Speech in Meeting with Foreign Guests Participating in the Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution

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

First, I extend a warm welcome to all of you, dear brothers and sisters, esteemed guests of the Islamic Republic, and I hope that, God willing, the bond of brotherhood and sincerity among the Muslims of the world will strengthen day by day based on the lofty teachings of the Quran.

These days are very memorable for the Iranian nation and also for all those who have recognized the truth of this great revolution and appreciated its value. Twelve years have passed since those glorious days. The revolution, which occurred in these days under the leadership of our great leader and Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), based on the principles of the Quran and the foundations of Islam, in this land and among this nation, has expanded its dimensions day by day, and the message of the revolution has been proven one by one and repeatedly in the experiences of these twelve years.

The first message of this revolution was that the era of the dominance of spiritual values has begun. There were few who could understand and believe this message because the world was dominated by waves of materialism and powers based on materialism. Today, there are many who feel and understand this truth. Today, everywhere in the world, spiritual values are being revived, and many of them have been revived, and materialism in its various forms—whether in the form of Marxist thoughts or in its more dangerous form, namely the dominance of materialism combined with money, force, and propaganda, which is manifested in global arrogance and, above all, in the government of America—has shown its failure and incapacity.

Another message of our revolution was that material powers are incapable of confronting spiritual values and the movement and will of human beings. Today, there are few who do not understand this truth in the world, except those who do not look carefully at the events of the world. The greatest sign of the weakness of the arrogant systems relying on material power is that this revolution and this system and pure Islam remained in the Islamic country of Iran and became stronger and more rooted day by day. The fact that an Islamic system could emerge in the world and remain and become stronger day by day is a sign of the emptiness and incapacity of material powers; because if they could, they would not tolerate and could not allow such a power to remain, and they would confront it with all their might, and they did.

For twelve years, the arrogant systems, with all the means available to them, have come to the field to confront revolutionary Islam and the Islamic Revolution. Today, when the Western and Zionist propaganda requires it, many secrets of the eight-year imposed war against us are being revealed. Today, everyone admits that during the eight years when our neighbor invaded the borders of the Islamic Republic, they helped him with all kinds of means. What we said during the eight years of war, that all the arrogant systems were behind the aggressor, is now being proven in their own words.

Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolution and the message of Islam remained and deepened and expanded. Today, in Asia and Africa and other regions where Muslims are present, you see signs of the strong inclination and desire of Muslims to return to the foundations of Islam. This means that the front of arrogance is incapable of confrontation.

But this is not enough. I tell you, brothers and sisters, and all Muslims, especially those who can play a role in guiding the masses, today is the day when Islam needs the sacrifice and comprehensive action of the nations. Today is the day when arrogance, with its most malicious and vile face, presents itself against the nations. Today is the day when arrogance, with full arrogance, is ready to sacrifice nations and countries for its own interests.

Look at what the Western powers are doing in this very region of the Persian Gulf. To achieve their own interests, they spare nothing on humans, animals, the environment, space, and sea water. Today, the arrogant power of America has become a danger—a serious danger—for all the nations of the world. A government that gives itself the right to interfere in all global issues, the issues of countries, and the issues of different regions, and to impose its will powerfully and arrogantly, when such bullying is recognized as permissible and legitimate worldwide, leaves no room for nations to live. They are not satisfied with any limit and do not stop anywhere. Under their shadow, they equip vultures, servile and obedient ones against the nations, and they have done and will do more unless the nations stand against them with the help of Islam.

The Islamic world must feel two things: First, the serious and very great danger that today, especially and more than all, America poses to its existence, dignity, Islam, life, and independence more than ever. Today, they have become worse, more savage, and more aggressive than in the past and will become more so. The Islamic world must feel this danger. The Zionists and the regimes that are in their hands and under their wings, as well as many kings and leaders who have identified their interests in connection with America and global arrogance and Western dominance, are the actual and immediate enemies of the Islamic world and are considered a great danger to Muslim nations and the Islamic world. Of course, thanks be to God, the Islamic world has awakened and today feels this danger to a large extent.

The second point is that if Muslims decide, they can curb and stop this danger. The superpowers had pretended that their will was infallible. Once in our revolution, once during the eight-year imposed war, and many times in various events, and today in the Persian Gulf issues, it became clear that this claim is hollow. The superpowers advance their work with the threat and awe of superpower status; otherwise, in terms of tangible and perceptible power, if a nation wants and decides, it can thwart them.

Today in the Persian Gulf, another experience is being shown. It became clear that, as claimed and America thought and claimed and calculated—which, like many times, this calculation also turned out wrong—they could not advance their work in a few days. Months of waiting and now weeks of war show that their power is not what they advertise and pretend; it is not what they want nations to believe. They are weaker than these claims. Therefore, all nations and governments and countries, in Africa and Asia and in all other regions of the world, even where Muslims are in the minority, can stand against America and shrug off the impositions.

Islamic nations must rise for the revival of Islam, for the renewal of the practical life of Islam, for reducing the influence of the enemy, for ensuring the independence of their nations, and for the great Islamic unity and creating this great power that Muslim nations can bring about. This is today a responsibility and a duty upon the individuals of the nation, especially the scholars and intellectuals and speakers and aware and intelligent youth and all those who can play a role in this path.

The Islamic Republic has shown that it is possible to move and stand firm. All the forces of the world stood against our great departed Imam, and he, relying on and trusting in God and with the support of his nation, was able to defeat all these forces single-handedly and make the name of Islam and the Islamic Revolution renowned in the world. Nations can. Islam and Muslims can advance. This is today our responsibility and duty, and the Islamic Republic has continued and will continue this path. Our sweet, exciting, and successful experiences encourage this nation to continue the path of God and Islam and the Quran.

We hope that Almighty God grants success to all of us and all Muslim nations and, God willing, with the will and powerful struggle of Muslim nations, removes the evil of the enemies from the Islamic nations, and, God willing, the hearts of Muslims will be more compassionate towards each other.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings