When this rivalry became public, Ayatollah Khomeini met them in his residence on 19 July 1986 and urged them to “seek unity”, telling them “You must endeavor, not to think in terms of being members of the Armed Forces or those of the Guards Corps or of the Basij forces. … We must understand that if there were to be any disputes among you … not only are we doomed here and now, but we also are guilty before God.”