Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, the Leader of Islamic Revolution, has said that the only
acceptable formula for resolving the Palestinian issue is for the original people of
Palestine to return to their homeland and decide the shape of their nation and
government.
Ayatullah Khamenei, who was delivering the Tehran Friday prayer khutbahs on 15th
December,
called on all Muslim nations to perform their religious duty and send aid and assistance
to the Palestinians. "They must not be abandoned to struggle in the arena
alone," he said. The following are excerpts from the khutbah, delivered one week
before the International Quds Day [Yamul al-Quds], which is commemorated every year on the
last Friday of Holy Month of Ramadan.
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate...
The main subject of my second khutbah is Palestine. And the reason is that Palestine is
the main issue of the Islamic world. The mischief there affects all the Islamic
community,
and countries that are close to the center of the problem, such as Islamic Iran, should be
aware of the situation. Both the Zionists, who have usurped Palestine, and their
supporters claim that the situation in Palestine is an internal issue only related to the
usurping Israeli government. This is not the case. This is not an internal issue at all.
Even if a single person had not stood up inside Palestine the Islamic world would have
remained the enemy of the Zionists and their supporters because of the very issue of
Palestine. The situation is even more central now because the people of Palestine have
stood up and have knowingly entered the scene.
Palestine is the main issue of the Islamic world. Palestine is a part of the Islamic
territory, and all the Islamic doctrines agree, all the jurisprudents agree that if a part
of the Islamic territory is separated from the mainland by the enemy and if the enemy
establishes its rule in that territory, all the Muslims have a duty to fight for the
return of that territory to the Islamic mainland [worshipers chant Allahu Akbar].
The Muslim people, Muslim nations, wherever they may be in the world, feel duty bound to
do something. But many of them cannot take any action. However, anyone who is capable
should take action and they do so. For the same reason you see that the entire Islamic
world welcomes the Quds Day. Our late great Imam [Khomeini] decelared that the last Friday
of Ramadan should be marked annually as Quds Day. This year we shall mark the occasion
next Friday [22 December]. You shall see that this year the entire world of Islam will
commemorate Quds Day more gloriously and more strikingly than ever before, God willing
[worshipers chant Allahu Akbar]...
The important point is that the Palestinian people and particularly the younger generation
in Palestine have realized the truth. Which truth? The truth that if they want to overcome
weakness, humiliation, shame and the pressure that they are being subjected to they have
to stand up and fight. The solution is not found at negotiation tables because you saw how
the negotiators failed. The Palestinian people have understood this truth.
At the same time, the behavior of the Zionists has been so barbaric and so far removed
from human conduct and compassion that it has distressed the younger Palestinian
generation beyond measure, beyond patience. The Zionists may think that if they show even
more force, if they use artillery shells, if they use their tanks, if they use chemical
weapons they will silence the people. Yes, of course, they might increase the pressure and
they might silence the people for a while. But they will not be able to remove the anger
that is piling high in the hearts of the people. These feelings cannot be
destroyed. A
thunder will bring down all their castles. They will not be able to destroy this
movement.
This is the first point: The people and the young people have woken up.
The second point is this: This uprising has brought chaos to the calculations of the
usurping Zionist government. Why? Because the foundation of their calculation is based on
the idea that the Palestinian people no longer have the strength, the temper or the will
to fight. After all the initial pressure, after expulsion of more than half of the
Palestinian people, after all these years Israel thought Palestinians no longer have the
strength, the will or the enthusiasm to stand up and fight. This was their
calculation.
But their calculation was wrong. Their premise was wrong. When the very people who live in
Palestine - and not merely the Palestinian organizations abroad, in Lebanon or Jordan, but
thousands of people living in the various regions of Palestine - are determined to stand
up to the system, the climate of security and the promised land which they had imagined
and tried to create by dragging non-Palestinian immigrants and Jews from the various parts
of the world is destroyed.
Their calculations have not worked out. That is why their government has had to
resign.
They were forced to do so out of need. Those who applied the greatest pressure for the
resignation might think that they should apply even more force and bring a more ruthless
government to power. This is how they might be thinking. But they are wrong. They are
mislead. This is no small matter. It is a grave issue related to the fate of the Islamic
world and the fate of all Islamic countries, particularly those that are close to this
corrupt and dangerous tumor.
In this month of Ramadan the Zionists committed all the atrocities that they could manage.
Small children, even as young as one-year old, youngsters, teenagers, old men and even
handicapped people have fallen in these events...
Despite all this the Americans continue to support them. Despite all this the American
senators and politicians and their political experts continue to express clear support for
them. Well, let them do it. It is their choice. This is their policy. This is their
essence. Their essence is to support such corrupt, evil and ruthless people. We don't
expect anything more from them. However, the people of the world should learn from these
events. Our nation, fortunately, is well aware of the situation. The people of the world
who have always heard the Americans talk about human rights, the rights of the majority
and - in their own words - democracy, should see the truly ugly face of American policies
in the mirror of Palestine [worshipers chant Death to America]. . .
There is an acceptable and fully humanitarian formula, and that is, the original people of
Palestine - and not the people who came to Palestine from other regions of the world - the
people of Palestine, wherever they may be in the refugee camps and elsewhere, they should
go back to Palestine and determine the shape of their own government which should comprise
their own people. Of course, it is obvious that no Palestinian, be it Muslims or not - and
the dominant majority of the Palestinians are Muslims - or Christians and Jewish, there is
a small minority of Jews and Christians live there, anyway no Palestinian would ever be
happy or would permit a gang of loiterers from London streets, members of suppressed
Jewish families from Moscow or the American thugs to come to Palestine and form a
government. They would not allow rule by gangs who once upon a time were wielding knives
and daggers and their greatest achievement was the ability to batter and kill their
opponents brutally and behave in a manner which pleased the Zionist and Jewish
capitalists. It is obvious that the nation of Palestine will not allow such gangs to rule
in Palestine. The Islamic world will not allow such a thing either.
This formula is a formula acceptable to the world. Those powers that claim to believe in
the people's vote and democracy are welcomed to this formula. Very well, this is an
example of a democratic gesture.
The land of Palestine, this piece of land, has after all had some people living in it.
These people are still alive. Several million of them are living there and several other
million live outside, that is, in Lebanon, Jordan and other regions. They can all gather
there in Palestine and elect their own government. This is a very appropriate method.
It is clear that the Zionist regime which is ruling today and any other Zionist government
has no right to survive and rule in the region of Palestine and in the land of Palestine
[worshipers chant Allahu Akbar]. We would like to point out to our dear Palestinian
brothers, who are facing hardship in that place, that if they were to remain steadfast and
patient, they would receive divine rewards and they would achieve victory. Victory will
always follow patience and endeavor in the service of God. "God will grant victory to
those who assist Him". There is no doubt about this. Therefore victory will be
realized. They the Palestinians must remain patient and must tolerate hardship.
We call on all Islamic states and Muslim nations to perform their religious duty. Today
all nations and governments are duty bound to send assistance to this oppressed nation and
this community of believers. They the Palestinians must not be abandoned to struggle in
the arena alone. They must be helped. And help is being offered. We hope that these
offerings will reach the right destination and will be effective to reduce some of the
pains of Palestine's people, God willing. We beseech Almighty God to eliminate the
problems facing Islam, the Muslims and the people of Palestine.
"In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. When the help of Allah comes
and victory, and you see people enter Allah's Religion in crowds, celebrate the praises of
your Sustainer and pray for His forgiveness: for He is Ever Turning One Towards
Repentance."
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate...
When the fate of the Palestinian issue is left to a number of politicians and there is
no role for the people and the young people cannot voice their views, then what you have
seen recently is exactly what was bound to happen. Abjectness followed by abjectness,
defeat followed by defeat, leaving the strongholds one by one to the bullying, aggressive,
mischievous and outrageous Zionists. That happens when the people have no part in the
developments. They have sidelined the people.
They have forgotten the true factors that attract the people, they have forgotten the
factor of faith. They have delayed the issue of Palestine for dozens of years. At the
beginning of the Islamic revolution in Iran I asked one of the Palestinian leaders who had
come here, why do you not raise the slogan of Islam? He responded by making idle excuses.
They did not want to do that. They did not believe in Islam in their hearts. Today it is
some 12 or 13 years since the Palestinian nation entered the arena in the name of Islam
and with the slogan of Islam. The enemy realized quickly what that meant. When the
intifadah began in Palestine in the last decade, the enemies, the Zionists and their
American friends, before anyone else, felt the danger. They thought they had to annihilate
this movement , because it had begun in the name of Islam. They tried to remedy the
situation, but they were incapable of doing that because they are bullies by nature.
The Zionist regime that resides in the lands it has usurped from the Palestinians is a
racist regime. How can you expect justice from a racist regime, which, after all, was
established thanks to help from the world's economic and political powers?...
The people who think one can negotiate with this regime are very simple-minded. For the
Zionist regime, every round of negotiation is a prelude to opening a new front for its
advances. You once helped them with your negotiations and now they are having claims to
Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is the inevitable outcome when you do not know how you should behave
when faced with such an oppressive bully, and the decisions are adopted under pressures
from America and the wealthy Zionists of the world.
However the nation was finally awakened and entered the arena itself. Three weeks ago, the
presence of a filthy and abhorrent Zionist element, Ariel Sharon, in Al-Aqsa Mosque put an
end to the people's patience. If on that same day, the political leaders who claim to
champion the cause of the Palestinians, or indeed the leaders of Arab states, had raised a
cry of protest, the people would have felt that they were not alone. If this had happened,
perhaps we would not have been witnessing the present course of events. However, the
people realized that they had to take matters into their own hands, and so they entered
the scene.
The flames of resistance have now been raging in Palestine for three weeks. I told the
Palestinian young people that they should be aware that a whole generation has been
awakened and has come to the arena. How can anyone hope to silence this generation?
Some elements commit criminal actions and murder a number of oppressed and innocent young
people. However, the blood of these martyrs will irrigate the tree of the Palestinian
movement and revolution. The current situation is not something that the arrogant power of
America - or its hireling regional lackey the Zionist regime - are going to be able to
cure and rectify. The present situation is incurable. How can you silence a nation, who
has been driven out of its home and country, while the ones who have remained there have
been oppressed by the alien population who migrated to that land?
The organs and lackeys of global arrogance criticize Islamic Iran for its opposition to
the peace process. Of course we oppose this process. However, they should know that even
if Islamic Iran did no oppose this trend, or even if no other country in the world offered
any help it would still been simplistic to think that a nation could be wiped from the
face of the earth in order to make room for a false and forged nation. The Palestinian
nation has a culture, a history and a civilization. This nation has lived in that area for
centuries. So how do you think you are going to separate this nation from its territories,
homeland and history, and give their place to a group of migrant and wandering tramps -
opportunists and profit-seekers from different parts of the world - in a bid to create a
false and forged nation. How can this be possible?
You may be able to establish such a situation for a little while by resorting to force and
coercion. But how can this situation endure for long? It is never going to last, as the
present signs clearly show.
My first and foremost opinion about the Palestinian issue is that there is no power
anywhere in the world that is able to extinguish the flames of the aspirations of the
Palestinians - or indeed those of the Muslims of the world as a whole - to achieve freedom
for Palestine and facilitate the return of its people to their homeland.
There is only one remedy and there is only one cure. I want to say to circles that
consider the Middle East problem as a critical international issue and say that the Middle
East crisis must be resolved. The only way to do this is to destroy the root and cause of
the crisis. What is this root? The answer is the Zionist regime; a regime which has been
imposed on the region.
The crisis will be present as long as its root and cause remains intact. The solution is
that the Palestinian refugees should return to their homeland from Lebanon, or wherever
they may be residing at the present. The few millions of Palestinians who live outside
Palestine must return to their lands. The original people of Palestine - be they Muslims,
Christians or Jews - should then stage a referendum and decide what kind of political
regime they would like for their country. The Muslims have an absolute majority in the
Palestinian population, but there are also some Jews and Christians, who are among the
original inhabitants of Palestine, together with their forefathers and ancestors. All
these people should establish the type of political system that they favor. Then this
political system must decide what to do with the people who have come to Palestine in the
last 40, 45 or 50 years. Should they be kept there, should they be repatriated, or should
they be resettled in a specific location? These decisions will be up to the political
system, which would rule Palestine.
This is the solution to the crisis. Without this solution, no other alternative will be
effective. The Americans, despite all their demonstrations of might, cannot do anything.
They have done everything they could without achieving any results. The result is what we
can see today. Of course, they are extremely angry about the developments of the past
three weeks in occupied Palestine, with the uprising of the youth, with the courage of men
and women and with the firm resolve of the oppressed and enraged people.
They are trying to blame this and that country for the developments. No sir, the Islamic
Republic of Iran is not the factor behind Palestine's uprising. The people of Lebanon are
not the drive behind Palestine's uprising. The drive behind Palestine's uprising is the
people of Palestine themselves. The factor, which compelled the Palestinians to resort to
their uprising and the Intifadah, was the pent-up suffering and sorrow in the hearts of
the younger generation who pour into the arena with hope and enthusiasm. Of course, we
admire them. We consider them as one of us. We regard Palestine as a part of Islam's body.
We feel that we are brethren and share the same blood flowing in the veins of the
Palestinian youth. But it is they who are driving the Intifadah.
The agreements signed in Sharm al-Shaykh and other similar places between the
irresponsible sides are not effective at all. They are a source of shame for the
signatories. They are totally ineffective and will not influence anything at all.
The Arab Summit will be held in the very near future. I deem it essential to remind Arab
leaders of the heavy burden of responsibility that they are shouldering today. The Islamic
nation expects the Arab leaders to do something today. The Americans tried to make sure
that the Sharm al-Shaykh summit would overshadow the Arab summit. The Arab summit must not
be influenced by the Sharm al-Shaykh summit. Any decision taken by the Arab summit today
will be judged by history forever. The Arab leaders will have the opportunity to gain
themselves an eternal pride, provided they take proper decisions.
Of course, the problem of Palestine cannot be resolved by such summits. However, these
summits can inform the world of the Palestinian nation's demands. The most urgent and
imminent demands of the Palestinian nation are as follows:
1. The agents responsible for the massacre of the Palestinians over the past three
weeks must be tried in an Islamic or Arab court.
2. The menacing creature Ariel Sharon whose presence in Al-Aqsa Mosque offended the
feelings of Muslims, must be punished.
3. The Holy Quds and the city of Bayt al-Muqadas [Jerusalem] must be totally cleansed
from the existence of Zionists.
4. The Palestinian people must be allowed to decide their own future and destiny.
These are the urgent demands that the Arab leaders can raise in their summit. I for my
part would like to call on my Palestinian brothers and sisters to continue their Jihad.
Continue your resistance. You must know that no nation can gain respect, identity and
independence without resistance and struggle.
No nation will obtain anything by pleading with the enemy. No nation will achieve anything
by remaining weak and humble before the enemy. Any nation that has achieved anything in
the world today, has done so through firm resolve, determination, by confronting the enemy
and by holding its head high. Some nations do not have the capability to do so. But a
nation that believes in Islam, in the Quran and in God's promise, such a nation enjoys the
capability...
My next recommendation to the Palestinians is that today the enemy is utilizing all its
resources to create division among the Palestinians' ranks. Even the treacherous
Palestinian elements who are cooperating with the enemy, are striving to create discord.
The people of Palestine must not surrender to this conspiracy of the enemy. I am
addressing the combatants of Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and Fatah - who have entered the
arena recently - they must not abandon the arena. They must all stick together. No one
must listen to those leaders and commanders who speak or issue orders to benefit the
enemy. Every member of the Palestinian nation should gather around the pivot of sincere,
religious and selfless elements.
The Palestinian nation should realize that today the Islamic world's eye is watching them.
They must know that the hearts of the Islamic nation admire them, prays for them and would
send them aid. The nations would have sent aid whether their governments allowed them or
not. The Islamic ummah will not leave Palestine and the Palestinian nation alone. It will
not ignore the Palestinian youths...
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
The criminal usurper Zionist regime has once again revealed its ruthlessness and savagery
by violating the sanctity and purity of the immaculate Al-Aqsa Mosque, and by setting out
to massacre the Muslims. The regime has shed the blood of worshippers and shot and
martyred a child in the arms of his father, and, in doing so, it has repeated the
incidents that have characterized its behavior in the last 50 years. It did all this in
the vain hope that it may be able to extinguish the flames of the ongoing liberating jihad
and the relentless justice-seeking struggles, so as to pave the way for an abject
compromise process and impose its will even further on those inclined towards this
compromise. However, as in the past, this time too its heinous crimes will not produce any
results and once again its ominous plans and satanic illusions will be foiled.
In the wake of this inhuman display of mischievous hostility, a strong wave of protests
has engulfed the people of Palestine, and in general all Muslims and strugglers of the
world, and we are witnessing demonstrations by students and people from all walks of life
in many Islamic countries. As a result, the intifidah has found a new life, and every day
more and more people choose to traverse the path of Islamic jihad. Today, in their
tumultuous rallies and demonstrations, the alert and vigilant Muslims are chanting
justice-seeking slogans and calling on the officials of the Islamic states to pave the way
for jihad and allow the Muslims to fulfill this religious obligation, which is now the
only way forward to force the occupiers out of the territories they have usurped, and to
allow the Palestinians to return to their lands and homes.
Today, the wave of condemnation of the usurper rulers of these lands has spread
everywhere. At the same time, the option of compromise is becoming more and more
discredited as people progressively realize its utter futility.
Today, we witness the enhancement of the material, political and moral support for
intifidah and indeed all jihadi movements. Today, the cries of the false champions of
human rights are falling on deaf ears, as the supporters of Israel are becoming more and
more disgraced and discredited, as their deceitful nature becomes clear to everyone. This
has now gone so far that many of these supporters can no longer stay silent and not
condemn Israel's actions.
Although this ugly tragedy came about with the aim of imposing the illegitimate wishes and
aspirations of the Zionist ruler on the parties to the compromise process, the brave
people of Palestine will doubtless continue to abhor this process and will make any
progress in this area very difficult. In this way, the Palestinians will prevent the
abject outcome that is bound to be produced by the compromise process. Praise be to divine
assistance, one day these struggles will bear fruit, the occupied lands will be liberated
and the plundered assets will be returned to their rightful owners.
The recent course of events is the continuation of the legitimate struggles of the
Palestinians; a struggle which benefits from the enthusiasm of a young generation which
has been educated in the school of revolution and jihad. This shows that the present
generation has chosen the correct path to achieve victory; a path which it intends to
traverse decisively and resolutely.
I would like to salute the entire Palestinian nation - particularly the strugglers and
followers of the school of intifadah. I would like to say to you that your movement will
receive more and more support from the Muslims and revolutionaries as time goes by. You
will eventually overcome the occupiers. God willing.
The Islamic Republic of Iran will proudly continue to lend you its support to this divine
movement and will continue to offer the prayers of its most pious offspring for your
success. "If you devote yourselves to God, He will help you and will consolidate you
in your path" [Holy Quran].
[Signed] Sayyed Ali Hussaini Khamenei, 6th Rajab 1421; [4 October 2000]
The following is a translation of excerpts from the of the beloved
Leader of the Islamic Revolution at a gathering of over 200 thousand youth in Tehran. The
translation is done by a western news agency and although it seems to be more or less ok,
its accuracy has not been checked with the original text. What is very much noticeable is
that this news agency was only interested in the political sections of His Eminence speech
and most of the historical and ideological sections of the speech were not
translated.
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate...
Today, our young people and the entire nation enjoy the morale of hard work and
initiative. Before the revolution, neither the youth nor other members of the public were
given the opportunity to be creative with initiatives. The people were not given the
opportunity to be creative in the fields of science, industry and other diverse fields of
innovation. Any innovation was ignored by the government of the time. The revolution
revived the people's mentality of independence, self-reliance and self-confidence. And now
the people have immense opportunity to be creative. We are fortunate to have so many young
people with such high morale. Our young people and every individual member of the nation
feels that they play a hand in the country's destiny. In fact, the country's dynamism and
management is in the hand of the individuals who are elected by the people.
Today, the people in some countries near us in the region play no role in the election of
their officials. In these countries the people have no role and no supervision over their
rulers, or in the coming and going of the rulers, the length of their reign, their wealth,
their debauchery and abuse of power. In some other countries there is some sort of
democracy on the surface, but in reality those governments are not the fruits of the
people's involvement either. In these countries the domination of rulers or the influence
of foreign powers is so strong that in fact the people have no role to play in the running
of their country. Today the realities in our country are exceptional. At least they are
exceptional in this region. The people play a role. They elect their government, the
Majlis deputies and the members of the judicial and executive authorities. The people then
test their elected representatives for a period, and would re-elect them if they are happy
with their performance. But if the people are not happy with some officials, they would
seek to elect someone else in the next round. This is a very good opportunity.
The next point I wish to discuss concerns the Islamic instructions, principles and values
which are implemented in our country. There may be democracies in many other regions of
the world, and they may engage in economic activities, but they are deprived of social
justice and elimination of discrimination. In the capitalist countries today, the common
activity among various strata of the people is the struggle by individuals to protect self
interests. In those countries the planners do not feel obliged to implement social
justice. Social justice is the biggest recommendation of Islam, whose instructions form
our constitution and dictate our laws. If some state officials were to refuse to implement
social justice and endeavor to eliminate poverty and division between the rich and poor,
they would fall out of favor. Naturally the people would not support such officials.
The government's popular nature is another value which has been presented to this country
by Islamic sovereignty and Islamic teachings. Being popular means being part of the
people. Being popular is something which is far more important than just being elected by
the people. In a democracy or in a form of a democracy, some people might be elected, but
they might not have any links with the people. They are not from the midst of the people.
In our Islamic country, being people-oriented is a value. The president is
people-oriented. Officials are people-oriented. They want to be people-oriented. Whoever
is closer to the people, and whoever understands more about the people's sentiments, and
whoever shows more sympathy towards the people and expresses sympathy towards them, the
people will also express more interest in him or her. This is one of the major advantage
of our current situation...
This is a country, which has such a massive number of young people, which has such a high
number of talented people, which has such a source of energy including enormous natural
and climatic resources and in which the people enjoy from Islamic doctrine and the
recognition of God. If the officials of this country implement their duties correctly and
properly - this is the intention of our country's officials to implement their tasks well
- undoubtedly the future which is awaiting them will be a very bright and shinning future,
a future, which can become a model for the Islamic world to follow, in the first instance,
and for others to follow later.
However, there are threats. There are threats. We must identify the sources of threats. In
all my talks and statements, directed either to the young people or to the entire nation,
I stressed on threats against the country and the nation particularly the young
generation. The reason for my emphasis is that the threats are very serious. My dear young
people! Sometimes a negligence or an oversight or an indifference or a complacency may
deprive a nation from great achievements. We must not allow this happen. Our nation has
shown that it can, under effective leaders or officials, make great achievements with
endeavor, efforts and hard work. And it will be able to do so providing that threats can
be identified. At this juncture, I am not merely addressing the older generation. Rather,
I am drawing the attention of the young people. I am asking the young people to recognize
the threats precisely. The young people should play their role in withstanding the
threats. Two issues threaten our bright future: External threats and internal threats. I
must say that the external enemy will not be able to threaten us a great deal if we did
not have internal enemies or infiltrators or two-face people who sabotage the affairs of
the country...
Anything that harms the health, faith and vitality of the young people is a threat. Or,
anything that undermines the efforts and the education of the young people is a threat.
Carelessness in a threat too. Laxity is also a threat. So are drugs and indifference
towards science, education and work. Preoccupation with useless quarrels in society is a
threat. A domestic quarrel is a threat. And, lack of trust in the system or the officials
is a threat. Of course, the negligence of the officials should be considered as a threat.
The plans of external enemy is also a kind of threat.
A nation like the Iranian nation that is alert, alive, wise, young and revolutionary must
be able to overcome all of the said threats. When I talk about external threat, I mean the
centers of world power. My dear brothers, sisters and children! Today, not only Iran but
all countries that are not on the same level of the advanced European and American
countries, are faced with a dual threat. What is a dual threat?
What is this additional threat? It is, on the one hand, the direct influence of super
powers, headed by America, and on the other, the wave of globalization. It is what you
have seen recently in America where demonstrations have been staged against this wave by a
section of the American people. What is globalization? It means that a group of world
powers, a number of countries - mainly those who have influence over the UN and mainly
those countries which have been colonialists in the past - want to expand their culture,
economy and traditions throughout the world. They want to set up a share-holding company
in which they should hold 95 per cent of its share while the rest of world countries
should have 5 per cent. They want to have authority. They want to make decisions. That is
what globalization means. Today, many countries, many political leaders from the so-called
third world, many world intellectuals, are campaigning against globalization. They oppose
it and they are alarmed by it.
Some of our officials who attended international conferences say that many of those
countries, who attended the G77 summit and the Non-Aligned Movement summit, are afraid of
globalization. This is because they know globalization means American domination over
other countries' economy, culture, army, policy and government and over almost everything
else that belongs to other countries. This is something which does not even fall into the
category of exerting direct influence. You see that so much pressure has been exerted on
the fact that Iran does not pay any attention to America. Americans use all pressure in
order to crush this grim face that the Iranian nation has shown towards America
- a grim face and no attention. The reason for this is that they have made every efforts
in all corners of the world aimed at persuading world politicians to flatter, to show
humility, to bow down and to surrender. Americans have hinted to heads of African, Asian
and Latin American countries that they have no option for survival but to surrender to
America and to its policies. Many of those countries have accepted this.
There is only one country, one nation and one government in the world which has not
submitted to this pressure. We have nothing to do with America. However, we are not
prepared to surrender to bullying, to pressure and to imposition of policies, and ties. We
are not prepared to surrender. That country is the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Contrary to hypocritical remarks which are made occasionally by American officials within
the context of their statements and speeches - they occasionally praise the Iranian
nation, a half-hearted praise, or say a word of praise for a section of Iranian officials
and its system -
contrary to these, their real intention is to be able to establish their political and
economic denomination over Iran, or if possible a military one.
They have their eyes on Iran's markets. They have their eyes on Iran's resources.
Furthermore, because the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian nation and Iran's
revolutionary and Islamic system have been able to arouse a massive awareness in the
Islamic world, an awareness which could not easily be destroyed, they want to put an end
to this international awareness by persuading Iran and by making Iran humble. Their
intention is to tell the world that: those countries and nations who intend to establish
themselves on their own, have also submitted to America and showed humility towards it.
That is what they want. That is their objective. Their intention is not the establishment
of healthy relations but this is what they imply in their propaganda. Certain people,
unfortunately, in Iran and in the press and through other channels repeat those words. As
if all economic problems of our country will be resolved through the establishment of ties
with America. This is a lie. This is untrue. The Americans, when it comes to their contacts and
relations and activities in the world, have just one aim in mind. And they express it
openly. They do not hide it, and they do not conceal it. And that aim concerns the
preservation of America's interests. If and when they establish relations with someone, it
is because America's interests demand it. What is important to them is their own
interests. America does not bring any benefits to any country.
When America makes a loan of a few million dollars to a particular country, it extracts
concessions from that country which amount to several times the value of the original loan
made to that country. Today, if you look at the countries which are around us in the
region, you will see that they are afflicted with poverty, with weakness, with despotism,
and with corruption and numerous problems and difficulties up to their eyeballs. Is it not
true that these countries have relations with America? All of them have relations with
America. The Americans take advantage of them but do not bring any benefits to them. On
numerous occasions the Americans have announced that their aim in maintaining relations
with other countries around the world is to use such countries for serving the American
government's interests. What does this all imply? It implies that, from the viewpoint of
the Americans, the interests of an American citizen take precedence over the interests of
an Iranian citizen or any other non-American individual. The interests of an American
youth take precedence over the interests of an Iranian youth. The interests of Americans
take precedence over the interests of everybody else. This is the basis upon which
America's foreign policy in international relations is based. This is the principal aim
which America seeks.
Of course, they use the term human rights. They lie. They do it to deceive others. There
are some countries, whose oil resources are being used by America, where there has never
been a freely elected parliament, not even once. In those countries you will not find a
single leader or a president who has been freely elected by the people. But America
chooses not to mention the words democracy and human rights when it comes to its relations
with those countries. Why? Because its interests are protected there.
During the time that the regime of Saddam Husayn was at war with Iran, the Americans
cooperated fully with Saddam's regime because it was in America's interests to do so. When
the regime of Saddam attacked Kuwait and threatened America's interests, Saddam Husayn was
turned into an oppressor and they did to Saddam what we are seeing today. It was then that
they turned Saddam into an aggressor, a criminal and an unreliable element. Was he not all
these things before? This is the practice and the method of the Americans. Even now there
are numerous institutions in America itself, and in Europe acting on behalf of the
Americans, which are active and busy trying to bring pressure upon the government of Iran,
upon public opinion in Iran and upon the public atmosphere in Iran.
I have been given a report on certain research centers which are apparently research
centers but are in fact bodies set up to bring political pressure, to bring the pressure
of propaganda and to whip up public opinion against the Islamic system in Iran. Outwardly,
they use the language of friendship through certain political elements. Their military
elements, their defense minister and their military chief in the Persian Gulf region use
the language of a bully. And this is how their spy networks behave and operate. In secret
they are busy hatching conspiracies. I do not have the time to go into details. I have
been given the names of the various institutions and organizations which are involved in
this connection. You are well aware of all their activities. You know what they are up to.
Unfortunately, some of them have been able to take advantage of a situation of discord and
turmoil. They have been able to gain access to elements inside Iran, and to make contacts
with certain individuals inside Iran. One such person, upon returning to his country, has
reported that as far as Iran was concerned everything was now ready and that the only
thing that remained to be done was to introduce the ambassador to Iran. Who told such a person
that in Iran everything was now ready for a deal? How did he arrive at such a conclusion?
Who spoke to him? What was told to him and by whom?
These are things that constitute the internal threats. As I mentioned before, my dear
ones, if we are united internally in this country, if we maintain a united front, if the
people are sincere and honest with their government and with the state officials, a
foreign enemy can never have a detrimental effect on this country. The enemy will then
never be able to do anything against us. Unfortunately, there are certain elements inside
this country who support the enemy's cause. There are hypocrites and enemies in this
country who have never accepted, not even for one day, the government of the Imam
[Khomeini] and the Islamic system in this country...
Today, also, there are hypocrites and enemies among us in this country. There are certain
individuals in this country who used to think that once the revolution succeeded the
government would fall into their lap. They used to think that the government would then
belong to them. They accepted neither the concept of velayat-e faqih [rule of the supreme
jurisconsult] nor the Imam [Khomeini] himself. They did not even accept the people. They
did not accept religious beliefs and sentiments...
The Islamic system in this country has also been lenient towards these hypocrites, and it
has not punished them. Today these look at some of the incidents in which the enemy has a
hand, and they think that they've found an opportunity to strike a blow at the heart of
the Islamic system in this country. They continue to pursue their hypocritical activities,
hoping that the state officials are divided by internal divisions. They hope that the
people are divided by internal divisions. They hope that the ties which bind young people
to the Islamic system can be severed and broken. They hope that the young people will turn
their backs on the Islamic system.
You, my dear young people, ought to know that the hypocrites tremble every time you make a
move. Every time you stage an Islamic or a revolutionary or a religious gathering; every
time you take part in prayers and religious ceremonies; every time you take part in 22nd
Bahman ceremonies [ceremonies held on 11th February every year to commemorate the victory
of the Islamic revolution]; every time you take part in ceremonies and rallies marking
Qods [Jerusalem] Day; every time you show respect for state officials and the president of
the republic and every time you make a move which reflects your devotion to Islam,
divinity and the cause of the revolution, you make the hypocrites tremble with fear. They
become disconcerted. [The crowds express their approval by chanting slogans and condemning
the hypocrites.] At present there are certain individuals who give hope to the foreign
enemy through their statements, remarks, stances, propaganda and perhaps by taking part in
some riots. Now the foreign enemy thinks that maybe the time is ripe to come back and take
over Iran, to dominate the Iranian nation and to crush the Iranian nation's 21 year
revolution resistance. In fact, these individuals are guilty because they boost the
enemy's morale.
Let me tell you something my dear ones, the main objective of the enemies - both the
foreign and the hypocritical and presumptuous internal enemies - is to topple the
religious Islamic state. This is the main objective and the enemies would not be happy
with anything less. They know that they will not be able to do anything in this country
for as long as the power lies in the hand of religion, the religious laws, for as long as
the Islamic Majlis ratifies laws in accordance with the religious instructions and for as
long as we maintain the existing constitution, which is based on religion. The enemies
will not be able to do anything for as long as the state officials remain committed to the
religion, Islam and the principles of velayat-e faqih. The objective is to eliminate
this...
The main objective of the enemy is to separate the state from the imamate and religion.
Afterwards, the enemy will be able to do anything. I must say that the enemy is not able
to separate the state from the religion. Today, owing to the awareness and the elevated
thoughts of the Iranian nation, and with the blessing of the great Iranian revolution,
neither America nor any materialist power, will be able to create an incident in the world
of Islam similar to the peace imposed on Imam Hasan [who established peace with his
enemy]. Now, should the enemy apply immense pressure, the Karbala incident [during which
Imam Husayn was martyred] will occur again...
I am grateful to God that our nation is an alert nation and our officials are united
around the axis of religion and Islam. Many people are trying to speak on behalf of the
president or other officials. They are wasting their time. The president is a spiritual
and committed individual, who is devoted to Imam [Khomeini] and who is a religious
intellectual and has a sense of responsibility in this respect. Our other officials, those
at the higher level, thanks be to God, are the same. However, we have some complaints
about certain individuals among our middle-ranking officials.
The enemy has made a great mistake in its analysis concerning the Iranian nation and
Iranian youths. Thanks be to Almighty God, the Iranian nation is a steadfast nation, an
alert nation, an intelligent nation and a nation which is ready for work. This applies to
its youths and to all its people throughout the country. Officials, thanks be to God
Almighty, are committed to religion and enjoy a sense of responsibility.
Of course, as I said in the Friday prayers sermons the other day that some phenomenon
exist in our country which pains my heart. I do not wish to discuss what gives me pain in
public. However, the point which I described the other day as a sorrowful story, it is
really that. It is a sad story.
About two years ago, during a Friday prayers sermon, I said that the global arrogance
machinery, headed by America, had used propaganda in order to overthrow governments of
countries and to create disorder in countries.
I addressed the propaganda centers and said: Look, your conspiracy of taking advantage of
your radio stations so as to implement the same programs, which you implemented in the
Eastern Europe and some other states, in the Islamic Iran, you will fail. Your efforts
will be futile. I said this to them two years ago. And this is a fact. But unfortunately,
I see that the enemy who has concentrated all his propaganda efforts so as to mislead the
public opinion in the country, has now switched over from radio propaganda by building a
stronghold inside our country. Some of the newspapers inside the country today are the
bases of the enemy. They are performing the same task that the BBC Radio and Voice of
America as well as the British and American and Zionist television broadcasts intend to
perform. [At this point the audience begin chanting the slogan of "Death to mercenary
writers"].
I am opposed neither to press freedom nor to the diversity of subjects discussed by the
press. I will become happier if the number of newspapers in this country were to increase
from 20 to 200. I have no bad feelings in my heart in the face of the fact that there are
many newspapers and periodicals in this country. If the press were to follow the
constitution, that is, if they were to enlighten the people, if they were to respect the
country's interests, if they were to use their pens to serve the people and religion, the
more such newspapers we have the better it will be. But when some newspapers concentrate
all their efforts to create anxiety among the public, to create discord and to make the
people and their readerspessimistic towards the state...
It seems as to if 10 or 15 newspapers are being directed from the same center to publish
articles with similar headlines. They make mountains out of molehills and anyone reading
their headlines would imagine that everything in the country is forsaken. They kill the
hope among the youth. They weaken the people's trust in the state officials. They offend
and insult the main revolutionary foundation of the country. I do not know whose example
these newspapers are following. Even the western press is not like this. This is a sort of
charlatanism by the press... This is a kind of press charlatanism which is being pursued
by some section of the press today.
In some countries of the world, which offer a model for journalism for certain of our
newspapers, if an official, a minister, an executive official and even if a president
resort to stealing, they write about it and reveal it. If he or she commits crimes, they
are disclosed. If he or she takes bribes, they will publish it with bold headlines.
However, they do not attack the country's constitution. They do not attack the legislative
system. They might criticize or analyze the laws which have been passed, but they do not
resort to hue and cry when dealing with a law. They have gone beyond what the main
pioneers of this method [would have done themselves].
The constitution is being insulted. The country's principal policies are being criticized.
Minor incidents are being exaggerated. The climate is filled with accusations whenever
something happens. An assassination takes place and there is no information available
about it and no-one has any clues about it as to who is behind it, but they publish
headlines in newspapers and level accusations against Guards [Islamic Revolution Guards
Corps], the basij [volunteer forces] and the clergy. What is the purpose of such moves?
Why are they so much against the basij?...
If you were supposed to benefit from the young people's enthusiasm, and if you were to
channel this enthusiasm and energy in the right direction to serve the country, what
organization would be more suitable than the Basij? Why are some individuals so hostile to
the Basij? Do they know who the target of their hostility is? Why do they keep questioning
the activities of the Basij so much? It is their questions which expose their hidden
motives. I know there are some nice people who work in the press. There are devout
believers among the proprietors of the press as well as among the journalists. However, in
the midst of the same people I see the fingerprints of such people as Abdullah Bin Abi
[presumably, Abdullah Bin Ziyad who dispatched an army against the third Shi'i Imam Husayn
and killed him with 72 of his companions] (Abdullah Bin Abi was a munafiq who lived in
Madinah during Prophet Muhammads (S) time). I see how they are trying to create division,
discord, tension, anxiety, pessimism and despondency. I see how, on the one hand, they try
to promote the agents who are affiliated and subservient to the enemy. And on the other
hand, they try to discredit the figures who are useful, devout, sincere and sympathetic. Of
course, such efforts will be futile. Almighty God will disgrace them.
Of course, I was reluctant to discuss the issue of the press so explicitly and for this
long, but I was compelled. I discussed the matter with the relevant officials. Our
honorable president is also unhappy with the press, the same as me. I discussed the matter
with him too. I heard that he had called some of these journalists and press proprietors to a meeting. He, at
the meeting, advised them, but I am not sure whether the matter can be put right through
advice. I think it is unlikely.
The fact is that the enemy has prepared a plan to influence the public opinion in Iran.
The enemy's intention is to create problems. This is the problem of the day, and they do
not give the people a chance to breathe. Even if the people find something to make them
happy, they find another problem to spoil their joy. They are constantly inducing
skirmishes.
I have repeatedly warned the state officials and I have seriously asked them to control
this situation. This is not called reigning-in the press. This is not called the
restriction of freedom of the press and distribution of information. We endorse the
healthy dissemination of information. This is tantamount to blocking the enemy's
infiltration. We are trying to stop the enemy from realizing his propaganda conspiracy.
I believe that the existing state of propaganda and press behavior in the country is
harmful to the state, to the young people, to the future, to the revolution and to the
people's faith. They are constantly trying to break fundamental principles of Islam. They
keep questioning the Islamic codes. They question the revolution, not by logical
statements but through highly wrong methods. Such methods are unprecedented and one could
not find an example, except in the unhealthy press of the past. After discussing the
matter with the relevant officials and the president, I thought of discussing the matter
with you. I feel like a father who wishes to discuss an issue with his children. Of course
I must tell you that one of the objectives pursued by the enemy is to provoke sentiments
in the country so as to create insecurity. I strongly recommend that lest one should
submit to emotions and take any action contrary to the law. I am not allowing this under
any circumstances.
When the enemy intends to create chaos and fighting, he would not find it too difficult to
hire a handful of mercenaries and dispatch them to infiltrate the ranks of Hezbollahi and
committed and sincere youth. They may, under the guise of supporting the leader - create
chaos. Be careful. Watch the infiltrators.
Nothing else, I just wanted you to know, I do not want the public opinion to be left in
the dark. The people should know what the enemy is doing in the country in the field of
cultural issues. They should know what objectives the enemy is pursuing. The enemies'
objectives are to take away the people's faith, and to create a chasm between this
generation and their elders. They belittle our proud achievements of the past 20 years.
The cultured people in other countries try to magnify their past achievements. The
eight-year war, the holy defense [against Iraq] was the biggest achievement which the
Iranian nation should be proud of. The entire world, including the NATO, the Eastern bloc,
the America itself and the reactionary states of the region all joined hands to help Iraq
and to put pressure on Iran. Nevertheless, they could not dismember even an inch of this
country's territory.
My dear ones! In the past 200 years and before the imposed war, our country always lost
some of its territory whenever it was engaged in war with another country. But after 200
years, there was a war in which the enemy failed to capture even one inch of our territory
even though all the military and political powers of the world were supporting it. The is
a source of pride for our history. But they question the war, they question the
combatants, they question the martyrs, they question the army and the [Islamic Revolution
Guards] Corps, they question the Basij. Separating the young generation from the previous
generation and from its historic achievements, separating people from the officials,
separating people from religious beliefs can only be pursued by the enemy.
This is the problem that I wanted to discuss with you. You should know, the relevant
organizations should know, that there is a great danger. And if they don't put an end to
this danger, the enemy will certainly take a step forward, the enemy will find a new
spirit. Of course, one place that the enemy will not be able to conquer, spiritually or
psychologically, is where the people stand and where this servant of people stands...
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate... Today is the day of velayat; the
day that the commander of the faithful [Ali, first Shi'i imam] was appointed as imam...
Arrogance [Persian: estekbar] has no place in a government based on velayat. This is the
meaning of velayat. The kind of government that Islam advocates is more people-oriented
that than the prevalent democracy in the world. Velayat has cordial relations with the
people. Velayat is in touch with people's feelings, sentiments, thoughts and intellectual
needs. Velayat is to serve the people...
In an Islamic government, the vali-e amr [the guardian of the cause of the Muslims] is
responsible for the management of the political system. The vali-e amr is equal in the
eyes of the law, just like anyone else. He is obliged to do many great works for the
people, the country, Islam and the Muslims. However, he must obey the law. This is the
meaning of velayat.
Right from the beginning, particularly from the establishment of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, the meaning of velayat has been distorted. Velayat has been defined erroneously. It
has been said the people are immature and as such they need a guardian. This has been
mentioned by well-known people in their writings and books. It is a pure lie and a slander
to Islam and velayat...
Today, efforts are made in the world to separate Shi'is from Sunnis. Of course, those who
are analysts and intellectuals are aware that arrogance [Persian: estekbar] will benefit
from the division [between Sunnis and Shi'is]. Arrogance wishes to separate Iran from
other Islamic countries and portray the Islamic revolution as something confined within
the borders of Iran. Arrogance wants to pave the way for exerting pressure on Iran by
other Islamic countries and therefore stop other nations learning from the Iranian
experience. These are the aims of arrogance.
We have to act just the opposite of what arrogance wants to achieve. Everyone, whether
Sunni or Shi'i, who can promote harmony, good and friendly relations between Sunnis and
Shi'is will be serving the revolution, Islam and the aims of the Islamic ummah. Anyone who
promotes division [between Shi'is and Sunnis] is working against the [aims of the Islamic
ummah]. You should be aware that in a number of Islamic countries - whose names I shall
not mention here - are contributing to funds connected to aims and objectives of
foreigners.
They allocate funds which are used, specifically, to publish books aimed at undermining
Shi'ism, its ideology and history. They distribute these books in Islamic countries. Are
they the promoters of Sunnis? No, they neither like Shi'is nor Sunnis. They wish for
neither one to exist. They are neither the friend of Shi'is nor Sunnis. However, since the
Islamic flag is held up in the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Shi'i sect; it gives these
elements an excuse to direct whatever hostility they harbour against the revolution
towards Shi'ism. They combat Shi'ism in an effort to prevent this glorious creed from
reaching others. They fear that it might attract the youth of other countries.
No-one should help enemies in their treacherous quest. No-one should aid these elements,
be it in our country, Islamic communities, Shi'i societies or among our Sunni brothers.
No-one should do anything that would further the wishes of the global arrogance [America].
We are not trying to convert anyone with our words. We are not trying to convert Shi'is to
Sunnism or vice versa....
We would not prevent anyone from proving their logical point of view. We will not stop
them. However, if someone wishes to create conflict and discord with their words, then we
can be sure that they are serving the enemy. Sunnis and Shi'is, both, must be aware of
this. National unity also includes this. I must admit that, nowadays, some people pervert
the concept of national unity by using it as a political slogan rather than a religious
guideline. We have advised them before, and do so again now, not to let the solidarity of
this glorious and unified nation be compromised...
The promotion of sedition and ill feeling among people towards each other is one of the
objectives that the enemy is pursuing today. One could say that half of the things which
are being said by foreign radios and news agencies are designed to encourage ill feeling
among one group of people towards another. They plan these things. They say certain things
to achieve certain results.
Those people who write and make speeches should in the first instance make sure that what
they say does not create pessimism - pessimism among people. This is a type of plot, a
form of sin. Some people are only trying to [undermine the faith of] the people, the young
people, through rumours, through lies, through false elaborations of the news - you could
have a situation where the news is correct but its elaboration is designed to misinform
the audience...
These are the issues that undermine national unity... Therefore, this [national unity] is
a principle and I hope that all will take it into account. This principle is our demand
from the officials who are in touch with the public. The second matter is national
security. National security is very important. Of course, national security encompasses
internal security and external security...
If divine law is implemented towards criminal elements, specially those who engage
professionally in crime, it will definitely have good results. We shouldn't bother with
international considerations or propaganda waves. What is divine law? Divine law is that
which determines everything according to its proper status and proportion. This was one
sort of insecurity.
There is also economic insecurity. People who create insecurity in the economic
environment, who destroy or confiscate people's meagre capital and resources through
illegal actions, are the cause of economic insecurity. Also, the people who confiscate
state and public resources through deception and through the control of rules and
regulations and legal loopholes, who never fail to misuse a situation in their own favour,
are the cause of economic insecurity. Look, if the economic situation in a country is
unhealthy one reason is the legal loopholes which some people can exploit in order fill their own pockets with
public funds in their own favour. Economic insecurity is another manifestation form of
insecurity.
Most important is social insecurity. In fact national insecurity is fundamentally the
result of this form of security. They aim to create insecurity in places of work, to
create insecurity in places of education, to create insecurity at universities. This is
the most important. As I have said earlier, an American official reported one month ago
that there is going to be insecurity in Iran. They have plans. All the various sections of
the people, particularly those who are being targeted by them, should be vigilant.
Right from the beginning of the revolution, the enemy has often tried to create tension in
the work environment and prevent the workforce from its productive activities through
strikes or similar actions. So far, the enemy has not succeeded. However, the enemy has
plans for insecurity in the country like the one [created] in our universities. A couple
of times, the enemy tried to create insecurity in the universities. But, the students
punched the enemy in the mouth and stopped it from succeeding. However, in some respects,
the enemy probably succeeded...
The enemy wishes to create social insecurity and riots or insecurity in urban areas and
clashes similar to that which happened on 21st and 22nd Tir 1378 [12th and 13th July 1999]
in Tehran. Because of insecurity, lives of human beings, young people, children, women,
passers-by and residents were threatened because a number of people with violent actions
created riots in the streets or burnt cars or broke windows. What were the excuses for
these acts [of violence]. However, [the enemy] always comes up with excuses for [rioters].
What sort of excuses can justify the actions of a number of people who create insecurity
or riots in their own country.
It is obvious that if such an event were to take place, security forces, military forces
and Basij [paramilitary volunteer] forces will not sit quietly by. [Crowd chants in
support] Who should stay vigilant about these acts of insecurity? The ordinary people, the
young people, the workers, the students, the circles who are being targeted by the plots,
they should remain vigilant. If they feel that someone is causing a lot of provocation
they should get hold of him. People should realize that it is the voice of the enemy that
is coming out of his mouth. All investigations point to this fact. This is a security
issue. The responsibility for the establishment of security depends on people's vigilance
and then on the relevant organizations. i.e. the Information Ministry, the Interior
Ministry, the Law Enforcement Forces, the Judiciary, etc. People expect us to establish
security. The most important thing that people expect a state to do is to establish
security. This is the most important thing that I expect from the relevant organizations.
They should be vigilant, they should be careful, they should maintain an attitude of
vigilance. We should not allow the enemy to do what it wants. The domestic situation is
sometimes connected with events abroad. Look at the [recent] provocations.
Just a few days ago an American minister [Secretary of State Madeleine Albright] delivered
a speech. After half a century, or over 40 years, the Americans have now confessed that
they staged the 28th Mordad [19th August 1955] coup. They confessed that the supported the
suppressive, dictatorial and corrupt Pahlavi shah for 25 years. [Crowd chants in support]
Please pay attention. We are in the year 1379, more than 40 years have elapsed since 1332
and the coup d'etat of the 28th Mordad. It is only now that they are admitting that they
were behind the coup d'etat. They admit that they supported and backed the dictatorial,
oppressive, corrupt and subservient regime of the shah for 25 years. And they are now
saying that they supported Saddam Husayn in his war against Iran. What do you think the
Iranian nation, faced with this situation and these admissions, feels?...
In the course of those days, during the war, we repeatedly said in our speeches that the
Americans are helping Saddam Husayn. They denied this and claimed they remained impartial.
Now that 12 years have elapsed after the end of the war, in a centre [American-Iranian
Council] this American secretary of state is officially admitting that they helped Saddam
Husayn.
The question is, what good will this admission do us?... What good does this admission -
that you acted in that way then - do us now?.. An admission years after the crime was
committed, while they might be committing similar crimes now, will not do the Iranian
nation any good...
This is the situation with regards those who are not willing to approach a nation in any
way other than through a position of bullying and power-seeking. America's biggest
shortcoming, a big calamity affecting today's humanity, is that it wants to approach every
nation in the world from a position of bullying, like that of a feudal lord addressing a
serf. Their approach towards OPEC, a country's foreign policy, any issue to do with other
countries is from a position of bullying. Why? They bully to achieve their own objectives.
They bully and intimidate to secure their own interests. It might be that a country or a
nation might submit to these tactics for whatever reason. But the officials in a country
like Iran do not owe you anything, they are not intimidated by you and have no weaknesses
for you to take advantage of. They have not done anything that could be used to blackmail
them. They are in touch with their nation. A nation that is honourable, believes in Islam,
follows principles and lives on the basis of a firm commitment to independence. It is not
a crime if such a nation refuses to submit to your bullying. If a nation does not submit
to such bullying and says that it rejects bullying and such tactics especially those aimed
at that nation, if a nation adheres to such a principle, what means can you employ to
defeat such a nation and to subjugate it? How can you?
Superpowers falsely claim that they can do whatever they want. But in the past 20 years,
the Islamic government and the Iranian nation have proved through their steadfastness and
progress that despite the American opposition to them and to their objectives neither
America or any other superpower can do anything against a nation that is vigilant, brave,
aware of its rights and prepared to defend its rights. They cannot do a damn thing against
this sort of people. [Chants of support]...
In her speech the lady secretary [of state, Madeleine Albright] has supported and,
falsely, praised the shah's regime. She says that Shah's regime was dictatorial, bad, this
and that, but it promoted Iran's economy. This is the greatest and funniest lie that a
secretary of state can tell in the existing circumstances. Did they help Iran's economy to
flourish? The people who lived then are well aware of this lie and it is the young people
who should take note...
[During the shah's era] foreign companies dominated the major economic resources of the
country. Most oil resources of the country were given to [foreigners] for free... During
the shah's era, large amounts of money were deposited in certain American funds and as
such Iran was able to buy, without thinking twice, spare parts for aircraft or other
goods. Then, producing [goods domestically] was not an issue. In those days, Iran's
economy was in its worst shape as far as the Iranian people were concerned. For Americans
and plunderers, Iran's economy was in a good shape.
After many years, the lady [Albright] says that Iran's economy during the shah's era was
flourishing, considering that today any economist or analysts or ordinary person knows
about the calamity that was inflicted on Iran's economy by the shah's regime - of course,
the people knew it then and it was no secret. Why is she commenting [on Iran's past
economic performance] now? You must pay attention to why she is saying this. It is because
she knows that her comments will be broadcast and the young people of this country - who
may be suffering form the current economic situation - could think of the past economic
situation as being favourable. This is the reason for the mischievous act of that
political figure [Albright]. This is her aim...
The Iranian nation looks and sees an enemy standing on the other side. Therefore, the
American nation and government - I mean the American government not the American people -
the point is not that Iranian nation does not trust the American government, no, but we consider the latter to be our enemy. The Iranian nation thinks of the American
government in those terms. [Crowd chants]
They [American officials] know what they are doing. All this talk on their part about
starting a dialogue with the government of Iran is just another ploy. They are laying the
groundwork for their future sinister plots. These are deceptions. It is not as if some
people can approach America in the hope of starting a dialogue. America's animosity will
not be resolved through discussions. America is only pursuing its own interests in Iran.
If on the one hand a puppet government, similar to that of the former shah rules Iran,
then the country will suffer, as it did before. If on the other hand, an independent
government manages Iran, then America would act with hostility towards it, as it is doing
today. And if we compare these two alternatives we come to the conclusion that a nation
suffers considerably less for standing up to America than if it were to surrender to the
latter's bullying.
The brave Iranian nation has stood up to America's conspiracies, deceptions and
interference. The Iranian nation has relied on its innate strength, intelligence, courage
and the country's capable officials to fight its enemies. The Iranian nation will be able
to make all its enemies including America regret their animosity towards Iran - as some of
Iran's former enemies have done so. [Crowd chants in support]...
(Although the translation from a foreign agency seems to be more or less
OK, its accuracy has not been checked with the original text )
In the Name of Allah, the
Compassionate, the
Meciful
"And (remember) when Ibrāhim and Ismāil were raising the
foundations of the House, (saying), "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily,
You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower." (al-Baqarah:127)
Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, Hajj Pilgrims of the Muslim Ummah
Salamun Alaykum va Rahmatullah!
When the great propagators of Tawhid (Monotheism), Ibrāhim (A.S.) and Ismāil (A.S.) were laying the foundations of the Kabah in the
remote and arid valley and foothills, even the most farsighted eyes could not anticipate
that such a place would turn into the center of faith, hope and focus of hearts and souls.
Today, the Kabah is the spiritual center of the Muslim World and the House for the
greatest annual congregation of the Muslim Ummah. The Kabah is the spring of love
and hope, an ocean of greatness and trust, and, at the same time, the meeting point of
great nations and communities. The sincerity of its founders and approval of the Almighty
Allah have turned that seed into such a fruitful and great tree.
But is the Muslim Ummah taking advantage of this bountiful source, as it should?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is appalling and deplorable. Today, the Muslim
World is being deeply afflicted by chronic illnesses, the most significant of them could
be summarized into the following ten points: political and religious strife; weakening of
bonds of morality and faith; scientific and technological backwardness; political and
economic dependence; indulgence and lavish life-styles and arrogance along with poverty,
hunger and degradation; weakening of self-confidence and hope for future among leaders;
isolating religion and separating it from politics and daily life; lack of creativity for
new understandings based on the infinite source of the Holy Quran; surrendering
before the imposed western cultural onslaught; and the Muslim dignity being trampled due
to degradation and greed of some political leaders.
These chronic illnesses some of which are caused by others and all of them have
been created in the course of time through treason, lack of will, ignorance and
dictatorship of internal elements or out of enmity, cruelty and satanic acts of foreigners
have inflicted the greatest blows upon the Muslim Ummah. Failures in the Muslim
World result from those problems and the only way to achieve happiness and success is to
overcome these obstacles.
Today, the natural wealth of the Muslim World is being plundered. The precious
intellectual and cultural resources are intentionally covered under false cultural
propaganda attacks, and young talents and minds are taken out, or their energy is wasted
in political and military conflicts. Carelessness and moral degradation are being injected
into the life, education and sport activities of the youth, using the most advanced means
of communication. The oil of the Muslim World is increasing the wealth of oil companies
and treasuries of alien countries; hence the enemies of Islamic countries, rather than the
countries themselves, are getting wealthier each and every day. All this is happening
while in the heart of the Muslim World and in various parts of Asia, Africa and Europe,
millions of Muslims are facing the lashes of cruelty of infidels, and Palestine and
Lebanon are being burnt in the fire of the Zionists brutality. And none of these
sufferings and hardships induces statesmen and intellectuals of the Muslim Ummah to work
out a solution.
All this happens while valuable resources are available everywhere to help us establish a
new situation, and while the necessary means and motivation for changing this situation
exist in all Islamic countries. Today, we can hardly find an Islamic country whose youth
are not feeling strong Islamic zeal and motivation, and whose people are not inclined to
keep their faith seriously while at the same time feeling concerned about their present
situation and looking forward for a better Islamic World.
The most important obstacle for the activation of the existing potentials is that the
political power inside these countries is not oriented towards these desires and
expectations. In some cases, the weak, dependent, dictatorial or suppressive governments
cannot catch up with the great Islamic aspirations of their people. Also, such governments
are blind to the glory of the Muslim World and its great impacts upon world events;
therefore, each Muslim nation finds itself alone in front of pressures exerted by
anti-Islamic arrogant powers and therefore is unable to confront their political
propaganda onslaught and possible military threats. Finally, the practical and objective
experience of Islamic sovereignty in the present era, i.e. the Islamic Republic of Iran,
has been blurred by thick clouds of hostile propaganda; hundreds of audio-visual and
printed mass media and thousands of surrogate minds and pens are working each and every
day to distort realities, magnify weaknesses or failures and deny any success and
progress.
A lot of these obstacles burdening the Muslim nations will be removed if Muslims
understand the great power of Hajj and take the best advantage of this important annual
meeting and the center of congregation. The Hajj occasion can clearly demonstrate the
glory and spiritual strength of the Muslim World to pilgrims from different countries and
can provide a unique opportunity for the meaningful cooperation among various Muslim
nations. During the Hajj season, Muslims can obtain accurate news from their brothers and
put away the hostile propaganda cover created by enemies of the Muslim World. They can
also make use of the spirituality of the Sanctified House of Allah to produce concerted
and sincere efforts to return to Islamic sovereignty and achieve dignity and independence
and make efforts to bring about major developments in their countries. Establishing
Islamic sovereignty in Islamic countries is an auspicious but difficult task. The next
stage is to take care of this newly established Islamic State and to safeguard and nurture
it materially and spiritually a task which is difficult and requires a more
persistent effort.
In Islamic Iran, this newly established Islamic State has faced various overt and covert
hostilities; nevertheless, praise to Allah, it has reached the stage of independence,
stability and growth. Of course, hurricanes of hostility, launched by the malicious
centers of arrogance and anti-Islamic powers, are still surrounding it from all sides. The
long-awaited phenomenon faced hostile and hastened enmity from all arrogant world powers
because it was the first example in the contemporary world and could turn into an ideal
model for other countries, thus jeopardizing the interests of the United States, the
Zionists and other world devouring powers. Instigating ethnic and communal conflicts
inside the country was the first step which was followed by activating mercenaries of the
ex-regime, preparing military coups, and finally persuading a neighboring country to
launch a devastating massive attack along the 1300-km-long border. Each of these acts was
sufficient to overthrow a national government; yet, the Islamic Republic of Iran was not
merely a national government but in fact a foundation laid upon the basis of the
peoples; faith and deep beliefs. The war imposed by the treacherous neighbor lasted 8
years and even though America's efforts succeeded in creating distrust and suspicion
against us among some of our neighboring countries, who provided unlimited assistance to
the enemy, at last the aggressor retreated while it was exhausted, poor, and defeated.
During the 21-year-long existence of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the mass media empire
of arrogant world powers waged a continuous propaganda war against us, with a view to
mobilize the world public opinion against the Islamic government. Using vast resources of
Zionist capitalists, the foreign policy apparatus of the United States and its security
system did their utmost in imposing economic sanctions and confronting the foreign policy
of the Islamic Republic of Iran in each and every field. All over the world, scores of
terrorist grouplets and clusters of political mercenaries, composed of traitors and aided
by large amounts of funds and promises of enemies, tried to overthrow the Islamic system.
Hundreds of our noble people, who fell victim of mean criminal acts of the mercenaries and
became martyrs, have marked the history of our revolution, which has endured all the
hardships and is moving towards glory and perfection.
In a summary, it is more than 20 years that our enemies, led by the U.S. and Zionism, have
not left a single stone unturned to confront this newly established Islamic Republic; in
spite of that, all along this period the Islamic Republic has fully utilized every chance
and opportunity to grow and move towards stability and perfection. Today, stronger than
ever, the Islamic Republic of Iran is proclaiming Islam, Islamic unity and dignity, making
our enemies completely disappointed, divided and confused.
Today, even years after the demise of the great architect and founder of this lofty
institution, Imam Khomeini (R.A.), the Islamic
Republic of Iran is still following the goals and objectives laid down and cherished by
its great founder. The honor of this stability and power belongs, first and foremost, to
Islam and its life-inspiring guidelines, and secondly to the Iranian nation who stepped
forward in the path of Islam with firm beliefs, offered great sacrifices with sincerity,
and defended its achievements with forbearance.
It is obvious that if we, the responsible officials of the Islamic Republic, had not shown
weaknesses and if we had not committed justified or unjustified omissions, today the
Islamic Republic would have been much closer in attaining its goals and objectives under
the guidance of lofty, divine Islamic principles and teachings.
As always, today the main propaganda tricks of the arrogant world power are to show that
the Iranian nation and the Islamic government have given up their desired goals. This is a
malicious lie to disappoint all those who cherish Islamic sovereignty all over the world,
as well as to weaken the determination of our young generation in Iran. It is in this
background that they are celebrating the outcome of the 21st general elections
of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament). While admitting democracy in Iran, they
are not yet ready to acknowledge the popular participation of Iranian masses throughout
the existence of the Islamic Republic in Iran. They are having reservations in admitting
that the same kind of popular elections were held four years ago to elect the members of
parliament as well as the last presidential elections held three years ago.
They are hoping, in vain, that opponents of the Islamic sovereignty and supporters of
restoring domination of Iran to arrogant powers would take control of power. This is the
same misinterpretation and wishful thinking that led the U.S. and its mercenaries to fail
many times in their challenges with the great power of Islam and the strong will of
Iranian people. Relying and trusting in the Almighty Allah, with deep and unbreakable
faith in the divine, life-inspiring guidelines of Islam, with complete recognition of the
great nation to whom I belong and have spent all my life and spending the remaining years
of my life, I hereby assure all friends and enemies that our great nation is determined to
follow the path of Islam until it achieves its goals, and that this nation is committed to
demonstrate to the world that dignity, growth, material & spiritual progress, and
lofty human ideals will be obtained only through practicing Islam and the Holy Quran
in all aspects of life.
The United States of America should better stop thinking that Iran would return to its
fold of domination, that desire of Muslim people for lofty causes and sovereignty of Islam
could be subdued in Islamic countries, that Palestine would be left to the racist and
blood-shedding Zionists, who could easily get away with it, and that they could decrease
the wave of hatred spreading against them fast throughout the Islamic World. If this point
could be recognized by all the Islamic states, then the dignity of Islam would become
manifested throughout the Islamic World, and the Hajj congregation will become a genuine,
permanent source of power for Islam, and natural resources of the Muslim World would serve
the Muslim nations and the rich, life-inspiring Islamic culture would have the opportunity
to bless the mankind.
I implore the Almighty Allah to bring that day closer to us; I call on all respectable
Hajj pilgrims to pray for the salvation of Muslims in this world and for the divine help
to the combatant nation of Iran; I also ask all dear Iranian Hajj pilgrims to make
endeavors for attaining spiritual bounties, to show self-restraint and unity, to
participate in congregations, and to strive for spiritual and moral achievements.
Vassalamu Alaykum va Rahmatullah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei
Dhul Hajjah 3, 1420
The following translation of an important speech by the dear Leader of the Islamic
Revolution on the Majlis election was done by a foreign news agency, although the
translation seems to be more or less OK, its accuracy has not been checked with the
original text. As long as we have no better translation, we publish this one.
------------------------------------------
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate...
I hope that this year, God willing, the Hajj is performed as in previous years, or even
better than before. This is an important religious duty...
The Hajj on the one hand is the symbol of spirituality, of the relationship with God, of
the understanding of the people's hearts of divine verses and of the people getting closer
to God. On the other hand, it is the symbol of unity and solidarity of the Islamic ummah,
of the removal of barriers among the ummah and of the putting away of differences and
splits created either by the enemy or by fanaticism. The Hajj is a step towards the
establishment of a single Islamic ummah...
I consider it to be my duty here to thank our dear people from the bottom of my heart for
the glorious epic that they created on 22nd Bahman 11th February, revolution anniversary
this year. This is very important: when all the enemy's propaganda mouthpieces were trying
their utmost to alienate the people from their past, from their revolution and separate
them from their Imam Khomeyni and make them forget their imam - believing they could
create certain new values among the people - you could see that when it came to 22nd
Bahman, in Tehran and in every large city and small town, even in remote areas and
villages, the people came onto the streets. No-one had to invite them, neither were there
financial gains to be made. They people come onto the scene here, and this is because of
that very same spirituality. Let me say this: those who are plotting against us, those who
are lying in ambush, they are waiting to see a small sign from the people of Iran to make
them hopeful that the people no longer care about the revolution. They are really lying in
ambush. They are, however, confused: on the one hand, they listen to certain remarks and
read certain newspaper headlines which may show that spirituality has ended in this
country, show that no-one talks about the revolution or the imam; show that everything has
been forgotten. They become happy when they see this, they think this is the case. But
when it comes to the people's presence on the scene, when it comes to 22nd Bahman, they
suddenly see a great popular flood shouting the slogans of Islam and the revolution;
remembering the imam; honouring their glorious past. They get confused, they don't know
what to do next. They are, therefore, constantly going to and fro, not knowing what to
do...
I think I should say a few words about the elections on this occasion. Elections are not
just political phenomena. Elections symbolize the people's participation and restoration
of their rights. Elections symbolise a country's national capability and power. That is
the meaning of elections. Today, throughout the world - it does not make any difference
whether it is our country or any other part of the world - it is important what percentage
of people who could vote take part in the elections and vote. From the point of view of
the people of the world, analysts, and world policy-makers, a system in which the largest
number of people go to the ballot box and cast their votes has stronger foundations than
others. This shows the strength of a system. Praise be to God, we have always demonstrated
this in the various elections which have been held over the years. The people maintained a
strong presence.
Our people have the right to determine the fate of their country themselves. That is their
right as well as their duty. They have the right because the country belongs to them. The
people must form their own legislature and choose their own law-makers. They must have a
free choice and they must make the right choice. They must choose their officials in
accordance with the law. That is their right. It belongs to the people. However it is
their duty as well. One cannot say that one does not want to use one's right. No, the fate
of the system depends on using and acquiring that right. That is their duty. Everyone must
participate. That is the divine right which the Islamic republican system has been able to
provide to our people. We did not have this right in the past. In the systems we had in
the past, the people were deprived of such a right and they could not use it. The Islamic
republican system has enabled the people to acquire it. Sometimes even a single vote can
play an effective role. No-one must say: What is so special about my vote? What effect is
it going to have? Yes, sometimes one vote or a few votes can have an impact on the fate of
a country. It means that you can send a faithful and honest person to the Majlis by voting
for him. At sensitive junctures, that is when the vote of even one deputy can determine
the fate of the country, or a particular class or the future of the economy, a person who
goes to the Majlis can cast his vote and influence the situation. Thus no-one must ever
say: What is the influence of my vote?
God willing, the people will do the most important thing that they can do on election day.
All the people must do that - women, men and all those who are legally entitled to vote.
In this way, they must be enthusiastic about taking part in the elections and make the
election process dynamic. Whoever likes the Islamic system will take part in the
elections. Whoever is interested in the glory of the Islamic republican system will take
part in the elections. My own prediction is that, God willing, as we have seen, this great
nation which is aware and intelligent, will take part in the elections enthusiastically.
In this way, the people will announce their presence. In fact, they will demonstrate their
support for Islam and the Islamic state.
The second point is that the elections must be held in a tranquil and friendly atmosphere
in which there is no agitation, altercation, hatred. There must be no such things.
Obviously, there are candidates everywhere who make their own decisions and who have
different views and tastes. The people will take a look at the situation and, God willing,
they will make their choice and act adroitly after getting to know them the candidates .
They will vote for them. This must be done in a tranquil atmosphere. That is what we are
proud of. You see, a few days ago, we celebrated the 21st anniversary of the victory of
the revolution. In a few days, we will be holding the 21st election in our country. That
is not a trivial matter. It is a very important thing.
Now, others can sit and feel sorry for our nation and say that this nation should move
towards establishing democracy. What is democracy? If by democracy they mean the people's
presence, involvement, participation and choice, then, would you please tell us where else
you can see such a thing in this world [similar to the level of democracy present in
Iran]? Were those who ruled over this country by relying on the Americans' money and
political power for years and destroyed everything in this country, able to hold such
nationwide elections even on a single occasion? Twenty-one elections have been held over a
period of 21 years. Is that a joke? In all those 21 tests, the atmosphere in this country
has been like this. It has had a tranquil and friendly atmosphere. Of course, some people
run their own publicity campaigns and say things.
An environment in which there is violence, political agitation, political violence, hatred
and such things harms the election process. Firstly, it will make a group of people hate
the process of participating in the elections. It will lead some people to have doubts. It
will make people despondent. It will disappoint people. Unfortunately, I can see that
through their remarks, writings and some of the things which are published, certain people
are trying to ensure that an atmosphere of hatred prevails over our society. Why? Someone
insults the left and another person insults the right. Where are they heading? Where are
you
going? What do you want? What are these interpretations they have made up? More often than
not, the enemy has put words in their mouths. It has thrown a bunch of ignorant people -
now we are not saying that they are biased, of course, some of them are undoubtedly biased
- in there and they are constantly chattering and saying such things. What is left and
right?
This nation is a Muslim nation, a religious nation, a united one. This nation has brought
about the revolution as a result of its joint efforts and safeguarded the system for 21
years also as a result of its joint efforts. They, the Iranian people, thwarted the great
danger, that is the Iran and Iraq war which was imposed on us for eight years. The nation
is united. What is the meaning of artificial divisions? Certain people come along under a
certain name and some people come along under another name. They keep trying to create
division and split among the people. The people also demonstrated that they do not pay any
attention to these kinds of words. This is also obvious. The people are going about their
own business. Those who create division too can go about their own business. The climate
should be a calm climate. Some people bend on spreading rumours about violence and
tension; thus creating confusion in the people's minds. No. People are not going to resort
to such things.
I want to say that as from now on and during the next couple of days which are left before
the election day, and may be in other stages, our dear people, especially the young
generation, should control their emotions and use their logic. They should view things
with open eyes, and vote, assess and move on. There are various political preferences. It
has been as such so far. People have their own preferences. The only thing to which we
must pay attention is that when we vote for someone we have to be able to have an answer
for our decision before God...
The next point is that the Majlis must be a kind of Majlis which is able to stand up to
coercion, scare-mongering, excessiveness and avarice of world powers, and assess the
problems of the country and the nation...
Some are easily intimidated. I have said on several occasions that the core of the
operations carried out by arrogance, in other words these hegemonistic world powers who
interfere in this and that country bringing governments and nations under their control,
is done through intimidation. Their real power is not as much as they make out. Well, it
is clear, if they had as much power as they claim to have, then considering how they
dislike our revolution and our country, then if they had any power this revolution would
not have grown to this extent; it would not have lasted the way it has. Is this not reason
enough? That the hegemonists, America and the Zionists in the world are not as powerful as
they claim to be. The core of their operations is done by virtue of threats. Threats and
acts of intimidation. A Majlis deputy should not allow himself to be intimidated by them.
He must be a person who is not intimidated. A person who is not intimidated is one who
relies on God. When a person puts his trust in God, then that person will not be
intimidated by anyone. We saw a prominent example of that in our very era, in the shape of
the imam Khomeyni , and we also witnessed thousands of other examples in the course of the
Iran-Iraq war. On the battlefield and in the arena of politics, these faithful and
self-sacrificing youth were not afraid of anything but God...
The second point is that a deputy should not become infatuated. Some are infatuated and
are allured. Naive people fall for imaginary economic, political or security solutions
which are presented to them in great style; they suffer for years as a result of it and
finally make life miserable for themselves and others. They must not be infatuated. The
correct solution, the independent solution, a solution which has been adopted after taking
the special circumstances of this nation and country is that which has been presented by
Islam.
Islam has provided a solution for everything, in all issues.
It is up to us to go in search of those solutions. If we do not understand something well,
or do not go in search of it, then it is not the fault of Islam. One should not be greedy
either. Some forget everything the moment their mouth is sweetened by the enemy. If you
want a deputy not to be intimidated; infatuated or fall prey to greed, then you must go in
search of a person who is righteous and faithful. It is a well-known fact that individuals
who are not righteous place their wealth in the hands of righteous people for safekeeping.
Trust is a virtue. Of course, an righteous and faithful person can also make mistakes, but
then on realizing his mistake he then seeks to redress it. This is a great virtue. Not
like those who make mistakes, head for a fall - head for a descent into hell - but on
realizing their mistake, they stubbornly deny it, and stand on their word and sink in even
deeper.
Therefore the election of a deputy is important...One must conduct research and inquire
from righteous people before making a choice. God will reward those who have done their
research, even if they have made a mistake. The Almighty will not question you about it.
One must conduct research in order to do this task in the best possible way. This is a
test before the Iranian nation. This is a big test before the nation, the government and
officials. Recently, some of these Americans have again made disparaging remarks about the
elections. One has said that we are carefully looking at the situation and are hoping that
such and such type of people enter the Majlis. The people should smack them in the mouth.
Another has said that we will pursue the case of those who were deemed ineligible by the
Guardian Council . The country's officials must be extremely vigilant. What happens when
an enemy who is against the interests of Iran seeks to restore its hegemony over this
country? Why is it that they are concerned about whether or not someone has been
disqualified? Is this not a sign that the manner in which our legitimate bodies have
disqualified an individual is in exact contravention of the hegemonists' interests? Those
who do not know what they are saying, or are not aware of what they are saying, must show
a bit more care. The enemy has opened its mouth. There was a time when this country, with
all its resources, was under the control of America and American agents. The revolution
erupted and totally altered the situation. It made the country, the nation, and the
resources of the country independent. They are lying in ambush, waiting for an opportunity
to take over this country and this nation's vital resources and interests once again. The
nation must be vigilant, and it is vigilant. With the blessings of the Almighty, the
people's presence in these elections and their correct choice in the elections will once again defeat the Americans,
the arrogance and the centres of Zionism wherever they may be in the world.