My dear children, the honorable commanders and officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, at the end of nearly eight years of the sacred defense that resulted in the independence and territorial integrity of the country and the defeat of the expansionist designs of the enemies of our Islamic Revolution, I do not know how to express my feelings and fondness in you, anonymous soldiers and valiant commanders, in whose bosom of combat scene the storm of anger of this nation of the Hizb Allah (Party of Allah) is gushing forth. It would be beneath the dignity of impolite to talk about worldly compensation and reward before monotheists and spiritual wayfarers. With all its deceits, allurements and credits, the world is much more insignificant than the reward and promotion to be granted to the strugglers in the way of Allah. The struggler in the way of Allah is greater than the beautiful pearl of his deed that he assays on the fineness of the vanities of his world. Nevertheless, I deem it my duty is to thank, you, express gratitude and pray for all the members of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, Basij and the Army. All the armed forces of the country and you should make certain that as long as I am alive and I am breathing, I will not spare you my support and benevolently praying for you. I consider you as the best among my beloveds and companions; just as I had been with you during the days of war and perhaps each of you has felt my love and affection to you, it will be the same afterward. You are the embodiment of the oppressions suffered by this great nation. You are the symbol of the nation's braveries in the war arena and the illustrated history of the revolution. You are the children of the sacred defense, standard-bearers of the honor of the Muslims and the shield of this country from evil happenings. You have been the enlightened reminiscences, comrades, commanders, and officials who, today, have been dwelling in the Presence of God. Since I do not see any gap between you and myself, I understand your feeling and all lovers of the Islamic Revolution before being inscribed in paper, I think that you, because of the sacred self-esteem and epical spirit which for years have been tempered in the fields of battle, at the time of fire and blood, and in the heart of the tough rocks of problems at the hot and cold atmosphere of events, and that all the specks of your existence have been amalgamated with bravery and restlessness, you would suffer on account of calmness and tranquility and your hearts would beat in such state and atmosphere of the war camp, so many of you would ask yourselves about the need for your existence at the times of peace, which is itself one of the spiritual blessings and transformation in our country, which after the eight years of the sacred defense you do not feel any sluggishness. Yet, I seriously and emphatically say that the revolution and the Islamic Republic and the institution of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which indeed has been and will be one of the greatest defensive strongholds of the divine values of our system, need the existence of one another whether in times of peace or war. I would like to emphasize again that we are serious in our policy of attaining peace within the framework of the UN Security Council Resolution (598). We will not take step in undermining it, but we observe indications of violation on the part of Iraq and its military policy and gesture. It seems that the hand of some of the powers is behind these acts, while Saddam forces wanted so much to minimize their gloomy and dismal defeat….
I pray for you and beseech God for your honor and prosperity in this world and the hereafter. God willing, may you remain faithful and upright under the protection of God and under the auspices of the promised Savior (may our souls be his ransom). May God's peace and mercy be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini
Sahifeh, vol 21, Page: 127-128
Message, September 17, 1988