capabilities, scientific abilities, innovative power, and resolute determination in practice. Therefore, the world counts on our armed forces, takes them seriously, and knows that where the field of responsibility and combat is in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the armed forces excel.

Dear youth, devoted children of this nation who have chosen this critical field for your service! Prepare yourselves for the ever-increasing elevation of the armed forces. As you study, receive training, think and research, and learn discipline and other military skills, accompany these efforts with the intention, thought, and high ambition that you want to be, in the true sense of the word, an important foundation of your country's power.

This university, adorned with the blessed name of Amir al-Mu'minin, has many honors. The martyrs whose radiant images we see here all emerged from this university, were trained here, and were able to play a role. Among our warriors and dear martyrs, there were also a number of young students from this university; this university is a blessed place, a place of nurturing and growth for those whom the Iranian nation takes pride in today and considers them a source of its spiritual power; appreciate this and take pride in being engaged in preparing yourselves in such a center.

Today, the Islamic world, indeed all of humanity, needs your Islamic message and that of the Iranian nation. Today, the world is engulfed in events stemming from selfishness and greed. Today, the world is equipped with new, destructive, and lethal tools in the hands of many who understand nothing but their personal and group desires, do not comprehend virtues, and have not caught a whiff of humanity. In such a world, when the liberating call of Islam rises, when Islam raises its banner, its attraction draws the world's attention to itself, and today it has done so. Of course, the enemy reacts; to defame Islam, they use art, militarism, politics, and all possible tools.

Today, one of the fundamental and important tasks that is utilized in well-known artistic companies around the world is to scare people away from Islam. Why? If Islam had not threatened the interests of the world oppressors, these reactions would not have been shown. The fact that you see groups being created in the name of Islam and Islamic governance, armed, supported, and unleashed upon people, making countries insecure through them, indicates the influence of the message of Islam. They fear true Islam, they fear pure Islam; the Islam that the generation before you took up in the battlefields, in the political arenas, and in the revolution and showed to the world. And just as these dear young people have pointed out and demonstrated, today you are the heirs of those great martyrs and those magnificent men. The message of Islam for humanity is a message of comfort, dignity, pride, and a message of life accompanied by security; the enemies do not want this to be recognized in the world and for nations to become familiar with it.

My dear ones! Study well, learn military skills thoroughly, accompany military training with Islamic principles and religious foundations, innovate just as our researchers and young scientists present scientific phenomena in various fields; you too should create military phenomena, military organization phenomena, army phenomena, and new phenomena that can elevate a military organization to its peak; innovate and promote them among yourselves.

We ask the Almighty God to grant you success, and God willing, you dear young people will witness a better, brighter, and more glorious tomorrow in this country, and you yourselves will be fully involved in creating that bright tomorrow.

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