The Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, reviewed elite military units in Kerman Province on the fifth day of his provincial tour on Thursday, May 5.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran was played when the Leader entered the parade ground of the Sarallah 41st Division. Then, Ayatollah Khamenei paid tribute to the martyrs of the Sacred Defense in front of the Martyrs Memorial.
Further during the ceremony, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces reviewed the elite military units of the Islamic Republic Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), the Islamic Republic Law Enforcement Force (LEF) and the Basij volunteer force.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Leader of the Islamic Republic described the armed forces as the defenders of the national security of the great Iranian nation and the country. He stressed that security is a major prerequisite to any scientific, economic, social, cultural and political progress, and that the IRGC, the Islamic Republic Army, the Basij volunteer force and the LEF each is entrusted with a significant role in fulfilling this important requirement of the nation and the country.
Ayatollah Khamenei considered border security one of the aspects of national security. Referring to the valiant and wholehearted defense that was put up by the Iranian nation and armed forces in the face of the military aggression waged by the Iraqi regime and its regional and international supporters against the Islamic Republic, he stated, "Following some eight years of the imposed war, the Iranian people and armed forces won an honorable victory, thanks to Islam and the revolution, and provided sustainable security for our country's borders. It was the Iranian nation's first victory over foreign aggressors in the past 200 years."
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces went on to say, "Today, despite all their excessive talks, the arrogant powers are wavering in the face of the strong will of the Iranian nation and armed forces, as they know that any military aggression against Iran will cost them very dearly, and that they will end up in graves along with their ambitions if they attack us."
Referring to civil security and cultural and moral security as the second and third aspect of national security respectively, Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the LEF and the Basij volunteer force play a pivotal role in maintaining civil as well as cultural and moral security in society.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic praised the valor and heroic deeds of the Sarallah 41st Division and its competent and brave commanders manifested in the course of the Sacred Defense. He also emphasized that the preparedness of the armed forces is a divine blessing, which should be highly valued and preserved.
The IRGC Commander, Major General Rahim Safavi, said at the ceremony that the Islamic Republic Army, the IRGC and the Basij volunteer force are carefully monitoring the current developments in the region.
At the end of the ceremony, the military units present on the parade ground marched past the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.