Khamenei.ir

Speaking in a meeting with a group of Iranian Air Force commanders and personnel, Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the resistance and constant progress of the Iranian nation over the past 28 years as a source of grandeur for the Islamic system. Having referred to the annual rally of February 11 as the arena for displaying enthusiastic public turnout before the prying eyes of the world, he said: "The rally held on February 11 is the symbol of authority, national willpower and determination."

In this meeting, which was held on the anniversary of the historic allegiance of the Air Force to Imam Khomeini on February 11, 1979, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution underscored the importance of the forthcoming public rally and said that unlike other countries, the rally marking the victory anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran is a totally popular event in which people display their presence on the scene in all circumstances. "This year, too," he continued, "with their massive and even more enthusiastic participation, the people of Iran will show off their determination and their solidarity with the Islamic Revolution to the people throughout the world."

His Eminence pointed out that in February 11, the enemies are going to realize the quality and the extent of the nation's determination and its solidarity with the Revolution: "And for that reason, the participation in the rally is of utmost importance."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to good and creative thinking accompanied by enthusiastic faith and fortitude when taking action as the main contributory factors that brought glory to the Iranian nation during the Islamic Revolution and went on to say, "the Islamic Revolution replaced humiliation with glory, bitter and humiliating dependence of the previous evil regime with independence, and total surrender to the foreigners with resistance and power."

Pointing to the formation of a new identity for the country after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Leader added that the Islamic Revolution laid the foundation for a democratic government based on human values by overthrowing the irrational hereditary monarchy, and that with the establishment of the Islamic system, the Iranian nation found the way to progress.

Having stressed the fact the Iranian nation has already paid the price for reaching the summit of progress, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: "Today, thanks to the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian nation has turned into an honorable and inspirational nation and the government of the Islamic Republic is also so powerful that the regional and global powers cannot help acknowledging its glory."

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the strong resolve of the Iranian nation to tread the path of progress and stressed that constant progressive movement of the Iranian nation has been the end result of various moves and responsibilities carried out over the past 28 years and that despite all the efforts made by the enemy this movement has not been suppressed so far and will not be suppressed in the future either.

He referred to the approving tone of centers of global power when talking about the Iranian nation as having resulted from resistance and determination to persevere in the path to progress, and said, "of course, some of the decision making and decision implementation centers throughout the world express their praise aggressively, spitefully and enviously and some of them do so willingly. On the other hand, Muslim nations and even some non-Muslim nations all praise the Iranian nation's resistance with full fascination."

His Eminence described the elections as one of the sensitive and decisive arenas. Highlighting the importance of elections, he said: "A retrospective study of each of the elections held so far shows that the hostile propagandistic efforts of the arrogant global powers have been aimed at reducing the public motivation and turnout in the elections, which have invariably proved ineffective. And this shows the importance of the elections."

Having pointed to the enemies' frustration, the Leader said, "those who shed people's blood, cause tragedies and pursue their expansionist policies in the name of democracy and defending democratic systems and who even support hereditary regimes and coups, are forced to talk about the lack of electoral freedom and the lack of public motivation to take part in the elections. Or they are forced to attempt to put an end to the elections - something that they have occasionally tried to do by fooling some naïve elements, but they have so far failed in their attempts."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described voting as a religious obligation and a national duty and stressed: "The nature of this duty does not change under different governments or political currents and everybody must charge himself with the duty of taking part in the elections and not look for excuses in this regard."

Ayatollah Khamenei compared the Islamic election with the elections held under other non-Islamic governments and referred to it as one of the healthiest. "I have advised the election officials that the laws must be strictly observed and everybody must accept legal requirements and submit to them because the law is the line between right and wrong and it must not be violated." He added.

In this regard, His Eminence further added that "we must take care not to treat anybody unfairly or tread on people's rights. Within legal limits, we must prevent unqualified candidates from being nominated and take care not to deprive qualified candidates of their rights."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to massive public turnout as the main concern in the elections and emphasized that those who are in charge of the elections - involved in decision-making, implementation or other duties - must carry out their responsibilities paying careful attention to the significance of public turnout.

Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei congratulated the Air Force personnel on the occasion of the 19th of Bahman (8th of February) and described the historic move of a group of Air Force personnel on February 8, 1979 as a turning point and a courageous, clever, timely and faith-induced move. "This move was in fact the outcome of the prevalent mentalities and emotions of the Air Force at that time," he added.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces referred to the new identity, power and grandeur of the army after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and to the great achievements of this Force and its emerging victorious out of the test of the Sacred Defense in the era after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and added: "The Air Force must pursue its path of progress with doubled pace and like the past strengthen their faith and will power in addition to relying on the material tools."

Further on, referring to the Palestinian issue and the massacre of the people of Gaza, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the whole issue as having originated from America's wrong Middle East policies and the disgraceful Autumn Summit and added: "Islamic governments must lift the Gaza siege and the people and the government of Egypt have a great responsibility in this regard. All the Muslim nations must help the Egyptian people and government to carry out this responsibility."

Ayatollah Khamenei also added that while the people of Gaza are living in blood and fire - which he described as the result of the US president's trip to the region - negotiation with America and the usurper Zionist regime will be of no use. "The Arab governments must take extra care that they or any other Palestinian elements are not used against the people of Gaza because they will then have to carry the stigma until the end of time."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to resistance as the only way to save the Palestinian nation and added, "the resistance that the people of Gaza put up in the face of unrelenting economic pressure, aggression and bloodshed is praiseworthy and the people of Palestine must be on guard against the machinations of the enemy to foment schism between the Palestinian nation and their elected government."

In this meeting, Major General Miqani the Air Force general, having referred to the historic allegiance of Air Force personnel to the late Imam Khomeini in 1979, declared the renewal of the Air Force personnel's allegiance to the Commander-in-Chief and said that "we are prepared to secure the national interests and the aerial borders of the Islamic country at full strength."