Statements of the Supreme Leader at the 'Military Academy'

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

This ceremony and this meeting, as always, are very sweet and memorable for me. The 'Military Academy' is truly one of those places that should serve as a model for many of its similar centers. Spiritual, scientific, and military progress, thanks be to God, is improving day by day. You dear young people who have graduated or are about to graduate, appreciate these studies and this responsibility. The people must also appreciate you; you must appreciate yourselves; because in this scientific and military center, you prepare yourselves to serve a great nation, a proud country, and a glorious history, and this is no small matter. The people must appreciate you because once, this center and similar centers - in Tehran and across the country - despite all their exorbitant expenses, did not belong to the nation and the country, and their expenses were not spent in the way of the country and its interests. Today, by the grace of the Lord, the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its various centers - including this university - are centers of knowledge, service, spiritual and ethical growth, centers of religion, centers of Quran learning, centers of prayer, centers of night vigil, and centers of spiritual growth, with a group of faithful youth. It is appropriate for everyone to show gratitude and appreciation.

My dear ones! Those who established these centers were not attached to anything beyond these borders. Foreigners built this place, foreigners planned it, and foreigners exploited it. Perhaps the older sections of these buildings were built by the Germans, planned and managed by the British, and later exploited by the Americans. But today, in this center, Iranians build, Iranians teach, Iranians learn, and Iranians benefit. The goal is the interests and benefits of the nation. This is something precious and great and should be appreciated. It is fitting for this nation that everywhere, people intend to serve it, think for it, and strive for it. The Iranian nation is a faithful, great, courageous, and heroic nation. Those who, out of malice and ill-will, harbor enmity and deceit against this nation will ultimately be defeated. Just as they have been defeated until today, by the grace of the Lord. Wherever the arrogant powers of the world can insult and show hostility towards this nation, they do not hesitate. Yet, this nation stands like a mountain.

Right now, in the media affiliated with the terrorist Zionists, the Iranian nation, the government of the Islamic Republic, and the proud men of this country are accused of 'terrorism.' We abhor and detest terrorism and the terrorists, at the head of whom are the usurping rulers of occupied Palestine and their American supporters. Islamic Iran, because it shines among the countries and nations of the world with the title of Islam and with an Islamic goal, is the target of the terrorist activities of the enemies, the CIA of America, the Zionist apparatuses, and their ill-willed and malicious collaborators. The terrorists are those who are not ashamed and allocate budgets in their legislative bodies for sabotage in an independent country! We detest them, and the Iranian nation also detests their actions. They deserve the name 'terrorist.' The friendship and enmity of the Iranian nation are clear and logical, and with correct and wise methods. Terrorist acts are the work of those who are inherently deviant. Like these terrorists who today govern occupied Palestine, and their American supporters.

This nation is on the verge of a great test, namely the elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The Zionists' and Americans' propaganda uproar is essentially for this reason. Whenever they think they can prevent the nation from taking a fundamental action, they do not hesitate. The people have been waiting for a long time to go to the polls on Friday, and they, to divert minds elsewhere, chant slogans against the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic system in their mercenary media. But our nation's ears are not receptive to these words. Friday is the day of the test. Friday is the day of action. Friday is the day of determining the country's fate for a four-year term. A good parliament elects a good government, and a good government does good work and moves well for the nation. A good, courageous, and independent parliament guides the executive branch with appropriate laws and constant supervision towards the right goals set for the country. Good executors build the country and advance construction.

A good parliament is the key to correct actions in a country. In a good parliament, a good representative is present. A good representative means a faithful, courageous, aware, knowledgeable representative with a sense of responsibility and interest in the great work entrusted to him.

People should research and study; they should go to the polls out of a sense of duty and, out of a sense of duty, put the names of those they have selected into the ballot boxes. This is how the parliament is formed, and then the government is established and moves forward. This is a great test and an important task. We hope that this time too, the Iranian nation, with its decisive action, will strike its firm fist in the mouth of the babblers, which it will, and the world will see what Muslim Iran, revolutionary Iran, and committed Iran mean! They will see that a nation with seventeen years of revolutionary experience acts stronger, more experienced, more aware, and more alert than before. By the grace of the Lord, the Iranian nation, in this experience too, will be envied by the envious and a source of regret for the enemies.

You dear students and graduates, appreciate this good period. Study well and thoroughly and build yourselves. A good military person can be an example in everything for the country. A good military person defends during war and, when there is no war, wherever his presence is beneficial, he appears there with his military dignity and demeanor. The professors, officials, trainers, and managers of this university and the command hierarchy in the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran and all officials should pay special attention to this university, to military centers, and especially to military education. The army and the Revolutionary Guards, by the grace of the Lord, are two powerful arms for the Islamic Republic system that have become better and more complete day by day and will continue to do so.

We hope that Almighty God is pleased with you and that the sacred spirit of the late Imam - who is the founder and opener of this path and to whom the greatest honor belongs - is pleased with you. We hope that you will be included in the successes and pure prayers of the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him).

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings