Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with Army Personnel on 'Army Day'

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

Dear brothers and sisters, especially the esteemed families of the revered martyrs of the 'Army of the Islamic Republic' and the veterans and those tested in the sacred field of jihad, and the capable and powerful commanders of the army; welcome. This meeting is a very good opportunity for me to once again honor 'Army Day,' which is one of the very valuable legacies of our dear Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), and on this occasion, to convey a heartfelt message of appreciation and gratitude for the sacrifices of the army to each member of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The truth is that the army gained a very good opportunity, and that opportunity was the sacred jihad. If there is an army in the world that does not experience war in real battlefields and only hears about war in books and classes and from others, this army is not a real army, or at least not a proud army. But an army that experiences war with its skin, flesh, bones, and entire life, not just for one or two days, but for more than eight years, and its members and their families and homes become intertwined with war and its events, and all are affected by its hardships—especially a war that is not for aggression, expansion, or territorial gain, but a war for defending the nation, the country's integrity, Islam, the revolution, and the honor of the Iranian nation—is a real, honorable, and proud army.

Today, our army is like this. Of course, there are also those who joined the army after the war ended or did not have the opportunity to be present on the front lines during the war. However, the rule applies to the majority. The overwhelming majority of our army personnel and their families were affected by the war and experienced the difficult test of war with all their being. This is a great distinction and honor.

My dear ones! Let me mention a point here, and that is to strive to maintain this honor and increase it day by day. Each of you who were in the battlefield should make this effort for yourselves, and the entire army and its elements and their families should make this effort for the whole army. Because humans are vulnerable and at the same time changeable beings. Of course, being changeable is a strength in one sense; because if humans were rigid, they would not have movement and change, and progress would not be possible for them. The very fact that humans can change or become corrupt indicates that they can progress and fight corruption and keep themselves healthy. This is one of the greatest stages of perfection for human beings and human units. Therefore, try to make maximum use of this opportunity for perfection that is available to humans so that the army progresses day by day and people bring themselves closer to God day by day.

The honor of striving in the path of God is something each person has achieved for themselves, and the army, which collectively has strived to achieve this honor, should keep it as a shining medal on its chest. Preserving this honor is very important for the army, for the Iranian nation, and for the human destiny of every person who believes in an Islamic perspective that there is a future; there is life after death, and there will be a resurrection and accountability.

We have shared and will continue to share many matters related to the army with you in barracks and military meetings. But today, in the atmosphere of this Hussainiya, I want to share a matter that concerns the entire Iranian nation with you. That matter is that for years—perhaps it can be said for two hundred years—a struggle was imposed on the Iranian nation by powerful individuals thirsty for more wealth and power, who wanted to take control of all regions of the world. They wanted to take natural resources, cultural heritage, means of acquiring knowledge, and talents and put them in the service of the civilization and politics that had just emerged in Europe—that is, the same industrial civilization and the political structures resulting from industrial civilization and the like. They imposed a struggle on all nations that could be exploited, without those nations themselves wanting it. Europe was a small environment with a great thirst for power. Most of the world's wealth was not in Europe but hidden in Asia and Africa. The wealth and power seekers had to travel long distances to seize the wealth-rich regions of the world and inject those wealths into the political systems that had just tasted and savored scientific and industrial progress in Europe. This is how they attacked the wealths of Asia and Africa, which anyone who has read the books of contemporary world history knows the rest of the story. India became a prey to colonialism. China became a prey to colonialism. Japan and all regions of East Asia also became prey to colonialism, and Australia was swallowed whole!

There are times when a country lacks people or has uncultured people. Naturally, the conquest of such a country is easy for colonialists. But there are times when a country has cultured people with claims who consider themselves to have personality and history. In that case, the entry of colonialism into that country is not so trouble-free; because a struggle arises from the people of that country against the colonialists. The factor that we today call 'global arrogance' imposed the aforementioned struggle on the Iranian nation. In the past, when global arrogance entered a country, it came in the form of direct colonialism and seized that country. But today, it uses more advanced methods to dominate and seize nations and their resources. Therefore, the struggle that the Iranian nation had with colonial countries for one hundred and fifty years or more—from the 'Tobacco Protest' to subsequent events and the national movement and to today's struggles of the Iranian nation with arrogant policies and with America and others—all are struggles that have been imposed on our people. Otherwise, if the Iranian nation were left alone and allowed to attend to its own affairs, its own country, its own interests, and its own resources, such a struggle might not have arisen in this form. They imposed this struggle on the Iranian nation. Today, too, they are aggressive and intrusive.

Of course, we hold the great powers of the world accountable everywhere in the world, and our argument is that they are aggressive and oppressive. We do not leave the oppressor alone and do not say: 'If you leave us alone, we will no longer have anything to do with you.' They are aggressive and intrusive and are constantly oppressing nations. We are not among those governments and nations that leave an aggressive oppressor alone to go about its business! Therefore, my brothers and sisters, the struggle was imposed on the Iranian nation long ago and is not a matter of today. Of course, after the Islamic Revolution triumphed in this country and the previous regime, which was entirely at the disposal of the arrogant powers, was overthrown, the great arrogant powers became more angry, and the struggle became more intense and violent. Consider that not so long ago, in this Tehran, the capital of the country, there was a government in power whose king, when he wanted to choose a prime minister for himself, first asked the Americans: Are you okay with me choosing so-and-so or not? When he wanted to change the director of the oil company or the minister of defense or the chief of staff of the army—remove 'Zayd' and appoint 'Amr'—he would ask the American ambassador to 'please come to my residence to see if your policy opposes such changes or not?' In simpler terms, he would seek their permission! Arrogance does not have the habit of being polite to say: 'Excuse us! We have no issue with you.' It is never like that! The more you bow to arrogance and colonialism, the more pressure it applies. If you lower your head, it applies its pressure more easily until you fall into prostration! When you fall to the ground and prostrate before it, it firmly places its foot on you! This is the nature of arrogant and aggressive powers.

Anyway, they sometimes told such a king, who sought their permission, 'It is okay. If you appoint so-and-so to such a position, we have no objection and agree.' Of course, sometimes they opposed his appointments and did not allow him to dismiss or appoint whomever he wanted! Think about it! Such a government ruled this country and this city of Tehran until fifteen years ago!

Well, during the dominance of such a government over Iran, what was the state of this country's oil, steel, coal, resources, agriculture, university, and army, and in whose service were they? It is obvious that they were in the service of that arrogant and oppressive power. Of course, that oppressor was not always a single arrogant country. For a while, it was the British. Then, when the Americans entered the field as a fresh, wealthy, and young power, they ousted the old, worn-out rival and became the masters here.

In such a situation, the revolution emerged and ousted that servile, obedient, and devoted government of 'whatever you say' and brought to power a government that did not and does not bow its head in submission even to the heavens. The government that the revolution brought to power did not submit to the two superpowers of America and the Soviet Union even for a moment. These two superpowers, although they had differences in a hundred issues, agreed on a few issues, and one of those few issues, which was considered the most important, was exerting pressure on the Islamic Republic. The agreement of the two superpowers to exert pressure on the Islamic Republic was a known and clear matter. Could it have been otherwise?! Anyone who was in the field saw this issue clearly, and it was not something that anyone could conceal. But the Islamic system that emerged from the revolution stood against both superpowers.

Even now, the American powers, naively and foolishly—of course, in their imagination—think they are the rulers of the world! Their way of speaking is such that it seems they are the general manager of the entire planet! A number of people, out of fear and weakness, have become their 'yes men.' Today, too, the Islamic Republic stands with full power against America and tells the American powers: Who do you think you are?! If you are a strong power and government, go and manage your own country! If you are truthful, go and eliminate insecurity from the streets of 'New York,' 'Washington,' and 'Los Angeles'! If you are truthful, go and correct the racial discrimination and the severe violation of human rights that still exists between black and white! What does it have to do with you to interfere in the affairs of the world?!

Certainly, when a government like the Islamic Republic comes to power in Iran, the struggle of the arrogant powers with it becomes more serious and stronger. It is no joke! It is a matter of American interests! It is a matter of American political, economic, and propaganda power that has been slaughtered and smashed here. Naturally, they are angry and furious in the face of such an event.

It is true that the struggle has continued for two hundred years. But the struggle of that day, from the complete position of arrogance, was only with the Iranian nation, and the government ruling the country, at least in the last fifty-some years or more than fifty years and from the late Qajar period, considered itself hand-tied and surrendered to arrogance. Of course, arrogance was one day British, one day Russian, and later appeared in the guise of American.

After the Islamic Revolution triumphed in Iran, the struggle of arrogance with the government and the Iranian nation began, which has continued for the past fifteen years to this day. Such a struggle is with a government and nation that stands firm and does not retreat even a step and whose words are heeded in the world. Our opponent, with all its bluster, has not been able to strike a blow to this system so far.

One example of the actions of arrogance to strike the Islamic Republic system was the imposition of the eight-year war. Our enemies did everything to achieve their goal! 'NATO' and America and 'Warsaw' and the Soviet Union and all of them equipped Iraq to separate a part of Iran. But you saw that they could not. Therefore, today the struggle from their side is both more serious and more angry; because they have been hit in the mouth before and have been unsuccessful.

You are military and know that in struggles—whether military struggles or political or economic struggles—each side must rely on its strengths and the weaknesses of the other side. You see what your strength is and rely on it; just as you do in the battlefield. That is, you find the weakness of the other side, find the breach in the ranks of the other side, and concentrate your attack on the weaknesses of the other side; and if you can eliminate the strengths of the other side, you do so. Suppose the enemy has very fast-flying aircraft, you strengthen your anti-aircraft to ground him in the area. Or if he has very dominant armor, you equip your anti-armor to ground him. In military struggles, this is a general rule, and all the armies of the world do this in battles. In the world of politics, it is the same. Arrogance has looked at our country and seen that the Iranian nation has strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it wants to make maximum use of the weaknesses and eliminate the strengths as much as it can and prevent this nation from using its strengths.

We are not currently addressing the weaknesses; because it requires a long discussion, and I want my speech to be short. However, the Iranian nation has strengths that, if I want to mention them in a list, perhaps in this opportunity I can address seven or eight of them that no one can doubt.

One of the strengths of the Iranian nation is its high intelligence. It is not just that we claim that the people of Iran have this strength; rather, all educated people or university professors around the world who are familiar with such discussions know that the average intelligence of Iranians is higher than the global average. All over the world, specialists who estimate the intelligence quotient of nations and researchers whose job is to measure intelligence and talent acknowledge this strength of Iranians. Therefore, the Iranian nation is an intelligent nation, and the result of having this strength is that scientific progress, industrial progress, and political progress are possible for it.

Another strength of the Iranian nation is its ancient and deep-rooted historical, cultural, scientific, and other backgrounds, which are undeniable. A nation that has just emerged today and has become a nation and lacks past and history and science and culture and great figures cannot be compared with a nation that once had the greatest scientists in the world and this privilege was not just once or twice, but for centuries belonged to it. In the centuries after Islam, that is, from the fourth century AH onwards, for several centuries—I do not want to precisely define the boundaries; because the boundaries of centuries are subject to dispute and criticism. But the essence is certain—the greatest scientists in the world in various fields of science—whether in natural sciences, humanities, astronomy, literature, philosophy, and mathematics—were Iranian, and among them were 'Farabi,' 'Ibn Sina,' 'Fakhr Razi,' 'Muhammad ibn Zakariya Razi,' 'Khwarizmi,' 'Khayyam,' 'Ferdowsi,' and 'Saadi.' These are the past of our nation.

In a tangible example, it can be said that historical background is like the foundation and concrete on which a column is placed. The deeper and stronger the foundation is, the more stable the column built on it is. A nation that has no historical background is like a column built on loose ground. No matter how magnificent it is, its vulnerability is very high.

Now look and see how our enemies position themselves against the strengths discussed! See how they try to take some of these strengths that can be taken from the Iranian nation and hide some that cannot be taken from the view of this nation and weaken its spirit!

However, one of the great strengths of the Iranian nation is faith and religious belief, religious knowledge, and a strong interest in divine and spiritual matters. This is also a strength that no one can deny. The greatest works have always been done by those who have been connected to the unseen source. This is a clear matter. For example, in the eight-year jihad of the Iranian nation, if there was no reliance and attention and reliance on the unseen and reliance on God as the source of all the powers of the universe, those brilliant victories would not have been achieved.

In the face of that strong front, reliance on spirituality was what could untie all the knots. When they told this nation 'the enemies have provided all the military means to defeat you in the war,' the nation's response was 'God is higher and stronger than these.' The Iranian nation has advanced in the imposed war, in the great Islamic revolution, and throughout history in all stages with this belief. This is also one of the characteristics of the Iranian nation. The Iranian nation is a religious nation. Of course, there are nations in the world that are religious. Among Western nations, some believe in religion. But some are essentially indifferent people who have nothing to do with religion and faith and God and spirituality. In the world, among Christians and non-Muslims and other religions, such people exist. The Iranian nation is among the nations that have had a religious inclination from the past.

Before the revolution, when one of the famous Arab writers came to Iran, in a meeting we had, he told me: 'I have traveled to all Islamic countries; but in no country did I see when people are on a train and traveling, suddenly the train stops at prayer time and everyone gets off to perform the prayer.' He said: 'For the first time in Iran, I am witnessing such a thing and I have not seen its like anywhere else.'

Yes; it was this spiritual and religious inclination that created the next strength, which is one of the greatest national tests and courageous uprisings in the long history, at a sensitive moment in the life of this nation, namely our great Islamic revolution and standing by this revolution and forming a government based on this revolution, which is the same government as the Islamic Republic of Iran. These are the blessings of the same religious belief. You saw those who claimed to be freedom-loving and fighting and revolutionary, but at the bottom of their existence were alien to religion, how they fell and were grounded in the middle of the road and, as you say, 'capped' and could not move forward?! But the Iranian nation continued to advance and advance and still advances by the blessing of faith.

So, the next strength of the Iranian nation is the formation and creation of a courageous uprising. Look at the uprisings in history that have formed against oppressive powers! In each one, look and scrutinize, you still see the great uprising of the Iranian nation, whose practical stages lasted fifteen years, both its roots were more than fifteen years and its sacrifices and martyrdoms and sacrifices. How much sacrifice was made in this revolution! Is it a joke?! Is sacrifice an easy task?! If you are standing in line for a bus and give your place to someone else, you say: 'I made a sacrifice.' You are happy yourself and others praise you for this sacrifice. Sacrifice is so important. Even to the extent of giving up your place in line for a bus to another, which apparently is not a big deal. After all, a quarter of an hour later, another bus arrives, and you go. Then see how important it is to sacrifice your life, sacrifice your loved ones, and sacrifice all the adornments of material life! Are these jokes?!

The Iranian nation, throughout the revolution, showed such sacrifice and with ultimate courage brought the revolution to victory. But today, a number of black-hearted mercenaries are waiting to see what the American security organization likes and how they can get a few dollars from them to write in a way that pleases that organization. They write in their writings: 'The Iranian nation made a mistake by revolting.' That is, they belittle the greatest courageous and honorable event of the Iranian nation in this way! They say: 'The Iranian nation made a mistake.' They say: 'The Iranian nation is regretful for having revolted.' May the Iranian nation's disgust be upon them! May the Iranian nation's hatred be upon such mercenaries! One of the greatest strengths of the Iranian nation is this revolution that took shape and triumphed. A great strength of the Iranian nation is that it has a people's government. The system is popular; the president is popular; the representatives are popular and from the heart of the nation and are not kings and sultans who consider imposing on the people their right and consider them their servants. The agents of the oppressive monarchy were like this. An illiterate, characterless, worthless man, just because his father was a bully like himself, had become the master of the people. If people fell to the ground before him, it was their right; they had to fall! He also considered it his right to impose whatever he wanted on the people. What a government that was! What a disgrace for a nation!

Today, by the grace of God, those who are in power and government in this country have no claims for themselves and their relatives and want nothing. Imam, with all his greatness, considered himself a servant of the people and was proud of it. The officials also take pride in being servants of the people. They explicitly say: 'We are servants of the people and have come to serve the people.' They are here for a few days and are not here for a few days. This is a very great value. This is a very great strength. Of course, there are many strengths that I do not want to list one by one.

Anyway, gentlemen and ladies! Our enemies, who continue a two-hundred-year struggle, strive to eliminate the strengths they can eliminate. For example, they think they can eliminate the people's religious faith. With this thought, they have sent a flood of Western corruption and the cesspool of debauchery and lust and lustfulness to the third world countries and want to direct it into our country as well. Of course, they have started this work for some time. If you follow the issue of smugglers who bring in obscene video tapes, obscene sexual tapes, and magazines and books containing naked and lustful images, you will see that if some of these individuals are supposed to make a living from distributing such products, it does not provide them with a living; rather, their bread comes from elsewhere. What I am saying is based on information. They are tasked with sending these cesspools of corruption and debauchery into Iran, among the Iranian nation, especially among the youth and in families, through the countries on the Persian Gulf coast and other neighboring countries!

Religious faith is a strength, and the enemies want to eliminate it. The enemy is the enemy! The enemy does not caress and stroke a person! The enemy is someone who wants a person to not exist. They want to eliminate those strengths of ours that can be eliminated in this way. They want to eliminate the people's government. For years, they have realized that they must take such hope and desire to the grave; so they want to defame the people's government. They make all kinds of propaganda against the government and statesmen and officials. Of course, it is useless; but they do their work. In their propaganda, they disregard our historical and cultural background. They question the intelligence of the Iranian nation and pretend that the Iranian nation will not reach anywhere. They say to themselves: 'This nation is still in need of us and must come to us Westerners.' They have focused their propaganda in this direction. They try to tarnish the revolution.

These are the things that are done in the world of politics. In the world of real life and reality, such as economic and security issues and the like, they do whatever they can. You saw how they went around like peddlers and went to European and Asian countries and told them: 'Do not trade and cooperate with Iran and do not help it.' Of course, they are constantly doing these things and are engaged in such futile activities.

Well, one point is that they have been constantly engaged in these illegal activities and fighting with us for fifteen years, and by the grace of God, for fifteen years, the Islamic government, the Islamic Republic, the Islamic revolution, and the revolutionary Iranian nation have been getting stronger day by day. So, their efforts are futile. This is, of course, certain in its place. But my dear ones! Another point is that the Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said: 'And whoever sleeps, his enemy will not sleep about him.' Whoever falls asleep in the trench and is overtaken by sleep should know that the eye of the enemy watching him will not fall asleep. What does this mean? It means always be awake. Always see yourself in the trench. Always see yourself in front of a treacherous, wounded, angry, and extremely upset enemy who has not been able to do anything so far. It means keep your vigilance. You in the army, be vigilant and awake. Academics in the university, the Revolutionary Guards in the Guards, the law enforcement forces within the law enforcement forces, the seminary in the seminary, the economic apparatuses in their economic work, government officials in their areas of responsibility, and all those who have a task in this country or are engaged in constructive activity, be awake and vigilant in their field of work.

In front of us is an enemy who has tried for fifteen years and has not been able to strike; but he is not yet hopeless. Thanks be to God, our strengths are many. We must strengthen these strengths; the same strengths I mentioned and many other strengths. We must strengthen them. Of course, we also have weaknesses that we must strive to eliminate and know that the enemies want to eliminate our strengths.

The Almighty God loves righteous and pious servants and helps them. If we are on the path of God, if we have piety, if we have sincerity, and if we move for God, do not doubt that moment by moment, divine help will be upon this nation.

I hope it will be so and that all of us will be included in the pure prayers of Imam Mahdi, the Master of the Age, may our souls be sacrificed for him and may God hasten his reappearance, and God willing, the progress of this country and this nation will increase and improve day by day, and may God elevate the ranks of our dear Imam, who opened such a clear path before the Iranian nation, day by day.

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