Statements in Meeting with Members of the Assembly of Experts

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

First, I extend a warm welcome to the esteemed gentlemen and hope that the honorable Assembly of Experts, with the attention of His Holiness the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him), can always proceed on the same straight and clear path that is the path of the revolution and the path of Islam. We are very pleased that, thanks be to God, this Assembly is once again composed of a significant and notable group of great figures, scholars, pure souls, scientific and revolutionary personalities, reputable faces, and influential figures in the general movement of the Iranian nation. With such a collection of personalities, it is fitting for the Islamic Republic system to feel assured and consider its Islamic destiny as a guaranteed fate.

A significant matter anticipated in the Constitution, which has served as a foundation for the trust and confidence of the people over the past twelve years — namely, this honorable Assembly of Experts — today also serves as a guarantee and a point of reliance for the Iranian people regarding the stability of the Islamic system; especially considering that in a general election, the people participated freely and eagerly, choosing faces they knew, trusted, and remembered for their good records, and thanks be to God, this Assembly was formed.

The gentlemen present here, besides being members of this Assembly, are either esteemed Friday prayer leaders, well-known scholars, or reputable figures across the country, and your will and attention have an impact on the people. What I consider valuable to mention in this gathering is that it is the duty of everyone, especially reputable figures, scholars, and religious and scientific personalities, to pay attention to three points, and these three points must be given utmost attention under the current circumstances, and all programs, statements, and expressions should be shaped with these three points in mind. Today, neglecting these three points is truly not permissible.

The first point is the issue of the general unity of the people. Among reputable scholars and eloquent speakers, especially esteemed Friday prayer leaders and personalities who hold official positions and recognized status in the Islamic society, who is more qualified to sincerely invite the people towards unity and consolidation — this very unity that, thanks be to God, exists? None of us officials of the system should allow hands, whether out of malice and intent or out of ignorance, to create division in the unity of the nation and divide the people into factions, setting their desires against each other. This has its ways. By scolding, arguing, and threatening, this goal is not always achieved. It is more through love, winning hearts, and attraction that this goal should be realized.

When there are different perspectives, if we consider unity as a principle, among our highest principles, and regard it as a top necessity, it is natural that each side must make some concessions. Without concessions, this goal cannot be achieved. No one should expect that if someone is on the opposite side, they should completely abandon their thoughts, beliefs, tastes, and desires — if, God forbid, there is any desire — and surrender entirely. This is impossible. If we want to create healing and unity and avoid the harms of division, concessions are needed in some cases. This is a duty.

Although our great departed Imam (may God be pleased with him) always invited us to unity throughout his blessed life, I feel that today, if that great man were present, he would invite us to unity more than ever. These are important and sensitive conditions. Thanks be to God, many dangers have been lifted from the Islamic Republic, and this system has passed through many difficult stages; but in this stage we are currently in — which is the stage of deriving results from past struggles and efforts — this unity is necessary and essential, and if, God forbid, the existing unity is lost and discord and division arise, many of the efforts made may be wasted.

The second point — which is no less important than the first point — is that everyone has a duty to support the country's officials, especially our esteemed President and those who have dedicated themselves to working for this country and nation, who have come to the forefront and, for the sake of fulfilling their duty, have given up comfort and many personal pleasures, with unconditional support. Supporting does not mean that no one should have the slightest objection to them, or that they should never voice an objection. No, a person supports their friend and dear one with all their being and sometimes even puts their life on the line for them; but sometimes they also give them a reminder and point out a matter. Giving reminders and speaking up does not mean a lack of support. Support has a clear meaning, and everyone understands what is meant.

The government and other officials should not be left alone. Today, there are motivations for the fundamental enemies of the revolution and the Islamic Republic to create a gap between the country's officials and the people, and to gradually turn the love that has always existed between the officials and the people into coldness. Such a thing should not be allowed to happen. Attacking officials, accusing officials, making false judgments about officials, and making the people resentful towards officials is a betrayal today and certainly against duty.

The government and the President, more than other officials, need this support and emotional and heartfelt connection with the people. The country's judicial officials are the same. The Islamic Consultative Assembly — which is the center of legislation and elected by the people and a place of hope for them — is the same. The people should not become disillusioned with the Assembly and the judiciary, and criticism and objection should not reach a point where their image becomes tarnished in the eyes of the people. Therefore, the second point is summarized in general support and maintaining the connection and bond between the people and the officials — which, thanks be to God, has existed so far and must continue to exist. This is a duty and obligation. Acting contrary to it is against duty.

The third point, which is certainly more important than the other two points, is that the revolution will only be fully realized when the masses truly become Muslim and faithful people. Part of Islam relates to the actions of the people, which depict and outline their overall social system and general movement and drive them. Another part relates to the beliefs, spiritual qualities, and personal actions of the people. If our great revolution and the Islamic Republic system, with all its material and spiritual capabilities, cannot transform the hearts and characters of the people from what is the result of past wrong educations into Muslim people, it has certainly not succeeded, and the revolution has not occurred. The revolution is the revolution of the people. The revolution of social and economic relations is secondary to the revolution of the people. Until the people are transformed, that economic revolution and the change and transformation of social, economic, and political relations will not be realized at all. At the beginning of the work, thanks be to God, a spiritual revolution occurred among the people, which was a very important movement, and its result is what we see.

If what happened does not continue, deepen, and spread, and does not encompass the generation that is coming into existence and future generations, and, God forbid, the name is Islam and the Islamic Republic and the rule of the heralds of Islam, but the reality of the matter and the text of people's lives is something else, this revolution has certainly not been successful and is not. In that case, we seek refuge in God from such a thing happening. We must not let such a thing occur. The enemy is working on this point. All institutions and all individuals, especially the esteemed scholars and clergy, must work on the education of people's souls and the realization of a spiritual and moral revolution in them, especially among the youth.

Of course, the period of war and the special conditions of those days created a spiritual and true revolution for some of the youth of this country. These testaments of the martyrs, which Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) recommended studying, are because each one of them is a display of the revolution of one person. Each of these testaments and the memories of these youths that one reads, one sees a picture of the revolution of one person in it, and it is itself transformative and instructive. We must generalize this state, and it is possible. Even if it is not possible to achieve it one hundred percent for all individuals, it is possible for the majority of the people. The first condition is that a revolution must occur within the speakers and advocates of this goal, and their morals, ethics, spirituality, remembrance, attention, connection, trust, and spiritual relationship with God must be strengthened.

We must start with ourselves first. Truly, if in any of us, God forbid, there is a defect, deficiency, or flaw from this perspective, it will have a negative impact on the people. Everyone, in writing, speaking, acting, elevating personalities, bringing individuals closer or distancing them, must keep this last point in mind.

The last point is that some of the esteemed gentlemen did not participate in the elections of the Assembly of Experts in some way, or they were not successful, or in any case, events occurred that are known to the minds. I must say that those who did not come to the Assembly of Experts, their character is preserved. This is not an indication of their lack of qualification. Some of those personalities have very high and elevated qualifications, and we have devotion to them. We have known some of them over the years and in various stages for their sincerity, purity, and struggle in the path of God and their purity towards the revolution, and many others have known them too. If some are not among us — whether those brothers who were in the previous term or those who were not and were supposed to enter but are not here today — this absence should not be considered a deficiency for those gentlemen. The dignity, character, and spiritual value of individuals are preserved, and God Almighty is aware and knowledgeable of it.

We hope that God will guide us and show us what our duty is, and make each of us successful in fulfilling those duties wherever we are and whatever responsibility we have. I once again extend a warm welcome to the esteemed gentlemen, especially those who have come from distant places and towns, and thank you for your kindness in coming here.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings