Speech in Meeting with First Group of Foreign Guests on the Second Anniversary of Imam Khomeini's Passing

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

The great art of Imam was that he brought Islam out of estrangement.

I extend a warm welcome to all of you dear brothers and sisters who have come to Tehran for this great and sorrowful occasion—whether brothers and sisters who have come to Iran from abroad, or those who have come from Mashhad or other cities. It is fitting for the Islamic community to mourn on this great occasion and tragic event. I hope that Almighty God will grant you all abundant reward.

The great art and unparalleled service of our revered Imam was that he brought Islam out of estrangement. Muslims were strangers even in their own homes and cities. Islam was a stranger even in its own original lands. The enemies of Islam, with their culture of atheism and corruption and tyrannical systems, had deprived Muslims of the opportunity to think for themselves. In such conditions, our revered Imam, that descendant of the prophets and the hand of God's power in this era, removed and wiped away the dust of estrangement from the face of Islam.

The enmity of global arrogance with Iran is because of Islam

What the Iranian nation and the rest of the world's Muslims must pay attention to is that today the enmity of the camp of global arrogance with Islamic Iran is because of Islam. They are hostile to Islam, which is why they exert pressure on the Islamic Republic. They are hostile to the revival of the Quran, which is why they are hostile to the Iranian nation. All Muslim nations that are inclined to sacrifice and move in the path of Islam must prepare themselves to confront the hostilities of the enemies of Islam.

We, the Iranian nation, take pride in the fact that we are the target of the hatred and enmity of the arrogant powers and the tyrants of the world because of God, Islam, and the Quran. Our youth take pride in having fought and endured hardships on various fronts for the sake of Islam. Every hardship in the path of God and in defense of Islamic values and the Quran is a good deed; "That is because they suffer neither thirst nor fatigue nor hunger in the cause of God, nor do they tread any path to anger the disbelievers, nor do they gain anything from the enemy, but it is written to their credit as a righteous deed."(1) This is our slogan. The Iranian nation has endured every hardship for God and takes pride in it.

But the other clear truth is that what will ultimately prevail is the path of God. History has proven this to us, and the story of contemporary human history has also demonstrated this. We endure and resist for God, and we know that victory follows this patience and resistance; "And God will surely support those who support Him."(2)

Non-Iranian brothers must take the message of Islam, the message of the Imam, and the message of this nation back to their people and loved ones upon returning to their homelands. This is the same message of the Quran. I ask Almighty God to increase the power, dignity, and progress of Muslim nations day by day and to grant the sacred soul of our dear Imam a good reward from Islam and the Muslims.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings