Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution at the Grand Gathering of Pilgrims to the Shrine of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified)

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. And peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, chosen, and infallible progeny, especially the Awaited One on earth. I express my heartfelt gratitude to you dear brothers and sisters who have traveled from distant paths to participate in this magnificent and meaningful gathering. The occasion of the anniversary of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) serves as a means for the Iranian nation to renew their love, devotion, and respect for the dear and great Imam, and it is also an opportunity for those enamored with the Imam and his principles and strategies to demonstrate their loyalty to the principles and line of the Imam and the goals he outlined. This is why every year, the 14th of Khordad holds a special significance in the eyes of political analysts around the world. Today, throughout the country, the people display the same enthusiasm, sincerity, affection, and camaraderie that has always been seen from the Iranian nation towards the great Imam. On this occasion, I will speak about the Imam and the great and unparalleled revolution that he raised like a peak in the world and contemporary history. In truth, speaking about the Imam and the revolution is not different from one another. The personality of the Imam was not merely characterized by the outstanding traits he possessed that formed his character. There is no doubt that our great Imam was, in various dimensions, a distinguished and eminent personality, a great scholar, a jurist with a school of thought, a prominent philosopher, a politician, a great social reformer, and in terms of his spiritual qualities, he possessed exceptional and unparalleled traits. All of these aspects highlight the Imam's character in the eyes of the people of his time and subsequent eras; however, the personality of our great Imam is not limited to these characteristics. Another dimension of his personality consists of the clear principles and lines that he established in this country, in this region, and in the sight of all the people of the world; based on these, he created a political and social system and instilled great hopes in the hearts of the oppressed of the world and the Islamic Ummah. The personality of the Imam is inseparable from his fundamental principles. In fact, the identity and principles of our revolution also constitute the prominent lines of the Imam's character. Whatever we say about the revolution, we are essentially speaking about the Imam. The characteristic of the great Islamic revolution, which has been introduced as an unparalleled phenomenon in the history of recent centuries in the eyes of analysts and experts, had not been seen before in any of the great revolutions of the world; neither in the French Revolution, nor in the communist revolution in the Soviet Union, nor in the smaller revolutions that followed these two revolutions and moved in their direction. Of course, pay attention to the fact that the habit of the dominant policies of the world has been and continues to be to absorb the justice-seeking movements of the people in various parts of the world into their political and cultural digestion and, in fact, to obliterate the identity of those movements and popular justice-seeking movements; this happened in Iran as well. The justice-seeking movement that arose a hundred years ago during the Constitutional Revolution in Iran was a popular and religious movement. At that time, the dominant political current of the world - namely the British - absorbed this justice-seeking movement based on Islamic principles into their political and cultural digestion; they transformed it and obliterated it, turning it into a constitutional movement of the British type. The result was that the constitutional movement - which was an anti-despotism movement - ultimately led to the dictatorial regime of Reza Khan, which was worse, more brutal, and more cruel than the despotism of the Qajar dynasty. Similarly, the nationalization of the oil industry was joined by those who managed it to the American liberal democracy. The result was that the Americans betrayed the nationalization of the oil industry. They colluded with the British, who were the opponents of the justice-seeking movement in Iran, and destroyed the national movement, leading to the harsh and dark dictatorship of Mohammad Reza for over thirty years, casting a heavy shadow over this country and putting this nation under pressure. The justice-seeking movements of the peoples of Africa and Asia were appropriated over decades by the communists and the dominant policies of the former Soviet Union, leading to various dictatorships that worked in the interests of the Soviet Union. This has been the ongoing practice of the world with the justice-seeking movements of the nations. The great art of our great Imam was that he established a solid framework for this revolution and did not allow this revolution to be digested in the belly of the powers and dominant political currents. The slogan "Neither East nor West, Islamic Republic," or the slogan "Independence, Freedom, Islamic Republic," which were teachings of the Imam and the pointing finger of his teachings that he placed in the mouths of the people, meant that this revolution is based on solid and stable principles that are not connected to the principles of socialism of the Eastern bloc of that day, nor to the principles of liberal capitalism of the Western bloc. The reason that the East and West have shown enmity and stubbornness towards this revolution is precisely this. This revolution was built on solid principles; it considered the implementation of justice, as well as freedom and independence - which are among the most important values for nations - and it also considered spirituality and ethics. This revolution is a combination of justice-seeking, freedom-seeking, popular sovereignty, spirituality, and ethics; however, this justice should not be confused with the alleged and illusory justice that the communists proclaimed in the former Soviet Union or in their satellite countries; this is Islamic justice with its specific definition. Likewise, the freedom in the Islamic Republic should not be confused with Western freedom - which means the unrestrained behavior of those in power and wealth, as well as the lack of restraint of individuals in any kind of behavior and action - this is Islamic freedom; it is both social freedom and spiritual freedom, as well as individual freedom with Islamic constraints and with the understanding and guidance and definition of Islam. The spirituality and ethics that the Islamic Republic and the Islamic revolution have included among their principles should not be confused with the rigid, illogical, and stagnant religiosity found in many societies. That religiosity appears to be religious in words, but is accompanied by stagnation and rigidity and a lack of understanding of the path to happiness for society and humanity. This Islamic suffix after justice, freedom, and spirituality is very meaningful and should be taken into account. The Imam explained these principles to the nation and the aware individuals before the victory of the revolution; after the victory of the revolution, based on them, he established the Islamic Republic, and as long as he was alive, he stood by these principles and struggled for them. Therefore, the Islamic Republic, as a novel and unparalleled phenomenon, was able to revive hopes in the hearts of Muslim communities. Everyone throughout the Islamic world and beyond understood that this was not a mere imitation of what they had heard from the unreliable tongues of Eastern and Western regimes; this is a new phenomenon with vitality and new power of movement. Thus, throughout the Islamic world, with the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Muslim nations gained a new movement and hope. Even now, despite the fact that the propaganda horns of global arrogance are spreading poison and slander against the Islamic Republic all over the world, the hope that the Islamic system has instilled in the hearts of Muslims around the world remains alive. Muslim intellectuals, young Muslims, and the rising generations in Islamic countries see this bright and hope-filled point before their eyes. The reason that the dominant currents of the world and the policies of global arrogance - with the United States at their forefront - are making so much effort against the Islamic Republic is that they want to eliminate this source and spring here. They know that as long as this spring flows and as long as this center of new thought remains alive here, they cannot dissuade nations from their justice-seeking and rights-seeking. Therefore, they try to do one of two things: either completely eliminate this spring here; or since they know that with the awakening and vitality of this nation, this is not possible, they want to eliminate the content of the Islamic Republic; change the orientations and create distortions in the established and clear concepts of the Islamic revolution and the Islamic Republic; even if its appearance remains intact. Of course, they constantly propagate around the world that the Islamic revolution is declining and weakening! This is part of the constant propaganda of the enemies of this revolution and system. Some naive individuals may believe this. This propaganda may cause some friends around the world to feel depressed and sad and may please the enemies; however, this is not a historical prediction or a scientific forecast; this is a propaganda trick. If the Islamic revolution had weakened, aged, and become incapable, why would they spend billions of dollars to confront it?! If the Islamic revolution had lost its breath, why does the United States, with all its political and propaganda apparatus, enter the arena to fight this revolution and day by day intensify its tone? No; this revolution is alive, vibrant, and moving forward, and the movement of the revolution and its fundamental lines remain alive. What the Iranian nation must pay attention to - which, thanks be to God, has shown over these twenty-three years that it is attentive to - is one point that I will mention. What the enemies of this revolution and this nation must also know is one point that I will say: What our nation knows and must insist on - which, thanks be to God, it has insisted on so far - is that the salvation of this country and its reaching the point it deserves is only possible under the shade of Islam and the Islamic Republic and the Islamic system, and nothing else. Young people who did not experience the victory of the revolution and did not see the years before the victory should know that if it were not for the Islamic revolution and our great Imam, and if Islam were not the banner of the revolution and transformation in this country, there would have been no hope of uprooting the hellish and humiliating dominance of the United States and the cruel dictatorial regime of Pahlavi from this land. All possible paths in this country were tried, and all were unsuccessful and failed. Various political parties, movements affiliated with the East and West, and armed movements all rose at one time in this country; however, none of them could do anything for this nation. Thus, oppression and suppression in this country intensified day by day. Even in the last years before the victory of the revolution, when young people resorted to armed struggle, those armed movements were severely suppressed; the dominance of the Pahlavi regime increased, and gradually despair filled hearts. The force that could truly stand against the Pahlavi regime was the nation; that is, the entire nation had to come to the scene to be able to defeat the corrupt, dependent, dictatorial, and oppressive Pahlavi regime and the United States behind it. There was no center or nucleus in Iran that could mobilize the nation; except for the clergy and the banner bearers of religion, with the slogan of religion. In our country, this is a long-standing experience; these should be observed with careful eyes. In the case of the Constitutional Revolution, if the scholars had not been there, the Constitutional Revolution would not have come into existence and would not have succeeded. When the Westernized individuals and the British lackeys in Iran sidelined the religious scholars and religious slogans, despotism and foreign influence reigned again. The same was true in the nationalization of the oil industry. As long as the clergy were in the forefront - with the late Ayatollah Kashani being one of the main pillars of this struggle - the nation was present in the field; but when, due to misbehavior, misjudgments, and monopolistic tendencies, the enlightened, aware, and courageous religious figure like the late Kashani was sidelined, the nation also withdrew, and the leaders of the national movement were left alone. Thus, the enemy came and did whatever it wanted with them. In Iran, the nation has always come to the scene with the call of religion; it has seen justice under the shade of religion; due to trust in the clergy, wherever they have taken the lead in a transformation, they have not left them alone. Therefore, when our great Imam, as a reference, a religious scholar, and a pure and sincere tested human being, entered the field with that resolute determination, and the clergy entered the field behind him, the entire nation was mobilized, and the enemy could no longer resist. That day, the presence of the nation was able to uproot despotism from this country. Dear brothers and sisters! In our country, despotism has always relied on the support of foreign dominating powers. The despotism and dictatorship of the Pahlavi regime and, before that, the Qajar regime in a different form, were due to their reliance on foreign powers. Reza Khan relied on the British; Mohammad Reza initially relied on the British and later on the Americans. He secured the interests and influence of the Americans according to their desires; they also supported him, and they did whatever they wanted with this country and this nation. For fifty years, they kept this nation under the pressure of oppression and halted its scientific, industrial, cultural, and moral progress during a time that was globally the best and most prepared for such progress, keeping this nation and this country backward. Their ambition was to indulge, amass wealth, and serve foreign masters. They had completely established themselves in Iran relying on that foreign power, and uprooting them and destroying this crooked, harmful, and cursed structure was not a task for just anyone. The great Imam came with the banner of Islamic guidance; thus, the principles of the Imam are Islamic principles; the justice of the Imam is Islamic justice; the popular sovereignty of the Imam is Islamic popular sovereignty. One of the greatest injustices regarding our great Imam and our Islamic system is that foreign propaganda accuses the Imam and the Islamic system and the Islamic Republic of despotism and distance from popular sovereignty. This revolution, with its greatness and vitality, came into existence in Iran, and after the victory of the revolution, the first referendum was conducted by the Imam, which had no precedent in any revolution. Look, a coup, a small transformation, and a slight change occurs in a country; elections are delayed for two or three years. In the country, the people did not recognize the ballot box. The elections during the tyrannical regime were nominal and false. The people had never gone to the ballot box to vote in the true sense of the word. Whoever they wanted for the puppet parliament was brought out from the ballot boxes. In such a context, two months after the victory of the revolution, the Imam brought the people to the ballot boxes, and the people voted for the Islamic Republic. Within a year, the people went to the ballot boxes five times. Throughout the twenty-three years since the revolution, our nation has gone to the ballot boxes twenty-three times to elect representatives for the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Assembly of Experts, the President, and members of the City Council, as well as to determine the constitution and the Islamic Republic system. In which system - even one that is merely democratic in appearance - is there such reliance on the vote and will of the people? The shameless and brazen enemies of this revolution and this nation commit this injustice by accusing this revolution and system and its great architect and founder of being opposed to popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty in the Islamic system is religious popular sovereignty; that is, it is based on the opinion of Islam; it is not merely a customary contract. Referring to the vote and will of the people, where this reference is necessary, is the opinion of Islam; thus, it creates a religious commitment. It is not like the democratic countries of the West, which are merely customary contracts that can be easily violated. In the Islamic Republic system, popular sovereignty is a religious duty. Officials have a religious commitment to preserve this characteristic, and they must answer before God. This is one of the great principles of our great Imam. The principle of social justice, the implementation of justice, considering the rights of the vast masses of the people, and filling the class gap is one of the main principles of the Islamic system. The fight against administrative corruption, economic corruption, and the misuse of the resources that power places at the disposal of individuals - whether financial misuse or political misuse - is among the principles of the revolution and must be observed. Serving the people is among the principles of the revolution. Preserving the independence of the country in all areas and preventing the infiltration and encroachment of enemies is among the unchangeable principles of the revolution. The fundamental principles and lines of the revolution are unchangeable. The manifestation of all of these is our progressive constitution. Of course, governments and officials in different periods can choose various tactics and methods for implementing these principles. The essence of the revolution, like Islam itself, is based on fixed and variable rulings. A series of rulings are unchangeable; a series of rulings change under different conditions. The revolution is the same. Ijtihad (jurisprudential reasoning) is a characteristic that allows an official to choose the correct methods and tactics according to the circumstances. Of course, choosing methods and ijtihad to find new and suitable methods is the task of a jurist. This is different from the innovation of an inexperienced and revisionist individual; this is the work of someone who has the power of ijtihad in this matter. The role of ijtihad and the jurist in the Islamic system is for this reason. On the other hand, under the pretext of adhering to principles, we reject rigidity and say that one cannot impose rigidity and stagnation on the revolution under the pretext of adhering to principles - principledness exists; however, this is not rigidity and dogmatism and a failure to recognize different conditions - on the other hand, under the pretext of ijtihad and transformation, one should not allow the harmful and destructive activities and movements of naive and revisionist innovations. The clear line of the great Imam is this. Therefore, the principles are fixed principles. Justice, popular sovereignty, independence, defending the rights of the nation in all areas, defending the rights of Muslims around the world, defending any oppressed person in any part of the world; these are among our principles. The fight against corruption, oppression, and tyranny is among our principles - these are unchangeable - but there may be various methods in different circumstances. The Imam outlined the principles of the revolution and its frameworks so firmly, precisely, and clearly that the dominant currents of the world could not digest this revolution like other political transformations in their cultural digestion and obliterate it. What our nation must insist on is these unchangeable principles. Of course, governments, parliaments, and the judiciary may show weaknesses in various sectors, and what the revolution and the Islamic system aim for may not be fulfilled; however, this weakness pertains to the officials and executors. Unfortunately, the enemies of the system attribute any weakness related to a particular apparatus to the system. The system has solid foundations and clear lines. The reasoning and logic behind the main lines of the system are irrefutable. Officials and executors in various sectors of the Islamic system - whether in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches, or armed forces, or anyone working in any corner - must address their weaknesses. The path to the happiness of this nation is the implementation of the principles that the great Imam outlined; which were enshrined in the constitution, and the nation has repeatedly declared its loyalty to them. It has become clear that the enemy opposes these principles and anything that can close the door to their infiltration. The enemy seeks to enter through various openings. The Iranian nation, especially the officials, must be vigilant, and thanks be to God, our dear nation has shown over these years that it is aware and attentive to these points. What the enemy must understand is that with threats and the use of domineering and bullying rhetoric, they cannot force the Iranian nation to submit. What is clear and certain for our nation is that any form of foreign domination in this country will threaten its religious and worldly happiness and impose humiliation and degradation upon it. Today, the United States speaks not only to us but to the world with domineering rhetoric and talks of war to expand its influence and domination in the world. Any nation or government that is intimidated by this rhetoric and this manner of dealing and submits has certainly dug its own grave and acted against its own interests. Today, the American regime believes it has the right to speak to nations and governments in the language of force. You see, it humiliates Arab governments; it pressures Arab nations; it uses everything it can; in practice, it supports the usurping regime of Israel against the Islamic world and the Arab world without reservation and seeks to expand its influence. This is a repugnant phenomenon in the world; thus, the United States is becoming increasingly despised in the world. During a trip that the President of the United States made to Europe, the demonstrations of tens of thousands of people in European cities against the President of the United States had no precedent in the past! What does this mean? In the Islamic world - according to their own polls - the American regime is the most despised regime. Of course, it has now become clear that this hatred is not limited to the Islamic world; public hatred against the American regime and its leaders is increasing day by day in Russia and various European countries as well. What do they want to do with the public hatred of the people? Our nation is a dignified nation; it values its independence, dignity, and honor and does not accept and tolerate humiliation and insult from anyone. No regime in the world has the right to insult and humiliate the Iranian nation because of its independent stance. Threats are also ineffective. Of course, the enemy is harsh. The United States has shown in Afghanistan and some other places that it does not consider any humanitarian considerations in its operations. In the poor and oppressed country of Afghanistan, they entered the field under the pretext of fighting a group and a current, rather, fighting a few individuals. They did not reach those individuals; however, they bombed and killed many innocent people! Therefore, they are harsh; however, this violence cannot lead the United States to its goals and will certainly be met with a backlash from the nations and their steadfastness. I would like to say this to our dear nation, to the esteemed officials of the country, and to the political currents: What can prevent the brazen aggression of the United States is only and only national unity and unity of word. Wherever they want to step, they must first create division. The means of their success is the existence of discord within the internal ranks of nations. Wherever they have been able to bully and act violently, if you pay attention, you will see that there has been a rift among the ranks of the nation. Where there is unity of word, they do not dare to approach. The remedy for confronting the threats of the United States is the unity of the nation, the unity of the officials, respecting the various political factions, and gathering around the same principles that our great Imam has defined as the principles of this revolution and system and that are accepted by this nation; the same things for which the nation sacrificed. You see, in every part of the world, when someone runs for the presidency and gives slogans, and then a majority - even a weak one - votes for him, merely their coming to the ballot boxes counts as support for these slogans. You observed this in the recent elections in France; this is common everywhere in the world. The Iranian nation did not merely come to the ballot boxes for the principles of our great Imam and the main lines of this revolution - which I have enumerated - but rather, they took their lives in their hands and came to the forefront. This nation signed this revolution and these lines and these principles, which are embodied and manifested in the constitution today, with their blood. Not only at the beginning of the revolution but also during the imposed war, for eight years, the people stood against the aggressor and defended this sacred system with their lives, youth, and all their existence. This is different from the people coming to the ballot boxes to support a personality; this is dozens of times greater than that. These principles are the principles for which the Iranian nation has given its life; it has given its youth; it has shed blood; and it stands firm even now. Even now, if a situation arises where the people of Iran feel they must come to the forefront with their bodies and souls, all eyes in the world will see that the enthusiasm and excitement of the people will be even greater than during the time of the imposed war. These principles are the beliefs, trust, love, and affection of the people and the axis of unity. Some should not seek a point of unity! These principles are the axis of unity. Everyone - both officials and political elements - should repeatedly demonstrate their loyalty to these principles through words, writing, speeches, and actions; this becomes the axis of unity. National unity means this. We do not say that the differences of opinion among the people and political currents should be removed from the political scene of the country. This is neither possible nor beneficial; however, these differences of opinion should not lead to conflict and discord. Everyone must observe and maintain this unity. This is the means of defending the country and a barrier against the brazen aggression of the enemy, which constantly threatens and repeatedly reiterates it. Of course, if the enemy makes a misstep, this nation will be able to defend its rights and rub the enemy's nose in the dirt. Alongside this, there is a very great duty upon the officials of the country, which is to serve the people and work tirelessly and diligently for them. It does not matter; whether the executive branch and the government apparatus, the legislative branch and the representatives of the parliament, the judiciary and the judicial bodies throughout the country; they must seriously work towards implementing these principles and lines of the revolution and the Imam - which is essentially the implementation of the constitution - without considering other tasks and efforts, and not allow their time to be spent on other matters. If anyone falls short during this period, they will be condemned in the eyes of the people and judged by them, and they will also be held accountable before God Almighty. In this period when the people are in utmost need of the services of the officials, they must not fall short. The path to serving and resolving the economic and livelihood issues of the people is open; the path to implementing justice and filling the class gap - which exists in our Islamic society and should not exist, but unfortunately does - is open. There are wise and logical paths; officials must strive. This is what the pure spirit of this great man expects from us and all the officials, just as this nation expects from us. One of the important issues of these days - which, thanks be to God, has been well addressed in our country - is the issue of Palestine. These days, on the occasion of the anniversary of the passing of the great Imam, friends have made efforts and held the international conference on Palestine, where necessary and useful discussions were held. The issue of Palestine is the most important issue of the Islamic world. There is no international issue in the Islamic world that is more significant than this; because the dominance of the usurpers of the land of Palestine and Quds over this part of the Islamic Ummah is the source of many weaknesses and difficulties in the Islamic world. Of course, today the United States is an accomplice in the crime of Israel. The President of the United States, who introduces himself as a mediator, explicitly states that support for Israel is part of our foreign policy! He openly and brazenly shows his support for Israel - which is the usurper of the land of Palestine - in front of the Arab world, Arab leaders, and the Islamic Ummah. Brothers and sisters! Today, the struggle of the Palestinian people is centered on its own axis; the same axis that holds the hope of victory in traversing it; that is, the nation has come to the scene. Israel is a fake, illegal, and usurping regime. They came and took a country from its people by force and oppression and trickery. Therefore, any negotiation based on acknowledging the existence of this regime is illegitimate and unstable. Of course, today the Palestinian nation has well understood the reality of the scene and has realized that the language of force is the only language that the occupiers of Al-Quds and the country of Palestine believe in. The Palestinian nation knows that any negotiation and contract will bring them losses; thus, they have entered the field. The struggle that the Palestinian nation has begun today is not a struggle of one army against another army, so that we can say how many tanks he has, how many tanks he has; who has more or less. This is a struggle of bodies and souls of individuals who are not afraid of death. Every self-sacrificing young person who stands against the occupying regime threatens them as much as an entire army. The response to this human being is not given by tanks, missiles, and Apache helicopters. When a person - even one - is not afraid of death and prepares himself for sacrifice in the way of God and in the way of duty, he becomes the greatest danger to the unjust worldly rulers. Thus, you saw that in the face of these martyr-seeking youths, the Americans at the highest level explicitly took a stance. I say these stances are of no benefit. This martyr-seeking is not based on emotions; it is based on belief in Islam and the Day of Resurrection and faith in life after death. Wherever Islam exists in its true sense, this danger exists against global arrogance. Global arrogance must fight against Palestine; fighting against Islam means fighting against the Islamic world, and this struggle will not lead anywhere. The solution to the Palestinian issue is not through imposed and false solutions. The only solution to the Palestinian issue is that the real people of Palestine - not the usurping immigrants - whether those who remained inside Palestine or those who are outside Palestine, should determine their own governing system. If reliance on the votes of a nation is a true claim of the self-proclaimed democrats in the world, the Palestinian nation is also a nation and must decide. The usurping regime that is currently in power in Palestine has no right to this land; it is a fake, false regime created by the oppressive powers. Therefore, the people of Palestine should not be asked to recognize this regime. If anyone in the Islamic world makes this mistake and recognizes this oppressive regime, in addition to bringing disgrace and shame upon themselves, they have also done a futile act; because this regime is not sustainable. The Zionists think they have been able to dominate Palestine and that Palestine will forever belong to them! No; this is not the case. The fate of Palestine is that one day it will certainly become a country of Palestine. The Palestinian nation has risen in this path. It is the duty of Muslim nations and governments to reduce this distance as much as possible and to ensure that the Palestinian nation reaches that day. O Lord! We beseech You by Your holy names and by Your greatness and by Your saints, crush and subdue the enemies of Islam; elevate and grant victory to the Islamic Ummah; save the Palestinian nation and other oppressed and Muslim nations; punish their enemies through the hands of the Muslim nations and with Your power. O Lord! By Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, grant victory to our dear and proud nation that has proven its faith and sincerity; make it successful and elevated in all arenas, and bring joy to the pure spirit of the great Imam. O Lord! By Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, make the sacred heart of the Awaited One pleased with us and include us in the prayers of that great one. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.