Statements of the Supreme Leader on the Anniversary of Imam Khomeini's Passing

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

Thanks be to God, Lord of the worlds. I praise Him with continuous praise for His continuous blessings, and with successive praise for His successive favors. Peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet and beloved of our hearts, Abul Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate, chosen family, the guided and infallible, especially the remainder of God on earth. God, the Wise, said in His Book: "They want to extinguish the light of God with their mouths, but God refuses except to perfect His light, even if the disbelievers dislike it." (Quran 9:32)

The third anniversary of the passing of the great founder of the Islamic Republic and the great standard-bearer of Islam and the Quran in contemporary history reminds us of those bitter days and that heart-wrenching calamity for the Iranian nation and all Muslim nations and all the oppressed of the world. First, I must offer my condolences for this great calamity, which time does not diminish, to the illuminated presence of the Guardian of the Age, Imam Mahdi (may our souls be sacrificed for him). Likewise, to the Muslim nation of Iran and all the admirers and devotees of this great man around the world. I also extend my condolences to his honorable son, Hujjat al-Islam Mr. Haj Seyyed Ahmad Agha, who is a valuable legacy of that great man. On the occasion of this great gathering of yours, I will present some points.

This event was significant from various aspects. One of the aspects, perhaps the most important, was that the Iranian nation faced a very great test in this event. This revolution and this system and the movement of the people behind the Imam were a model and example for the Muslims of the world, and indeed for many nations. Naturally, with the loss of the great Imam, this state of concern arose in the world about how the Iranian nation would move after the loss of the Imam and the beating heart of this Islamic system. What I can boldly say today, after three years since this event, is that the Iranian nation gave one of the best tests in this event and after it. Truly, this movement of the nation in continuing the path and line of the Imam, like other struggles of the great Iranian nation in the original revolution, in the imposed war, and in various tests, was an exceptional and memorable movement. In this opportunity, I would like to briefly outline the main directions of the Iranian nation, which are embodied in the general movement of the people, in the movement of the government, and in the movement of the system's officials, and are precisely aligned with the same line and direction that the Imam had drawn for us, and then look to the future and start this very important opportunity, which is a phase for our system, with a clear vision.

I will outline the main points regarding the characteristics of this line and this direction, which we call the "Imam's line" and which was the characteristic of the movement of the Islamic Republic system during the ten blessed years of the Imam's life: The Imam's line means the governmental path and conduct of the Imam of the Ummah. It means something that interprets the Islamic Republic system. The Islamic Republic can be realized with various orientations. What brings these orientations closer to correctness and was accepted and believed by the Imam (may God sanctify his soul) are these:

First, standing against the imposition and influence of foreign powers and not having a compromising attitude with these powers. This is the first characteristic of the movement of our great Imam.

Second, attention to devotion and individual action and standing against the domination of the devil of the self and the temptations of the soul. The Imam did not separate these two great matters and these two fields of struggle. In the social and political arena, he stood against the great Satan and the devils of power. In the human psyche and inner existence, the Imam fought against the self and insisted on devotion and Islamic, individual, and personal action.

Third, giving importance to the capabilities of nations and considering them as "principle." The Imam spoke with nations and believed that great transformations in the world, if carried out by nations, are invincible, and nations can create change in the world and alter their environments.

Fourth, insisting on the unity of Muslims and fighting against the divisive actions of global arrogance.

Fifth, insisting on establishing healthy, friendly relations with governments, except for exceptions, each of which had strong reasoning behind it. The Imam taught us that the Islamic Republic can and should have healthy relations with governments on a global level. Of course, relations with America are rejected because America is an arrogant, aggressive, and oppressive state and is in opposition and conflict with Islam and the Islamic Republic. Relations with the Zionist regime and the apartheid regime of South Africa (at the time) are rejected; however, relations with other governments depend on the interests of the Islamic Republic system, and the principle is to establish relations.

Sixth, insisting on breaking the barriers of rigidity and eclecticism in understanding and practicing Islam and adhering to pure Islam. Both rigidity, from the Imam's perspective—in speech and action—was rejected, as was eclecticism.

Seventh, giving a central role to the salvation of the deprived and ensuring social justice. Always, in the eyes of the Imam, the people were "principle." In the logic and governmental line of the Imam of the Ummah, the deprived and oppressed were considered the axis of decision-making, and all economic activities and the like were centered on rescuing the deprived from deprivation.

Eighth, special attention to the struggle against the occupying regime of Jerusalem and the usurping Zionist regime. The struggle against Israel had a special place in the Imam's logic—in the governmental path and method. Among the matters that, in the view of the Imam of the Ummah, were in no way forgivable for Muslim nations was the struggle against the Zionists, because the great Imam had correctly identified the destructive and ruinous role of this imposed regime years before the victory of the revolution.

Ninth, preserving national unity and creating cohesion among the Iranian nation and insisting on confronting and fighting against any divisive slogans.

Tenth, maintaining the people's nature of the government and establishing a relationship with the people and maintaining contact with them. Therefore, the Imam advised the officials, "Do not separate from the people; be with the people; have the lifestyle of the people; think of the people," and in summary, he ensured the relationship from the side of the officials, and reciprocally, he advised the people about the officials and governments. That is, the Imam confronted those who weakened the organs of the system and the government in some way.

Eleventh, insisting on the construction of the country and delivering a practical example of an Islamic country and society to the world, which had an important place in the last months of the Imam's blessed life. He insisted that the country should be rebuilt economically, in terms of infrastructure, and in terms of income sources, and a tangible and practical example of Islamic construction should be presented to the people.

These are the points that, in my belief, are the main outlines and lines of the Imam's vision and practical and governmental conduct. Although some points may have been hidden from my view and overlooked.

I want to say: The Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic government, in these three years, have made every effort to follow this path, and by God's grace and the success of the Almighty God, they have succeeded. The propaganda from global arrogance is aimed at making the people of the world believe that after the Imam's passing, a different era has begun in the lives of the Iranian people. But the Iranian nation observes the truths and sees everything up close. I explicitly declare that this is a big lie. This is an insult to the Iranian nation. This is an accusation against the great nation that, behind its Imam, opened and weakened all the arrogant chains and put them under threat. The nation considers the continuation of the Imam's path as its path to salvation. The Iranian nation has correctly recognized the danger. For our nation and revolution, the greatest danger is the danger of the influence of global arrogance and world powers, and specifically, the danger of the unrestrained superpower of America. Our nation understands well and knows well that arrogance was lying in wait for the Imam to leave the people so that it could, in its imagination, target this great fortress that no longer has a great watchman and guardian like the Imam. Our nation has left this wish in the heart of global arrogance and America, and God willing, it will always do so.

Of course, in these three years, the enemy has not been idle either. Many restrictions and various pressures were prepared to tire and discourage the Iranian nation. But the nation stood firm. The nation passed a very good test, and the Almighty God also gave you, the fighting and brave people, the reward for this steadfastness. Many times, He showed you signs of His mercy. In these few years, various victories came to our nation. The freedom of our dear captives, whose captivity was one of the sorrows of this nation, was one of these divine rewards. The recognition of the aggressive regime of Iraq in international forums was another reward from God. This proved the righteousness of the revolution and the Iranian nation. This was not a small political event. This showed how unjust the propaganda and conspiracies of the world and the efforts of arrogance were against this nation in these eight years. In these eight years, arrogance wanted to prove and show to the world and the nations that looked at Iran as a model that the revolution and the Iranian nation were far from the correct and rational rule and law. They invade; they kill; they start wars!

All this was to make our nation fall from the eyes of other nations. This international testimony and witness nullified all the propaganda woven by the colonial propagandists and the designers of arrogance and showed that the Iranian nation, in these eight years, was right and defended its right. It proved that this nation is a nation that, to assert its right and suppress the aggressor, is even willing to continue a war of this magnitude and importance for eight years and defend itself and endure hardships. And this became an amazing experience for the world regarding the Iranian nation!

Another divine reward was that in these few years, many of those who had allied against the Iranian nation during the eight-year imposed war were punished. The Soviet Union, Iraq's number one supporter, collapsed. Among the European countries, those who helped Iraq the most were the ones who suffered the most. Many of the governments in this region, who were behind Iraq and faced you, the oppressed nation, suffered the consequences of this action in these three years.

These are the signs of God's grace to our nation. Know and let the world know that others who have remained immune until now will not remain unscathed. Eight years of conspiracy against a truth-seeking nation; against a nation that rose for God; against a nation that speaks the truth and is committed to saving the deprived and oppressed...! The powerful and criminal hands of the world crushed this nation so oppressively over eight years. And of course, our nation did not bow its head, and in the end, you were victorious, and they were forced to admit their mistake and return to their place and sit down.

In the law of the world's nature and in the divine tradition, these actions do not go unanswered. Among the divine rewards in these three years were the great strides taken for the reconstruction of the country. The sincere officials have worked hard, and great works have been accomplished. God willing, these works must continue, and day by day, the country should move towards reconstruction and the same goals that the great Imam had for it.

But let us also look to the future. What is the path of the Iranian nation in the future? In one sentence, in summary, we must say that the path of the Iranian nation in the future is the same path of the Imam and the revolution and standing and resisting against the imposition of superpowers and defending the oppressed and the downtrodden and defending Islam and the Quran and raising the flag of Islam and the Quran at the global level.

We are against oppression and arrogance and pressure on nations. We are against the imposition and bullying of superpowers and stand against it. We stand against compromise with Israel. We defend the oppressed nation of Palestine with all our means. We defend the nation of Lebanon, which is under the pressure of the Zionists. We defend and support Islam, the awakened Islam, and the nations that have returned to Islamic identity, wherever they are in the world. Today, after the collapse and disappearance of the Eastern superpower, America is an unrivaled superpower in the world that has become arrogant. It is caught in this great mistake that it will be able to manage and run the world according to its own will and desire. The new world order and arrangements they propose for the world are based on this; based on America being the axis; and after America, other powers that are in the next rank and their dominance over the whole world; over all countries; over all nations; over all important world resources and over all the sensitive waterways of the world. In their imagination, the fate of the world is in their hands! Today, the dominant powers, who no longer have the Eastern bloc and the former Soviet Union against them, feel that the world and global politics should be entirely in their hands and that anything that is considered an obstacle in this path should be fought against.

What I feel and the evidence testifies to is that America and its assistants feel that Islam is the greatest obstacle in the way of this world domination. Therefore, in the new world order and in the American logic, fighting Islam is a fundamental and essential element. They intend to fight Islam. They intend to suppress Islamic movements wherever nations rise, and wherever a despotic government and oppressive power confront Muslims, they will support and encourage that government and oppressive power unconditionally. They speak differently in words, but the essence of the matter is this. Arrogance cannot tolerate Muslims becoming united. It cannot tolerate Islamic sentiments growing among nations; whether in Asia, Africa, or especially in Europe. You will see what they will do with the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Certainly, one day in Europe, the Muslims of Albania and other Muslims in European countries will face bitter destinies and difficult tests. This is due to the same policy; the policy of eradicating Islam. In Africa, Islamic movements are intensely hated by global arrogance. Wherever Islamic awakening is felt, they are sensitive to it. They murmur that they should participate in the elections of nations! They should go to countries and where elections are held, they should supervise the elections! They call this "supervision of elections to ensure the freedom of elections"; but in reality, this idea is to prevent Muslims from being able to reach power through electoral and parliamentary methods anywhere in the world. As was done in Algeria, and unfortunately, it was suppressed.

They fight Islam intensely, and most of all, they are aggrieved and upset with the Islamic Republic. They know that it was the Islamic Republic and the steadfastness of that great Imam that awakened the nations; gave them hope and encouraged them to move. Therefore, they are intensely hostile to the Islamic Republic. Today in our world, this is a reality. Alongside this reality—the Iranian nation should pay close attention and Muslim nations should know—there is a second reality, and that is that the will, steadfastness, struggle, and non-submission of nations have so far prevailed over all arrogant conspiracies and will continue to prevail. In the face of the enemy's ill-will and malice, the only way that exists is the steadfastness of nations. Just as the Iranian nation experienced this and stood firm.

You succeeded with your steadfastness, and if this steadfastness had not been there, until today, the enemy would have implemented its vile intentions in dear Iran and our Islamic homeland many times. Other nations also have no choice but to stand firm. If nations stand firm, God will help them. "And God will surely help those who help Him." (Quran 22:40) God's promise is that if you help God, God will help you.

An example of this was the Islamic Revolution. You helped God, and God helped you. Another example was the imposed war, where you helped God, and God helped you and made you victorious.

Another example is the many experiences of these thirteen years, where in all these experiences, you stood firm and defended the positions of truth, and God helped you. If it were not for God's help, today, America would have brought a difficult time for the country and the Iranian nation and taken revenge. The only way is steadfastness. The Iranian nation, as the Imam said, must be united. As the Imam said, they must adhere to Islam. As the Imam said, they must strive for construction. As the Imam said, they must stand behind the officials. As the Imam said, the officials and the nation must not fear the powers; they must not fear America; they must not fear hostilities and must rely on God. And as the Imam said, they must be hopeful that this path will lead to our victory.

In conclusion, I must thank our dear nation for, in various experiences, thanks be to God, acting and moving with steadfastness and insight. In this recent election, your presence, people, was a source of credibility and dignity for Islam and Muslims, and thanks be to God, the fourth parliament was also formed. You stood behind the officials; you supported the officials; you supported the government... and all these are good deeds for which the Almighty God will reward you. I sincerely thank each and every one of you, dear nation. And in the presence of this great spirit, this celestial spirit, who is certainly observing and present and sees your work and understands and feels our gathering and is pleased with your happiness and righteous movement, I testify before the Lord of the worlds that this nation, with sincerity and purity, moved behind the Imam, in the line of the great Imam, and for Islam, and did not spare any effort.

I especially need to thank the dear families of our esteemed martyrs, our dear veterans, their families, our freed captives who endured hardships, and their families, and the families of our dear missing persons. You, thanks be to God, stood in the position that the revolution expects from you. You are the frontline soldiers of the revolution. You must maintain your positions wherever you are. I sincerely thank the government of the Islamic Republic for, during this period, making every effort that a good and righteous government can make to advance the work. The government officials work hard and make sincere efforts.

The sincerity of governments is the greatest blessing for nations. A sincere, interested, and serving government is very valuable; a government whose members and honorable head do not think of their personal interests and do the work for God and for the benefit of the nation. In the presence of our great Imam and before the Almighty God, I must thank these dear ones. I must thank the esteemed household of this celestial man and his dear son, Mr. Haj Seyyed Ahmad Agha, for the sincere and caring positions he has taken during these three years. He showed and presented exactly what the Imam preferred, what the Imam expected from his family, and moved in the same path; spoke for God; worked for God, and we hope, God willing, he will be successful.

I thank all the organs of the Islamic Republic for their adherence to the criteria and standards of the Imam's line. I thank the judiciary, the legislative branch, their officials and members; because all the country's institutions have a fundamental criterion, and that is pure Islam, and the embodiment of pure Islam, meaning the Imam of the Ummah, may God sanctify his soul, and his line and path. This is a valuable thing. The nation and the government think and act in this way. I expect that in the future, our nation will continue to move and act in this way. Behind the officials, helping the officials, caring for the officials, and being sincere and advising towards the officials. I also expect the officials to continue this path. Especially the deprived classes, the barefooted, and the oppressed of society must be the axis and criterion for all efforts and activities. Those who, in the Imam's words, are the owners of this country; those who endured the war, the mobilization, the self-sacrificing defense against the enemy's aggression with their lives. Everything must be for them and in their interests. We hope God will grant us all success.

I will make a few prayers, hoping that in this divine court and with the presence of you believers, God willing, these prayers will reach the goal of acceptance:

O Lord! Keep us steadfast on the path of Islam and the Imam's line and the teachings of the Quran.

O Lord! Grant victory to the Iranian nation over the enemies of Islam and Muslims.

O Lord! Grant victory to Muslim nations, wherever they are in the world, over their enemies.

O Lord! Please the sacred heart of the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) with us.

O Lord! Make us among the companions of that great one in his presence and absence.

O Lord! Grant us all the success to fully implement the laws of Islam and the Quran.

O Lord! By Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, keep the hearts of this nation firm and hopeful with Your grace and favor.

O Lord! Remove the difficulties that are the result of the malice of the enemies from among us.

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