The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei attended a ceremony marking the 28th anniversary of the formation of Basij Volunteer Force (BVF) on Monday, November 26.
At the beginning of the ceremony, which was simultaneously held in some 400 cities across the country, the anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran was played when the Leader joined a large gathering of BVF members in Tehran. Then, Ayatollah Khamenei paid homage to the honorable martyrs of the Islamic Revolution and Sacred Defense in front of the Martyrs Memorial.
Afterwards, the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces reviewed the Ashura and Az-Zahra battalions and specialized units of Basij Volunteer Force.
In an address to the gathering, which was broadcast live to some 8,000,000 BVF members throughout the country, the Leader stated that Basij Volunteer Force, like the Islamic Revolution, is one of the divine manifestations and an unprecedented phenomenon.
"The unique and prominent characteristics of the Iranian nation's glorious revolution such as popularity, religious depth, reliance on faith and spirituality, vigor and vitality and dynamism and unwillingness to come to terms with the enemies also exist in Basij Volunteer Force, and for this very reason the Basij will be far-reaching and eternal like the revolution itself," the Leader told the audience.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces also referred to the miraculous deeds performed by Basij Volunteer Force during the Iraqi imposed war.
"All great powers of the world were supporting the aggressor regime of Saddam Hussein. However, the faithful Basiji youth of the Iranian nation planned and performed the most sophisticated war tactics in this unbalanced and difficult battle with reliance on Almighty Allah and with self-confidence and gave rise to miracles such as Fath-ul-Mobin and Bait-ul-Moqaddas operations. Indeed, nobody expect the faithful Iranian youth could accomplish such great deeds," the Leader stated.
Ayatollah Khamenei also touched on the presence of BVF members in the fields of construction and scientific areas. He added that the faithful innovative young Iranian scientists are active in scientifically and technologically advanced areas such as the field of nuclear technology because of their Basiji character.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to various kinds of political and economic and military pressures exerted by the enemies during all the years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
"Our revolution and the late Imam Khomeini did not submit to those pressures, and the Basij also would never yield to pressures and oppressive rules and would not withdraw even a single step either," the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the resistance of the Iranian nation in the face of pressures and the Iranian people's loyalty to revolutionary ideals and their perseverance in keeping the flag of Islam hoisted also imbue other Muslim nations with hope and confidence and indicate the victory of the Basiji Iranian nation over the enemies.
"Our Islamic system, thanks to the prominent features that are shared by the revolution and the Basij, has been able to advance in all arenas, and our enemies should admit that they are at a loss what to do in the face of the vitality and strong will and determination and dignity of the Iranian nation," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic hinted at the attempts made by the U.S. administration to hold a so-called peace conference in the city of Annapolis in the United States.
"The autumn conference, as all say and as indicated by its name, is overtaken by autumn and defeated. However, the American officials are trying to get some results out of this conference in order to compensate for part of the defeats suffered by the fake and usurper Zionist regime, but of course the vigilance and awareness of the Palestinian nation that is intertwined with the awareness of the Islamic Ummah, especially the great Iranian nation, will prevent the U.S. administration from achieving the evil objectives that are being pursued by holding this conference," the Leader remarked.
In conclusion, Ayatollah Khamenei stated, "The slogans and stances and perseverance of the Iranian nation have an influence on regional and international issues, and this reality indicates the Iranian nation's steady advancement on the path to the accomplishment of the ideals and objectives of the Islamic Revolution."