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

(Arabic prayer)

Meeting with you, dear youths, in this ceremony is a sweet and hope-inspiring meeting; it is always like this and every year it is felt that through the divine assistance, the totality of students at military academies affiliated to various branches of the [Iranian] Army, have made more spiritual and material advances. This is a cause of intense delight for me and is in the real sense of the word, good tidings.
I have said time and again that you young people are the real wealth of the country; at any place that you are, you are a [future] reserve for [ensuring] the dignity of the country, and survival and independence of the country, and progress of the country. Of course, some sectors are of more importance, including the sector [that pertains to] maintaining security of the country, the task that is your responsibility. You young people of the Armed Forces shoulder one of the most important and biggest responsibilities in the country. Those [of you] who were awarded epaulettes today and those of you who received [military] ranks today, have in fact started long strides on a path, which is indeed a path teeming with honors; [it is] the path of maintaining the security and dignity of the country. [The fact] that I say security is one of the most important sectors [in the country] is because the progress of any other sector depends on security. If there is no security, there would be no scientific progress, [and] no industrial and economic progress either. If there is no security, there would not be calm and confidence and spiritual serenity among people. In insecure conditions, big aspirations and brilliant ideals are forgotten in people’s minds; [because in those conditions] everybody [only] thinks about maintaining security of their own lives. [On the opposite,] when there is security in the country, then it would provide a ground [and] a bedrock for the growth of all the elements of a country’s growth and [all] the elements of a country’s progress; you shoulder such an [important] responsibility. 
Security is important in various fields. Since, at the present time, one of the basic issues in the country is the issue of economy and people’s livelihood, let me tell you that [even] the [country’s] economy needs security [in order to thrive]. [This means that] the country’s economy must be founded on a secure foundation. Our problem, our historical problem, [and] the problem that has been handed down to us from [the past] monarchical eras is dependence of our economy on oil. This [dependence] has caused us to have serious concerns about security at all junctures [of our history, especially] with regard to economic matters; [our concerns have existed every time that] the price of oil falls [or] increases, [Iran's] oil sales are banned, transport of oil becomes problematic, [or] that given oil customer has not given our money. When everything in the economy revolves around oil, that economy becomes insecure; [therefore,] the economy must become secure as well. I brought up this issue here because although a military environment is not an economic environment, [I said this, so that,] the importance of security for all sectors [of the country] will be made clear, even with regard to the issue of economy, which on the surface, has nothing to do with what a soldier does and [what members of] the Army and the IRGC [Islamic Revolution Guards Corps] do. 
Dear youths! Know your value, know the value of your country as well, know the value of your security as well, [and] also know the value of the Islamic Republic establishment, which has brought this tranquility, [and] this honor to this country. This very country, this very geography, [and] this very dear Iran – which you rightly whispered and repeated this beautiful ballad about Iran – with this very historical past, [and] with these very elements of endless potential was once downtrodden by American and Zionist and British advisors and the likes of these and was a flunkey [to them]. Dependent, mean, weak [and] underling rulers had turned this nation, this country, this shining history, [and] these gushing and surging potentialities into a state of subordination. Islam came and saved the country; the Islamic Republic came and made Iran dignified, [and] made Iran mighty.
My dear ones, [and] our intelligent and talented youths! Today, the [main] fight that the [global] arrogance has with us is about ‘why your power has engulfed the region’. This is [a clear sign of] the Islamic Republic’s might. That thing, which from our viewpoint is an element of [our] national might, is a troublesome factor from the viewpoint of our enemies and they fight against it. They oppose development of the Islamic Republic’s might among nations in the region and beyond the region, because it is a cause of might [for the entire region], [and] because it is strategic depth of the country. They are [also] against the country’s defense power and the country’s military power; [and in short, our] enemies oppose anything that is a means of power and an element of national might [of the country].
What is [the best] way to counter [enemies’ efforts]? The youth! [Just] think [about it]. The [best] way to counter the enemy is that we rely on our own elements of might to the opposite and in spite of its will. We have [already] announced, [and] we announce once again that the country’s defense capability and defense power is not up for negotiation and bargaining. [Do they expect us to allow them to] come and bargain [with us about] ‘why you have that given defense tool’? ‘Why you have that [specific] sort [of defense tool]’? ‘Why you are producing it’? ‘[And] why you do research [on defense tools]’? [We] have no bargaining [and] no deal with the enemy about those things, which increase or provide or support national might [of our country]; we tread the path toward [increasing] the country’s might and [doing] this is incumbent upon you.
Dear youths! The future of the country belongs to you. The youth of the past have fulfilled their duty. [About] 30 or 35 years ago, in this very university, they likened it to the “Feiziyeh [seminary school] of the Army;” it is true; this place is [really] like the Feiziyeh of the Army. This is a place, which has seen many of its professors and students and commanders and managers martyred [during the Iraqi imposed war]. During the period of the Sacred Defense, students of this university, quite voluntarily and while they were [still] students, insisted on going and fighting in the arena of the Sacred Defense; the Army [officials] did not take them [to the war fronts, because] it was against the regulations of the Army, [but] a number of this university’s students went [to war fronts] voluntarily, [and] fought in that section [of the war], which is known as the guerrilla warfare. This ceremony has been held in this place for many years – [and indeed] for scores of years; people like you, once received their epaulettes or [military] ranks in this place and, praise be to God, attained high positions in the Army; this is among honors of this university. [Therefore,] get yourselves prepared; the country belongs to you; [and] you must take the country to the climax of dignity under the aegis of Islam and inspired by the huge Islamic Revolution. The Islamic Republic is in charge and responsible for [fulfilling] such an important duty and you are, praise be to God, working under the Islamic Republic establishment. I ask the Almighty God to make you [more] successful on a daily basis. I thank your commanders, teachers and those who endeavor and work [to train you]. I also thank those people who prepared the beautiful and meaningful arrangement of this arena.

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