S.Leader: Armed Forces Following Religious Commands, Serving National Interests

Tehran, April 23, IRNA - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that the Armed Forces are following the religious commands serving national interest. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces made the remarks in a meeting with commanders of the operational units of the Army's ground forces. 'The administration of the Armed Forces must encourage their personnel to boost their morale in line with the religious sentiments.' Ayatollah Khamenei said that reliance upon God and faith in religion bolster the deep incentives of the faithful and brave people such as the combatants of the Armed Forces thwarted invasion of Saddam Hussein's army which had been equipped by the superpowers during eight-year Iraqi-imposed war (1980-1988). The Supreme Leader said that the Armed Forces should proceed with boosting the spirit of resistance and the commanders must acquire the latest know-how and the spiritual strength and sense of sincerity so that they do not depend on the earthly world. Elsewhere in his speech, the Supreme Leader termed the ground forces as the major axis of the Army. The Supreme Leader called for necessary planning to upgrade logistical and training sections of the ground forces. Ayatollah Khamenei expressed pleasure with the progress the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran has made over the past 30 years and said that the Army is the most popular defense force serving the divine values and national interests. 'The hegemonic powers allege that their army is serving their national interests whereas their armed forces have been put at the service of political ambitions and safeguarding tyrannical regimes. National interests have no meaning for them.' The Supreme Leader blamed the US army for massacre of Iraqi and Afghan people since it invaded Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003. 'Does the massacre of Iraqi and Afghan people really serve the US national interest?' The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces said that Army is the only defense force at the service of national interests and the personnel and commanders share the same attitude with the people./end