to report «iusnews»; Supreme Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamanei has described Bahman 22 rallies -- the annual events marking the victory of the Islamic revolution -- as a sign of national sovereignty, saying that people will also have a strong presence in this year’s marches.
The Leader made the comments as he addressed a group of commanders of the Iranian Air Force and Air Defense Force during a meeting taking place on Monday, the fifth day of the Ten-Day Dawn Celebrations marking the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution that toppled the former Western-backed Pahlavi regime in 1979.
The meeting comes ahead of the anniversary day of Homafaran Allegiance on February 8, 1979. On that day, the Pahlavi regime’s air force staff, known as Homafaran, pledged allegiance to the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, three days before the Islamic Revolution’s victory day known as Bahman 22 in Iran.
Heavy duties of elites
In his address to the commanders, Ayatollah Khamenei said that elites have heavy duties and the negligence of those duties will result in heavy historic blows against the nation.
He called elites the “accelerators” of the society as they act based on thoughts and knowledge without being affected by the prevailing atmosphere.
The enemy has plans for the elites, which is to prevent them from playing their accelerating role and to create hesitation and doubt among them, Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
Elites in the Muslim world have duties when it comes to the issue of Gaza, he said, adding that they should trigger public demands in the people to press their governments to cut their ties with the Zionist regime.
Air Force accelerated Islamic revolution
The leader said that the Iranian air force, before the Islamic Revolution, was actually headed by the US as the force’s commanders as well as the use of its military equipment was under Washington’s control.
That force however was later changed from being American to being Iranian thanks to efforts by the faithful elements within the Army’s Air Force, Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
He also hailed the Army’s Air Force for accelerating the Islamic Revolution following their move to pledge allegiance to Imam Khomeini and their subsequent resistance against the Shah regime’s guard.
Accelerators needed for big social moves
The Supreme Leader referred to the role the elites can play in speeding up social moves.
He said that the elites can play that role by preventing the creation of feelings of incompetence and inferiority that may arise after a big move is undertaken. This way, he added, the elites can prevent big measures and moves from being stagnated and going backward.
The Supreme Leader also said that elites are not only the people who are educated, but those, who act based on thoughts and knowledge and are not affected by the prevailing atmosphere, he explained.
Such elites are not a minority group in Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that there are a large number of them who can play roles and have heavy duties, including keeping on track the general movement of the society.
Elites’ role in elections
The Supreme Leader referred to the upcoming legislative and Assembly of Experts elections in Iran, saying that elites can also play a role in those votes as they should contribute to efforts for a strong turnout.
The stronger the turnout is, the more it shows national power, Ayatollah Khamenei said.
“National power brings national security, meaning that when the enemy witnesses the people’s participation and the power of the system, it realizes that [Iran] is a strong country and people are prepared. The enemy’s threats are foiled. That means national power brings about national security, which is very important and valuable. That can be created by the elites”, he noted.
