Statements at Imam Hossein Officer University

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

Thanks be to God and blessings upon His Messenger and the pure and virtuous family.

I congratulate you dear youth, graduates, and also those receiving their epaulettes in this center of knowledge, awareness, and culture, which, thanks be to God, is one of the sweet and blessed phenomena of the Islamic Revolution. I also thank you for the innovative and beautiful arrangements that have been made in the field until this hour.

Certainly, the issue of new growths in the Islamic Republic is one of the most fundamental and important matters. If any revolution, movement, or uprising in the world does not have new and successive growths, it is doomed to decline and perish. The Islamic Republic has been able to manifest a new aspect at every stage over the past 35 years, corresponding to the needs of the time. Some were concerned about declines; it was said that growths would overcome declines; and that is what happened. What is important is that the outlook of the new generation and all those who wish to serve the lofty goals and ideals should be towards bright and distant futures—not just seeing what is right in front of us. The distant future is the establishment of an Islamic civilization; a new civilization, corresponding to the needs and capacities of humanity today, which has been wounded, saddened, and whose youth are afflicted with despair and depression due to the various events of recent centuries. Islam can lead these generations to new horizons, bring joy to their hearts, and grant them dignity as befits human honor; this is what a new Islamic civilization means. And you are the important and fundamental core in creating this civilization. The future belongs to you. You are the builders of the future of the country, the future of this civilization, and indeed the future of the world. Part of the growing collection of growths in the Islamic Republic is realized in this section, namely at Imam Hossein University. Wherever you are—whether those who are in this university or all the youth in any part of the country who feel a sense of responsibility—you can play a role. This university is an important place; it is a center of knowledge, a center of research, a center of revolutionary education, a center for intellectual and spiritual preparations. You young people should appreciate this; all managers and officials should make every effort to maximize the use of this opportunity, as they are, thanks be to God.

Today, the Islamic system is engaged in challenges. The existence of challenges means movement forward and increasing innovations and renewals. The existence of challenges does not worry aware, insightful, and courageous individuals. Challenges compel committed individuals to look at existing capacities, which may have been neglected. These challenges arise because the Islamic Republic has great potential for progress, strength, and increasing authority. Our enemies see this. I want to tell you dear youth: In the last one or two centuries, the world has suffered great afflictions due to the emergence of the disgraceful and ominous phenomenon of colonialism and global arrogance; the most important of these afflictions is the system of domination. The system of domination means that on earth, nations are divided into two groups: one group that dominates and another that is dominated. Arrogant governments have become accustomed to dominating, to coercing, to interfering in the economies, cultures, politics, education, and lifestyles of nations out of arrogance and a desire for domination; they want everything in the world to be at their disposal. Western governments, and at the forefront of them the United States in recent decades, have become accustomed to this hateful phenomenon; to coercing, to having the world’s economy in their hands, the cultures of nations at their disposal, and in short, the control of other countries in their hands; they have become accustomed to this. When a nation and a country stand against this ugly habit, they become enraged. The Islamic Revolution caused a large country, located in a sensitive geographical region, a country rich in resources and minerals, namely dear Iran, with a resilient, courageous, and talented nation, to stand against this ugly and hateful trend; this is what angers them. What has disturbed global arrogance is that a nation in an important country, with a very rich historical background, possessing unique characteristics, has stood against this ugly habit of domination and submission; this is what angers America; this is what places a united front of the arrogant powers against the Islamic Republic; and interestingly, this is also what attracts the hearts of the world’s nations towards the Iranian nation; and this is also what many governments, who themselves do not dare to stand against the system of domination, enjoy seeing that the Islamic Republic has stood firm; although they do not have the audacity and courage to express it; we see this clearly in international exchanges.

The enmity of our enemies is due to the fact that the Islamic Republic has stood against the system of domination; it has stood against the bad habit of dividing the world into dominators and the dominated; everything else is an excuse. Today, the excuse is the nuclear issue; one day the excuse is human rights; another day the excuse is something else. They want to divert the Islamic Republic from standing firm against the bullies, the powerful, the tribute-takers, and the world’s coercers; of course, this will not happen. The Iranian nation has proven its capability in various fields: the Iranian nation has proven that without relying on America, it is possible to achieve scientific progress, social progress, international influence, and political dignity in the world of humanity. The Islamic Republic has proven this, and they are upset about it; that a nation, a country, and a system can, without dependence on the bullies and tribute-takers and international extortionists, can disregard them, even oppose and confront them, and be able to extricate itself from problems, assert itself, and impose its presence and influence despite them and in their blind eyes, is what has angered them. They have become angry; let them be angry, and in the words of our dear martyr, the late Martyr Beheshti, let them die of anger. The Iranian nation has chosen the right path; it has recognized the right path. We have understood that we can progress, become strong, open up unknown and unexplored fields of human thought and knowledge, and attract the hearts of the world’s nations without relying on the powers of coercion and tribute-taking; we have recognized this, acted upon it, and will continue to move forward; and the enemy cannot. The majority of the world is also with the Islamic Republic. Even the nations of countries that are themselves arrogant—those who know the truths—accept the Iranian nation, praise the Islamic Republic, and look upon it with respect. The empire of news of arrogance wants to prevent the voice of the Iranian nation from reaching ears; but despite that, today, thanks be to God, the eyes, hearts, and tongues of a significant part of the world are filled with signs of the people's faith and trust in the Iranian nation and praise for the Iranian nation.

I do not agree with using the false term "the international community" in opposition to the Islamic Republic—used by our enemies—what international community? Those who stand against the Islamic Republic are not the international community; they are a few arrogant governments, most of whom are under the influence of a handful of notorious, ill-intentioned Zionist capitalists; this is not the international community; they call themselves the international community. The international community consists of nations; the international community consists of oppressed governments that do not have the courage and bravery to express opposition, and if given the opportunity, they too will oppose. The international community consists of scholars, thinkers, and benevolent freedom-seekers scattered throughout the world who understand the truth and praise it.

Dear youth! The future belongs to you; you must conquer the horizons and you will conquer them; prepare yourselves, build yourselves. In this university, strive to learn knowledge, research, insight, and military training—I emphasize military training—each individual should learn. Thanks be to God, the talents are very good, the capabilities are very good; you can accomplish great tasks; prepare yourselves for great works in futures that, God willing, will not be far away. With divine assistance, the pure spirit of the martyrs—who today manifested in this field—will support you, and the pure spirit of our great Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the pure souls of the Imams (peace be upon them) will be pleased with you, and may they be pleased, and all of you, God willing, will be included in the prayers of that great figure.

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