TEHRAN -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said here on Saturday that in the Islamic ruling system, the armed forces are the vanguard of the nation in upholding justice, defending the rights of the people, particularly the poor, maintaining national security, and protecting the values of Islam and the Islamic Revolution.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in an address at the graduation ceremony of cadets of the Islamic Republic Guards Corps (IRGC) at the Imam Hussein (AS) Military Academy.

The commander-in-chief of the armed forces stated that the major powers use militarism as a means to gain power, whereas in the Islamic system, the armed forces are actually the field of worship on account of the great logic of Islam.

"The most important characteristic of the IRGC is that its cornerstone was laid on Islamic values. It requires determined manpower capable of defending the nation, although the revolutionary situation is no longer prevalent in the country and the era of the Sacred Defense (1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war) is over," the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei described a military man with an Islamic identity as someone prepared to sacrifice himself for his high goal.

"Therefore, a military man with an Islamic identity is not comparable to the violent and irrational U.S. or Zionist troops and those from hegemonic countries," the Leader noted.