While meeting with the commanders of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army and Ground Forces today (Wednesday), Ayatollah Khamenei—the Leader of the Islamic Revolution— called today’s Army more committed to the religion and more efficient than ever before, and praised the vital and effective involvement of the Army and the Armed Forces in providing relief to the flood-stricken areas. His Eminence stressed the need for increased unity among the Armed Forces, regarding as favorable the gesture of fraternity between the Army and the IRGC that came after the U.S.'s blatant act against the IRGC in designating the organization as a terrorist entity. Ayatollah Khamenei reminded his audience by stating that: Any action that infuriates the enemy is appropriate and correct; whereas, any action that makes the enemy more blatant and stronger in spirit must be avoided.
Congratulating the honorable staff of the Army and their families on the National Day of the Army and Ground Forces in this meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei regarded the Armed Forces as symbols and elements of national power and added: Of course, in many countries, even in the countries that claim to advocate freedom and human rights, the Armed Forces are agents of dictators’ authority and confronting the nations, an example of which can be seen in the case of Saturdays in Paris [yellow vests movement].
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution dubbed the Armed Forces as ‘security guards for the nation’ according to the logic of Islam and the Islamic Republic, and went on to say: During a war, the Armed Forces stand up to the enemy’s invasion with knowledge, experience, and self-sacrifice, defeating the enemy and making it to retreat. At the time of peace, the army brings reassurance and peace of mind to the nation with complete preparedness and efficacy. That is why the enemies seek to disturb the people’s peace of mind by presenting the Armed Forces as distressed.
He referred to the relief operation by the Army and the Armed Forces for the people during natural disasters as an effective and vital involvement and asserted: In the recent floods, the Armed Forces engaged in assisting the people with their full potentials and capacities, to the point that in the province of Golestan the Army presented themselves in the area even before the Crisis Management Organization.
The Supreme Leader praised the Army of the Islamic Republic for staying true to Islamic values and held: By the grace of the Islamic Republic, the Army is an Army based on religious principles and an exhibition of Islamic values. Examples like martyrs Babaee and Sayyaad Shirazi exist in the Army, representing role models for the nation and even the Islamic Ummah in terms of productivity, commitment, humbleness, self-sacrifice and lack of interest in fame. These values and spirit should be encouraged increasingly day after day.
Watch: A footage of the Army colonel praised by Imam Khamenei today
The Leader of the Revolution went on to say: Today’s Army is more committed to religion and more productive than ever before. Today, the Army is governed by revolutionary and pious forces. Those who are used to humiliating the nation and praising the betrayers, constantly talk of the ‘modern army of Reza-Khan’, whereas, that so-called modern army failed to resist the invasion of foreigners even for one day. However, the powerful Army of the Islamic Revolution resisted for eight years in a war; and today, the Army’s knowledge, morale, experience, capability, religious commitment, and trusteeship is more than before and a source of honor.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the Iranian Armed Force’s role in the fight against ISIS as unparalleled and maintained: Of course, each of the involved countries took the necessary measures, but the role that the Armed Forces of Iran played cannot be ignored. Thus, today, besides the Iranian nation, other countries have benefited from the blessings of the Iranian Armed Forces.
Referring to the photos depicting the altruistic services by the Armed Forces helping the victims of natural disasters including the recent flood and describing them as golden pages that will last in the memory of history, Ayatollah Khamenei held: That a colonel of the Army bends so that an elderly person can get into a vehicle by stepping on his shoulder is a manifestation that the Army stays true to the motto ‘the Army sacrificed for the nation’.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces further mentioned that increased unity among the Armed Forces is necessary and will enrage the enemy, affirming that: The gesture of fraternity between the Army and the IRGC, which came after the U.S.'s blatant act against the IRGC in designating the organization as a terrorist entity, was favorable.
Ayatollah Khamenei regarded the nonsensical remarks by U.S. officials against the Islamic Republic of Iran as seeking to weaken Iranian nation’s public morale, and added: The U.S. is afflicted with thousands of billions of dollars in debts as well as other problems, and even after years have passed since the Hurricane Carolina, they have not been able to resolve or compensate for the consequent damage; yet they talk nonsense seeking to weaken the Iranian nation’s morale.
Ayatollah Khamenei regarded the unprecedented engagement of the public in providing relief to the victims of the recent flood as another fact before the eyes of the U.S. officials that infuriates them and added: Words cannot describe the extensive and swift movement by various groups of people, including the Army, the IRGC, the Mobilized Forces, thousands of clergymen and university students to help the flood-stricken populations. But the enemy does not find it appropriate for his position to mention this great movement.
Before the Supreme Leader commenced his speech, the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Army spoke before the audience and called the recent action by the U.S. against the IRGC brutish and emphasized: Till the emergence of the government of Truth and eradication of Arrogance, the Army and the IRGC will be hand in hand, and we will stay along with the Iranian nation as we are, all, the guardians of the sacred establishment of the Islamic Republic.
