Statements in Meeting with Thousands of People from Fars Province

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

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters from Fars Province. Today, with this faithful, warm, and sincere gathering, and with your meaningful and profound slogans, you have revived the memories of the great bravery of the people of Fars Province and the people of Shiraz, which are not few in the course of contemporary history and in the recent past.

Truly, Fars Province and the city of Shiraz are among the prominent peaks of our country and our nation; a prominent peak of distinguished human forces in science, literature, various advancements in social life, struggles, jihad, and piety. Looking at the recent history before the victory of the revolution, the name of Shiraz stands out in the most sensitive and vital social issues. Consider the historical issue of the tobacco boycott, which was the beginning of a conscious popular struggle against Western domination; the name of Mirza Shirazi is prominent here; had the movement of Mirza Shirazi (may God’s peace be upon him) continued and the politicians and elites of the country followed that line, the fate of Iran would have been different from what occurred; however, the colonizers took advantage of the negligence and greed, intervened, and cut off the line. Or in the case of the wars of the Iraqi people against British colonialism and British intervention, the name of Shiraz is also mentioned. The leader of this great movement was the late Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi - known as Mirza Second Shirazi - this great man, scholar, and source of emulation. In Fars itself, there were great scholars, prominent figures, and noble individuals; whether in the struggles of the Constitutional Revolution, after that in the struggles of the Islamic Revolution, during the victory of the revolution, and after that until today. This is now the realm of jihad. Of course, "Jihad is a door among the doors of Paradise that God has opened for His special friends." This door of jihad is not insignificant; it is the door to Paradise, and it does not open for everyone; it opens for the friends of God. This indicates that our struggling people are among the friends of God, for whom this door has been opened.

If we enter the field of science, it is the same. In the distinguished scientific movement after the revolution - especially in recent years - Shiraz is one of the pioneers. In political matters, in social issues - in these difficult and complex events - the people of Shiraz are among the most aware and insightful. Sometimes political events become so complicated that they resemble a puzzle; unraveling it is not the task of everyone; however, we see that our people are vigilant, awake; and among them, the dear people of Fars Province are among the forefront and pioneers.

A prominent point regarding Shiraz and Fars Province - especially Shiraz - is that during the tyrannical regime, they chose several points to establish a center for deviation from the morals and spirituality of religion; one of them was Shiraz. They wanted to exploit the literary and artistic spirit that prevails in this province. Well, Fars Province and Shiraz are the center of literature; a province of art and poetry and various artistic skills, which also reflects the spirit of the people there; people who appreciate art, nurture it, and are of taste and heart. The tyrannical regime wanted to use this characteristic of the people to establish a center for the spread of corruption. Even then, the people struck back at the regime. Then compare the attention of the people to the shrine of Hazrat Ahmad ibn Musa and his brothers (peace be upon them) with the past, and see how much more attention, devotion, and affection the people have for these great figures. This means that the people have followed the very line that was opposite to the policy of the tyrannical regime, and they continue to do so; and after this, it will be the same. The reason we express our sincerity to the people of Fars Province and the people of Shiraz is these.

Well, now there are fourteen thousand six hundred martyrs, five thousand of whom are from the city of Shiraz alone; this is a very large number. When we say one martyr, it means that dozens of people entered this field, struggled, put their lives on the line, one attained the grace of martyrdom, and the rest returned. With this account, calculate what fourteen thousand six hundred martyrs mean? It means that the province has shown a unified spirit of enthusiasm and love for sacrifice.

Well, we do not want to praise the people of Shiraz or our dear people; neither do you need it, nor do you expect it. Why do we express these matters? This is so that, despite the enemy, our history, the existing truth, and the reality of our nation become clear and evident for friends and foes, for today and tomorrow; because the propaganda of the enemies is exactly the opposite of this. That a nation stands by its word - which is a true word and is important for its world and the Hereafter - this is what is considered the main key to the progress of nations; it is exactly the opposite of the goal of the greedy, the oppressors, and the powerful of the world who want to dominate nations and enslave human beings. The antidote to the sorcery of this enemy movement is that a nation chooses a true word and stands by it. Standing firm by this word brings it to its goal and serves as a model for others who are watching; just as you, the Iranian nation, have become a model. The analyses of the world regarding our regional issues are the same; they say Iran has become a model, the Iranian nation has become a model. And they fear that the same event that happened here will happen there as well; that is, the raising of the flag of Islam and the establishment of a system based on Islam. This is the essence of steadfastness.

Thus, the more one praises the great Iranian nation - with these signs that we have now mentioned regarding Fars - it is not too much, it is not exaggeration, it is not hyperbole. A conflict and war have existed throughout history; a war between a few greedy, power-hungry, and wealthy oppressors of the world, and the masses and nations. Throughout history, this war has existed. Those arrogant powers had weapons, money, and loud voices; and they lacked certain things: they had no mercy, they had no fairness; they were willing to commit great atrocities and the most heinous crimes for their own purposes. The nations only had their lives, their determination, and their faith. Wherever these great tools were brought to the field and steadfastness was shown, the opposing side was defeated. However, it has not always been the case that nations could endure, stand firm, and bring their lives, determination, and faith fully to the field; wherever they did, they advanced.

This war exists today as well. The arrogant powers of the world - namely the Western powers, the power of America, the power of the Zionists - have no limits; they want to dominate the entire world, all the financial resources of the world, and all human forces. Well, what is the fault of the nations? Why should nations endure? Unfortunately, this has become the reality. They appoint people of their own kind at the heads of nations to secure their interests and work against the interests of the people as much as they can, putting pressure on the people. In the last two hundred years, since the issue of colonialism arose, this has happened in various forms around the world. The problems of nations today are not just that they are facing a dictator, a tyrant; their problem is that this dictator has the backing of international powers; they are the ones who are trampling and destroying the interests of this country and this nation. This is the problem of the colonial era. With this perspective, all these issues are correctly analyzed. Today's issues are the same.

Today, thanks to Islam, thanks to the Islamic Revolution, thanks to the general Islamic awakening, events are occurring in the region. Certainly, this awakening of the people will yield results; just as it has reached results in certain areas until today, until this hour. The determination of the people, the faith of the people, and the readiness of the people for sacrifice will increase, and the likelihood of their victory will grow. This is what the global arrogance, America, and the Zionists do not want to happen; they do not want the people to stand firm. America was caught off guard in these matters; it received a sudden blow; the Zionists were similarly caught off guard, as were the pretentious colonial European governments - they were caught off guard - but they want to dominate the scene by any means possible. Of course, fortunately, they have not been able to so far; in one or two countries, they have not been able to at all, and in one or two other countries, they are trying. Certainly, this awakening is not something that will end; this movement of the people forward is not something that will go backward. Whatever they do, this movement will ultimately have a good outcome for the people and a detrimental one for the powers. Of course, nations must be vigilant and know that the enemy is lying in wait.

In some places, they are truly and evidently committing clear oppression. Now, regarding Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, all those who can judge these matters, if they pay attention, will recognize these Western powers as criminals and irredeemably guilty. They are oppressing the people. Analyzing these matters is the task of political analysts; well, they analyze, they say; what sums up all of this is that today America and the West are acting in favor of the Zionists, in favor of the illegitimate Israeli government, putting pressure on these people and oppressing them; unfortunately, the people of Bahrain have been the most oppressed.

Because the Islamic Republic chooses the position of truth, it speaks clearly; all the propaganda attacks are directed at the Islamic Republic system. They wish the Islamic Republic to be a passive observer; such a thing is impossible, this is not the nature of the Islamic Republic. Neither the nation, nor the officials, nor the government, nor the political elites can remain indifferent and passive spectators in this oppressive conflict that has been created by the arrogant against the people. Then they say Iran is intervening! What intervention?! What intervention?! In Bahrain, in Libya, in Yemen, what intervention has Iran made? Yes, this is the intervention that we have stated our opinion clearly; we have never feared the frowns of the hollow powers of the world, we have not taken them into account, and we will not. We express the truth and the position of truth clearly. The position of truth is that the people of Bahrain have rights; they are protesting, and their protest is justified. Share this with any insightful person in the world, explain their situation, describe the way the rulers there have treated these oppressed people, and see whether they condemn the ruling apparatus or not. They make a mistake when they confront the people; it is of no benefit. Well, you may exert some pressure, commit some savagery, extinguish a fire for a while; but it will not be extinguished, day by day you will increase the grievances of the people and intensify their anger. One day, the reins of power will slip from your hands to the point that it will no longer be possible to stitch it back together. They make a mistake; both they make a mistake, and those who bring forces from outside Bahrain are severely mistaken; they think that with these words they can eliminate the movement of a nation. Well, this is the word of the Islamic Republic; the same goes for Yemen, the same goes for Libya. In Libya, the Westerners are playing games with the Libyan nation. A country near Europe - an hour's journey to the heart of Europe - and rich in oil; they do not want a popular government, especially one that is Muslim, to come to power there; they are just playing games, passing the people around. Well, the people understand, the people of Libya understand. And similarly in other places.

The main culprit in these events is undoubtedly the arrogant powers of the world, the international system of arrogance, and the international Zionist network that is currently using these uproars and noises; they are putting pressure on the people of Gaza, taking martyrs from them daily. It is essential that the nations of the region, the governments of the region, those who care for the truths, do not neglect the actions of the Zionist regime.

This is the status of the Islamic Republic system. Therefore, you observe; the propaganda, political efforts, economic efforts, and security efforts from America and others are directed at the Islamic Republic. Of course, the Islamic Republic, by God's grace, stands firm, but they are continuing their wickedness; they have not backed down. The strength of the Islamic Republic system has made their blade dull, it has fallen upon the rock. And I want to say that this rocky state should be preserved by our dear nation and government. Do not allow differences to arise. Do not allow rifts to form. Do not allow what the enemy wants to achieve through propaganda and political malice to be realized regarding our country.

You see, in just the past five or six days, over a matter that was not of such high importance - regarding information and such - they created such a commotion in the world. They directed analyses to the point that yes, a rift has been created within the Islamic Republic system, there is dual authority, the president has not listened to the leader! Their propaganda apparatus filled with these weak and baseless statements. See how they are waiting for excuses. See how they are lying in wait like wolves, looking for any excuse to attack in any way they can. They know that the government is busy with efforts and services. Well, there is indeed service being rendered in the country. Wherever there is service, both the people and the leadership support it. We do not judge individuals; we consider the work, the line, the direction as the criterion. Wherever there is work, service, and effort, there is our support, there is the support of the people. And thanks be to God, work is being done today. The government officials are indeed making efforts; both the members of the government and especially the president himself. They have no day or night; I see it, I witness it up close. They are constantly busy with work, with service and effort. Well, this is very valuable for the country. I, as a humble servant, do not intend to interfere in the work and decisions of the government. Well, responsibilities are specified in the Constitution; everyone has their own responsibilities; unless I feel that a significant interest is being neglected; as was the case in this recent issue; one feels that a great interest is being overlooked, neglected; well, one intervenes to prevent this neglect of interest. This is not a significant issue; similar instances also occur; but opponents, external enemies, international podium holders, and propaganda loudspeakers use this issue to create a chaotic propaganda atmosphere.

My message to internal elements, to caring people, to brothers and sisters who deal with propaganda issues inside is to try not to contribute to this chaos. That they put forth analyses, one from one side, one from the other, this against that, that against this, for nothing and void, what necessity is there? No, the apparatus is, thanks be to God, a powerful one, the officials are busy with their work, and the leadership, which I am a humble servant of, with all my insignificance, God Almighty has helped, we have firmly stood in our correct positions. As long as I am alive, as long as I have responsibility, by God's grace, I will not allow this great movement of the nation towards its ideals to deviate even slightly. As long as our dear people are in the field with enthusiasm, awareness, insight, and firm determination, divine grace is included; know this. As long as we are in the field, the shadow of divine grace is present. We - I in one way, you in another way, the other in another way, the fourth in another way - if we turn to our personal issues and forget the goals, of course, divine help will also diminish.

But today you see that the people, fortunately, are present everywhere in the country, they are in the arena; the officials are the same, the three branches are the same. The three branches - both the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary - are truly in the field; I am observing closely, I see; they are making efforts, they are working, they are striving, they are sweating. The tasks are heavy; they are not small tasks.

Now we have said economic jihad. A great movement is ahead of the determination of the officials of the country. Both the people and the officials must join hands and start this economic jihad movement this year. As we said, the slogans of the year mean the beginning of this flow, not that it is specific to this year. Well, this is, thanks be to God, being carried out. Now there are shortcomings in all our work; I have shortcomings, the heads of the branches are not free from shortcomings, and the officials are not free from shortcomings. We must seek refuge in God Almighty, recognize our shortcomings, reduce them; let us not create obstacles in the great work of this great nation and this great movement that this nation has.

We ask God Almighty not to ever withdraw His merciful gaze and compassionate attention from our nation. God willing, may the sacred heart of the Awaited One be kind to us and may the prayer of that great one encompass us. We ask God Almighty to grant our dear martyrs and our great Imam (may his soul be sanctified) - who was the initiator of this great movement - the highest and most exalted positions of nearness to Him.

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