Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with Students, Teachers, and Nurses on the Occasion of 13th of Aban

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

First of all, I extend a warm welcome to you dear ones, students, teachers, and nurses, who have formed this enthusiastic and sincere gathering. I pray to Almighty God for success, progress, and perfection for all of you, in whatever position you are and in whatever duty you are engaged.

The 13th of Aban is an important day in our history due to the convergence of three historical events that are strangely connected. Today is an opportunity to speak about a great global pain and a deadly political disease that dominates humanity and causes suffering to many nations. These three events are also related to this fundamental issue.

The first event is the exile of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified). A nation was struggling under the pressure of a corrupt government, and many people were angry and distressed. The only person who could guide the people's emotions, direct their thoughts, express their grievances, and not fear the dangers of this path was our great Imam. He was abducted from his home in the middle of the night on such a day and sent to prison and then into exile, hoping that the nation's anger would not be directed and their struggle would not resume. But contrary to their belief, the Imam continued his leadership from exile and did not cease to expose the truth and guide the people. This nation, especially the youth, entered a general struggle that lasted fifteen years. In continuation of this struggle, on such a day, the same tyrannical, dependent, and corrupt regime, influenced by policies tainted with the same disease—which I will mention—committed a crime by martyring students. However, ultimately, the truth prevailed. The rightful struggle of the Iranian people succeeded, and that tyrannical and corrupt regime was forced to pack up and leave, and America had to leave our country. Again, on such a day, the sacred and rightful anger of a group of young Muslim students led to the third event, the seizure of the spy den. Therefore, today's events for the Iranian nation are interconnected and all related to the issue I will briefly discuss today.

The great calamity in today's world is something I can introduce as 'international despotism' and 'global dictatorship.' This name is appropriate for what is happening to nations today. International despotism is the highest level of global arrogance. Global arrogance means that there are governments and powers in the world that confront other nations with arrogance: they take their wealth, interfere in their governments, influence their policies, and drag them in different directions. This is international arrogance. The same thing that started with colonialism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and then turned into neo-colonialism in the twentieth century, and today, during the peak of arrogant powers, has taken the form of global arrogance, dividing the world between two poles and two powers, each exploiting and squeezing a nation in its grip.

Today, something has been added to international despotism: the global arrogant powers, led by the United States, do not even recognize the right of other nations to speak and express opinions. They do whatever they find beneficial and necessary for their policies, even if it harms a nation or nations. For example, in the case of Iraq, they crush the region under their feet with their armed forces and deadly weapons, or in various parts of the world, with their indication or help, various atrocities and crimes are committed. Suppose in occupied Palestine or Lebanon and other regions, all those atrocities occur, but if a nation expresses an opinion contrary to these issues or statesmen in the world oppose, with complete despotism and dictatorship, they accuse that nation or government of various charges to remove them from the field.

The global arrogant powers also have tools and means. Radios, news agencies, fast news transfer and analysis tools, colonial apparatuses, political analysts, and deadly weapons are all at their disposal. They portray themselves as rightful and try to remove anyone who opposes them from the field with political, military, or economic pressure so that nothing stirs. If we want to name an example, in our Islamic countries—for instance, in Algeria—elections took place, a faction won, and then with the indication and support of arrogant powers, the situation completely changed; that is, what the nation wanted was completely reversed. Or look at the bloody region of Bosnia and Herzegovina! Other nations spoke of independence, all of them were accepted, but when it came to the Muslim nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina—where the majority of this country are Muslims and chose their government—atrocities and massacres occurred, accompanied by the world's media silence. Then, with weak and meaningless propaganda, it led to the release of the aggressor and criminal. This is the situation that dominates the world. That is, the pressure of a group of powerful people, who, if they have disagreements on a hundred issues, are united in dividing the world into spheres of influence and putting pressure on the majority of the world's people, and they have no disagreement with each other. If they have conflicts over the division of the plundered resources of the third world or poor countries—which they do—but in the principle of plundering resources and putting pressure on resistant governments, they have no disagreement. One side is these people who are in the minority—both in terms of the number of governments and the number of people—and the other side is the majority of the world's governments and nations, who are condemned to follow them!

Of course, nations are oppressed, they are forced, and they have no means. Many governments and statesmen also surrender for their own interests and to stay in power for a few more days. This is the state of the world. And what does this mean? It means dictatorship. It means the same thing that if this situation arises in a country, a minority becomes dominant, which is powerful and has means, money, and propaganda. They are on one side, and the vast majority who are oppressed, dissatisfied, angry, and opposed, are on the other side, which is why all the wise people of the world should condemn this situation. Now this situation has arisen on a global scale, and the intellectuals of the world are watching. They look and pass by it indifferently. They magnify minor issues but do not pay attention to such a great issue! Writers, filmmakers, artists, and famous figures in various fields of writing and artistry around the world, mainly in European and American countries, are silent. See what the situation is in the world! They focus on small things and sins that they consider sins, even if they are small. If an incident happens to an individual somewhere in the world—of course, an individual they consider valuable—they create a huge uproar. Otherwise, if it is a black person, they have no value! If it is a Muslim, they have no value! If a European is taken hostage somewhere, or captured, or suffers, or there is a possibility of these for him; you see the writers of such and such a country, the journalists of such and such a country, the poets of such and such a country, sign petitions and spread them all over the world and express themselves. But in the face of this great incident; that is, the incident of the dictatorship of a small power, but wealthy and possessing technology and advanced tools that do not give a vast majority of humans the right to life, the right to protest and choose, and the right to enjoy democracy! These gentlemen are sitting and watching. This indifference of intellectuals is also part of the complement of that global despotism and dictatorship. This is the state of the world.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this despotism has increased in favor of America and the Western bloc. I have emphasized this point in two or three international speeches, in international forums, as 'global domination,' and today I feel that using the term 'global despotism' or 'international dictatorship' is more expressive. They exercise dictatorship over the world's nations, and this is the great calamity of humanity today. Nations cannot keep themselves out of two situations: either they must surrender, which unfortunately governments want, to be plundered and have no future, thus helping the advancement of this colonial and despotic trend on a global scale. But the other way is for nations to stand and fight. With whom should they fight? The opponent, although of one kind, is different. They must fight against the apparatus and direction that strengthens global dictatorship. Sometimes it is with one government, sometimes with another government. Sometimes it is with America itself, and sometimes with methods that are jihadist and self-sacrificing; like what happens in Palestine and Lebanon. These are the struggles of nations. Are these struggles rightful or not? Can the fair-minded people of the world blame the struggle of a nation or individuals from a nation who want to resist that massive wave of power?

It is regrettable that global propaganda is against these struggles and resistances. Global propaganda accuses struggling nations of various accusations to remove them from the field. One of these accusations is the issue of 'human rights,' which is like a tool in the hands of global powers, so if they see a government opposing their views, they accuse that government—and if necessary, that nation—of violating human rights. Sometimes they even accuse a nation! They accuse them of violating human rights and supporting terrorism! Today you see what accusations they have started against the Islamic Republic of Iran! The same accusation of violating human rights and such things, which are fabricated and concocted by the malicious minds of their analysts and provided by active political analysts. There are those who sit and create and fabricate things for nations and governments. These are tools in their hands.

What they have accused nations of is no less than what they accuse governments of. In this Islamic Republic system, they have repeatedly accused the Iranian nation. The issue is not that they oppose the statesmen of the Islamic Republic. They oppose the Iranian nation! These were the ones who said: 'Those who participate in Friday prayers—the millions of Friday prayer gatherings, with the enthusiasm that was in the early days of the revolution—are paid to come!' Is this not an insult to a nation? Calling a nation backward, considering a nation devoted to illogical matters, introducing a nation as dogmatic; are these not insults to a nation? What is the crime of this nation? It is that in that face-to-face struggle, they have accepted the second choice.

Now this new person who may come to power in the American political scene, with a few days' gap, will again raise the slogan of human rights, and the world will witness the repetition of this disgraceful scene of accusing others of violating human rights. Today, who in the world violates human rights? Human rights are violated by those who support the usurping Israel. Is what is happening in Palestine today not the greatest example of human rights violations!?

Why do they not protest? If they are supporters of human rights, why do they help Israel? What is happening in Eastern Europe today—in this region of Bosnia and Herzegovina—is it not the most atrocious and heinous example of human rights violations?! Did people from irresponsible world bodies not go there and report and say what atrocities are happening?! Did they not all report that their winter is a harsh and deadly winter!? Did they not see the photos!? Did they not show the films!? Did they not describe the camps!? Why do they not intervene?! Why do they not condemn?! Why do they not go beyond words?! Why, when their own policies are at stake and Islam and Muslims and the oppressed are not involved, do they mobilize as they did in the Kuwait issue?! There, America had no problem. They entered a country at others' expense and waged war and bombing. Iraq being destroyed is not to their detriment! Kuwait being ruined is not to their detriment! But are they willing to tolerate such a thing in their own states and borders; in their own countries?

In the Persian Gulf, they caused such atrocities and destroyed the environment, which they talk so much about. But are they willing to do such a thing in their own living areas?! They are not concerned about human rights. If they were concerned about human rights, the state of the world would be different; the relationship of predator and prey between them and nations would not exist, and so much pressure would not be exerted on weak nations. The issue is not this. This slogan is a disgraceful slogan. It is good that they no longer give this slogan. The world will not listen; no one will pay attention. Do not come again and say that 'the issue of human rights was raised in the world' and create obligations for the Iranian nation. Who are they to raise human rights?! They are the enemies of human rights. They are the violators of human rights. However, they are shameless; they are brazen. The loudspeakers are also in their hands. They accuse whoever they want. It is like a corrupt, immoral, depraved, deviant person standing aside and accusing virtuous people of immorality and misconduct and impurity! Today, in the issue of human rights, the situation is like this. This is the state of the world. The only place in the world where the nation and the government, together and unitedly, stand against this bullying policy is your dear Islamic Iran.

Elsewhere, if governments see that there is a motivation for resistance in nations, they do not help them. We also know governments that have anti-domination sentiments—it is not that all governments are on that side—but they do not dare. They neither dare to take action themselves nor dare to encourage their nations to take action. While this is a mistake. The action of nations is an action that the arrogant and despotic enemy cannot respond to. The actions of nations are breaking actions. Why do they not bring nations into the scene?

Our nation, thanks be to God, is on the scene. Our nation is today the only point of hope that shines like a star among oppressed nations. Be careful that this point of hope for nations does not fade, and this shining star increasingly shines the light of hope into the hearts of nations. This is the historical duty of our nation. Do not think that if the struggle of the Iranian nation had not taken place and they had not stood, there would have been no problems in their living environment. This is their propaganda. Do not imagine that if the Iranian nation surrenders to force, surrenders to America, and surrenders to global despotism, they will have a good life. This is a mistake. Look at the countries that surrendered; see what kind of life they have. I do not want to name these countries. See what a disastrous situation prevails in these countries. If there is dignity, if there is welfare, if there is freedom and independence, it is in the shadow of standing against global arrogance.

My greatest hope in this regard is in you, the youth. There is much to say about you, the youth; but today, there is no time. You also want to go and, God willing, join today's demonstrations. I do not want to take up time. Briefly, I say: you students and pupils—both boys and girls—have heavy duties on your shoulders. Besides the duty of studying, which is the duty of students and pupils; you have a revolutionary duty, you also have an Islamic and religious duty. Whether in the environment of universities or in the environment of schools. This struggle is not a struggle of today and one day and two days and one year and two years; it is a struggle of generations. The generation that has distanced itself from the origin and beginning of the revolution, if it wants to bring Iran to dignity and build it and give it greatness and place a living model in front of other nations and bring the nose of arrogance to the ground, must be a revolutionary and Islamic and religious generation, and that is you. Today you are students, today you are pupils, and tomorrow you are the operators of the wheels of this country. Build yourselves today. Build the universities. Make the university environment revolutionary and Islamic. The environment of high schools should be the same. Do you not see that the enemy has focused most of its attention on these environments!? Why is this? Because they fear these environments. In the university environment, revolutionary and Muslim youth must move like one hand, like one body, with one thought—the thought of Islam and the revolution. Make the environment revolutionary and Islamic. Avoid anything that disrupts this unity in the path of God and the revolution, so that you can build a university that will secure Iran's future; make the Islamic Republic proud in front of enemies and ill-wishers and make the Iranian nation proud in front of friends and hopefuls around the world. The environment of high schools should be the same.

Muslim youth and our faithful children played a role in this revolution. Today is the anniversary of the bloodshed of some of these students. The infamous Pahlavi regime was also opposed to faithful and revolutionary students and wanted to either ruin and corrupt them or, if not, kill them. Today, fortunately, global arrogance and despotism cannot physically harm our dear students. Thanks be to God, a barrier as high as the Islamic Republic has powerfully blocked the enemy's aggression. But it may be able to do something in terms of spiritual ruin and corruption. We must be vigilant. This duty is on your shoulders.

The great Imam lived among us for a few days. It is always like this. An individual is not eternal. An individual must be able to fulfill his duty in his short life during these few days. The Imam left, and all of us are leaving. But this revolution is lasting. This nation is lasting. This country is lasting, and our dignity and independence, God willing, are enduring. And this is achievable with your help, the youth, and with your self-building. Build yourselves.

All those conspiracies and enmities and wickedness mentioned are null and void against the will and determination of nations. They can do nothing. It is the governments that are vulnerable; those governments that are not reliant on the people. Governments, too, if they rely on the people, will be like the governments of the Islamic Republic, which you have observed, thanks be to God, were strong and firm. Governments that do not rely on their people are vulnerable and are forced to cooperate with the likes of America to stay! But nations and governments reliant on nations are not vulnerable. This is a lesson for us and for all nations. We can bring the nose of arrogance to the ground. We can prevent the penetration of global despotism.

Let me say more: we can break the fortress of global despotism on an international level. Of course, with patience, with perseverance, with continuous struggle and effort, these things are achievable. One day, no one imagined that the power of the Soviet Union would disappear, but you saw that it did. Nations can perform miracles, and this miracle, God willing, will happen. I entrust all of you, the youth and dear ones, to God and hope that you will be successful. Do not forget the recommendation to adhere to Islam and the revolutionary method in any situation, and, God willing, honor this day.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings