Imam wanted armed forces to make them stronger

It has been the advent of the National Army Day, which is celebrated annually on April 18, and the founding of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on April 22, 1979. on these occasions, Imam used to issue statements, wanting the country’s armed forces to make themselves stronger.

Imam Khomeini once said on a historic occasion

Imam Khomeini: I say, to all strata, to the armed forces, to be determined and be armed and to make your selves stronger day by day. 

Sahifeh-ye-Imam. V 17, P 464

Iran’s National Army Day was marked on April 18th. Along with ceremonies held in Iran, the occasion has also been commemorated at some Iranian embassies and missions abroad 

Various divisions of the Army attended the event. Also, President Ebrahim Raisi and the military top brass were in attendance.

Iran’s defense achievements and advanced military equipment were put on display during the parade.

The passage of about four decades since the Islamic revolution is not enough to know a great revolution. Revolutions can be analyzed based on the roots, trends and consequences.

"Systemization" is related to the process or transition stage level from the old system to the revolutionary one. The present study, with the qualitative and analytical descriptive method, aimed to analyze the thought and political actions of Imam Khomeini in military systemization.

The results indicated that Pahlavi's military-security structure under Imam Khomeini's management was based on inciting national pride and the army sentiments; not insulting and speaking ill of them; and encouraging, honoring and emphasizing their dignity that changed to a new situation.

On the one hand, the former military foundations remained; the Islamic Republic Army was reproduced based on the same Pahlavi army and prevented the military vacuum for the collapse of the post-Pahlavi regime.

On the other hand, the management structure of the Iranian military changed slowly.

Therefore, the restoration of the old and pre-revolutionary authority was impossible, and it was completed by forming three institutions, the Revolutionary Committee, the Revolutionary Guards and the Mustazafin Mobilization. 

On the occasion, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has lauded the Iranian Armed Forces for displaying a commendable image of strength and military prowess in the wake of Operation True Promise, stating they created a feeling of glory about the Islamic nation.

Addressing a group of high-ranking Iranian military commanders and figures in the capital Tehran on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian forces have sincerely and successfully managed to present a good image of their abilities and authority after punishing Israel, exhibited a commendable picture of the Iranian nation, and proved the emergence of Iranians' willpower in the international arena.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the high number of missiles and drones launched during Operation True Promise against targets inside the Israeli-occupied territories is a secondary and peripheral matter, stressing that the main issue is the manifestation of the willpower of the Iranian nation and armed forces across the globe, the proof of which is the Tel Aviv regime’s distress and discomfort.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also appreciated the well-planned measures of the Iranian Armed forces, highlighting the significance of reducing the costs while reaping considerable gains in any scenario. “This is what the Armed Forces have done in recent incidents. They did well,” he said.

Ayatollah Khamenei praised the efforts and activities of the IRGC, the Iranian Army, and police forces, calling upon the armed forces to continue their efforts and move to face hostilities and enemies by relying on innovative initiatives.

“We should not stop even for a moment because stoppage means backpedaling. Therefore, innovation in the production of weapons and methods, as well as knowledge of the enemy's strategies must always be on the agenda,” the Leader stated.

During the meeting, Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, presented a report on the recent Operation True Promise as well as the combat readiness of various divisions of the Iranian Armed Forces.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched extensive missile and drone strikes last week on the Israeli-occupied territories. The series of retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise, inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied lands.

It was in retaliation for the Israeli attack on April 1 against the Iranian consulate in Damascus, located next to the embassy building in Damascus’s Mezzeh district.

The airstrike killed two senior Iranian military personnel who were on an advisory mission to Syria as well as five of their accompanying officers.