Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with Youth of Ahvaz

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

Dear brothers and beloved children; welcome. Your presence reminds me of the exhilarating memories of the early and late days of the war in Ahvaz. The youth of Khuzestan and Ahvaz are among the unique groups that have demonstrated their impact in safeguarding the independence of the country, the Islamic Revolution, and national dignity; we have witnessed this in Ahvaz and its surrounding areas and throughout Khuzestan. Even now, among the many brilliant faces I remember from the era of the Sacred Defense, there are several prominent figures from Ahvaz whose memory I will never forget. We hope that the Almighty God will make you, the valiant youth, among the reserves who, God willing, will strengthen the foundations of the Islamic system and the independence of the country and the dignity of this nation.

What is important for all the youth of the country to pay attention to is to understand what the conflict today between global arrogance and Islam is about. They cannot deny that today global arrogance is facing Islam; because they have explicitly stated this. The President of the United States referred to a "crusade." The propagandists of global arrogance constantly engage in insidious propaganda against Islam around the world; they make films, create computer games, conduct propaganda, and write articles; all against Islam. Why are they opposed to Islam?! This is a big question. They themselves say we oppose Islam because Islam creates war, terror, and hatred! They spread lies and slander so clearly and openly in the public opinion of the world. Today, it is global arrogance that spreads hatred in the world. It is the Americans who create war in the world. They are the ones who violate the rights of nations and attack countries militarily. They take their soldiers thousands of kilometers away and invade this country, that country, this border, and that nation. If you look at the last hundred years of history, you will see that the most wars were initiated by the West. The two world wars were instigated by Europeans. Numerous wars in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were initiated by the capitalist regimes ruling over America. They are the ones who create hatred among nations. Islam is innocent of these accusations. The dispute is not about this - they lie - the dispute is that Islam calls Muslim nations to independence; it directs Muslim nations to their dignity; it teaches Muslim nations to recognize their rights; to demand these rights and stand against those who violate them. Global arrogance opposes this resistance, this defense, and this awareness. The conflict between Islam and global arrogance is over this.

Today, the conflict of American global arrogance and its followers - wherever they are in the world - with the Islamic Republic is not about human rights and terrorism. The false colors they give to their claims have become discredited and exposed in the world today. Their disagreement with the Islamic Republic is that the Islamic Republic wants Iran to be dear and independent; that the people's vote should prevail in Iran, not the vote of the global arrogant powers and centers of power. Today, loyalty to the Islamic Republic and the pillars of the Islamic system is loyalty to the independence of the country, the rights of the nation, and loyalty to saying "no" to foreign aggressors. The propaganda tactics of global arrogance over the years and today more than ever have been to mislead the thoughts of the world's people and to seduce them. They cannot advance their agenda except by seducing public opinion. They have somewhat succeeded in deceiving public opinion; however, their ugly and hateful actions do not allow the hidden truths to remain concealed. Today, anyone who wants to understand the meaning of the human rights and democracy that the Americans want for the countries of the Middle East should look at Iraq. Iraq today is the testing ground for American claims. The Iraqi nation is insulted and pressured with military force and the bayonet, subjected to intolerable bullying, and then they want to make the world public opinion believe that they are liberators of the Iraqi nation, or that they want to respect the rights of the Iraqi nation! Who in the world believes this?

Their story is like that of the butcher who slaughtered a frightened deer from the wolf! A wolf was chasing a deer. The deer, with a bloody body, was fleeing from the wolf. The butcher arrived, scared the wolf away; the wolf left, and he caught the deer. The deer thought the butcher would let it go to its habitat. He tied the deer's legs, put it in his car, and brought it next to his friends; then he drew the knife to the deer's throat. The deer said, "I thought you saved me from the wolf; but now that I look, the real wolf is you:

who snatched me from the claws of my wolf.

The Iraqi nation has been pressured with military force, by placing a foreign ruler, by seizing resources, by creating chaos in this country, by violating families and the sanctity of the honor of the Iraqi people and Iraqi women; and then they want the nations of the region, the Iraqi nation, and the public opinion of the world to believe that they are the saviors of the Iraqi people. Is this salvation?! This is American human rights and American democracy for the countries of the Middle East! The President of the United States, without feeling ashamed, speaks of Palestinian terrorism! The Zionist terrorism of the illegitimate and false Israeli government has been oppressing the Palestinian people for more than fifty years, crushing them under the boots of the Zionist soldiers, openly and explicitly demolishing homes, killing people, arresting men, and humiliating and insulting women. This is a clear terrorism that even the Israelis do not deny and say we commit terrorism. This gentleman ignores this; and then the Palestinian youth who, in defense of their honor, in defense of their home, takes a furious action against an aggressor, is labeled as Palestinian terrorism! Their support for the anti-terrorism movement is this! This is the meaning of terrorism in their logic! The nations of the region are filled with hatred for America and its European offspring, namely England. It is not just our nation; all the nations of the region are disgusted by them. This hatred has been created by them. Those who violate the rights, independence, dignity, and borders of nations fill these nations with their own hatred. Why are they complaining that they are hated? Yes; we are disgusted by you.

In the face of the rebellious and defiant spirit that global arrogance has today, there is only one factor that can restrain it and prevent this defiance, and that is the awakening and will of the nations. When a nation is awake, it knows its rights, recognizes the enemy, knows its goal, and decides to stand against it. This is where the might of global arrogance and America and all military equipment becomes ineffective. This is where they can no longer do anything. This is the fundamental point that the Islamic Revolution has emphasized from the beginning, and the Islamic system has built itself on this solid foundation. This is where you youth must recognize your worth. This is where the officials of the country must recognize the value of these enthusiastic, faithful, and determined youth. This is where the officials of education, higher education, and universities must value these faithful and determined youth. Those who value their national honor, independence, and high Islamic values do not favor the presence and interference of the enemy and reject it; these are valuable for a nation.

My dear ones! Do everything you can to build yourselves with knowledge and action. Your youth is like the youth of the previous generation, a determining period for the historical destiny of this nation. If the previous generation had been lazy, if they had sat at home and made carelessness their profession, our nation would have remained submerged in the corruption of dependency and the humiliation of subservience to America. That generation stood up, achieved victory in the revolution, achieved victory in the war, and defended their national identity and character valiantly. Today, it is the turn of the new generation. The enemy fears our youth and knows that if our broad, faithful youth stand firm with this faith, no weapon, no bomb, and no missile can bring this nation to its knees. Every step you take for your scientific, practical, and moral advancement is like a bullet you shoot at the enemy. This war and this struggle is a great jihad. In those days, our men, our women, our various ethnicities - our Arabs, our Persians, our Turks, our Kurds, our Lurs, our Baluchis - throughout the country focused on defending the honor and identity and independence of the country and confronting global arrogance and its agents inside, and they achieved success in this path. Today, it is the same. Arabs, Persians, Turks, Baluchis, Kurds, Lurs, and all Iranian ethnicities, holding onto the rope of Islam and with unity of word, continue this blessed path. Our young generation must advance scientifically; just as it has progressed until today. The uproars they raise against the Islamic Republic regarding weapons of mass destruction and so forth are just excuses; this is one of the deceptive covers. The issue is not this; the issue is that the access of the capable young generation of this country to high-level technologies disturbs and pains them. They want nations to remain dependent, to remain low, to always extend their hands towards them, to always be weak and humiliated so that they can do whatever they want to the nations. The counteraction against them is for nations to strengthen themselves scientifically and spiritually.

They do not favor a young generation that is determined and resolute and strives in the straight path of spirituality and the Islamic world - whether male or female. They want a wayward young generation; they favor that. In the face of the enemy's desires, our youth must resist. Our officials must first, relying on this young generation and on this nation, strengthen their hearts. The determination of our faithful nation is a manifestation of divine determination and will. Officials should not fear anyone or anything and should not be intimidated by the enemy's clamor. This great national fortress is at their disposal; they should make good use of it. All segments of the nation - especially the youth - should recognize their worth and turn to self-building. Now, in the summer season, many of our good youth spend their free time either in the construction mobilization or in the resistance forces, or they help raise the knowledge and literacy of others. Some exert themselves and work for others. Some, with good and organized programs, engage in reading and enhancing their level of thought. The free time of faithful youth passes in this way. I have received numerous reports from youths who have spent their summer, their university or high school vacations in remote areas, building mosques, clinics, roads, husseiniyahs, roads, and bridges for villagers. They have brought me photos of these activities, and I have seen them. According to a narration, the Prophet said: "The tourism of my nation is jihad in the way of God." Our youth also secure their tourism in this way; their tourism is through working for the people. This is valuable. Value your youth. Appreciate spiritual and religious education, Islamic studies, knowledge, and knowing history and scientific advancement - which, thanks be to God, our youth are currently on the path of - and strive in these ways, and know that the enemy wants you not to progress and not to build your country; but you, despite the enemy, must advance in knowledge, physical strength, awareness, faith, and ethics. From the arrangements that His Excellency Mr. Jazayeri mentioned, I was somewhat informed; it is very good. God willing, may God assist him and his aides. Their efforts have been very valuable. The work they have done, God willing, will be blessed. We hope that through the blessings of these days, which are the days of mourning for the great lady of Islam, indeed the great lady of human history, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her), all of you and all of the Iranian nation - especially our youth, who are the role models for all youth, both girls and boys - will be encompassed by the grace, blessings, and attentions of that great lady and her pure and virtuous descendants, especially the Awaited Savior, may our souls be sacrificed for him.

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