Meeting this morning with thousands of people from various sections of the Basij (the Popular Mobilization Force), the Leader of the Islamic Revolution described this unparalleled phenomenon as rooted in Iran's culture, national identity, and history. Emphasising the need to strengthen and enhance the quality of Basij activities, he said, "The Basiji school of thought and orientation is founded on two pillars: faith in God and self-confidence, with these two exceptional characteristics serving as the decisive factors in overcoming the policies and schemes of global arrogance."

Ayatollah Khamenei also predicted that the future of the Resistance Front would be many times stronger and more extensive than it is today. He made the point that it was a fact that despite continuing its war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon, the Zionist regime would not emerge victorious; he noted, "Netanyahu's arrest warrant is not sufficient; he and these criminal leaders should be given the death penalty."

He described the Basij as inherently a cultural, social, and military network, attributing its longevity to its authenticity and deep roots in Iran's historical and national identity. He said, "Approximately three weeks after the takeover of the U.S. Embassy and America's blatant threats and displays of hostility, the Imam established the Basij on 26th November 1979 (5th Azar 1358), turning that significant threat into a major opportunity. He planted this blessed tree within the country's social, cultural, and military framework."

The Leader pointed out that the military aspect was only one dimension of the Basij. He said, "The Basij is primarily a school of thought and an orientation that, by relying on two fundamental principles: faith in God and self-confidence, has played and will continue to play a prominent and fruitful role in various arenas."

He said that all of the characteristics the Basij are known for having, such as courage, innovation, prompt action, wideness of vision,  knowledge of the enemy, and vigilance against various movements, spring from these two strong foundations. He said, "The meaning and result of faith in God are submission to the Almighty, reliance and trust in Him, hope in Him, and certainty in His truthful promises."

Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the faith in God found in the individual Basij member and the Basij organisation as a whole leads to the belief in this truth: that all the infinite elements of existence are part of God's army. According to God's Way, if we are servants of God, this army will come to our aid, as we have witnessed throughout different periods and in various arenas.

Explaining the effects and outcomes of self-confidence and trust in oneself, the Leader also highlighted the discovery of human abilities and capacities, such as the power of decision-making, willpower, and action, as well as appreciating these capacities and utilising them effectively. He said, "Discovering and utilising these abilities is precisely contrary to the plans of global arrogance." The Leader pointed out that depriving nations of their capabilities and humiliating them are consistent policies oppressors employ, adding, "According to Quranic verses, Pharaoh humiliated and demeaned his people to compel them to obey him. Of course, Pharaoh was more honourable than the rulers of America and Europe today, as they not only humiliate other nations but also plunder their interests and resources."

He termed the activities of the domestic agents of arrogance as complementing the external and psychological pressures of the oppressors, adding, "These agents, as seen during the nationalisation of the oil industry, align with their masters in denying the history, identity, and capabilities of the nation to pave the way for oppressors to dominate them."

Ayatollah Khamenei described the Basij as the antithesis of this national humiliation and compared this to the humiliation of Iran, particularly during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras. He said, "After World War I, Iran's delegation was not even allowed into the Paris Conference; however, the Revolution turned the tide and restored national dignity."

He described the Basij mindset as a barrier-breaker. He said, "The self-confidence stemming from the Basiji spirit neutralises this highly dangerous psychological weapon of the global hegemonic system, aimed at humiliating, paralysing, and demoralising the nation. This spirit and the capabilities that result from it will undoubtedly prevail over all the policies of the United States, the West, and the Zionist regime in this country and among the members of the Resistance Front."

Ayatollah Khamenei spoke about the groundwork laid by the late Imam for cultivating the Basiji mindset starting in 1962 (1341 Persian year), fostering self-confidence, faith in God, and hope for victory among the people. He said, "After the victory of the Revolution, the Imam made the Basij into a barrier against various attacks. The Basij played a significant role in all fields, including military, social, scientific development, in the security of the country, and the political and international arenas."

He held social and scientific strength to be the foundation for a nation's political power, adding, "If a nation, through unity, determination, resilience, and by mobilising active forces, demonstrates its scientific and social capabilities, it will also gain political power and be able to firmly assert its position on the international stage." The Leader gave the example of when the Americans in the late 2000s maliciously plotted against the provision of 20% enriched uranium to Iran as an example of the impactful role of the Basiji spirit. Recalling the incident, he said, "At a time when the country urgently needed 20% enriched uranium for medicine production, the Americans began scheming in the middle of the negotiations despite an agreement brokered by two prominent presidents of that time to sell it. However, our Basiji scientists, including Martyr Shahriari, astonished the Americans by producing 20% enriched uranium domestically. This plot, which had been designed to force Iran into submission, was successfully thwarted."

Ayatollah Khamenei said that many achievements and breakthroughs attributed to the Basiji spirit and culture have occurred outside the organisational structure of the Basij. He said, "Preserving the Basiji school of thought and culture is of great importance. Members of the Basij, regardless of the fields they are active in, must maintain this spirit, this readiness to act, and sensitivity toward issues, ensuring that they do not miss out."

He identified one of the problems young people face in many countries is a sense of futility and helplessness in dealing with obstacles and mental challenges, and consequently, resort to suicide. He said, "Through self-awareness and confidence in its abilities, the Basiji mindset is a challenge breaker. With its determination and resolve, it does not succumb to the intimidation and bluster of oppressors. Instead, it responds to the propaganda noise of arrogant powers such as the United States and the Zionist regime on various issues with a contemptuous smile."

The Leader mentioned that having ideals and goals was another merit of the Basiji mindset. He said, "A Basij member, with faith in their goal of establishing an Islamic society, an Islamic civilisation and justice, advances without the fear of death and with a longing for martyrdom. This was vividly exemplified by the eagerness of young people for jihad and martyrdom during the Sacred Defence and the defence of the holy shrines."

He said, "It is because of these very qualities that the Iranian Basij is certain that one day it will eliminate the Zionist regime."

Emphasising the necessity of continuously strengthening the Basij and enhancing the quality and depth of its activities, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "The flag of the Basij, which symbolises the defence of truth and the rights of the nation, must always be held aloft. Achieving this requires deepening the knowledge of the Basij, improving quality, and avoiding superficial views on issues through study, discussions, and the formation of spheres of education and research."

He noted the constant readiness of the Basij to play an active role in support of executive institutions, and in their doing so, he identified one way of strengthening them would be for them to continue the robust pursuit of these activities. He said, "The Basij has always assisted various administrations and actively supported them, although some have not been appreciative."

The Leader cited the awareness of America's plans for the countries of the region and standing firm against them as another factor in strengthening the Basij in the political sphere. He said, "America's desired framework for securing its interests in the region is to establish either tyranny and dictatorship or chaos and lawlessness in these countries."

He deemed the Basiji resistance against this dichotomy as essential and added, "If either of these two situations arises in the country, it is a sign of enemy involvement, and the Basij must stand against it."

In the concluding part of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei made reference to the current issues in Palestine and Lebanon. He said, "These fools should not think that bombing homes, hospitals, and civilian gatherings is a sign of their victory; no one in the world considers this a victory either."

The Leader said that the enemy, despite all its war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon, has not succeeded and will not succeed. He added, "Netanyahu's arrest warrant is not sufficient; he and these criminal leaders should be given the death penalty."

He mentioned that contrary to the intentions of the perpetrators, the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and Lebanon have strengthened and intensified the Resistance. He said, "When a proud Palestinian or Lebanese youth, from any walk of life, realises that whether they are on the battlefield or not, they are still exposed to bombing and the threat of death, he sees that he has no choice but to fight and resist. Therefore, these foolish criminals are, in fact, expanding the Resistance Front with their own hands."

Ayatollah Khamenei declared that the expansion of the Resistance Front is an absolute and inevitable necessity and said, "No matter how much it has expanded today, The Resistance Front will grow by several more times in the future."

At the beginning of the meeting, General Gholamreza Soleimani, Head of the Basij Organization of the Oppressed, presented a report on the capacities and capabilities of Basij members and declared the readiness of various segments of the Basij to serve the country.