The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces delivered a powerful message during the joint graduation ceremony of armed forces cadets, emphasising the significance of these forces as guardians of security, honour, and national identity. He highlighted the "irreparable defeat" suffered by the Zionist regime in the recent events, attributing the cause to the unrelenting brutality, criminal actions, and greed of the usurping regime against the Palestinian people. The Supreme Leader asserted that the Zionist regime cannot conceal its monstrous actions behind lies and victim-playing. Instead, the bravery and strategic prowess of the Palestinian youth have become a source of inspiration for all.

In light of the extraordinary recent developments in Palestine, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the sound and commendable stance of the country's leadership on this pivotal political and military issue. He highlighted the global recognition of the Zionist regime's defeat in these events. He emphasised, "The magnitude of this defeat, both in terms of military and intelligence, resembles an irrevocable cataclysm. It is improbable that the usurping regime can mend the profound fractures inflicted upon its governing structures, even with the full support of Western powers."

He commended the courageous and selfless actions of the Palestinian mujahids as a direct response to the longstanding crimes committed by the occupiers over the years, with a notable escalation in recent months. He further emphasised, "The responsibility for the recent situation lies squarely with the current government of the usurping regime, which showed no hesitation in resorting to brutal actions against the oppressed Palestinian people."

Ayatollah Khamenei, in denouncing the malevolence of the occupying regime, stated: "No Muslim nation in contemporary history has encountered such intense enmity, brazenness, and cruelty from the Zionist regime, nor has any faced the level of pressure, blockade, and scarcity that this nation endures. Furthermore, the unwavering support extended to this ruthless regime by the United States and Britain surpasses any such support given to a government before."

He decried the heinous acts committed by the Zionist regime, including the killing of Palestinian men, women, children, and the elderly, the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the mistreatment of worshipers, and the lethal actions of armed settlers. Ayatollah Khamenei questioned, "Faced with all these atrocities and crimes, did the Palestinian nation, with its millennia-old history, have any recourse but to rise like a 'storm'?"

Regarding the deceptive attempts of the Zionist regime to portray itself as innocent with the help of global media, he categorically stated, "This victim-playing is '100% untrue and false,' and no one can mask the demonic nature of this oppressor with the guise of an oppressed victim."

The Supreme Leader scrutinised the intention behind the Zionist regime's victim-playing to rationalise its crimes in the ongoing attacks on Gaza and the brutal suppression of the local population. He emphasised, "The fake regime's and its supporters' calculations in this matter are misguided. The leaders and decision-makers of the Zionist regime, along with their backers, should realise that these actions will ultimately result in a more significant catastrophe for them. The Palestinian people will respond to these crimes with an even harder rebuke to their disgraceful actions."

In a noteworthy point, he addressed and underscored the unfounded speculations of some individuals within the Zionist regime and its supporters regarding the involvement of non-Palestinians, including Iran, in recent events. He clarified, "While we honour and commend the Palestinian youth, their resourcefulness, and their clever designs, these rumours are baseless, and this assessment is incorrect. Those who claim that the recent setbacks for the Zionist regime were due to non-Palestinians have underestimated the formidable Palestinian nation."

Highlighting the imperative for the Islamic world to respond to the Zionist regime's transgressions, the Leader of the Revolution stressed, "While it is the duty of the entire Islamic world to stand behind the Palestinian nation, it's important to acknowledge that this remarkable feat was accomplished through the ingenuity of Palestinian youth and activists, many of whom are no longer with us. God willing, this courageous achievement marks a significant step toward securing the future of the Palestinian people."

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces also expressed that serving in the armed forces is a profound honour and one of the most crucial responsibilities in the administration and protection of Iran, setting the tone for his address during the joint graduation ceremony of the armed forces officer universities.

He emphasised the role of the armed forces as the unwavering bulwark of security, honour, and national identity. He went on to stress that national security serves as the essential foundation for all significant facets of a nation's progress, to the extent that nothing substantial can be achieved without security.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution asserted that a country's deprivation of defensive and national security capabilities can lead to dependency on foreign powers, holding the national pride of that nation hostage. He added, "By the grace of God, our armed forces have consistently emerged with distinction from various arenas, earning their place as golden symbols on the strong chests of our armed forces."

Referring to the eight-year war imposed on Iran, he described it as a truly global conflict. He noted, "During that arduous trial, our armed forces defended our homeland and preserved the sovereignty of Islam, thwarting the collective conspiracy of the Eastern and Western arrogant powers that supported the aggressor Saddam."

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the ISIS insurgency served as the most recent testing ground for the armed forces. He explained, "The United States orchestrated the creation of ISIS as part of a malicious scheme to disrupt regional stability. The ultimate target of this conspiracy was Islamic Iran, but the armed forces of the Islamic Republic, in cooperation with several other nations, successfully thwarted this insurgency."

Furthermore, the Commander-in-Chief underscored the value of officer universities as crucial institutions for nurturing knowledgeable, courageous, and skilled human resources. He emphasised the importance of consistently enhancing knowledge and research, promoting a sense of religion and ethics, organising the educational environment effectively and addressing the academic level of the participants at these universities.

Ayatollah Khamenei commenced the ceremony at the Imam Ali (a.s.) University for Officer Training with a visit to the tomb of the anonymous martyrs, where he paid his respects and recited the Fatiha, a significant prayer in Islamic tradition.

He then observed the Military Parade of the units assembled in the arena. Additionally, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, extended his congratulations to the Palestinian fighters for their "Al-Aqsa Storm" operation. He outlined the nation's armed forces' activities, focusing on the promotion of spirituality, political acumen, heightened defence and combat readiness, the advancement of self-reliance, and the fostering of intelligence elites and revolutionary vigilance. General Bagheri also presented a report on the past academic year in the country's officer universities and elaborated on their plans for the current academic year.

During the ceremony, Brigadier General Amir Ali Mahdavi, the commander of Imam Ali (as) University for Officer Training, Brigadier General Parviz Ahi, commander of Imam Hassan Mujtaba (PBUH) University for Officer and Police Training, and Brigadier General Nouman Gholami, commander of Imam Hussain (as) University for Officer Training, provided detailed reports on the activities and educational programs conducted at their respective universities.

The ceremony at Imam Ali (a.s.) University for Officer Training included a performance of the national anthem by the cadets, followed by a parade of the units in the presence of the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief.