Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution at the Grand Gathering of the People of Jiroft

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, infallible, and honored progeny, especially the Awaited One among the inhabitants of the earth. For this humble servant, being present in the city of Jiroft and among you passionate people of Jiroft and Anbarabad is a very exciting moment. For years, I have had a strong heartfelt desire to once again be among you dear and hospitable people. Almost twenty-seven years ago, on a hot summer day, I entered the city of Jiroft with a few gendarmerie officers. I did not know anyone in the city. Upon my arrival, the officers guided me to the police station of Jiroft. I entered Jiroft under these circumstances; however, just a few days after my arrival, I felt that I was among my relatives, brothers, and dear ones. The people of Jiroft opened their arms of affection to this weak servant and to the other individuals who had been exiled to this city by the tyrannical regime, offering their companionship, solidarity, and support to those whom they considered soldiers of the path of truth and reality. Of course, at that time, the city of Jiroft was not as large and beautiful as it is now; it was a small town with few streets; but a sea of love and sincerity surged in this city. During Ramadan, in the summer heat, this grand mosque of Jiroft attracted many men, women, and youth so that they could hear truths from the mouths of the exiled clerics. I myself delivered several speeches in the grand mosque of Jiroft on those nights. The agents of the tyrannical regime were obstructive, but the enthusiasm and interest of the people overcame these obstacles. I find it necessary to especially mention the brave, aware, and intelligent women of Jiroft. In the same sessions that we participated in with other exiled friends in the grand mosque, where people came, the first revolutionary slogan and cry of protest against the tyrannical regime rose from behind the curtain where the women were seated. The women of Jiroft loudly repeated the same slogans in their mosque that the people of Qom, Tehran, and other central cities were chanting to some extent. The people of this region have been believers, loyal, and deeply committed to their religion and the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist; they were people who, during the years of the revolution and also throughout the years of the imposed war, passed the best tests. The people of Jiroft, Anbarabad, Kahnuj, and Manujan - I apologize to the people of Kahnuj and Manujan here for not being able to go to their city and be among them despite my heartfelt desire - during the years of the revolution and the imposed war, demonstrated one of their best tests in the way of God. The pure religious sentiments in Jiroft are among the prominent and shining points. The martyr commanders who rose from this land and created honor are each a shining star. Some of the best commanders of the glorious Tharallah army were among your people and your youth; some were martyred, while others, thanks be to God, are alive with a burden of honor and divine virtues. Quranic and religious activities in this county are remarkable. Everything I remember about the people of Jiroft and this region consists of beautiful, unforgettable memories. What has kept you, the faithful and determined people, in this arena is awareness. A nation that is aware does not allow the lofty goals to retreat from the scene of life. Dear brothers! Dear sisters! If you see that the Iranian nation has fallen behind the caravan of knowledge and civilization over the past one or two centuries, and the country has been governed by foreigners and enemies or their puppets, the root of all this is ignorance. They kept the nation, the youth, and various classes in ignorance and unawareness so that they would not understand what was happening to the country. Those who look at any point in the world do so with greedy eyes - that is, the colonizers - have done everything they could in our country over the past two centuries in pursuit of their satanic interests and goals, and to ensure that there would be no obstacle in their way, they kept the people in oblivion. The foreigners themselves cannot keep the people ignorant; their tools in this work were the dependent and corrupt governments; the Qajar and Pahlavi regimes. Although they were from the Iranian people, they were accomplices of the thieves of the road; although they themselves were dependent on this nation and indebted to the heavy burden of this people's favor, they worked for the foreigners. The foreign powers guaranteed their interests; the Qajar dynasty had its interests guaranteed by the foreigners in one way, and the corrupt and dependent Pahlavi regime in another way. They kept the people ignorant and did everything they could with these people. The Islamic Revolution and the vast movement of Islamic struggles in Iran, led by our great Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the aware and fighting clerics and the faithful and devout intellectuals, were able to create a wave of awakening in this country, which culminated in the revolutionary movement. The revolution of a nation has such power that it breaks the strongest fortresses of global arrogance, and it did. The Islamic Revolution destroyed the despotic fortress of the Pahlavi regime, which was backed by the colonial powers of America and Britain, and consequently, a popular and Islamic government was established. The Islamic Republic was created by you people. The Islamic Republic means a government in which foreigners do not interfere; arbitrariness and despotism do not dominate; a special class of aristocrats does not interfere; feudalism does not interfere in the affairs of the people. On the day we were in Jiroft, the people complained about the feudal lords. The feudal lords were tools of the corrupt Pahlavi regime; they were also tools of America; that is, a hierarchy of corruption existed! The Islamic Republic means a system in which there is no court of the tyrannical government; there is no foreign interference; there is no interference from feudal lords; it is a government of the people and the deserving. In the Islamic Republic, reaching effective positions in the governmental hierarchy is based on qualifications. Whoever has qualifications should advance in fields of activity, effort, and responsibility; from any point in the country and from any social class; and all of this is done under the guidance of Islam and inspired by divine and Quranic texts. This is the meaning of the Islamic Republic system. Creating a gap between the rich and the poor, between the aristocrats and the non-aristocrats, and giving privileges to a specific class is incompatible with the Islamic Republic system. If any part of the Islamic Republic system in any area becomes afflicted with one of these afflictions, it has deviated from the straight path of the Islamic Republic and must be corrected. Dignity and honor depend on effort, work, and struggle. Someone like martyr Mohammad Shahsavari - the proud freedman of Jiroft - becomes an enduring figure in the country; not because he is affiliated with a superior class; no, he is a peasant's son and a young man from the lower classes of society; but his awareness and courage make him dear in the eyes of the Iranian people. The day we sat in front of the television and saw this young man shouting "Death to Saddam, against Islam" in the clutches of the executioners of the Ba'ath regime of Saddam and under their lashes, we did not know he was from Jiroft; we had neither heard his name nor knew any of his characteristics; but all our being was immersed in reverence and admiration for this freedman. Then, thanks be to God, he returned to our people and country; today he is known as a renowned martyr among our nation. Therefore, in the Islamic Republic system, the determining factor for the ranks of individuals is spiritual values; "Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most pious of you." All hearts must unite in this direction, relying on God. The Islamic Republic system is a system for the people and for alleviating the material and spiritual difficulties of individuals. The Islamic Republic system is a system that must, under its warm shadow, eliminate any failures and bitterness from the deprived classes and reduce the gap between different classes of society; that is, the classes that are low in terms of living standards should rise. We cannot claim that we have achieved this goal. We cannot satisfy and convince ourselves that we have been able to fulfill the goal of Islam in this regard and achieve it. We only claim this much and thank God that we are moving in this direction; our goal is this. The responsibility of leadership in the Islamic Republic system is to ensure that the Islamic direction does not change and does not deviate from its goals. The executive officials of the country in various sectors each have their duties. We must not allow the Islamic Republic system to deviate from this direction and become misaligned. God and the people and the will of the people are also relied upon. First and foremost, divine guidance and support, and then the passionate emotions of the people assure us that we can move forward in this path. Many works have been done in Jiroft. Those who study the statistics correctly and know the situation before the Islamic Republic in this region know how much effort has been made; but it is not enough. Two things about Jiroft always make me think: one is the extraordinary and sometimes unparalleled natural and agricultural talents in this region; the other is the significant and unnatural poverty and deprivation that still exists in this region. Natural talent and unnatural poverty always occupy my mind and the thoughts of any well-wisher. Of course, repeated droughts have had a significant impact. Drought has harmed these people for seven or eight years, and we hope this period has ended. This year, the rainfall was relatively good; God willing, in the coming years, with God's grace and power, the rainfall situation will be good and some compensation will be made; but other efforts alongside this are also necessary and must be made. In my opinion, the most important issues in this region are three topics: one is the issue of youth employment; one is the issue of security; and one is the issue of effective and innovative cultural activities. These are the three main headings that all activities for this region of Kerman province must focus on. If the issue of roads, conversion industries, and the necessary construction and reinforcement of houses in various sectors is raised, all must focus on these three main goals. In negotiations with officials, it is felt that attention has been paid to these points; therefore, effort and endeavor are necessary. In the overall programs of governments and the executive branch, such issues that relate to the daily lives of people in various sectors must be prioritized. Every action taken in the country must aim to alleviate poverty and deprivation and create prosperity in the lives of all people - not just a part of the people and specific classes. In such an environment, people can achieve the lofty goals of the Islamic system - that is, spirituality, spiritual development, and moral elevation - an environment where the benefits of society are correctly distributed among the people; everyone brings their talents to the scene and benefits from it, and the system and government ensure that no one is oppressed and no one remains deprived. This is the meaning of eradicating poverty. These should be the criteria for the governments of the Islamic Republic. In a few weeks, we have elections; these elections are important. I also mentioned some points about the elections during my trip to Kerman. Dear brothers and sisters! This election is important. This statement is actually addressed to all the people of Iran. The principle of people's presence in the elections is important; because public participation indicates national solidarity, and national solidarity can provide immunity against the plots of the enemies against the country. The enemy benefits from divisions and takes advantage of the fragmentation of the people's votes. The enemy uses internal divisions, incitements, and warmongering. When a nation is united and cohesive, and the officials of the country are all united and in harmony with each other, the enemy's sword becomes dull, and they do not dare to cast a covetous eye on such a country and nation or view it with a conspiratorial eye. People's participation in the elections can display this national solidarity before the eyes of the malicious and cunning enemy and provide immunity to our nation and country. Therefore, I have repeatedly said that the principle of people's presence in the elections is even more important than choosing the best candidate; although choosing the best candidate is also very important. What does the best candidate mean? It means someone who pursues these same goals; it means someone who understands and feels these pains; it means someone who has a serious determination to eradicate poverty and corruption; it means someone who cares for the deprived and underprivileged classes. The best candidate is someone who thinks about the progress and development of the country, both economically and non-economically; and who does not become so absorbed in the illusions related to development that they forget the oppressed and weak classes. The best candidate is someone who thinks about the livelihood of the people, the religion of the people, the culture of the people, and the world and the hereafter of the people. The best candidate is someone who can bear this heavy burden; not everyone can carry this burden; they need the necessary enthusiasm, patience, effort, and intelligence. Of course, anyone whose qualifications are approved by legal authorities is qualified; but among the qualified, we must search for and find the best and choose them. This is your art, people. I hope, God willing, that with the formation of a strong, efficient, and capable government, the path that previous governments have taken with compassion and diligence will be continued with even greater strength, and the problems of this region, the province of Kerman, and all of our dear country - especially the deprived areas - will be resolved. This is what our nation expects from the dear Islam; they are attached to it and have hope in it, and by God's grace, this hope of the people will be fulfilled under the shadow of Islam and the faithful, determined, and Muslim men. I thank the Almighty God for granting me the opportunity to come once again to this dear city - which once warmly and kindly hosted me - and to meet with you dear people in this city once more. Of course, some of you dear young people were not there that day, and some were very young; but among the old ones, there are those who remember those days and still taste the bitterness of the era of the tyrannical regime. We hope that by God's grace, they will taste the sweetness of the Islamic system's governance even more than they have so far and be included in the blessed prayers of the Awaited One. O God! Please make the sacred heart of Imam al-Mahdi pleased and satisfied with us and with all this gathering. O God! Unite the heavenly spirit of our great Imam with his friends. O God! Unite the dear martyrs of this land, the dear martyrs of Jiroft and this region, with the martyrs of the early Islam. O God! Send greetings and blessings to their exalted souls from this gathering. O God! Grant mercy, blessings, and favors to these patient, loyal, loving, faithful, and sincere people. O God! Grant us and other officials the ability to serve these dear people. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.