Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with Veterans on the Anniversary of the Return of Freed Prisoners to the Islamic Homeland

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

First, I extend a warm welcome to the dear brothers and sisters, especially the veterans who, thanks be to God, have filled this gathering with the fragrance of sacrifice and glorious memories. Today's meeting, which commemorates the heroic and magnificent days filled with pride and joy of the return of our dear freed prisoners to the homeland, is a combination of various groups of veterans, dear freed prisoners, spouses of the missing and those still captive, spouses of our dear disabled veterans, children of our dear martyrs, dear Basijis, and groups of those devoted to sacrifice. This is a blessed atmosphere, and breathing in this space where you are present brings the scent of spirituality, martyrdom, and sacrifice to the eager soul.

Today, my main message to you dear ones and to the entire Iranian nation is that nothing is given to any individual, nation, or group from the divine treasury of the unseen without effort and endeavor. Lazy and lethargic nations will not partake in national honors. Inactive and idle groups will not achieve great services and merits. Those who do not wish to strive and toil will gain nothing in the market of spirituality and in the trade of love, faith, piety, and spiritual virtues: "Man can have nothing but what he strives for." (Quran 53:39). This is true in the material world as well; that is, nations that work, think, innovate, and endure hardships will achieve material resources, comfort, and progress, and it is the same in the field of spirituality: nations that strive, struggle, sacrifice, and do not fear work and dedication, God Almighty will grant them everything.

The greatest sin of the leaders, kings, and corrupt rulers in human societies and in the past of our dear Iran has been that they kept the people alienated from this truth and did not direct them towards work, effort, dedication, and sacrifice. The greatest honor of the Islamic Revolution is that it taught this lesson to the people, opened this path before them, and the late and noble Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) - that exceptional and unparalleled great leader of our time - his greatest honor was that he himself took the lead in this path and moved forward. He did not sit back to tell others to do it. He himself was at the forefront of the general movement of the Iranian nation and moved ahead of everyone. You dear ones are the product of such a blessed atmosphere.

The issue of the freed prisoners is a great matter. Do not look at the Western and other propaganda films regarding military issues and matters related to their captivity. No nation has been able to create a young and fighting group from various sectors that, in the harshest conditions of captivity, preserve their revolutionary and faithful character and fighting spirit as our freed prisoners did during their captivity; while certainly what the Iranian nation knows about the events of the captivity of these dear ones is only a part of the vast collection of events.

Can this event be described? Can the moment-to-moment sufferings of captivity be encompassed in words or explained with the language of literature and art? Hearing is not like seeing and touching. They stood firm and resisted. Perhaps at the moment when our dear freed prisoners were facing the harsh and severe guards of the enemy in the camps and were standing firm, some of them had no hope of their own freedom. Perhaps among them were those who became tired and said, until when? But the divine tradition is that "Indeed, with hardship comes ease, indeed, with hardship comes ease." (Quran 94:5-6).

If you endure hardships, God Almighty will open the doors of relief. If you pave the way for striving in the path of God upon your body and soul, God Almighty will show you the light of relief and will open the doors of relief for you: "And whoever fears God, He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect." (Quran 65:2-3). God Almighty, by the blessing of striving and on the condition of steadfastness, opens the doors and paves the ways beyond the usual calculations of human intellects.

My dear ones! This is a valuable experience. Today, we have a new, fresh, and vibrant generation entering the field in our country that must use these experiences. They must use the experience of the battlefield, where standing firm in it involved martyrdom, disability, deprivation of health, and separation from home, comfort, children, and loved ones. There are thousands of hardships in the battlefield that are only tangible for those who are in those conditions, and no one else. Enduring these hardships is a great task. Standing firm in the battlefield against the enemy, in the fields of captivity, during the period of disability - where our disabled veterans are still in the field of resistance and steadfastness - is considered a great task. Dear disabled veterans should know that their struggle continues.

Our disabled veterans, throughout the period of disability, are in a state of striving. This virtue is exclusive to them and their spouses and families until, God willing, they find health and well-being. This collection of sacrifices has brought our country to this point today. Could it have been imagined that a small and large nation alone, without any global support and without any significant help from any corner of the world's powers, could stand in the field of sacred jihad and self-defense and construction and independence and fight against all kinds of pressures from arrogant enemies and surprise the enemies more and more every day? Could it have been possible to reach this point without these sacrifices and dedications and selflessness? Each of you who are here; whether dear freed prisoners, those still in captivity, your families, your children, your fathers and mothers, your spouses, the families of martyrs, the families of disabled veterans, the children of martyrs, and all those who have borne the sufferings on their bodies and souls, the veterans and supporters, each have contributed to the creation of this great, inexhaustible, and unparalleled treasure of the Iranian nation. If each of you had not made this sacrifice; if you had not shown this patience; this collection that is now at the disposal of the Iranian nation would not have come into existence, and these successes would not have been achieved. This is the lesson of the Quran.

In the history of the world, the lifespan of nations is an hour. It seems long to us; but when you look at the flow of historical events, each of these nations is an hour and they come and go. Prolonging this hour, making it good and creating it with pride, is in the hands of the individuals of the nations. The Quran has taught us this. The experience of it is difficult; therefore, nations often do not experience it and suffer its hardships. But our nation has undertaken this experience. Appreciate this; it is very great.

The pain of the world's nations is treated in this way. The pain of the Palestinian nation is treated in this way, and no other way. Those who think that a nation like the Palestinian nation can be saved by negotiation and begging are gravely mistaken. Only by standing firm and resisting can a nation stand on its own feet, obtain its human rights, and achieve an honorable life that is both for its world and its hereafter.

Today, the world is a world of oppression, lies, and deceit. Those who carry the banner of defending human rights are the greatest enemies of human rights! At the head of them is the American government. See what they do with blacks inside their country! This is not news from the past. It is not news from fifty years, a hundred years ago that they say we have now reformed. It belongs to today; in the big cities of America. See; the issue of racial discrimination has not yet been resolved in that country which claims freedom and human rights. Still, a person is not secure to live in that society because of having black skin! Sometimes, if necessary, just for being black, a policeman beats him to the point of killing! These claim human rights! They close their eyes to the horrific crimes of the usurping Zionist regime. See what the Zionists have done to the defenseless people of the cities of Lebanon - Sidon and others - in these past few days! These bombings, these kidnappings, these massacres; all of these are crimes. All of these - as the gentlemen say - are anti-human rights actions. The supporters of human rights do not feel that anti-human rights actions are taking place there. If a desperate and oppressed Palestinian shouts and makes an angry move, their propaganda and political apparatuses are set in motion; but all these crimes against the Palestinian nation and the Lebanese nation by them are ignored!

Today, such people have taken up the banner of human rights! Is this not a world of deceit? Is it not a world of lies? Is it not a world of hypocrisy? Previously, it was said that politics is hypocrisy; but their claim of human rights is hypocrisy; their entire international work is based on hypocrisy; it is not just a matter of politics.

Such governments claim that the leadership of humanity should be in their hands! Governments must submit to them! Unfortunately, many governments also fall into weakness and inattention, do not recognize their duty, do not act on it, and submit to them; nations also remain indifferent due to the hardships this work entails. Naturally, the result is the same.

The Iranian nation stands firm and can stand firm. The government of the Islamic Republic and the sacred Islamic system stand against these oppressions and deviations, do not hide them, explain them loudly, defend the rights of the oppressed, and have no fear of their threats and frowns and hardships. Why? How has it happened? Why can the Iranian nation, government, and state have such power? Because our nation has made these sacrifices. This capacity has been created in this nation to stand against pressures and oppressions. It is this steadfastness of yours that will eventually bring down the arrogant, lying, oppressive enemy from its peak of arrogance and bring it to its knees.

I tell you and all the youth to believe in God's promise. God's promise is that if the people of truth stand by their right, the truth will prevail. This is the case in all stages. You experienced this during the revolution, during the war, during captivity, during the period after the end of the war - when the Iranian nation set out to rebuild its country - you experienced this; in the future, you must also be certain that it is feasible.

Wherever you see an oppressive enemy, stand against it. This is the duty of all people, statesmen, representatives of the people, and those to whom this country has entrusted a responsibility. Do not yield to the oppressive, tyrannical enemy, to the global arrogance that today has rebelled against divine and spiritual values - whose manifestation is the tyrannical and rebellious American government. Material powers can do nothing. They can do nothing against a nation that stands firm and relies on its own strength. All paths are closed to them.

If they are harsh, they will suffer. If they apply pressure, they will suffer. If they attack, they will suffer; because the essence of steadfastness and resistance in a nation is a precious and valuable essence. With this very essence, the Iranian nation, by the grace of the Lord, with divine guidance, with spiritual unseen help, and with the pure prayers and spiritual guidance of the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) will be able to once again raise the Islamic civilization in the world and erect the magnificent edifice of Islamic civilization. This is your definite future. Young people, prepare yourselves for this great movement. Faithful and sincere forces, make this your goal.

Of course, within the country, there are many tasks that must be accomplished. Within the country, there are great movements that are the responsibility of the officials and must be carried out with the help of the people to accomplish great tasks and build the country; both material reconstruction, spiritual and cultural reconstruction, ensuring and establishing social justice, and eliminating poverty, deprivation, illiteracy, and discrimination and preventing the growth of negative traits in society. These are tasks that must be accomplished. When these tasks are done, the great movement of the people and that spiritual essence of the revolution will be able to do its work. By God's grace, humanity will witness that day and you young people, with God's help and hope, will see that day and, God willing, will create that day with your own hands.

We hope that God Almighty grants all of you success, guides you, assists you, and makes the path smooth and clear for you.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings