Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with Members of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran

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

Welcome, dear brothers and creators of epics in the most arduous times in the beloved country of Iran.

Today, taking advantage of the spiritual atmosphere of this Hosseiniyeh and in memory of our great Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) — who is remembered here as he is throughout the country — I wish to honor the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran by recounting some of the events of these eventful years. Although our nation, thanks be to God, is awake and informed, stating some matters explicitly may be necessary for future generations and even today.

In summary, what I wish to convey to you dear ones is that one of the arenas where the Islamic Republic and the revolution grappled with global arrogance and defeated it was the arena of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The army was a scene where Islam and disbelief clashed, and Islam overcame disbelief and triumphed. The details of this story are extensive, and I only wish to make a brief reference, as this is an important chapter in the history of the Islamic Revolution.

You know that the constant effort of oppressive, selfish, and arrogant powers is to harness the vibrant and lively forces in society for their own service, not for national interests. This is the nature of global arrogance. In Iran, the kings and royal dynasties in recent periods wanted to use the army as a powerful national resource for their exclusive use. Thus, you saw, and I myself saw in one of the barracks in Tehran at the beginning of the revolution, a slogan that read, 'The army is for the Shah, not for the nation, borders, and national ideals.' Now, we do not say for Islam, as they had no belief in Islam. They did not even have the humility to say, 'The army belongs to national ideals and the defense of these ideals and goals.' Rather, they said, 'The army is ours, for us, and in our service.' This was their custom and belief. But the truth is that the army, like other national institutions, belongs to the nation; it is of the nation and composed of the nation. The individuals of the army, in every era, are the children of this country and its people. The very purpose of forming any army is to defend the nation, country, and ideals, not to defend an individual. But they had the audacity to say such things, not only to think them but to openly express them in their slogans.

When the wave of the revolution swept everywhere, it was natural that the hearts of the army's elements, like the hearts of the rest of the people, beat with it. In the army, as in other sectors, there were two types of individuals. Some were more faithful, more interested, and more ready to act, while others were slower and lagged behind. Some in the front lines openly or secretly declared their support for the movement and revolution, marching in the streets. Those who did not believe in the revolution in military uniform were those who were deeply loyal to the Pahlavi tyrannical regime; they belonged to them and were theirs. Such individuals were clearly never going to submit to Islam and divine and national ideals!

Well, from here the confrontation began. The enemy would not relent! Both the remnants of the past regime, who were driven out of the country and destroyed, and their supporters — namely, the intelligence agencies of America, Britain, and Israel — began extensive efforts. The concerned members of society should know: the amount of effort the enemy has put into the army, if applied to another sector, it is uncertain whether that sector could have withstood as much as the army has in the path of Islam and the revolution!

From the beginning of the revolution, the enemy's intelligence agencies, backed by their governments' money, their propaganda, their radios, their secret contacts, and their past connections, began extensive work within the army. I think that if they had done this work and these temptations among any other sector, it would have shaken their hearts and destabilized them. In addition to the faith, religion, and belief in God and Islam that exists in our entire nation and also in the army, there is another factor in the army that has preserved it. That factor is the discipline and order taught to military personnel, which penetrates deep into their souls. As a result of this discipline, a spirit of loyalty emerges within them. This factor gave our army forces strength and did not allow them, in the height of the enemy's hostile temptations over these sixteen years, to deviate from the straight path.

I will tell you about some of the temptations and efforts the enemy has made: their first action was to try to place their loyal elements in sensitive positions within the army. At the beginning of the revolution, when one looked at the army scene, the commanders of the forces in those first few days were individuals that one would be surprised by. I remember standing in this very school of Rafah; suddenly, we saw a general with all his regalia enter. We asked, 'Who is he?' They said, 'He is the commander of such and such a force!' We were surprised. Of course, after a short time, his treachery became apparent to the judicial authorities, and they dealt with him as necessary.

It was a strange thing! A revolution had triumphed over a regime; then the elements of that regime came and wanted to be placed in the most sensitive centers of this new system! This audacity was truly observed at its peak in such places. So, this was their first action. Of course, the revolution confronted this action of theirs.

Immediately, the faithful elements of the army would report the foreign elements placed in sensitive positions to the revolution's authorities. The truth was that we did not know the individuals, nor did we know what they did, their background, or their records. Therefore, the faithful and revolutionary faces of the army would immediately come forward and say: 'Sir! This individual placed in that sensitive position by such and such authority has such and such a background.' This information was immediately conveyed to the Imam, and the knot was untied. Thus, the enemy's plan was to hand over the army entirely to elements that were familiar to them and naturally hostile to the revolution.

Another action of theirs — of the same rank and with the same importance and magnitude — was that at the beginning of the revolution, they tried to keep the American military advisory apparatus in Iran. Perhaps this statement is very strange and new to you — it is indeed strange — but it is one of those strange things that happened. A few months after the revolution — perhaps about a year — the American army's advisory apparatus still had its setup in one of the three branches of the army. Of course, their main center, which was at the Joint Staff headquarters, had been dismantled, and they themselves had fled; but their intelligence elements were kept there to maintain the stronghold.

If one were to name the individuals who were members of the Supreme Defense Council at that time — which was a remarkable Supreme Defense Council — you brothers would be surprised today at how such individuals were present in that sensitive center at the beginning of the revolution. But we saw them in the Supreme Council. My presence in that Supreme Council was, in fact, unofficial. Those elements were not inclined to see us. We also attended that meeting in a revolutionary manner and with the special methods of the early revolution. We saw that they had brought a bill, wanting to pass a resolution from the Supreme Defense Council that would change the name of the former American advisory in Iran to such and such a name. They proposed several names for the Supreme Defense Council of Iran to officially approve that the advisory's name is this. In reality, they wanted to endorse the existence of the advisory. We realized there that the advisors were still in Iran. We said: 'What are these gentlemen doing here? First, prove their existence, then we will get to their name!' The late dear Chamran was also in that meeting. He also helped, and we approved that they must leave Iran as soon as possible.

They were so audacious and bold that they kept American advisory elements within the army of the Islamic Republic. This was also one of the calamities that, by God's grace, passed over the army. This shows the extent of their hopes and ambitions regarding the army.

After some time had passed from these events, they arranged and planned the coup of the Shahid Nojeh Air Base. This was also organized by the same enemy intelligence agencies to conquer the army. They wanted either to succeed — which was their primary goal — and with this success, end the revolution with the army's hand, which had their infiltrators, or if they did not succeed, to create a rift between the people and the army and between the revolution and the army.

It was a dangerous conspiracy. But this conspiracy was also thwarted by the army personnel. Perhaps the Iranian nation does not know that those who caused the very dangerous coup conspiracy of the Shahid Nojeh Air Base to be thwarted were the young army personnel themselves who came and informed us. A young pilot came in the middle of the night, knocked on our door, and insisted that we listen to him. His message was that this coup would take place within the next twenty-four hours. Then, the elements pursuing this matter — the religious and military personnel of that base — played the most significant role in thwarting that coup. The one who defended the army in this scene was the army itself. The army itself did not allow this enemy claw to attach to it and implement its conspiracy within the army. That young pilot later became a war veteran. Wherever he is now, we hope he is under God's grace. This was also a test where the enemy's conspiracy was again thwarted and eliminated by the army itself.

Then, the war began. At the beginning of the war, elements of those affiliated with the enemy tried to delay support, logistics, and operations and prevent the army from showing itself on the battlefield. I think that any army in that position facing such an attack would have disintegrated. But the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a Muslim army committed to divine ideals, held itself together with tooth and nail. One night, an officer from the 92nd Armored Division of Ahvaz came to me pleading, saying, 'I have two words with you.' I thought he wanted to say, 'Give me leave; for example, let me go see my wife and children for a few days.' Such a thing indeed crossed my mind. Finally, he came to me and cried, saying, 'I beg you to send me with the guerrilla groups that go out at night with RPGs and individual weapons — to hit the enemy that had entrenched itself about fifteen kilometers from the city of Ahvaz — or take me with you.' Because they were regular forces, they had to move with order and rules. Young people who were free were grouped and went at night. He was also a senior officer. He cried, saying, 'Send me with these young people to go and do my job too.'

At night, during a visit to an armored unit, I saw a soldier standing by a tank, performing night prayers. Our people may not know many of these things, but we have seen them with our own eyes. It was in this way that the army was able to hold itself in the face of these events. It was in this way that the Imam, with the clarity he had, expressed affection and love for the army.

This was also a test where the faithful army personnel, some in the usual forms and some even outside the usual forms, threw themselves into the battlefields and were able to push the enemy back inch by inch and step by step. These actions are in our history and are recent history. It is a pity that our youth, our children, and the new generation do not know these things.

Another test, which I believe also involved the hand of the Zionist, American, and British intelligence apparatus, was to somehow remove faithful elements from various corners of the army and pull them down from sensitive positions. I had seen in general that when a faithful element was at the head of a force, or at the head of an organization, or even in a division or a sensitive center, hands tried to push him out of there so that faithful elements would not take root in the army and have an active presence. But despite all this, the faithful elements who were active in the army from the beginning of the revolution gradually managed to penetrate the spirit of faith and revolution and attachment to the revolution more and more within the army's body. God also helped so that after a short period, the faithful elements took over the sensitive centers; they performed their duties and activities. Contrary to the enemy's desire and plan, the army moved in the path that its faith and existential philosophy dictated, not in the path that the enemy wanted and tried to achieve.

Those who were part of the affiliates of the vile and despicable Pahlavi regime at the beginning of the revolution fled and went to foreign countries. They are working for the enemy's intelligence apparatus. Of course, foreign countries did not pay much attention to them and do not. Do not think that these who fled from home and themselves have been able to find a refuge and sanctuary in the arms of foreigners. The foreigner also does not trust and rely on someone who flees from himself; although he uses him, he eventually throws him away. The same expression that Molavi has, and I do not want to repeat that exact expression; he uses them in a filthy manner and then throws them away.

The most important use they wanted to make of those fugitives was to tell them, 'You contact the inside of the army and bring people along with you.' That is, to incite betrayal. This enemy effort has continued throughout these sixteen years. Those who do not know should know that throughout these sixteen years, the enemy has not been oblivious to this vile, base, and treacherous conspiracy for a moment. But just as one cannot extract anything from a rock, they could not extract anything from the faithful body of the army. In the face of the enemy, what factor has made efforts? First and foremost, Islamic faith, religious and national zeal, commitment, and loyalty; and secondly, the vigilance of those who must be vigilant. This is the meaning of the statement I made: the army has been an arena of struggle between Islam and disbelief, and in this struggle, Islam has triumphed and brought disbelief to the ground. Therefore, today, by God's grace, our army is both stronger and more organized and more religious and revolutionary. It is important that throughout these sixteen years, the enemy's propaganda constantly worked to destabilize the army's morale and make them despair about the future. Once they said, 'They want to dissolve the army.' Once they said, 'It is planned to give the army's ground forces to the Revolutionary Guards.' Once they said, 'It is planned to place the Revolutionary Guards at the head of the army.' All these propagandas were to destabilize morale. Once they said, 'They use the army; then they will throw the army away.' They said these things many times. What should the spirit of a person be like to stand firm in the face of all this propaganda?! The enemy worked with the spirit of which sector in this way, and which sector could stand with the firmness we observe in the army? Who should put these on paper? Who should pass these on to the next generation? The enemy is constantly working. Today, too, they are working.

Of course, today we thank God that we are in a position of power and self-confidence. The Iranian nation feels national power. Islam and belief in God and the afterlife and not fearing jihad and martyrdom have made this nation so strong that it does not fear the enemy's propaganda. Whatever they want to propagate; the nation, the army, and the Revolutionary Guards do not fear propaganda. But the enemy, after all, does its propaganda. For the long term, the truths must be revealed so that people know and the baselessness of that propaganda becomes clear. Today, thanks be to God, the armed forces in the Islamic Republic — that is, the army and the Revolutionary Guards — like two strong arms and two interlocked hands from both sides, protect and guard this nation and this country with complete power so that the enemy cannot cast a covetous eye from outside and inside on this nation and country. When Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) uttered a word about one of these two organizations, the enemy's propaganda against the other organization immediately started. Imam would say a word about the army; immediately rumors would start. (Rumors usually start from foreign radios, and weak-willed people spread them.) They would immediately say that Imam wants to do such and such with the Revolutionary Guards, or 'His view has changed from the Revolutionary Guards.' When he praised the Revolutionary Guards with two words, they immediately spread rumors that the army was going to be dissolved or such and such.

Today, the era of those conspiracies is over. There are conspiracies, but they no longer have any luck. Two brothers, two powerful and strong arms — that is, the army and the Revolutionary Guards — with completely defined and separate missions, each has its own work. The army's mission is defined and delineated; the mission of the Revolutionary Guards is also demarcated and known. Both need each other; neither is independent of the other, and each has its own work. In a better expression that is more in line with Quranic expressions, they are two competitors in the path of God towards forgiveness and divine mercy. 'And race towards forgiveness from your Lord' (Quran 3:133); 'Race towards forgiveness and divine mercy.' One takes a positive step, the other is encouraged. The other takes a positive step, the first one is motivated. Each tries to outdo the other in good deeds.

This is the good and positive competition. I recommend this positive competition to the army and the Revolutionary Guards. See what practical innovation they have used to better manage their organization and make it more efficient and of better quality; you also go and apply it in a better way. They should see what strategy you have devised to improve the quality of your work and go and learn it from you and do it in a better way. This is the Islamic method that the Quran approves, endorses, and validates.

We have spoken about the past so that the future becomes clear. My dear ones! The army has a heavy burden on its shoulders. It is possible that for the next fifty years, no enemy will dare to attack our borders. The reality is that the eight-year imposed war showed everyone that fighting with Iran is not worthwhile. If there is a war one day, the entire nation will enter the field alongside and in step with the armed forces and official organizations. It is possible that due to that experience, no war will occur; but the readiness of the armed forces must be such that it is as if there will be a war tomorrow. They must always be awake. 'And indeed, the brother of war is sleepless, and whoever sleeps, the enemy does not sleep about him.' I have repeated this saying of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (peace be upon him), perhaps a hundred times in addressing the responsible brothers in the armed forces. 'The man of war does not sleep. If you sleep, it is not certain that the enemy sitting behind his trench waiting to attack you is also asleep.' You must be awake. It is possible that we will have no war — my prediction is the same — but the presence and readiness of the armed forces is one of the reasons for not having a war. Know this! The slackness of the armed forces encourages the enemy to ignite war. Your firmness, steadfastness, order, readiness, innovation, and being ready for high goals make the enemy who intends to wage war hesitate in his intention. So, you must be ready.

Let the American babblers not go around saying that 'Iran wants to start a war' or 'detonate an atomic bomb.' These words and these nonsense have become outdated and obsolete. Although they do not care whether these nonsense are outdated or not and still say these nonsense; but know that we are not war-mongers. According to our principles, we are against war-mongering. Our principles require us to have a message of friendship, peace, love, security, and tranquility. Because we have something to say. Someone who has nothing to say wants the atmosphere to be noisy; no one hears his voice, and no one knows what he said. Someone who is a bully and wants to plunder wants the atmosphere to be noisy so that he can plunder in the middle of the chaos. But someone who has a reasonable argument wants everyone to be quiet; to be calm and for the atmosphere to be tranquil so that his reasonable argument can be heard.

We have a reasonable argument. We have a message. The proof is that sixteen years have passed since the revolution, and the enemies still say, 'They want to export the revolution.' What do they want to export?! Is the revolution a commodity that someone has packaged and wants to export?! They are afraid of our words. In the world's atmosphere, they do not allow even one of the correct and reasonable words of the officials of the Islamic Republic system to be broadcast and published in the world's famous press; because they are afraid.

I once said that the dear late son of the great Imam thought of publishing the Imam's Hajj message in the press of one of the Western countries by paying a large sum. But they refused to publish it. Although they are money-oriented, and money is their religion, faith, honor, and everything, they refused to publish it. Because their intelligence apparatus was aware that the Imam's message would explode like a bomb there. They are against our words and are afraid of our words. We who have something to say, naturally seek peace, security, and harmony; it is clear that we are not war-seekers. But the fact that we are not war-seekers does not mean that our enemy is not a war-seeker.

You must be ready. Your readiness should be in these few areas: First, organize as firmly and with better quality as you can. In the use and application of human resources, the principle is organization. Managers should pay attention to organization; because organization in the armed forces is accompanied by special order and discipline. Second, is the improvement of the quality of human resources.

Do not neglect human resources. Human resources constantly need spiritual support and backing. Do not neglect the unit, the organizational member, and the one who is undergoing military service. Constantly provide them with spiritual support. This is primarily among the duties of the respected and important ideological-political organization. Lessons and classes and so on are necessary in their place; but their importance is secondary. Primarily, it is about speaking, advising, and giving morale, and these are not achieved through knowledge that we go and teach them religious knowledge. These are achieved through religion itself, that is, through religious faith, which dear ideological-political brothers should pay attention to. The main task of the cleric is to address the hearts, speak with the hearts, and influence them, and this is important. Of course, lessons and reasoning and arguments and so on are necessary in their place; but improving the quality of human resources in terms of faith is of primary importance. Of course, commanders and officials can also play a role in this area.

Then, there is the issue of tools. Make sure that in preparing the tools you need within the armed forces, you are not dependent on anyone outside these borders. Have this intention. As it is now, thanks be to God, the news has been given. Build armored equipment. More important work has also been done in the air force, which will be officially announced in due time. Go for big works and constructions and know that you can. Do not think that you cannot. You can have all the necessary tools for war. Of course, some luxury tools, if you do not have them, it is not important. Indeed, some military tools are only decorative. For example, decorating a handgun with jewels. Some of the methods of new technology and industry and new works are of this kind and in this category. Try to provide the necessary tools yourself. More urgently, preserve well what you have. This is my constant recommendation to you dear brothers. Do not let it be wasted and lost.

Of course, we do not have in the program to quantitatively expand the armed forces for a while. Thanks be to God, quantitatively it is at the required level and does not need expansion. But qualitative development has no limit or ceiling. The more you improve the quality of the armed forces, the more appropriate work you have done. These are necessary for the future.

Know that you belong to the nation, and the nation belongs to you. You belong to Islam, and Islam belongs to you. Today, the armed forces have the honor of being soldiers of the Imam of the Age. You are soldiers of the Imam of the Age. In fact, you are working for the goals of that great one and for that great one; and this is an honor that even if you thank it all your life, you have still thanked it little. This is a very great honor.

God willing, you will also be among the soldiers of that great one in his presence; work for that great one and engage in jihad in his company. May God grant all of us and those who love and desire it the great blessing of martyrdom.

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