Statements in Meeting with the People of East Azerbaijan

On the occasion of the anniversary of the uprising of Bahman 29, 1356 (February 18, 1978) of the people of Tabriz.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially the remaining one of God on the earth, and may God's curse be upon all their enemies.

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters; one of the most prominent days and ceremonies that this Hussainiyah witnesses is the day when you dear ones from Azerbaijan, from Tabriz, come here; the day of Bahman 29 every year. Azerbaijan is distinguished, its people are distinguished, its events are distinguished, and the path and method of the dear people of Tabriz and Azerbaijan is always one of innovation and new ways and astonishing events. May God's mercy be upon you, and may God's grace be everlasting for you.

I would like to mention a sentence on the occasion of the coincidence of these days with the days of the martyrdom of Fatimah al-Zahra, the great lady (peace be upon her); of course, the ceremony that was held was very good, effective, and beneficial. I will only say one sentence, and that is that all Muslims agree on the virtue of Lady al-Zahra (peace be upon her), there is no difference between Shia and Sunni. This hadith is found in the books of both Sunni and Shia: "Fatimah is the leader of the women of the people of Paradise"; this is higher than "the leader of the women of the worlds"; [meaning] the mistress of the women of Paradise. Who are in Paradise? The best women, the most distinguished women, the most faithful women, the most devoted women, the martyrs, those whom God the Exalted has mentioned with greatness in the Quran, all of these are gathered in Paradise; and then Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) is "the leader of the women of the people of Paradise"; this is a very high and exalted rank. The lessons of courage, the lessons of sacrifice, the lessons of asceticism in this world, the lessons of imparting knowledge and understanding to the minds of the audience and others, and attaining the rank of the teacher of human knowledge are the lessons of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) for all of humanity. We hope that all of you, all the dear people of Azerbaijan, and all the nation of Iran and all Muslims benefit from the blessings of this lady of the two worlds.

The greatness of the day of Bahman 29 cannot truly be conveyed with these brief expressions we make; Bahman 29 is truly magnificent. Although the movement of struggles in 1356 began in Qom and later occurred in other places after Tabriz, I can confidently say that if the event of Bahman 29 in Tabriz in 1356 had not occurred, it is highly likely that the event of Dey 19 in Qom would have been forgotten, and then the subsequent events would not have occurred in a chain; meaning the course of the country's history would have changed. The people of Tabriz, with the events of Bahman 29, with their uprising, with their correct understanding, with their timely and appropriate action, were able to create this great movement that culminated in Bahman 22, 1357 (February 11, 1979); the greatness of this story is thus.

I would also like to refer to the Bahman 22 march this year; truly, Bahman 22, both in Tabriz and in other cities, and in Tehran - throughout the country - this year was a different Bahman 22. After 39 years, entering the 40th year of the victory of the revolution, this massive popular movement is akin to a miracle. There is nothing like this anywhere in the world; that after all these years - nearly four decades - for the day of the victory of the revolution, not the state apparatus, but the people themselves enter the field, fill the streets, chant slogans themselves, show their presence, and defend their revolution, this has not existed in any of the revolutions that we know of and that have occurred in the last two or three centuries; it did not exist in the past either; now, there is nothing like this anywhere in the world; this is specific to Iran, this is specific to you. And this year, the various hostilities and actions of the enemies from abroad, from within, from America, and from some of our treacherous neighbors, have motivated the people even more, they entered the field and created a different Bahman 22 this year. All of this is a lesson for us.

This phrase that you brought here [and read] that "the pure revolution has been our refuge for forty years" is a reality; for forty years, the prominent and high flag of the revolution has been the refuge of the people. This statement of yours is the voice of the heart of the Iranian nation; you spoke correctly. And this is while the people have criticisms about some of the current issues in the country, not that they do not have criticisms; we are fully aware of the people's criticisms, grievances, and complaints; they tell us; they tell others, and it is conveyed to us; but when it comes to the revolution and the system, the people enter the field and act in this way. A revolutionary awareness, a political maturity, has been granted to the Iranian nation by divine grace, enabling them to distinguish between the revolutionary system of "Ummah and Imamate" and the bureaucratic apparatus; [even though] in one place they have criticisms, but they defend the very essence of the system that was established through the revolution with all their being. When we say they should have criticisms, it is not just criticisms of the government or the judiciary or the parliament; no, someone might have criticisms of this humble self as well. This criticism does not contradict standing by the Islamic system, the revolutionary system, the system of "Ummah and Imamate"; a system that was established by the revolution of this nation and with the sacrifices of this nation, and hundreds of thousands of martyrs have gone to the altar for this system over the past forty years.

On this occasion, as we are facing you dear ones who have come from afar, I will share a few points with you as time permits. You are dear ones for whom someone like me has sincere affection and devotion from the bottom of my heart; that is, this purity that exists in you, this zeal that exists in you, this clear revolutionary movement that is felt in you and is seen not only in words, but in action, captivates everyone. I have felt this since the first time I came to Tabriz after the revolution or came to Azerbaijan and returned - which has been multiple trips - in the true sense of the word, I felt this, at that time I came to Imam and said - I came to Tabriz during the presidency and then came to Imam and said - Tabriz is of a different kind. The people of Tabriz show a different revolutionary reality that is passionate and powerful and surging; although all the Iranian nation had that revolutionary fervor at that time, Tabriz was something else. Today, we are facing you dear Tabrizi and Azerbaijani people, from various cities of Azerbaijan, here, [therefore] I will present a few points. Of course, the audience is the Iranian nation; everyone is addressed.

One point is about the revolution and the main function of the revolution, one point is about the pathology of the revolution, one point - if time allows - is about the priorities and preferences that at this juncture, the revolution dictates to us and we must observe them, and one point is about the future of the revolution. These are important words, necessary words, and presenting them in the presence of you dear ones - who are truly revolutionary and supporters of the revolution - seems to be the most suitable place for discussion; that is, truly, this is the best work to present such matters with individuals like you.

Regarding the issue of the revolution and the function of the revolution; the revolution was a very great movement, and my belief is that after nearly forty years of the victory of the revolution, we still have not fully grasped the dimensions of this revolution and the greatness of this revolution. Later, when they sit down and look at the geometry of the revolution from a distance, it will become clearer what this revolution was, what it did, and what it became. The functions of the revolution are very numerous; the services that the revolution has provided to Iran are very many, and there is a long list in this regard - now the enemies want to deny it, but these are clear truths - but the most important fundamental work that the revolution has done is to transform the tyrannical system into a popular system; this is the most important work that the revolution has done; and that too inspired by Islamic teachings, not by the theories of this theorist and that theorist and the flaws and oppositions in their words; no, inspired by Islam, inspired by the Quran. "Those who believe fight in the way of God, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the tyrant"; the divine system is in opposition to the tyrannical system, and the Islamic Republic and the Islamic revolution defined the divine system as a religious democracy; the Islamic Republic means this; it transformed the tyrannical system into a popular system; this is the most important work.

Democracy means the people are the essence; the essence is the people; not just in determining the ruler; because when we say democracy, everyone's mind goes to the ballot boxes - which is correct, determining the president, determining the Assembly of Experts, and in fact determining the leader, determining various institutions, all are done by the people - this is decisive, this is correct, but it is not just this; what is important is that democracy means placing the people as decision-makers and planners in all matters of life; this is exactly the opposite of what existed in this country before the revolution for centuries. For centuries, this country suffered from the self-will of tyrants and kings, the people were nothing; the tyrant and the tyrants around the main tyrant were the decision-makers; that is, absolute despotism; the people were a means for them to impose their will - after all, someone who wants to impose their will must impose it on someone; they are the people - the people were kept to be dominated. From the mid-Qajar period, another disease was added, and that was foreign domination and foreign influence and foreign colonialism. This was not there before; suppose during the Safavid period or the time of Nader Shah and others, there was despotism, but there was no foreign influence; but from the mid-Qajar period - from the late period of Naser al-Din Shah onwards - foreign domination also entered; that is, precisely from [the year] 1800 AD, British influence in Iran began. The representative of the Indian government - which was British - entered the country, and I have referred to some things in my statements and have elaborated on them, I do not want to go into that. Foreign influence accompanied despotism, foreign domination was added to the tyranny, it reached a point where the Qajar dynasty, which was also under the influence of the British, was overthrown by the British, and a new dynasty was established. Reza Khan was brought by the British, then for some reason he was removed and his son was brought, and then the Americans entered the scene and became the main players in this country; thousands of American advisors [came]. Democracy is the opposite of this; it does not allow despotism, it does not allow foreign domination; this is democracy.

As we mentioned, this democracy is not only in the political administration of the country, it is in the services of cities and villages; it is in reviving the spirit of great works in the country - which you see the real example of it in the formation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in the formation of the Construction Jihad, in the formation of the Basij; suddenly a reality like the Construction Jihad emerges in the country and accomplishes all those great works over a few years; [similarly] the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or the Basij; this is due to the presence of the people - in nurturing and bringing forth the talents of the people, [meaning] the human capacities of the country. Now you young people who did not see that time, the older ones [know], doctors used to come to us from the Philippines and India and such places. In the villages and remote roads, not sometimes in very close cities, for example, doctors would come to us from the Philippines. A country that was so weak in terms of human resources suddenly emerges to become an attractive health hub in the region, where today people from around the region come to our country for treatment of difficult diseases and are treated in our hospitals by our doctors. Human talents emerge; suddenly you see in the field of some rare new knowledge in the world, the country ranks fourth or fifth in the world among over two hundred countries; this is democracy. The effect of democracy is also the revival of talents; when the people enter the field, trust is placed in the people, attention is given to the people, this is how it happens. The sense of national self-confidence is revived in the people; then they advance in scientific fields, they advance in industrial fields, they advance in emerging sciences, they advance in political influence in the region; all of these are due to the presence of the people and the influence of the people on the events of the country; the country and the nation gain greatness.

Today, you see, for example, a certain country that is dependent on America sells ten million barrels of oil a day, has a lot of money in its treasury, but its country is poor, its country is backward, there is no name or memory of the nation of that country at all; in that country, what is prominent are a few tyrants who are at the top, and there is no trace or news of the nation of that country that this nation did this or that movement; but when there is religious democracy - like the Islamic Republic, like our dear country - in the public view of [the world] towards Iran, the people are prominent; hence the enmity of the enemies is also with the people. Now the Americans who are hostile to us are not enemies of this humble self or a few government officials, [but] they are enemies of the nation, because the nation here is the main player; all the things that anger them and provoke their wrath are the actions of the nation, the greatness of the nation. The importance of the nation in democracy rises, meaning the nation gains personality, gains public and worldly face, gains dignity and respect; none of these existed during the tyranny, these came into existence in the Islamic Republic thanks to the revolution.

Well, the result of democracy is the progress of the country; the advancements are truly extraordinary. We have named the fourth decade of the revolution the decade of progress and justice, and real progress has occurred in the country; I do not speak of justice; we are lagging behind in justice; there is no doubt about it; we admit it, we acknowledge it. In the decade of progress and justice, we should have succeeded in both progress and justice; we have truly succeeded in progress, we have made progress in all areas; [but] in the area of justice, we must strive, we must work, we must apologize to God the Exalted and to the dear people. We have problems regarding justice, and God willing, with the efforts of capable and faithful men and women, we will also make progress in this area, but in terms of material progress, many very important works have been done.

Progress is not that foreigners come and take the money of a country and build towers for them; these are not progress. Some look at some of these countries around us that have wealth from oil, and see, yes, they have this kind of airport or that kind of tower! No, this is not progress; that foreigners come, take the money of a country, humiliate the people of that country, and build towers for them, this is not progress, this is regression, this is loss. Today, the tallest tower in the region is in the most incompetent country in the region! That is not progress! Progress is that a country, a nation, with its own power, with its own will, with its own decision, with its own knowledge, with its own capacity, brings itself to the forefront; this is progress, and this has, thanks be to God, occurred in our country. Today we are a medical and treatment hub, we have a high scientific rank in the world, we are influential in regional issues, we have gained high knowledge in the nuclear field, we have gained high knowledge in nanotechnology, we have gained high knowledge in biotechnology, we have gained high knowledge in the fields related to cyberspace, these are progress. Many of our youth, due to their immense talents, are truly waiting for a hint to soar. We managers are somewhat lacking in this regard; otherwise, if we accompany the youth a little more, they will truly soar in scientific, technical, service, and various works; just as they soar in spiritual fields. We have made great progress in security, in defense, in agriculture, in health, in science, in transportation routes, and so on; our progress is good, thanks be to God; the decade of progress and justice was good progress. All of this is due to the revolution. Of course, because our propaganda is weak, the people of other countries may not know these things; [but] the enemies know many of these things. I should also mention: we are strong in many things, [but] we are weak in propaganda; in propaganda, in stating what has happened, we are underperforming and weak and lacking in innovation; we need to make progress in this area. However, those who are our enemies and monitor all our issues see the progress of the country, they know how much the country has moved forward.

Therefore, the revolution did a great job in the country: it took the country out of misery, freed the nation from humiliation and disgrace; our nation is now proud, and this is the most important achievement for a country and for a nation. [Of course] there are many such things; there is a long list, [but] as I mentioned, our propaganda is weak. I recommend that officials not only with exaggerated language, not just with verbal reports, [but] in a practical, artistic manner, present accurate reports about the various advancements of the country, so that both some individuals who are skeptical and oblivious realize - some are of course not oblivious; they deliberately cast doubt - and that the people of other places understand what the revolution has brought into existence. This is regarding the issue of the revolution.

Regarding the pathology of the revolution, since time is short and we are approaching noon, I will make a brief statement. One of the most important afflictions of all revolutions is regression. What does regression mean? It means that this movement that the revolution started and the nation was moving in this path with revolutionary force and speed, in some places becomes weak, then stops, then turns back; this is regression; regression means going back. All the great revolutions in history that we know of - like the French Revolution, like the Russian Revolution, and revolutions that occurred in African and Latin American countries and elsewhere - almost without exception fell into this calamity in the early years of their existence; that forty years pass and the slogans of the revolution remain unchanged, do not shake, does not exist in any of these revolutions; we have been able to preserve these slogans. However, it is dangerous; I have the duty to inform our dear people of the danger. If we move towards elitism, this is heading towards regression; if instead of paying attention to the weak class, we become enamored with the wealthy and greedy classes in the country, this movement is towards regression; if instead of relying on the people, we rely on foreigners, we place our hope in outsiders, this movement is towards regression; this must not happen. The elites of society must be vigilant, the managers of society must be vigilant. The managers of the country must be very careful, and the people should also watch closely, with sensitivity, to follow our behaviors, the behaviors of the managers; with sensitivity. Regression is a dangerous thing. When regression occurs, it means that the same revolutionary people are in charge but have changed the line, changed the path; as if the revolution was for them to go and for us to come to power! The revolution was not for this; the revolution means transformation, the revolution means changing the path, the revolution means considering lofty goals and moving towards them; if we forget these goals, it is no longer a revolution.

Some think the revolution was only in 1357 (1979) and it ended; this is a mistake. The revolution began in 1357, not that it ended; the beginning of change, the beginning of reform in society occurred in 1357, it happened on Bahman 22, and it started there; gradually this movement must continue to be deeper, broader, more extensive, and more wise, not that it stops. It should not be that if we say someone is revolutionary, a negative impression is taken from him; or [if we say] someone is revolutionary means he is an unthinking person, for example, a scatterbrained person; no, it is not like that. Yes, the system of governing the country is respected, the constitution is respected, all the principles of the constitution must be observed; the revolution has been framed in this mold, [therefore] this mold must be respected; this is necessary.

This also that we think the revolution means nothing without the system is another mistake; some on the other hand think that a person must have a voice of protest and criticism towards everything, towards all events, towards all sections of the Islamic system in the name of the revolution; no, this [is not correct]. The revolution means the revolutionary system; this Islamic system, this system of Ummah and Imamate, the system of religious democracy must be in line with the goals of the revolution, with revolutionary movement, with the direction of the revolution; this must happen. Well, fortunately, we do not lack revolutionary individuals, and among the masses, the revolution is fortunately the prevailing currency; among the managers, there are also many who are truly supporters of the revolution. These sensitivities must not disappear.

I remember in one of my trips during the presidency, I went to one of the African countries. Several years - for example, seven or eight or ten years - had passed since the victory of the revolution in that country; this man, the head of state, was a black man who was the leader of the revolution and commander of the revolution and now is the head of state. I saw that this head of state who was hosting us, his behavior in his own country was like that of the Portuguese general who ruled this country before their revolution; the behavior was the same! Apparently, this country had a history of Spanish or Portuguese colonization; naturally, a military politician from Portugal had ruled this country for years, now this gentleman who is the head of the revolution behaves like him! Well, what kind of revolution is this? His view of the people, his view of those around him, his interaction with the audience was the same. The Islamic Republic is far from this state; thanks be to God, it has been far from it until now, and it will remain so in the future. The elitism of officials, the privilege-seeking of officials, the negligence towards public assets, the indifference to the oppressed class, these are anti-revolutionary movements. All the structures of the system must move with a view to the goals of the revolution.

Well, one important issue that is raised today is the issue of the economy; I would like to mention this as well. All officials and informed individuals and the masses may believe that today one of the main issues of the country is the issue of the economy. Well, what should be done to reform the economy of the country? One way is to rely on the people; [that is] resistant economy. We announced this, all the officials of the country confirmed it, meaning no one disagreed; of course, sometimes some grumbling is heard from here and there, but when the resistant economy policy was announced, all the officials of the country confirmed that this is the way and nothing else. The meaning of a resistant economy is not to be confined and imprisoned within the country; they should not come and say, "We want to have relations with the world"! Well, in a resistant economy, there is a connection with the world; it is just said that trust must be placed in the people; an endogenous and exogenous economy. The impetus for economic movement must come from within the country; the talents of the people, the possibilities of the people, the capital of the people. There must be a plan to ensure that these capitals, these talents, these capacities lead to work and production within and wealth creation within; this requires planning. Our gaze should not be outward. Of course, if we want the domestic economy to flourish, we must have good exports, have targeted imports, and have economic relations; there is no doubt about this. Foreign investment must be within; I am not opposed to foreigners coming to invest, but the management of work and the reins of work must be in the hands of domestic managers, they must make decisions, they must will; work must not be entrusted to foreigners. If work is entrusted to foreigners, the reins of work will be taken out of the hands of the managers of the country. There have been instructive incidents in this regard.

In Tehran, the president of one of the well-known countries in the region - I do not want to name it; one of the relatively advanced countries in Asia that really had very good economic progress and high economic growth - about twelve years, thirteen years ago, came here and met with me; it was when that great economic earthquake occurred in the countries of East Asia; this [individual] was the president of one of those countries. He came next to me; when he entered the room, one of his first words was, "We became beggars in one night." When the economy is dependent on the capital and will of a Jewish and Western and American capitalist, this is what happens. A country with a lively economic spirit and high economic growth, its president tells me that we became beggars in one night! Reliance on the outside is like this. We observed our reliance on foreigners in the case of the JCPOA; in the case of the nuclear negotiations, we trusted them and gained no benefit from our trust. Fortunately, I see that the officials of the country are having good interactions, and I must truly thank our foreign minister; his approach to the malice of the Americans and to the Europeans who are playing both sides has been very good and decisive; some of it has been broadcast and some has not been broadcast, which we are aware of; they have taken a very strong and good approach. Yes, the way is this; they must confront; they must show national dignity in foreign relations. Relying on outsiders is dangerous; relying on outsiders causes outsiders to gradually dominate the fate of the country in various ways; we must not rely on outsiders. We should benefit from outsiders, we should use them, [but] we must not rely on them, we must not trust them. This is one of the very important issues that truly all the officials of the country must pay attention to.

Well, now we are on the threshold of the fortieth anniversary of the victory of the revolution. Forty years is not a long time; in the history of a nation, forty years is not much, it is a little. In these forty years, our nation has worked hard; they truly moved on rocky ground; we have been under sanctions since the first year - almost from day one - and these sanctions have continued in various forms and have increased. Everything that has happened - all these advancements - has occurred under sanctions, meaning we were under sanctions and made these advancements; this demonstrates the capability of the revolution and the capability of the Iranian nation.

We have priorities: we must prefer jihad management over worn-out bureaucracies; this is one of our priorities; insistence on jihad management. The officials of the country in the executive branch, in the judiciary, in various sectors, must pursue jihad management. Jihad management does not mean disorder; it means hard work, moving with planning, not recognizing day and night, and pursuing work; this is the meaning of jihad management.

In domestic politics, we must prioritize the text of the people over the minorities of parties and factions and such things; the text of the people is paramount over all.

In terms of services, we must prioritize the oppressed, the deprived areas, the remote areas over the affluent. Fortunately, over the years, many areas that had never seen the passage of prosperity have been attended to; both the responsible agencies and even those agencies that are not directly responsible. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - suppose in Sistan and Baluchestan - has done significant service works; although the work of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is not service work, the services provided to the people by the IRGC in that deprived area are truly remarkable. These works exist and must be pursued; all the agencies of the country must observe this priority.

In the defense policies of the country, all the methods and all the tools that are needed today and tomorrow must be pursued and renewed. We must not hesitate for a moment that the country must move towards whatever it needs for self-defense, even if the whole world opposes it. Those who threaten humanity with lethal nuclear and atomic tools are now sitting and clinging to the missiles of the Islamic Republic, saying, "Why are you making missiles"! Well, what is it to you? It is our means of defense, it is the means of the country's defense, this nation must be able to defend itself. They say you should not have defensive means so that we can impose our will on you as we wish! [Of course] we consider some things as forbidden and do not pursue them - like weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons; we do not pursue them - but in what is necessary for us, we do not hesitate, we do not doubt.

In foreign policy, prioritizing the East over the West, prioritizing neighbors over distant ones, prioritizing nations and countries that have common ground with us over others, is one of our current priorities.

In the economy, the issue of employment is the highest issue, the issue of production is the highest issue. This year I announced "production and employment"; efforts must be made in this regard, work must be done; all the officials of the country must strive in this area. This year, of course, some work has been done, some statistics have been provided, but what is intended requires more effort. We must do something to raise the employment statistics in the country, to raise domestic production in the country; the remedy for the economy in the country is this.

I want to [also] mention something for the future of the country; know that, first of all, the youth must prepare themselves; in terms of science, in terms of belief, in terms of revolutionary motivations, the youth must always be prepared. The youth are the engine of the revolution's progress; it has always been this way from the beginning until today. Fortunately, today we have more youth with determination, will, and insight than at the beginning of the revolution. Not that they are as many as at the beginning of the revolution; no, the insight of today's youth, the depth of knowledge of today's youth, is greater than many of the youth of the early revolution, and we have no shortage in this regard; this is thanks be to God. The youth must prepare themselves; these teenagers who are moving towards youth must prepare themselves; revolutionary thoughts, revolutionary motivations, revolutionary insight, revolutionary action, are among the topics that our youth must remember.

Everyone should also know that the Islamic Republic is strong; the Islamic Republic is very strong. The reason for the strength of the Islamic Republic is that for forty years, all the wicked arrogant governments of the world have wanted to destroy the Islamic Republic and eliminate it, and they have not been able to do anything; the reason for the power of the Islamic Republic is the survival of the Islamic Republic in these four decades; with this unfavorable atmosphere, with this unfavorable situation, with these great hostilities; the Islamic Republic is alive. Therefore, this indicates that this sapling has now turned into a sturdy tree that cannot be shaken from its place; this foundation is a very lofty and solid one, and we will become even stronger. You should know this! The Islamic Republic will become stronger. We know the threats, we hear the words, we hear the words that they openly say, and sometimes we hear the words that they secretly say in their circles, we know what plots they are making against us, but despite all this, I repeat the words of Imam that "America can do nothing." I was very happy to meet you dear ones and convey my greetings to all our dear people in Tabriz.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.