Statements in Meeting with Commanders and Pilots of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran

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

Welcome, dear brothers and esteemed commanders of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Air Defense. We hope that the Almighty God grants you all the success and assistance to elevate the esteemed status of the Air Force—which, thanks be to God, has been achieved through great efforts—along with the Air Defense, day by day. Today, your dear gathering in this Hosseiniyeh and the commendable statements of the respected commander, along with the profound and beautiful anthem performed by our dear youth, will, God willing, be memorable for our collective.

The nineteenth of Bahman, which began and became enduring due to a courageous movement of the Air Force in 1979, is a day full of meaning and significance. Those brave brothers who entered the field of struggle that day and played a role alongside the people accomplished two important tasks: one was the identity formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army; introducing a new and modern identity that the people were not familiar with until that day. Generally, people see the showcases of various organizations and institutions. The showcases at that time were not good. Within and deep inside the Islamic Republic Army, there were many faithful, independent, and free individuals who lived and struggled with the same ideals of the Iranian nation; however, opportunities were needed for them to show themselves. Such a vast capacity existed in the army. The people did not recognize this capacity. The movement of the youth of the Air Force that day—which I witnessed closely—defined a new identity for the army; this is an important issue. Furthermore, this identity was strengthened over the years—whether during the eight-year war and sacred defense, after that, or before it—day by day. I want to say that even years later, the brilliance and prominence of this identity increased.

The second matter that was established and emerged that day was the creation of a movement. The characteristic of a living person is that they influence their environment and create a movement within their sphere of existence; their forward movement generates movements ahead. This occurred that day. Undoubtedly, the actions taken on the nineteenth of Bahman at the Alavi School on Iran Street in the presence of Imam had an impact on the events of the twenty-second of Bahman. During those nights of the twenty-first and twenty-second, I heard and saw people coming to these streets leading to Imam's headquarters, shouting to awaken the people in their homes; they said that the youth of the Air Force—the airmen and officers—were in danger because they were under attack. This is very meaningful. This movement created this great current; it generated a new dynamism and a fresh spirit.

Well, this is one example; this is a sample; a handful from a vast store of wheat; a corner of our society that reflects the general and overall condition of society. The country was saved by this movement. The great country of Iran, with its cultural background and all its material and spiritual capacities, was captive. This is a very bitter reality that, due to the existence of conflicts, differences, and various issues, and the interference of various hands from outside, has not yet been properly revealed in our history. The country was captive; the country was humiliated; the country was insulted by the arrogant and domineering powers of the world; it had been forgotten. Great Iran, proud of its deep Islamic faith, had no effect in its surrounding environment; because the heavy burden of foreign domination weighed heavily upon it. The nation tore this veil and broke this nightmare. The movement of the nation on the twenty-second of Bahman and the events leading up to the twenty-second of Bahman were such a movement.

I have said many times, and repeated it on Friday; today, the most important issue regarding our revolution, when we look at these thirty-two years, is stability and perseverance. That is, we stand firm on our words. Standing firm on principles is a source of pride for a nation, for a collective. Principles are things that must be upheld. Values must be safeguarded and protected. The most important value that exists for our nation and still exists today, and will continue to exist until the end, is Islam. Independence is in Islam, freedom is in Islam, material progress is in Islam, national unity is in Islam, and the flourishing of talents is in Islam; all of these are integrated and encompassed in Islam. The reason Imam emphasized the term "Islamic Republic" is precisely this. Emphasis on the Republic is because the important point is reliance on the people. If Islam is to gain sovereignty in society, it is not possible without the general faith of the people. Thus, the presence of the people, the vote of the people, the will of the people, and the involvement of the people became a fundamental point; thus, it became the Islamic Republic. We must preserve this, we must keep it alive, this flag must remain raised. If we can bring ourselves closer to the depth and profundity of this profound term—Islamic Republic—successes will increase day by day; and this requires high ambition, doubled effort, and multiplied work, which, fortunately, this year, the effects of doubled effort and multiplied work can be observed in various sectors of the country. If this happens, the Iranian nation will become a model; the Islamic Republic will become a model. It is not necessary for nations to say Iran is our model—saying it is not important; whether they say it or not is not important—the important thing is that this life-giving breeze blows in other environments, makes them aware, and brings them into motion; and this has happened.

The fact that you see today in some countries these great movements exists does not happen suddenly; over time, motivations, desires, and knowledge accumulate and manifest at an appropriate moment. Today is the day of their manifestation. The accumulation of these motivations, the successive emergence of this knowledge and desires, relates to the past years; and you, the Iranian nation, and you, the officials of the armed organizations, played a major role. This must be kept in mind.

We are today in the midst of the field; just as we are in the midst of the path. Now we do not express it as being at the beginning of the path; which perhaps in a sense, looking at the long term, we are at the beginning of the path. Ultimately, we are on the path. The path must be continued. The one who travels a path but does not reach the destination and turns back, either stops in the middle of the path or diverts their way, does not differ much from the one who has not left their home and has not set out at all. In this result, both are alike in that they have not reached the destination and have not attained the desired. Therefore, the continuity of movement and the persistence of movement is necessary; and this relies on ambitions, on faith, on efforts, on the presence of the youth. Today, fortunately, you young people are at the forefront of various tasks in the armed forces; the work is in your hands, it is directed towards you, the eyes are upon you. If a young person relies on God, trusts in God, and has self-confidence, they create miracles. All aspects of our lives and the great works that are accomplished are divine miracles; we have become accustomed to them, we do not realize their miraculous nature. These miracles rely on the strength, ambition, courage, and efficiency of individuals. Therefore, the work must be pursued.

Let us look and see what things hinder progress. Certainly, one of the things that hinders progress is carelessness and negligence towards values. Values must not be overlooked.

One of the things that is certainly contrary to progress is division and discord; discord among the individuals of the nation, discord among the officials, discord among the various sectors of the system, discord between the system and the people. This cohesion and unity that the revolution gave us must be preserved like a sacred trust, it must be safeguarded. One of the most important tasks that exists in the enemy's soft war—has always existed, and still exists today—is to create instability in this unity, to create rifts. They strive for this: to create religious disputes between Shia and Sunni, to create ethnic disputes between Persians, Arabs, Turks, Kurds, and others, to create regional disputes, to create organizational disputes, to create party disputes.

With all of this, we must confront with complete attention; that is, what we call insight. We must know where we are. We must recognize this position that you are present in today. There is a difference between that soldier who is in a sensitive trench and knows how sensitive his trench is, understands the importance of his work and his position, and between the one who is in the same trench but does not know how important it is; he falls asleep, becomes negligent, abandons the trench, and fights with his comrade inside the trench. We must understand how sensitive the position of the Iranian nation is.

Today, the Middle East has awakened, the Islamic world has awakened. The years of domination by the powerful, far from this region—who invaded due to the vast resources of this region and experienced the era of colonialism, neo-colonialism, and even higher than neo-colonialism—are coming to an end; this is a reality. One day, in our region, these two great powers that existed at that time—namely the United States and the former Soviet Union—were dominant over all political affairs in this region. One part was related to the left, one part was related to the right; they had disputes and conflicts, and then at times they would come to an agreement—at the top, the powers behind them, the United States and the Soviet Union would come to an agreement—and suddenly we would see Egypt being sold! Just as they sold it during a certain period. In reality, it was a war between two camps. Then, at the top, they sat behind the scenes and negotiated, the nations, their rulers, their interests, all were trampled underfoot.

Today, it is not like that. Today, the nations of the region see the gradual decline of the powers. And in this regard, the Islamic Iran is at the forefront, with a vast cultural background and the capabilities that exist in this country; that is, Iran relying on Islam, which is intertwined with the soul, spirit, and thought of this nation and this collective. This must be preserved; this is very valuable. Each part also has its role. The army has its specific role. Among the army, the Air Force has its special role.

I have often quoted this hadith from the Prophet, which states: "May God have mercy on the one who undertakes a task and performs it firmly, strongly, and completely"; may God's mercy be upon the one who takes on a task and performs it firmly and completely. The reports I have received from the Air Force and the reports that are coming, and today the respected commander of the force mentioned some of them, are good reports; but I want to say do not settle for these. The issues of parts manufacturing, simulation, production, various trainings, these are very valuable things; very valuable organization, whether in the Air Force or in the defense sector; but do not settle for these. See where the deficiencies are. If an athlete only looks at those parts of their muscles that they have developed through exercise, and does not pay attention to the neglected and weak parts, they will fall in a critical situation. See where the weaknesses are, see where the problems are, and address them; each person in their own section, in their own relevant part. Complete it day by day. And completion has no end. The further we go, the more room there is for advancement and improvement.

To my dear friends, the commanders of the forces and the other commanders of the armed forces, I often say; limitations exist in various sectors—there are sanctions, there are financial limitations, there are various things—overcome these. The best and most astute individuals are those who assess the existing conditions, then see what capabilities they have for action in the current conditions and utilize those capabilities and capacities; otherwise, if a person looks and says, well, this is not possible, we do not have this, then nothing! This cannot be. Shortcomings should not stop us. Shortcomings should lead us to refer more to ourselves, to discover our new capacities. For example, two decades ago, who in the Air Force would have guessed that this force could create and produce so many capabilities for itself? The same goes for other sectors. In our space sector, in our medical sector, in our pharmaceutical sector, in various scientific and technical fields, who would have guessed two or three decades ago that these works could be done? But they went ahead, our youth made efforts, and it happened. Works have been accomplished that today even our enemies acknowledge. Of course, they act hostile; they use this as a means for anti-Iranian and anti-Islamic policies; but they acknowledge that these exist.

I want to tell you; do not retreat at all from the fact that there are shortcomings in certain areas; go after utilizing new capacities within yourselves, in your talents, in your minds, in your skilled hands, and compensate for those shortcomings through other means; this is practical, this is achievable.

We have encountered sanctions in some sectors of the country's industry. The sanctioners thought that now that they have imposed sanctions, these sectors would fall asleep; but it turned out to be the opposite. Sanctions prompted our youth to think about producing what the enemy does not want us to have. They produced, and in some cases produced better; at lower costs, lighter, more efficient. Move in this way in the force. This applies to the respected commanders, to the respected officials of various sectors, to the entire personnel—especially you and especially the youth.

We ask the Almighty God to grant you success. God willing, the pure spirit of our esteemed Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified)—who initiated this movement, who showed us this path—and the pure souls of the dear martyrs who gave their lives in this path, and the Air Force is proud to have great martyrs in this path, may they be pleased with all of us and you, and may the prayers of the Awaited Savior encompass us all.

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