Statements of His Eminence in Meeting with Various People from Across the Country

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

I hope that Almighty God will encompass all of you brothers and sisters who have come from various parts of the country with His grace, mercy, and favor. I thank all of you, especially the esteemed scholars and the honorable families of martyrs and dear warriors, and I hope that divine success will be granted to all of you.

At the outset, I would like to say a brief word to our dear blind individuals, especially their youth, and that is to appreciate their physical abilities and, despite not having sight, to recognize that the path to progress is open to them. Let not those who, due to an injury or by nature, lack one of their senses or limbs, think that the path to scientific and practical advancement is closed to them. All individuals who are deprived of one of their body parts—whether it be the eye, ear, or other parts—should utilize the rest of God's blessings, especially their intelligence and mind, to become useful individuals, particularly scholars, and be beneficial to the country, the people, and themselves.

However, the main issue is that in our revolution, there is a global and international dimension, which is one of the most important aspects of our revolution. This dimension should not be neglected for a moment. The global and international dimension—meaning the voice of the Iranian nation and its path and goals—is accepted and of interest to other nations, at least to some of the world's nations. It is not the case that the Iranian nation has made a revolution and other nations merely watch and say: this was for themselves and related to their own conditions and has no connection or benefit to us.

One can see many countries where an event and transformation occurred, but this event and transformation either remained confined within their borders or had very little impact. The Islamic Revolution of Iran had a significant impact and still does, and will continue to do so in the future. The main reason for this is that our revolution was for Islam. We do not say that the people were not dissatisfied with the situation in the country during the tyrannical regime and did not want change. The people were dissatisfied with everything during the tyrannical era. People who, during the reign of the tyrant—whether in the dependent Pahlavi regime or in most of the governments before it—opened their eyes and saw the realities, felt the hardship, evil, humiliation, and destruction of their character. It was natural for them to want these hardships in their lives and livelihoods to change; however, the root of all those hardships was one thing, and that was that no one valued the people, their beliefs, thoughts, and faith.

The people wanted Islam and Islamic customs, but the hands of power and government promoted anti-Islamic propaganda. The powers of the time promoted moral corruption, nudity, and distancing from Islamic customs and traditions, imposing it on the people. In front of the people's eyes, all their beloved things were insulted. This was the main secret of the issue.

The Islamic faith of our nation is one of the deepest faiths. Those who have seen other nations up close testify that the Iranian nation is one of the most faithful Muslim nations regarding Islam, beliefs, and Islamic laws. It became clear to the people that under the shadow of Islam, they could live freely and enjoy spiritual and material blessings. Islam was the faith and love of the people. The people rose up, and this great revolution took place, and a government based on Islam was established by them.

Wherever there is a Muslim in the world, they feel an affinity for this movement because this movement was not limited to national and patriotic frameworks that are specific to one nation and not another; rather, it was a movement for Islam, which is common among many nations. Therefore, Muslim nations are interested in this revolution and system.

From another perspective, since this revolution was against the world's arrogant powers, meaning it rejected the superpowers altogether, and the Iranian nation said "no" to all the arrogant powers of the world, wherever a nation was under the pressure of one of these powers, it is interested in this revolution because it speaks to their heart.

There are many nations whose hearts are full and dissatisfied with the presence of America, the influence of global arrogance, the establishment of military bases, economic interference, and the promotion of foreign culture in their country; however, they do not have the courage to breathe or the power to act, there is no leadership for movement among them, and the oppression is such that it does not allow them to move. The reactionary countries dependent on America are mostly of this kind. These nations, when they see a nation freely and powerfully, without fear, standing firm against the influence of America, Western culture, the interference of global arrogance, and the foreign military, economic, and cultural presence, naturally feel an affinity for this nation and revolution.

The global dimension means that our nation and revolution have a message for other nations, and that message is that if a nation wants and gathers around a capable leader and axis, it can accomplish the impossible. It has a message for all Muslims, and that is that despite the anti-Islamic efforts over many years to eliminate Islam, if Muslims decide and want, they can bring Islam back to society and establish its rule. These are the messages of our nation and revolution.

Do not think that other nations do not understand or hear these messages. When you observed during the Hajj ceremonies that alongside you and in unison with you, people from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Arabs, Turks, and other nationalities stood and chanted slogans and marched, it was, in fact, a response they gave to your messages. The reason you see today that the propaganda of global arrogance is so much against Iran and spreads false propaganda is that they want to turn the attention of those nations away from you. They spread so much false and blatant lies that if someone reads these global news and is not familiar with the workings of the propagandists, they will truly be surprised and ask themselves where these people are speaking from? About which nation and which country are they speaking? This anti-Iran, anti-Islamic Republic, and anti-our heroic and great nation propaganda is precisely to discourage and dishearten other nations and turn their attention away from here.

You are a nation that, due to the great experience of your revolution and especially due to the great test you showed in the war and the passionate love you expressed for your great Imam (may his soul be sanctified)—in his life and after his death—and the courage you showed against the powers, you are considered a great and heroic nation in the eyes of other nations, and rightly so. Does this global attention and interest benefit the Iranian nation or not? Yes, it is very beneficial. The support of nations for you has tied and limited the hands of enemies and powers in pressuring the Iranian nation. That is, any pressure from the enemy and any oppression from our nation will make other nations more convinced of the righteousness of the Iranian nation's message, and this is dangerous for global arrogance.

Today, in many countries of the world, these same words, beliefs, paths, slogans, and even revolutionary customs of the Iranian nation are considered a model by many nations, and they chant these same slogans and practice these same customs. A few years ago, in one of the distant countries that is far from our country, I saw that young women, apparently university students, had made their attire similar to that of the revolutionary women of Iran. What is this due to? We did not send anyone there to tell them to make women's attire like this and dress in this way. This is the natural spread of the revolution's message. Today, these same words, slogans, beliefs, and goals exist and are discussed in many countries of the world, especially Islamic countries, and attract and draw enthusiastic people, especially the youth. This is what global arrogance fears.

From this brief talk, I draw two points: First, since the spiritual relationship between our nation and revolution with other nations is dangerous for global arrogance, it tries to sever this relationship. It can do this in several ways: one is to pressure those nations through their dependent and mercenary governments, which is not a successful way because the more they pressure them, the more those people's interest in the revolution and the Islamic system increases.

Another way is to speak in global propaganda in such a way that nations become disheartened with Iran. Of course, they have been doing this since the beginning of the revolution. The reason you see them labeling us as reactionary and fundamentalist and constantly broadcasting statistics of torture and execution from our country is to dishearten other nations in Muslim and non-Muslim countries with the Iranian nation and the Islamic government.

When a drug trafficker, the enemy of the lives of the youth and people, is punished, it is said in the propaganda of global arrogance that political opponents of the government were killed! The so-called international amnesty—which is an organization dependent on the powerful circles of the world—every once in a while, for fun, prepares a list of the number of executions, tortures, and alleged killings and arrests in Iran and publishes statistics made and provided by our enemies. This is so that when other nations hear this propaganda, they become disheartened with the Iranian nation and the Islamic government. This is another way they have been doing since the beginning of the revolution.

Another way, which is the worst and most dangerous, is to remove the idea of a relationship with nations from the minds of us, the Iranian nation. That is, to sever the relationship from our side and suggest to the Iranian nation that you should think about yourselves, what do you have to do with other nations and the world?! Take care of yourselves and build and solve your own problems. This idea may affect some simple-minded individuals, unaware that the problems of a revolutionary nation are solved with various and diverse actions, one of which is this global support.

Many problems are those imposed on us by the enemy, and problems have arisen in the country through their hands. It is not the case that we have problems on our own. Enemies outside these borders—not the insignificant enemies that may be inside—organize problems with economic blockade, pressure, imposing war, and many other actions.

If the Iranian nation wants to solve its problems, it is not enough to revolve around itself within the borders and think about each problem and knot and ponder how to untie them. It must also neutralize the enemy's conspiracy outside. In the global front, you must also stand against the enemy, and the best way and method is the public opinion of nations. Therefore, we should not sever this relationship from our side. Of course, the enemy has such propaganda.

The second point I want to raise is that if the Iranian nation wants to remain always beloved and accepted and liked by other nations, it must preserve its revolutionary character and demeanor internally. The things that made you great in the eyes of nations were: firstly, your unity. Preserve this unity; it is a very valuable element. A united nation is a model for other nations. Secondly, your courage and fearlessness of enemies. You proved this element in war, revolution, and various scenes. You must also preserve this, as you have, thanks be to God, preserved it so far. Thirdly, the complete and intense bond and unity between the nation and the officials. This is something spectacular for the world. In other countries, it rarely happens that the leaders and officials of countries have such popularity among their people.

In which country do you find that the head of a country passes through a street and people rush to kiss his car and express affection and respect for him? In various cities of our revolutionary country, these scenes have been observed and continue to be observed. This affection of the nation for the officials, especially that passionate bond that the Iranian nation had with Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), is one of those exemplary things that attract the nations of the world to this nation.

And finally, the fourth characteristic that made the Iranian nation great in the eyes of nations and made its face shine was that our nation, throughout the war and revolution, prioritized the issues of the country and revolution over personal issues. These sacrifices and selflessness are very important. Today, I also tell our dear nation to prioritize the issues of the country and revolution over their personal needs. Work for the revolution, Iran, and the greatness, progress, and prosperity of the country, and in this case, the interests of all classes and individuals of the country will also be secured. Of course, there have always been and are minorities who prioritize their interests over the interests of the country and nation. Their work and method are rejected.

For the reconstruction, prosperity, and development of the entire country, for strengthening the government, and for advancing the goals and economic programs that the officials plan, all people should consider themselves committed. This will lead to the prosperity of the country and is what will always show the revolutionary face of our nation as a strong and powerful face in front of other nations, and this spiritual relationship will be preserved.

Of course, divine support is the first condition. The spiritual relationship with God must be strongly maintained. The state of piety and abstinence and spirituality that has been and is in our revolution and must be, must be strongly preserved. In this work, especially the youth must take the lead because the most beloved people in society in the sight of the Lord are the pious, abstinent, and faithful youth. This attracts divine blessings and keeps the spirit of Islamic vitality alive in society. Maintain this spiritual relationship and connection with God. Almighty God will also bestow His grace, favor, and help upon you.

We hope that God grants success to all and encompasses you dear brothers and sisters with His blessings and encompasses the Pakistani brothers who are in our gathering and all the faithful and Muslim people of Pakistan and other Muslim nations with His grace, favor, and blessings.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings