In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

I congratulate you, dear youths. The reward for your successful studies at the Islamic Republic of Iran Army’s academies, which is the honorable rank of being an officer in the army of Imam Zaman [the 12th Shia Imam] (PBUH), and also those dear youths who received epaulettes and entered this path, would be, God willing, blessed for all of you. The young countenance of our officers today in the Army and the IRGC (the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps) and all [other sections] of the armed forces is harbinger of the young spirit and promising future of the Islamic Republic Establishment.

 [These days] are the days of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Ghadir, but the ignorant [powers] of our time have turned our Eid (festive occasion) into mourning through bloody incidents of Mina. I hope, the Almighty God would accept from the Iranian nation and [all other] Muslim nations these acts of selflessness, [and] these sacrifices and [I also hope that] the future horizon of the Islamic Ummah would, God willing, become brighter day by day.

There are many things to say about you, dear youths, who have entered the arena of action in the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In short, among prominent features of an armed force is [having] faith and bravery and knowledge. These three elements are among the most important elements in shaping the identity of an armed force. If there is no bravery, the armed force will not fulfill its duty in time of danger; that is, it will not be able [to fulfill its duty]. If there is no faith, the armed force will become inclined toward killing the weak. You see that new military hardware whose user takes no risk; [they] simply get on the plane, come and bombard the defenseless people of Yemen, the market, the mosque, the wedding ceremony, the mourning ceremony, [and even] a business place. I mean, when there is no spirit of faith, when God is not taken into account, then it would make no difference on whom they drop their bloody and lethal tool, [and] fight whom with the use of this tool.

In the face of danger, where the essence of a human being and the identity of a human being must show itself, they are absent, but in the face of the oppressed, the defenseless [people], [and] unarmed [people], they are brave. In that place, where they must show their power, they are absent, but where the opposite side is a defenseless human being, they boast of bravery [of course] with [their] plane and missile and other lethal tools! [The fact] that we are opposed to [the use of] such generally lethal war tools as the atomic weapon, [and] the chemical weapon, is for this reason; [because] they cannot differentiate [among various targets]. It is known that Amir al-Mo’menin [Imam Ali] (PBUH) even considered the future [fate] of the one opposite to him [and] then landed his sword; [he did it] with calculation and reckoning [of their future fate]. When there is no faith, [the war will be] that way, [and] when there is no bravery, [it will be] that way; when there is no knowledge, the tools at disposal [of an armed force] will be blunt in comparison with the tools of the evil ones; these [elements] are [therefore] all necessary. You are young, are the apple of our eyes, are our dear ones, [and] to you belongs the future [and] to you [also] belongs this country; strengthen these main elements within you as much as you can; strengthen your faith, your valor, your research initiative, [as well as] your studiousness and search for knowledge. This Army also belongs to you; a while from now, you will be at helm of this huge complex; everyone [of you will be serving] in a [specific] section [of the Armed Forces], [and] in a [specific] point [of the country].

The report of the esteemed commander of this academy, who was also field commander today, was a good report. I also have reports [that are given to me] from other sources; [and all those reports show that] six Army academies have fortunately taken good steps, [and] have carried out successful activities that make one happy, but you must by no means be convinced [by what you have done so far]; with a searching eye - my [main] addressees are esteemed officials of the Army - [and] with an accurate and meticulous eye find flaws, problems, [and] shortcomings and uplift these academies to the desirable level [and] to the highest level and [with regard to] dear youths who study in these academies and prepare themselves for the future, equip them with faith, with spirituality, with knowledge, [and] with high spirits as much as you can.

Today, the Establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran needs both tools of hard war and tools of soft war. A world subdued to the power of the evils, a world at whose top are people for whom material [issues], [all kinds of] lusts, money, [and] material facilities are the main concern, is a dangerous world for God-seeking human beings; [therefore, such people] must keep themselves ready, [and] must keep themselves equipped. If the Islamic Republic of Iran and the brave and revolutionary nation of Iran had allowed the global usurping powers to assimilate them into themselves and into their systems; that is, if they were supposed not to show their main core, their identity, [and] their essence and do not attach any importance to it, they would not have been exposed to [all kinds of] enmity. An oppressor and bullying power needs followers; if somebody does not obey it, it would be the beginning of enmity; [therefore] we must be ready.

Preparedness of you the armed forces - both [in] the Army and the IRGC and the Basij [force] and other sections of the Armed Forces - does not simply mean that [you must] overcome the enemy in war, but another meaning of it is to immunize the country against the ill wish of the enemies. When you are ready, when you are equipped, [and] when you are armed with faith, armed with science, [and] ready for sacrifice, the enemy will not dare take [even] a [single] step toward you out of ill will; yes, they keep threatening, [and] they say things orally, but the Iranian nation has shown in the period of about four decades [since the victory] of the [Islamic] Revolution that it has strength, is powerful, is strong, has identity, has essence [and therefore,] it stands [in the face of enemies]; one example [to the point] was the eight-year Sacred Defense.

You, my dear youths, must certainly hear the issues of the Sacred Defense from veterans and elders; go and visit [war] zones; [and] pay attention to operational plans, [as well as] brave and sacrificial things [that were done during the Sacred Defense] with due care from a military viewpoint; [and] see what happened [then]? The Iranian nation earned itself an eternal prestige during the Sacred Defense; so, the power of the Armed Forces is also deterrent.

Today, in the world, big capitalists, big company owners, world devouring powers, [and] those craving power are imposing their views on the world politics due to being equipped with science and propaganda machines, and are ruling [the world]; [therefore,] any independent nation that wants to stand [on its own feet] would be exposed to their enmity. Some countries stand [against them], others stand a bit; some [countries] endure [their pressures], [while] others, after all, do not endure; the Islamic Iran has shown that it endures, is aware, is insightful, [and] respects its identity while [at the same time] respecting the humanity as well. Standing up to the arrogance is [tantamount to] respect for humanity; [and] it is [show of] respect for all nations and all human beings. Of course, [the enemies] show their [bare] teeth, but the smashing fist of the faithful people can make them retreat; it has always been like this and will continue to be like this in the future.

As for the recent incidents at Mina, I have to say a word. [This incident] was a mourning [occasion and a] calamity for us for two reasons: [one] reason was [because] hundreds of our dear Hajj pilgrims lost their lives unjustly [and] some of them even [died] thirsty. Their families were happy that their dear ones would come back from Hajj [pilgrimage] and had opened their arms for them, [but] now, they must face their dead bodies; this is a great calamity. The [total] number of our dead [pilgrims] is not known yet, [and] it may add up to hundreds of people. This is the first reason that [our] nation is woe-stricken in this issue in the true sense of the word.

 [The] second [reason is] for the Islamic world; as I have been informed, there have been more than 5,000 [people] killed from the Islamic world and from different countries. Hajj is a place of security; [as the Quran says:] “[Remember] when We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of security.” The Quran says, “We made the House a place of assembly” and a place of reference for the Islamic Ummah and “a place of security.” [Therefore,] it must be secure; [but] where is security? Is this security that during the Hajj rituals, the lives of human beings are encroached upon?

Investigation must be carried out [into this incident]; I do not have any premature judgment about the reasons of this incident [but] there must certainly be people from the Islamic world - including from our country - to go [and] investigate up-close, [and] make it clear what has been the reason of the incident; there is no argument about this. The argument is about duties that every government, every nation, every physician, every nurse, [and] every healthy [and] spiritual [and] kind human being must shoulder in the face of a group of injured [people]; these [duties] have not been observed. In hospital, in cold [storage] container, [and] in the desert, the condition of patient has not been taken into account, the condition of a distressed human being has not been taken into account, [and] the condition of thirsty [people] has not been taken into account. Today, they are problems for the transfer of their purified bodies back to the country; officials of our country are following up [on this issue]; [they] have been active, have been working, [and] are making [any possible] effort; such works and activities must continue, but officials of the country of Saudi Arabia are not fulfiling their duties, but in some cases, are doing exactly the opposite of their duties; [and] are doing mischief.

If our country and our nation wants to show reaction against trouble making and mischievous elements, their conditions will not be good; we have so far shown self-restraint. In many issues we have shown self-restraint; [otherwise] the Islamic Iran's hand is more open than many others, [and] our capabilities, [and] our potential are more than many; they know that if they wanted to challenge the Establishment of the Islamic Republic, they would not cope in any arena. We just observed the Islamic courtesy, [and] showed respect for brotherhood among the Islamic Ummah; [otherwise] we are able to show reaction. If we decided to show reaction, our reactions would be also tough [and] would be also harsh.

They have [already] tried the Iranian nation; in the issue of the eight-year war [against Iraq’s aggression], all of these - these surrounding [countries] - and all the powers of the East and the West supported and defended an evil [and] corrupt element and they were all slapped [in the face]; that corrupt element was also slapped [in the face] and following him all those who had supported [him] were slapped [in the face]; [so, they] have known Iran; [and even] if they have not, they [must] know it [now].

Today, tens of thousands of our dear ones are still in Mecca and in Medina, [and] are in Hajj rituals; a slight disrespect to them; will elicit [our] reaction; [Saudis must know that] not fulfilling their duties toward the purified bodies of our dear ones who lost their lives in Hajj, will elicit reaction; [they must] take care to fulfill their duties. Of course, this will not be the end [of this case], [and these] issues must be followed up on. The Islamic Republic is not for oppression, nor it accepts oppression [from anybody]; we do not oppress anybody [and] do not accept oppression from anybody. We believe that human beings - including Muslim and non-Muslim - have rights; we consider them as having right and will not encroach upon that right. However, if somebody wanted to encroach upon the right of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic of Iran, we know how to deal with them; [and] we will deal strongly [with them]. Thank God, the ability [to do this] exists; the Iranian nation is a powerful nation, [and] the Islamic Republic is a stable and established power and we can defend ourselves.

Dear youths, know that the arena of honor, the arena of grandeur, [and] the arena of Islamic and Iranian identity is an arena in which valor is needed, sacrifice is needed, knowledge is needed, [and] deep-seated faith is needed; prepare yourselves; all young people are addressees of this remark, but you, our dear youths in the Armed Forces are for some reason more addressed [by this remark] than others. You must prepare yourselves. [You must] be a fortress in the true sense of the word; just [as you said] in this poem that you read and pointed out that the Armed Forces are like a citadel and protective wall, [and they] are fortress of the country and the nation; [so, you must] be the fortress of the country in the true sense of the word.

O Almighty! Bestow your blessing, your guidance, [and] your favor on the entire nation of Iran, on all our youths, on these dear youths, and on all the Armed Forces.

Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and His blessings