Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with commanders and officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy on Sunday, highlighted the importance of the sea and the great progress made by Iranian naval forces in benefitting from advantages and opportunities offered by the sea.

Emphasizing the need to keep up this progress and carry out profound restructuring of the Navy, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Qualified and agile manpower endowed with the [power] of [good] thinking and correct management” along with ‘steadfastness, firm resolve, trust in God, and hope in the future,’ are the most effective elements in helping the Islamic Iran achieve the great and historical position that would be commensurate with its status.”

During the meeting, which was held on the occasion of the Navy Day, Ayatollah Khamenei, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of Iran’s Armed Forces, described the progress made by the country’s naval forces in recent years as remarkable and tangible, saying: “Before the [1979] Islamic Revolution, the ‘significance, greatness and sensitivity of the sea’ were ignored, but today, the [Iranian] Navy has made great progress, though of course, we are still far from the ideal point.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the sea as an arena for “powerful confrontation with enemies,” and at the same time [a place for] “effective activity and cooperation with friends,” saying: “Access to the high seas, connection to the four corners of the world through the sea, and the possibility of defending the country at sea are among blessings of the sea to which people and officials must pay attention.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said reaching the position that would match the historical status of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic at sea is the heavy responsibility that has been assigned to Iranian naval forces, adding: “We are still at the beginning of this road and you are the men of this road, who must clear the way and help realize this favorable hope and future.”

The commander-in-chief of the Iranian Armed Forces underscored the significance of the Sea of Oman and the coastal region of Makran, saying: “This region is a crucial point in the fulfillment of the Navy’s responsibility, and I have [already] given the necessary recommendations to the administration with regard to the revival of this region, and will continue to do so.”

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the requisite for the fulfillment of the Navy’s responsibility is profound restructuring of the naval forces, particularly developing competent, qualified and agile manpower endowed with good managerial skills, adding: “Good management and manpower [will] perform miracles, just in the same way that although the country has been facing financial and budgetary problems during recent years and these problems continue to exist, experience showed that we can overcome shortages and obstacles even with an empty hand, but with good management.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the 1979 Islamic Revolution under the leadership of the late Imam Khomeini, as a manifestation of miracles of manpower, saying: “By trusting the divine power and through his own unique capability and influence, the venerable Imam, stirred up the ocean of the nation and managed to bring down a political establishment, which was dependent [on foreign powers] and with plenty of capabilities.”  

Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned the Iranian nation’s stunning victory in the Sacred Defense (Iraq’s imposed war on Iran from 1980 to 1988), and defeating an enemy that enjoyed [all kinds of] military and political support and backing, as another miracle of manpower, adding: “Today, the capabilities and progress of the Iranian nation and the Armed Forces [of Iran] have increased exponentially, and through steadfastness, determination, firm resolve, optimism about the future and trust in God, we can achieve a brighter future which the Iranian nation deserves.”

Prior to the remarks by the commander-in-chief of the Iranian Armed Forces, Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari presented a report on the activities of the naval forces, saying: “Today, we are taking long strides in a lively and vibrant manner and with strong determination in order to restructure the Navy consistent with the status and position of the Iranian nation.”