In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Greetings to the brave nation of Iran and all the armed forces of the country on the occasion of Farvardin 29, marking the anniversary of the heroic and gallant Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran!
Congratulations to the army, broke the barriers driving it to obey the taghout (the followers of evil). The army burnt down the ramparts of the monarchial regime and the 2,500- years of monarchial rule and released itself from the bonds of tyrants and American advisers, who had made" an island of stability" with thousands of aspirations and dreams for their interests in Iran. Although the mercenary heads of the Army tried to rescue the crown and throne of the monarchy up to the last ignominious days of the Pahlavi government, the decision of the noble personnel of the Army including officers, high-ranking officers and soldiers was so decisive and courage that robbed the enemies of God and people of thinking and making any decision. Joining of the Army, particularly the Air Force, with the divine ranks of the nation was a moment of joy for the servants of God and grief and hopelessness for the tyrants. Those sweet and memorable days and hours of the Army's love for Islam and the Islamic homeland will never be forgotten by the Iranian nation. Indeed, the Air Force has offered a greater share. The joining of the Army with the people revealed the true value of the Army and brought resentment to the world-devourers.
At the outset of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Eastern and Western agents and those, who had not recognized the sincerity, fidelity, religiosity and patriotism of the army at the epic event of victory, decided to eradicate the Army. Through their apparently revolutionary and deceitful slogans, they determined to break it up, plunder the arms and destroy the defensive facilities of the country. So, many simpleminded individuals who were influenced by their insinuations paved the way of this sinister objective, but God, the Exalted, rescued our country and Islamic Revolution from their sinister plots. The honored Army of Islamic Iran confronted the conspirators like lightning and thunderbolt. At every nook and cranny of borders these conspirators had dreamt of disintegrating Iran. However, the armed forces made Kurdistan, Gonbad and Turkeman-Sahra as graveyards of these blind-hearted ones, thus registering the historic and unforgettable honors of the heroic Army.
Yet, the most important of all is the epic event of the eight-year holy defense mounted by the Army, IRGC (Islamic Republic of Guards Corps) and disciplinary and popular forces. They indeed stood against all the world-devourers, and sent the aggressors to the quagmire of death and perdition. These aggressors had promised to conquer Khouzestan and expected the fall of Tehran within three days. Verily, the Army, IRGC and Basiji forces fought an unfair war with the least facilities. They offered the golden certificate of honor, respect, nobility and martyrdom to the dear Islam as a gift. The unmatched bravery of the Air and Aviation Forces and the valiant pilots in penetrating deep into the enemy's territory. They encountered the most sophisticated facilities supplied by exploitative powers to the forces of Saddam, defending the air space of the country. They are showcases of commitment, love and faith to God, Islam and the Islamic homeland. Preparing, repairing and rebuilding the complex implements of airplanes, radars, anti-air craft, and missiles, and protecting the country display the high scientific talent and expertise of these dear ones and the values they cherish. May God enhance their potential and faith.
The heroic ground forces, who have truly been at the tip of arrow of the dastard attacks of the enemies in all events, really showed their upright and unyielding nature in defending the vast borders of our country. Presence and defensive preparedness are not easy in the western, southern and northwestern borders with all those geographical peculiarities and intolerable cold and hot regions and other deficiencies aggravated by blockades. The Army was able to shatter the lines of the soldier of disbelief and take the sacred occupied territories of our beloved homeland out of control of the aggressors in cooperation with IRGC and Basij in most arenas of combat. Shoulder to shoulder with the dear IRGC and Basij, they were able to achieve grand victories and honors in great operations. They broke siege of Abadan and carried out Fath al-Mubin, Bayt al-Muqaddas operations and tens of other glorious operations. Now, the army can protect the borders powerfully and proudly by commanding total preparedness against any possible threats.
Thank God, like other forces, the Navy, has been shining like a luminous gem in the waters of the Persian Gulf and other sea borders of the country in the scene of the sacred defense of our Islamic country, and stood firmly on its deck of honor and dignity. The Navy's confrontation with the enemy and all those honors in combat coupled with valor and love of martyrdom are indications of its authority. Control and inspection of ships in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and, above all, its heroic battle against the American aggressors and their strong presence in the international waters be token of our Navy's credibility and its great and revered forces. The Iranian nation should be proud of such a faithful and loyal army. The great armed forces should become aware that all these honors have been achieved by the blessings of faith in God and defending the country of the Imam of the Time (may our souls be his ransom). The army should know that these honors have been achieved under the auspices of unity, integration, unanimity, brotherhood with one another, and the people's support. In order to achieve the pinnacle of this Islamic honor and glory, it has offered in the way of God enormous capital and valuable martyrs, and up to the end, the same conduct and policy, i.e. faith, unity and order must be maintained and strengthened, and the armed forces of the country including the IRGC and the Army should strive alongside one another in rebuilding, improving and strengthening the defensive infrastructures of Islam and the country.
I will remain an unwaving supporter of the Army, IRGC and the Basij and I consider it unlawful to weaken them. As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I ask the officials and decision-makers not to be negligent in all circumstances in strengthening the armed forces. They should uplift their ideological and military trainings and developing their necessary expertise, especially in moving toward military self-sufficiency. Keep this country in total preparedness in defending the values of the authentic Islam, the deprived and the downtrodden of the world. Beware lest other programs would lead to negligence in this vital affair. Surely, negligence in strengthening the defensive infrastructure of the country will bring about experiencing aggression and encroachment of the foreigners and finally, imposition of wars and conspiracies.
During the reconstruction effort, the Army and other armed forces should also pay enough attention to the essence of spiritual and ideological reconstruction. All have learned and experienced how spirituality and faith are effective in attaining victory and successes in the arena of combatant and increasing the capability and steadfastness of the forces.
While being grateful for the efforts of the dear clerics and officials of the Politico-Ideological Office of the Army, particularly my representative, Hujjat al-Islam Safa'i, who is among the faithful, good and truthful figures of this revolution, I emphasis that the issue of ideological and moral trainings should be given more attention.
Military service for the country's youth is the best opportunity. The system, the Army and the officials of the Politico-Ideological Office can make use of them and mature them with advanced empirical, scientific and ideological methods of defense so that they would always be the soldiers of Islam and defending the Islamic homeland throughout their lives.
I would like to extend my gratitude to all the armed forces, especially the dear, faithful and self-sacrificing forces of the Army, officers, soldiers, high-ranking officers, various commissioned and non-commissioned officers, dear commanders, my representatives in the Army and advisory offices, the Defense Ministry and all the organizations affiliated to the Army. I pray God to increase the power, dignity and glory of these upright defenders of the Islamic homeland and to associate their honorable martyrs with great martyrs of Islam. We have all achieved the gift of security, freedom and independence thanks to their sacrifices. I implore the Almighty God to grant health to the disabled war veterans, to let those missing in action and the prisoners of war return to their homeland and to grant patience and reward to the noble families of the martyrs.
I emphatically advise the entire great nation of Iran, especially the officials in the blessed system of Islamic Republic, and those who are concerned with the Islamic Republic system and the dear Islam- whatever happened during the long years of the revolution from the miraculous victories against all powers, superpowers and owners of the world mass media, which have been determined to wipe out the Islamic Republic and in reality the great Islam, but failed by the grace of God, have been out of the blessings and favors of God, the Exalted, the faith of all the strata committed to the fundamentals of Islam, and undoubtedly, the blessed prayer of Hadrat Baqiyyatullah (may God's salutations and peace be upon him and may my soul and that of the universe be ransomed for the dust of his footsteps). In gratitude for this great blessing, it is necessary for all of us to strive in preserving these favors. May peace be upon the righteous servants of God.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini
Farvardin 28,1368 AHS