Statements in Meeting with Commanders and Personnel of the Air Force

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, virtuous, and infallible family.

Welcome, my dear ones! Young people and esteemed officials of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Air Defense. My annual meeting with you is truly delightful; young faces, hopeful faces, joyful and inspiring faces. Wherever you are, your presence is a source of hope and a great blessing from God. I thank the esteemed commander for his encouraging remarks, and the important points mentioned in this brief report require follow-up and pursuit; the initiation of any action is one matter, and its continuity and stability are very important and another matter. I also thank our dear warriors; both their poetry was very good, and their music was beautiful; God willing, they will be successful.

Dear ones! I say that one of God's blessings for this nation was that the army of the country stood alongside the nation; this was a great blessing. If the army had not been in harmony and alongside the people during the revolution, the situation would have been different, and strange problems would have arisen; the army's leaders had one command, and the body of the army had another. Each of the army's forces played a role; I will briefly mention the role of the Air Force:

The role of the Air Force was very prominent; the first role of the Air Force in the revolution was the event of the 19th of Bahman. This 19th of Bahman was like the revolution itself; just as the revolution was astonishing, the 19th of Bahman was also astonishing. I was there when these young people were coming from the street; some were officers, some were non-commissioned officers, and many were airmen. I reached there from one of the buildings where we were working, where Imam was present, and then they came, and the rest of the events; it was truly astonishing; it both disappointed the enemy and severely weakened their morale, and it greatly delighted the revolutionaries and strengthened their spirits; it was truly a wonder; in fact, the arrival of those few groups - for example, a few platoons - from the Air Force who stood in the school, sang songs, and greeted the Imam was an unaccountable provision for this revolution and for the fighters and for Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) - "And whoever fears God, He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect" - this was truly an unaccountable provision; this was one stage.

The next stage was the event of the night of the 21st of Bahman, which is less spoken of; on the night of the 21st of Bahman, the Air Force was attacked by tanks due to revenge for this matter. And of course, the people went to help them; they stood firm and armed the people with the weapons from the warehouses, and they prevailed; rifles and bodies and self-sacrifice overcame the tanks and the extremely furious formations that had come after the air force personnel; this was another stage. I remember that night very well; the youth of the country were walking in the streets, including in Iran Street where we were, shouting that "the Air Force is being massacred, come people, come" and so on; and the youth went to help the Air Force; this was another stage.

Another stage was the exposure of the coup plot at Hamadan Air Base - Shahid Nojeh Base; there, the exposure of the plot was done by a young Air Force officer; a young pilot officer of the Air Force - whom I later saw during the war and who had also become a disabled veteran - came to me at our home around midnight and said that such a matter was going to happen [a coup]; we did not believe it; this young man had thrown himself around trying to reach Imam to inform him; it did not happen, he was told to go to someone else; he came to me and said that this was the situation. Exhausted, worn out, scared, he came, and I summoned the intelligence elements, telling them what he was saying; they went the same day [to investigate]. That is, the next day a coup was supposed to be operational in Tehran, and a young Air Force officer thwarted all of this. These are things that are part of our history; unfortunately, the history of the revolution and the history of the strange events and roles played in this revolution remain untold and unheard for many; I account this great movement, this great work, to the Air Force.

Another issue is the self-sufficiency jihad; the self-sufficiency jihad was an initiative of the Air Force; at that time, I was in the Ministry of Defense and responsible for military affairs on behalf of the Revolutionary Council; we did not propose it ourselves, [rather] they proposed it; they said we can create an organization called self-sufficiency jihad; they named it themselves; we approved it, ratified it, and supported it, otherwise, the work was done by the young people of the Air Force. Among them were officers, among them were airmen, they formed a group and began to strive, and the self-sufficiency jihad in the army was launched, which, at least you - your technical people - know what a great job the self-sufficiency jihad has done in the country over these decades; this is also one of the achievements and characteristics of the Air Force.

Another issue is that the first crushing response in the imposed war was carried out by the Air Force; on the second day of the war - that is, the first day they attacked, it was the next day or the day after - with an astonishing number of sorties, they attacked Baghdad and Iraq, which left everyone astonished; the enemy did not expect it. We also had extremely limited resources; we had a little bit of resources, and we also did not know some of the resources; we had them, but we did not know them; our commanders still did not know how to use them. Nevertheless, a high number, for example, 140 sorties or more, went to Iraq in one day in response to the bombing of our airports, bombing their airports here and there. Therefore, the first crushing move in the imposed war occurred from the army and the Air Force system.

Then, during the war, one example of the army's activities was Operation Valfajr 8. May God have mercy on martyr Satari; martyr Satari was a technical officer at that time, he was responsible for technical matters in the Air Force, he was not yet the commander of the force; he did something in Valfajr 8 that the fighters crossed the Arvand and went to the other side of the Arvand and took Fao and those important events that truly shook the world. There, martyr Satari and his colleagues did not sleep for several nights; they constantly moved the defense systems from here to there, from there to here, firing continuously, dropping planes and changing their positions so that they would not be targeted; they did an extraordinary job that is indescribable. Those who are writers, those who are speakers, those who are poets, should write about these; these are very great works that have been done, and our nation, mostly - that is, our youth - are unaware of what has happened. One example is now Valfajr 8, and similar events have occurred in other cases.

One of the important works is the construction of aircraft. The first warplane built in the country was built in the Air Force; I went there to visit, I saw; using the aircraft we had, they made some changes and started the construction of a two-seat fighter aircraft domestically. This work was done in the Air Force, which was important; then, until recently, the work continued, and the last work was the support of the defenders of the shrine, which was a great job; a great work was done in this regard.

Well, this is now part of your past, young people. Many of you who are listening to these words have not seen those days, have not understood them, you were not yet born, but it has happened; this is your history, this is your past, this is your identity; preserve this identity as much as you can; that is my message. I say the most important of the works - that all these things I have mentioned and dozens of times more stem from it - is human development, human resources; the strength of the identity and personality of a group and the individuals who make up that group; this is more important than anything else; develop humans. In the Air Force, a young person like martyr Babaei was formed, like martyr Satari was formed, and like the other martyrs who are numerous - great martyrs - and all of these were thanks to the Islamic revolution. Under the tyrannical regime, talents existed, but they did not come to fruition; what was able to turn copper into gold, what was able to completely change elements and transform humans into such outstanding personalities was the Islamic revolution and the great movement of the Iranian nation.

Well, my perception and understanding today of various issues in the country is a perception that is fully reflected in my speeches; you have all heard it. My perception is a hopeful one; not that I am unaware of events and do not know the difficulties, I do see the hardships, the rising prices; yes, these are all obvious things, information and news reach us much more than many other places, but overall, when I look, I see the Iranian nation today standing like a hero, like a superior personality against a front of the wicked, scheming enemy, knowing what it wants to do; that is what is important; we know what we are pursuing. The ideals are clear to us, the goals are clear. The Iranian nation stands firmly behind this revolution and this system with all its power; well, there are some grievances, there are some sorrows, there are expectations, but these grievances and expectations have never caused the Iranian nation to turn away from the independence, dignity, and pride that it has gained through the revolution, and it will not turn away. We all have a duty here.

My image is this: imagine a mountaineer who is climbing up a ridge, having ascended a significant part of this difficult, slippery, winding, and dangerous ridge; there have been many threats, but he has resisted against the threats and has gone, [because] he must reach the summit; as long as he does not reach the summit, threats will exist; when he reaches the summit, the threats become ineffective. Everyone must strive; it is not just the armed forces, it is not just the Air Force, it is not just a part of society and a part of responsibilities and a part of the youth; everyone! Everyone, wherever they are, must strive, work, make efforts, recognize their responsibilities, and fill this table of duties. This table of duties is filled like this: you fulfill your duty and fill one box, another fills the next box, another fills their own box. When this table of duties is filled, work is accomplished, it is realized, and it reaches its goal; this is everyone's duty.

The enemy's work is to instill fear. The enemy's work is to instill fear, to scare, to cause despair; this is the enemy's work, the work of Satan; it is not just today, it has always been; throughout history and throughout the history of Islam. "Indeed, it is Satan who frightens his allies" - this is a verse from the Quran - this is Satan who frightens his friends and followers; "So do not fear them, but fear Me if you are believers"; [God says] you who are believers, do not fear the allies of Satan, the followers of Satan, the powers that are satanic powers; fear Me, fear deviation from the straight path. If someone deviates from the straight path, they have this fear; because when you deviate from the straight and correct path, you fall into the desert; fear that, but do not fear the enemy at all; do not fear the enemy. In another place [it says]: "So do not fear them, but fear Me"; or that "People said to them, 'Indeed, people have gathered against you, so fear them'"; [but] they said, "God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs"; see, the verses of the Quran are lessons, lessons of life, lessons of progress. After the battle of Uhud, when the Muslims were martyred and someone like Hamza, the master of martyrs, was martyred and others were martyred, wounded, and injured, and finally the battle ended and the day ended, they returned to Medina, they were just outside Medina, in the place of Uhud, and some were wounded and some were upset [because] the enemy, who had distanced from Medina - because in the final stage, the Muslims struck the enemy and drove them away - had a plan because now that the Muslims had returned to Medina and laid down their swords, they would suddenly attack and finish the matter and to empty hearts and instill fear, they leaked the news in such a way that now the enemies are coming, so that people would be scared; [well] some were wounded, some were tired. "People said to them, 'Indeed, people have gathered against you, so fear them.'" Some infiltrators came among the people and said, "Yes, the army is waiting outside Medina to attack you - so fear them, your father is coming out, your father has come out"; then the Prophet said that only those who were wounded today in Uhud should take swords and come out; others are not allowed to come; see, it is like this! You were wounded, you who were wounded and injured, should take swords and come out. A number of them were wounded, they were believers, they believed in the Prophet, they accepted the Prophet, so they took swords and went out, and engaged with that group that had gathered near Medina - now, for example, half a mile, a mile away - they fought them, and they defeated them; "Then they returned with a blessing from God and a favor, and no harm touched them". At first, they said: "God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs," then they went and "Then they returned with a blessing from God and a favor" and returned, bringing spoils, defeating the enemy, and returning victorious; this is the logic of Islam.

The one who makes you afraid, makes you despair, makes you hopeless, is Satan. Today, these Satans are constantly working through radio, television, social media, and networks to make you afraid. No, do not be afraid, do not fear them; fear deviation from the path of God, because if we deviate from the straight path, our fate will be like the fate of countries under the wings of America, the fate of Saudi Arabia, the fate of the Shah's regime, where in those types of countries all the resources of the country belong to the enemy, and the nation is humiliated before the enemy and defenseless against the enemy.

Well, I feel that this 19th of Bahman gives us a sense of duty to dominate over the self and a sense of power. On the 19th of Bahman [that year], the young people who came from the Air Force came to pledge allegiance to Imam - well, they were threatened; that day, there was a threat; that day, the tyrannical regime was still standing - they overcame their fear and hoped in God and did not fear Satan. It was not hidden; I remember, this is completely in front of my eyes, many of them had taken their identification cards out of their pockets and held them up like this; that is, we are this, if you want to recognize us, recognize us. They overcame their fear, did not lose hope in God. Today, the solution for the Iranian nation and the great movement of the Iranian nation is this; among you dear ones; well, this 22nd of Bahman rally will also be like this. Now I will mention two or three points about the rally; the 22nd of Bahman rally is truly enemy-breaking, a manifestation of national movement. For forty years, every 22nd of Bahman [that comes], this nation comes out into the streets; not just in Tehran, in all cities of the country; not ten thousand people, twenty thousand people, [but] massive crowds; in some cases, millions of people! I believe this year this movement will be even more magnificent than in previous years.

The American regime is truly the embodiment of evil, the embodiment of violence, a creator of crises, a warmonger; not just today, [but] throughout these years that we have witnessed some of it ourselves, and some we have read here and there. The life of the American regime has been that from the beginning - now I am not saying the very beginning; I am not talking about the time they gained independence from England, I am talking about after a while - their life has been to encroach here and there in the world to preserve and create and gain their interests; nations [are nothing], trampled underfoot! They are the epitome of evil; then this [regime] insults the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation. They complain about why the Iranian nation says "Death to America"; first, I want to clarify this for the American dignitaries; death to America means death to Trump and John Bolton and Pompeo! Death to these means death to the leaders; we have nothing against the American people; death to America means death to you few and that group that is running your country, that is the meaning; now in this period, these are the ones, in another period, others will be; it is not about the American nation. Secondly, as long as the American government and the American regime continue this evil, this interference, this wickedness, this malice in their actions, this death to America will not leave the mouths of the Iranian nation.

Well, these days in the country, the talk is about the Europeans and their proposals. My advice is not to trust the Europeans either. Regarding America, I have been saying for two or three years since these negotiations related to the nuclear issue began, both privately to the officials and in public sessions - in speeches - I have repeatedly said that I do not trust them. Do not trust them; do not rely on their words, their promises, their signatures, their smiles; they are not trustworthy. Well, now the result is that the very officials who were negotiating then are now saying that America is unreliable! Well, from the beginning, they should have recognized this unreliability and acted accordingly. Today, I am also saying about Europe that they are "unreliable"; I am not saying do not have relations with them regarding pressing issues and such; no, after all, we are a government, a state that, thanks be to God, is powerful, we have capabilities; the discussion is not about this, the discussion is about looking at them with skepticism; they are not committed to anything. Look! In the streets of Paris, they are blinding their own people - the protesting people in the streets of Paris are being attacked by the armed forces of the French government, many are being blinded; that is how they treat their own people - and then they demand human rights from us! Well, what are you? What relationship do you have with human rights that you demand human rights from another country, from another nation? They do not recognize human rights today, nor did they recognize it in the past, nor in their history; they are like this. That is, with complete impudence, they stand and demand something, they demand it in a very selfish and arrogant tone; we cannot trust them, we cannot respect them; they are like this. We have seen this many times in various issues; France is one way, England is another way, the other one is another way, each one is different; their behaviors are like this. Of course, we have relations with the whole world - except for a few exceptions - and we will continue to have them; but we must know who we are dealing with, who we are negotiating with, what we are agreeing on. This is also a necessary point.

However, regarding the rally; the rally on the 22nd of Bahman is one of the wonders of the Islamic revolution, it is truly astonishing; like the revolution itself. We had at least seen on television the annual celebrations of revolutions in the world - those who have revolted and hold annual celebrations of their revolutions - that a few people stand up there and the armed forces come to march and parade, and that is it; that was the celebration. That people come out for several hours in the streets, in the cold winter weather, which now the luck of the Iranian nation is that their revolution also happened in Bahman when the weather is cold and snowy, whether it is snow, rain, or cold, these massive crowds of people walk, listen to speeches, this has continued for forty years - it is not a matter of one or two years, this year is the fortieth year - this itself is one of the miracles that is one of the wonders of the great Islamic revolution. Well, this must continue with full power; this is enemy-breaking, this itself intimidates the enemy. This indicates the national will, it shows the determination of the Iranian nation; it indicates the public presence of the Iranian nation in the scene. The presence of the nation in the scene is crushing for the enemy. This presence on the 22nd of Bahman indicates a major presence; it indicates national unity, national unity. There are differences of opinion, but when it comes to the revolution and the 22nd of Bahman and the Islamic Republic system, these differences of opinion fade; everyone comes together.

Here, I also want to make a recommendation; sometimes in the 22nd of Bahman rally, it is seen that for example, you do not like a certain person, and he has also come to the rally like you, you start demonstrating against him and chanting slogans; this is not right; it is a difference of opinion, after all, you do not accept him for any reason, that official, that president, that person you do not accept, very well, it does not matter; but the 22nd of Bahman rally is not a place for settling scores; I recommend this to everyone; be careful, give your own slogans, do your own work, if your basis is logical, maintain it, but do not make the rally a manifestation of differences, a manifestation of conflict and such; let this great movement, which indicates national determination and public presence and national unity, remain with this greatness.

My dear ones! The future of the Iranian nation is much better than today; and the future of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic is much better than today; and the future of you dear young people who are to fill the shoes of the predecessors and move better than them and one step higher than them is much better than today; all trust in God, all strive, all feel responsibility and duty wherever you are and act on that duty; the Almighty God will look upon you with kindness and will, God willing, open the way for you.

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