Statements at the Morning Field of the Basij Resistance Force Headquarters

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

Being present among you dear youth and devoted Basijis is always inspiring and exciting. Although the Islamic Revolution and the phenomena it has created over time in various fields are all astonishing, the phenomenon of the Basij and the formation of this miraculous and unparalleled force is exceptional. The Basij is a reality akin to legends. For those unfamiliar with the true essence of the Basij, imagining such a vast and qualitatively rich entity with this diversity and comprehensiveness is not easy. The Basij knows no age boundaries; young children to elderly individuals participate in it. The Basij knows no gender boundaries; both men and women are present. The Basij knows no professional or geographical or ethnic boundaries; all Iranian ethnicities, all various national groups, from distinguished elite scholars and students to active and enthusiastic youth in other arenas, are all gathered in the Basij. The Basij symbolizes national presence, national resistance, and the awareness of a nation; an awareness accompanied by movement, spirituality, and sincerity. The Basij is a truth; yet it resembles legends. For the youth, it is a source of enthusiasm; for friends, it is a source of hope; for enemies, it is a source of fear. Today, if you observe the beautiful and enthusiastic presence of youth in the perilous scenes of Palestine and Lebanon, this is an emulation of the Basij. Today, if you see the awakening of student youth across the Islamic world, this is an emulation of the Basij. The Basij means the great movement of the Iranian nation, accompanied by awareness; a feeling intertwined with rationality; movement and action intertwined with a foundational thought; pragmatism combined with idealism and the vision of distant horizons; these are the elements that form the mentality and identity of the Basij. For this reason, from the beginning of the revolution until today, the Basij has been a thorn in the eyes of the enemies; both internal and external enemies. The Basij has always been subjected to verbal and practical attacks from enemies. The smear campaigns and slander against the best youth of this country who are stationed in the ranks of the Basij are not limited to a specific period after the revolution; it has been ongoing since the beginning and will continue. Of course, the enemies see the successes of the Basij. The Basij demonstrated a movement in the field of sacred defense that was astonishing to the world. The presence of the Basij in the battlefields of war and sacred defense has had miraculous effects, both as a military action and as a morale booster for the fighters stationed in military organizations - namely the Army and the IRGC. Wherever there was the Basij, there was also spirit and spirituality; naturally, there was steadfastness and resistance, and as a result, victory was achieved. This is why the Iranian nation overcame the demonic forces of Iraq in less than two years - that is, until the liberation of Khorramshahr. When Khorramshahr fell, it symbolized the strong quintet of the enemy and the oppression of the Iranian nation. When the Iranian nation reclaimed Khorramshahr from the enemy with power and captured thousands of enemy combatants, the ultimate fate of the war was written. During those days, leaders from several countries came to Iran for mediation. One of the prominent revolutionary political figures in the world - who was the leader of one of the African countries - told me that today the issue of Iran and the Islamic Republic is completely different from before the liberation of Khorramshahr; today everyone looks at you as victors and conquerors. And the truth was indeed this. Six years later, it took for the Islamic Republic system to triumph over the vast global arsenal that was behind the Ba'athist regime of Saddam. And we succeeded and were able to overcome the enemy that was supported by the former Soviet Union, NATO, and the United States, which provided it with equipment, chemical weapons, and effective intelligence assistance; this was due to the presence of the people; that is, the presence of the Basij; that is, the devoted youth.

The Basij school is a school of spiritual and sincere struggle. This struggle is for the nation and the country and, above all, for the religion of God and the glory of the flag of Islamic freedom throughout the world. This struggle has its dangers. The greatest danger for a person is losing their life. In the Basij school, this loss of life is called "martyrdom." Martyrdom is the highest value of the Ashura spirit and the highest value in the criteria of spiritual values. It is narrated: "Above every virtuous deed is another virtue until a man is killed in the way of God"; above every virtue, value, and spirituality, there exists another value, until the individual reaches martyrdom, which is the highest of values. This is the meaning of jihad and this is the meaning of martyrdom.

Some individuals, on behalf of the enemies of this nation's dignity, have tried to defame jihad. You know that in some countries of our region, the Americans are trying to remove the verses of jihad from textbooks; they insisted that this must be done; some weak and submissive governments have accepted this. They want to remove jihad from the verses of the Quran and religious teachings; because jihad in the way of God is the guarantor of the dignity of Islamic nations and the Islamic community and the greatest fortress of resistance. They have introduced martyrdom as a naive act, which is in fact one of the highest values that jihad entails. Jihad can only fully show its effect when it is accompanied by a heartfelt commitment to martyrdom. Jihad and martyrdom are two major chapters of the Basij movement. Our dear Basijis have made good progress until today; this progress must continue. Certainly, this model in our beloved country will influence the world. Today, Iran's issues are connected to global issues. The crime of the United States government is not only that it threatens the Iranian nation; its other crime is that it has destabilized the region; and the harm of this instability affects the entire world. Today, we stand against American provocations and are, in fact, the guarantors of stability in this region; this is a defense of our identity; a defense of our national character; a defense of our religion; a defense of the lofty ideals of the Islamic Republic system; a defense of the region; and in this sense, a defense of the world. The Americans have used every means to confront the Iranian nation, and in all these means, they have been intimidated and defeated by the steadfastness of the Iranian nation and the bravery of our youth. They fear our youth. Our nation is a young nation. These youths are awake and their hearts are firmly rooted in the principles of Islam and Islamic ideals. The Basij is, in fact, a widespread popular movement. Many may not be part of the Basij forces and the resistance battalions and the IRGC resistance force; but in their hearts, they are Basijis. In surveys conducted among our youth, over 90 percent of the youth of the country declared that they are ready to defend the nation. This is the meaning of the Basij. When this spirit is accompanied by greater sincerity, greater adherence to principles, and piety, it highlights the radiant faces of our dear Basij youth in distinguished and leading sectors. The enemies can do nothing against this force. You saw how the U.S. acted dishonestly in our elections. The actions taken against the elections and for the exploitation of the elections were outside all human rules and international communication norms; yet they failed. What happened in Iran was exactly the opposite of what they wanted. The greater defeat of the Americans is in the field they have arranged today; and that is the effort to transform the Islamic Republic system. They want to empty the Islamic system of its truth, its spirit, and its real identity with political tools, cultural tools, and cultural and political puppets; and this too will fail; and this is the greatest defeat of America from you dear faithful youth in the Basij forces.

Be with God; entrust your hearts to God; do not lose your reliance on the Almighty God; believe in the great power that God has entrusted in your hearts, in your minds, in your will, in your existence, and in your bodies, and know that with this power you can move great mountains. The ocean of the Iranian nation may sometimes seem calm; but if it becomes stormy, it will create tsunamis. If this vast ocean rises based on its deep religious and faithful depths, our youth will accomplish great things. These great works are not only in the battlefield - one example pertains to the battlefield - they are in the field of science; in social issues; in cultural issues; in creating moral virtues and spreading these virtues among the people; in technology and scientific and technical advancements. These works and miracles all come from you youth; from you dear Iranian nation; from the Basij of young and old, men and women. The Iranian nation is symbolized by the Basij, and all of the Iranian nation are, in fact, parts of the Basij. May God Almighty bless the soul of our great Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) who laid this lofty foundation and nurtured and watered this sapling, which has now become this towering tree.

We hope you will always be included in the blessed prayers of the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and receive God's special grace, and may God Almighty place all your actions in the direction of goodness, righteousness, and His will.

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