Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting on Wednesday with commanders and staff of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy and a group of their families as well as families of IRGC Navy martyrs, highlighted the role of IRGC’s young revolutionary officers as well as the brave youths of southern Iranian provinces in guaranteeing the country’s maritime security and intimidating the enemy, saying: “The enemies are trying to change [our] officials’ calculations and influence the thoughts of people, particularly youths, and everyone should be vigilant and conscious [to prevent this].”
During the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the significance of the issue of maritime security, saying: “Preparedness must be such that, in compliance with Quranic instructions, strike fear in [the heart] of the enemy and strip it of audacity to [take any act of] aggression [against Iran] because if embankments were penetrable, the enemy would penetrate.”
“Now, thanks to the formation of a revolutionary front in the south of the country, comprising the IRGC Navy and brave youths of the south, the Quranic instruction for striking fear in the [heart of the] enemy has been realized,” said the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
Noting that Iran will never initiate any war, Ayatollah Khamenei, the commander in chief of Iranian Armed Forces, said: “But the nature of the enemy has always been [intertwined with] the spirit of aggression and infiltration. Therefore, scientific and equipment capabilities should increase day by day through [continuous] innovations.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution assessed synergy between the IRGC naval forces and Iran’s regular Navy as very necessary, and while reiterating the necessity of keeping alive the memory of such faithful and revolutionary youths as Martyr Nader Mahdavi and his associates, who courageously stood against Americans’ warship and taught them an unforgettable lesson, said: “In the light of these braveries and steadfastness, the enemies of the Islamic Establishment realized that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not an establishment that they could deal with in whatever way they would like.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also offered his gratitude to the families, particularly wives, of IRGC Navy commanders and staff members for their presence in southern regions of the country.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution went on to highlight the dangerous plans devised by arrogant powers for the region and after noting that these powers would not shy away from resorting to very dangerous equipment and inhumane methods for killing innocent people, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Their claims about advocating human rights and citizenship rights are unreal and absolutely senseless and absurd.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the recent US bombing of a hospital in Afghanistan, and the massacre of people in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine and Bahrain as examples of the disasters caused by arrogant powers and their cruelty and ruthlessness, adding: “Today, the biggest danger for the world is the hypocrisy and pretense and the dishonesty of the self-styled advocates of human rights.”
Ayatollah Khamenei then touched on the role and standing of the Islamic Republic of Iran under the existing conditions, saying: “Under such circumstances, with God’s Grace, the Islamic Republic has, in addition to blocking the enemy infiltration, blocked the materialization of the enemy’s plots and plans in the region in many instances.”
Stressing the point that the enemy’s failures inside Iran and in the region are owed to the vigilance and preparedness and the determination of revolutionary youths and the power of the Islamic Republic in the region, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “Therefore, the bulk of the arrogant powers’ efforts and planning is [concentrated] on enmity toward the Establishment of the Islamic Iran, and America’s claims [about its willingness] for negotiation with Iran lies within this framework and is aimed at [paving the way for] infiltration.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution took to task some negligent and simple-minded people inside Iran, who are not aware of various aspects and the depth of this issue, saying: “Alongside these simple-minded people stand carefree people and others who don’t care for and pay no attention to the country’s expediency and national interests.”
Ayatollah Khamenei then referred to some issues raised by simple-minded and negligent people about negotiations with the United States, saying: “These people say how come that Hazrat [Imam] Ali (AS) and Hazrat Imam Hussein (AS) negotiated with their own enemies, but now, negotiations with America face opposition?”
In response to this doubtful point raised by such people, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “Such an analysis about the issues of the history of Islam and the country’s issues indicates the ultimate degree of simple-mindedness because Hazrat Ali (AS) with Zubair, and Hazrat Imam Hussein (AS) with Umar bin Saad, did not negotiate in today’s sense [of the word] which means making a deal, but both of these venerable figures admonished their opposite party and advised them to fear God.”
“Unfortunately, a certain group, in a bid to justify negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Great Satan, are raising these issues in newspapers, speeches and in virtual space through a commonplace view, which is totally wrong,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.
Stressing that Iran is not opposed to negotiations in principle with countries, including European and non-European, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “But the issue is different when it comes to America because they (Americans) have come up with a definition of negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, [which] means infiltration and paving the way for imposition [of their demands on Iran].”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution then pointed to cooperation and coordination between the United States and the inhumane Zionist current, saying: “Negotiations with America would mean paving the way for infiltration [of the United States] into the country’s economic, cultural, political and security domains.”
Referring to the recent nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “In these negotiations, the opposite side sought to seize any opportunity for infiltration and take a step against the country’s national interests. Of course, Iranian negotiators were fully aware, but Americans finally got the chance in some instances.”
“Negotiation with America is banned because such negotiation will not only have no advantage [for Iran], but will also entail numerous disadvantages,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added: “The present circumstances are an important juncture in terms of the activities and efforts made by the enemies of the Islamic Republic, of which our intelligence organs are fully aware, because they are seeking to sway the officials’ calculations and change people’s thoughts with regard to revolutionary and religious issues and the country’s national interests.”
Reiterating that the main target in the issue of changing people’s thoughts is youths, Ayatollah Khamenei recommended young people to be vigilant more than ever, saying: “Of course, thanks to God’s Grace, our youths at universities and also in the [ranks of] the Armed Forces are vigilant and ready to work and I am not worried at all in this regard.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also touched on the anniversary of the Event of Mubahala (invoking the curse of Allah upon the liar) and the resistance by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his Pure Household against infidels, telling Iranian revolutionary youths: “As in Islam’s heyday and in the issue of Mubahala, when faith had stood fully against infidelity, today in the Islamic Republic, faith is standing fully against infidelity, and as the spiritual charisma of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his Household drove the enemy out of the arena, today, the Iranian nation will drive out the enemy by relying on its spiritual strength.”
Concluding his speech, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “If we maintain full readiness for assisting God’s religion, the divine promise about helping those who assist God’s religion will come true, and the ill-wishers of the Islamic Establishment will fail in their security, military, economic and cultural plans and schemes.”
Prior to Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech, the IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi pointed to the IRGC’s braveries during the Sacred Defense [eight-year Iran-Iraq war], saying: “Your soldiers are waiting for order to teach a historic lesson to the Great Satan and its mischievous, guest-killing and child-murdering stooges in the region.”
Noting that the IRGC Navy is in the highest state of preparedness, Fadavi said: “Demonstrating only part of the combat capability and preparedness of the IRGC Navy has caused the enemies to speak about the necessity of changing their maritime strategy, while all they know about us could not be compared with what they don’t know about us.”