Message to the Second Term of the Assembly of Experts for Leadership

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We give thanks to Almighty God for granting the great nation of Iran the success of electing a group of the nation's elites and distinguished individuals, and for the blessed Assembly of Experts, according to Article 107 of the Constitution, to be formed for the second time with divine confirmations and the attentions of His Holiness the Master of the Age (may my soul be sacrificed for him).

This current Assembly lacks the great blessing of the sacred breaths and wise guidance of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), which descended like the pure mercy of God upon hearts and souls, igniting the light of guidance and knowledge in both private and public gatherings. This deprivation, after reliance on God (Glorified and Exalted), and seeking the favors of the Master of the Age (may God hasten his reappearance), must be compensated with a doubled sense of responsibility and increased effort and struggle by all responsible individuals of the system, especially such a great and sensitive center as the esteemed Assembly of Experts, as much as possible.

This esteemed Assembly, which is a gathering of a group of great scholars, jurists, and prominent figures in Islamic and revolutionary awareness and commitment, bears the most sensitive duties in the Islamic Republic system and is the guarantor of the survival and continuity of the Islamic system in the most critical moments. Naturally, it is the place of hope for the nation and all the friends of the revolution, and also the target of the enmity and greed of the enemies and ill-wishers. This fact should lead the esteemed elected representatives of the nation and the acceptors of this great trust to perform their important duty in this sacred stronghold with utmost vigilance and readiness and with trust in divine promises, nullifying the plots of the enemies and the whispers of the malicious.

The sacred Islamic system, with steadfastness and insistence on lofty divine goals and its diligent continuation on the straight path of the prophets and saints, and standing in support of the oppressed and struggle against oppressors, and striving for Islamic justice and equity, and not fearing the threats and pressures and damages inflicted upon it by the global system of domination, has been able to kindle and keep alive the light of hope in the hearts of the deprived and oppressed around the world, giving them courage and power to act.

The face of today's world is clearly different from what it was before the emergence of the Islamic state, and the world is passing through a sensitive period and transitioning from one era to another. There is no doubt that Islamic faith and righteous action based on it can play a major role in this change and transformation, directing the structure of human life towards righteousness and perfection. Therefore, the world's eyes are on the Islamic Republic, which has kept the exalted banner of Islam raised with the powerful hands of this great and unparalleled nation, with many sacrifices and the blood of countless martyrs, demonstrating the power of faith and the impotence of worldly rulers to all. Our duty is to keep this banner raised by our steadfastness in the face of the threats and temptations of the dominators, sparing no sacrifice, so that we can fulfill the historical role and responsibility placed upon us in this period in the best way possible. It is evident that the responsibility and duty of leadership in this field is the heaviest of all, and the esteemed experts must fulfill their responsibility in identifying, appointing, and assisting the leader in each period with this truth in mind.

Now, human civilization witnesses a country being governed by the system of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist — that is, the rule of religion and piety. This is a significant and decisive test for humanity, which has tried various human systems and found no cure for its fundamental pains in any of them. We must all remember that if this sacred system can bring peace and comfort to the bodies and souls of those under its power, eradicate poverty, ignorance, disbelief, discrimination, and injustice, and confront these chronic human pains on the global stage, it will have offered the greatest service to the history of humanity and opened a new path for them. This task requires that from the leader to the top officials and all responsible individuals, each according to their level of responsibility, not cease their struggle for a moment, consider no threat as an obstacle in their path, and not succumb to any temptation. This truth also makes the importance of the work of the elected experts of the nation more apparent and the burden of the trust they have taken on heavier.

I implore Almighty God, with supplication and humility, to include us in His guidance, grace, and support, and to make His hand of power, as it has been throughout the past twelve years, a supporter of this system and this nation, and to hold us fast to the firm rope and the secure refuge of the Guardianship of the Great Messenger and his noble family (peace be upon them), and to include us in the pure prayers of His Holiness the Master of the Age (may my soul be sacrificed for him), and to send His mercy and grace upon the pure resting place of the great leader and the esteemed leader of the revolution, Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified).

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings

February 20, 1991 Seyyed Ali Khamenei