In a message on the Day of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran published on Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani emphasized that the army is bigger than to be reduce to politics.

The text of Dr. Hassan Rouhani’s message is as follows:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Every nation is proud of its powerful army; and every army is proud of its great nation;

Nations are defenceless without armies, and armies are defenceless without people;

And governments is capitalless without these two; and all together are a powerful dam;

Undoubtedly, the legitimacy of armies lies in their self-sacrifice, patriotism and loyalty to national security, order, national unity and territorial integrity, but the relationship of armies to nations is more strategic than the relationship of armies to governments.

Governments need nations to stay in power, but when a nation is dissatisfied with a government and turns away, it is the armies that must choose between nations and governments and decide and choose.

The armies are armed, but their weapons are aimed at the enemies of the nations, not the nations themselves. Armies are, of course, administratively part of governments and ruling systems, and therefore must obey governments according to the law.

It is a democratic principle that the soldier obeys the commander. But it is also clear that the armies must support a government that has not betrayed its people.

Forty-three years ago, when the Iranian nation turned away from the monarchy and made a revolution against the dictatorship, and the Pahlavi regime wanted to use the army for its survival, calling on it for a coup against the revolution and in fact against the nation, the army made its final choice, and stood by the nation because the army is ultimately part of the nation.

It was this national position and the independent base of the army that caused Imam Khomeini, as the leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, to stand against the dangerous whispers of extremists and leftists about the dissolution of the army and re-establish the Iranian army as a popular authority.

Today, along with the experience of the Imposed War and as a legacy of Holy Defence, Iran’s military institutions recognise their mission and responsibility, whether the Army or the IRGC, more professionally than ever.

The national security of Iran depends on the preservation of its territorial integrity and the preservation of its territorial integrity can be achieved only under the protection of Iran’s national unity, and Iran’s national unity can only be achieved through democracy.

– Defending the “borders” is defending the “independence” of Iran.

– Defending the “votes” is defending the “freedom” of Iran.

– Defending “freedoms” is defending the “republic” of Iran.

– And defending “values” is defending “Islam” in Iran.

Your mission is not just a military mission, neither it is a political mission. Your mission is a national mission. You are standing exactly where the Iranian nation needs you.

Today, Iran’s enemies are afraid of Iran’s vastness, power, unity and security. Iran has always been bigger for them than they thought.

In these 8 years of the Government of Prudence and Hope, especially in the 4 years of imposed economic war, the army and the IRGC stood as the 8 years of Holy Defence for national interests.

In these difficult years of economic warfare, the government has equipped the country’s army and armed forces with the most modern weapons.

In the honour of the memory of all the martyrs and proud soldiers of this land, I congratulate this unforgettable and glorious day to all the brave army men.

Hassan Rouhani

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran