The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and the commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces , Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has emphasized that an efficient and powerful armed forces requires a personnel which has faith, foresight, commitment, responsibility, and an unwavering determination, in addition to being highly trained and equipped with advanced weaponry.

According to Iran’s local news, speaking on Monday morning at the eighth graduation ceremony of Iranian army cadets and officers of the Imam Ali (PBUH) military academy, The Leader said the subject of a powerful and efficient armed forces should be taken very seriously, and not in a superficial manner.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei emphasized that a large number of military personnel, together with effective training and advanced weaponry is not sufficient to ensure a powerful armed forces. Rather, this has to be augmented by a strong motivation, spirituality, determination and a correct understanding of responsibility, to ensure a powerful military force.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader referred to the scientific and technological abilities of Iran’s armed forces, to their spiritual capabilities, their innovative approach, and to their strong determination, particularly during eight years of sacred defense in the 1980s. The Leader stressed that the world takes Iran’s armed forces seriously, since everyone knows that when the hour comes to show our capabilities on the battlefield , Iran’s armed forces “will give their all” (will give more than 100 percent ).

In further remarks, the Leader said much of the world today is thirsty for “the liberating message of pure Mohammadean Islam”, but ill-wishers, and the bullying powers don’t want Islam’s message to be heard throughout the world. But, the Leader added: “This message has been heard , and this is the reason why colonialist and arrogant powers are so afraid of Islam”.

The commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces emphasized that humanity today is eager to hear the Islamic message of the Iranian nation, more than at any other time in history. The Leader said the bullying powers feel their interests are threatened by the liberating power of the message of pure Mohammadean Islam, and this has made them very anxious and dismayed. Thus the bullying powers are using everything at their disposal, including media outlets and art, to wage a campaign of Islamophobia, trying to frighten people from Islam.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said one of the methods used by the West to spread Islamophobia is to set up armed extremist terrorist groups, with names such as “Islamic State”, and train them to commit mass murder and killing innocent people. The Leader said pure Islam’s message to humanity is a message of dignity, honour, comfort, and living a secure and dignified life, and the ill-wishers and enemies of Islam don’t want this message to get through to the global community.