Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran Friday Prayers

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, seek His help, and rely on Him. We believe in Him and seek His forgiveness, and we send blessings and peace upon His beloved, His chosen one, His confidant among His creation, the preserver of His secrets, and the conveyor of His messages, the bearer of glad tidings of His mercy and the warner of His wrath, our master, our prophet, and the beloved of our hearts, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate, chosen, and infallible family, especially the remainder of God on earth. And send blessings upon the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers.

I advise all dear brothers and sisters who are performing the prayer in these precious and blessed hours, days, and nights to seize the opportunity and benefit from the blessings that are abundantly granted to the believers by the Lord of the worlds during these days and nights of this month. I advise everyone, including myself, to observe piety, to be mindful of God, to be cautious of one's behavior and speech before God, and to be wary of the pitfalls and places where the human soul lacks the strength to traverse the path with steadfastness and without wavering. One must be mindful of the means that God Almighty has provided to pass through these pitfalls in both individual and social life. He has provided a means for a person to protect themselves and draw closer to the destination and to utilize the resources available to the believers to reach the ultimate goal.

Being mindful of these matters is piety, and as you have heard many times, one of the important daily goals of the month of Ramadan is for us to attain piety; 'so that you may become pious.' When I observe the actions that are emphasized by the sacred law during the month of Ramadan—namely fasting, reciting the Holy Quran, reading the prescribed supplications, and seeking the grace of the Almighty—I see that among these four very important elements, fasting during Ramadan is obligatory, and what is of great importance to us is seeking forgiveness; asking for pardon from the Lord of the worlds for what has been done out of negligence, ignorance, or, God forbid, deliberate fault.

Last year, during these days of the blessed month of Ramadan, I spoke extensively about repentance and seeking forgiveness in this blessed month. Today, I do not intend to speak again about seeking forgiveness as an intellectual or Quranic and hadith discussion; rather, I want to remind you of the matter of seeking forgiveness in light of the approaching blessed nights of Qadr—these dear and very important nights.

My dear ones, brothers and sisters! The first step is to seek forgiveness from God Almighty and to return to God. Repentance means to return to God. Wherever you are, at whatever level of perfection you may be—even at the level of the Commander of the Faithful, peace and blessings be upon him—you still need to seek forgiveness! God Almighty tells His Prophet: 'And seek forgiveness for your sin,' 'So glorify the praises of your Lord and seek His forgiveness.' Many times in the Quran, God Almighty tells the Prophet to 'seek forgiveness.' Even though the Prophet is infallible, sin does not emanate from him, and he does not disobey God's command, yet he is also told to 'seek forgiveness.'

Of course, the matter of what the seeking of forgiveness by the saints and great ones is for is itself a subject worthy of discussion. Their seeking of forgiveness is not for sins like ours; those sins do not emanate from them. Their status is high. Their proximity to the Lord and the station of Lordship is at the highest level. In that station of proximity, sometimes things that are permissible for us—perhaps even things that are recommended for us—are obstacles and deterrents for those great ones. They are appropriate to the dignity of that proximity; hence, they seek forgiveness, and it is serious seeking of forgiveness, not superficial.

Look at the supplication of Kumayl! The Commander of the Faithful, peace and blessings be upon him, in the supplication of Kumayl—which, according to narrations, was issued by that great one—begins with seeking forgiveness. First, he swears by God's name, His power, His greatness, His attributes of majesty and beauty, and after all those oaths, he begins to seek forgiveness: 'O Allah, forgive me the sins that tear apart safeguards,' and so on. The supplication of Abu Hamza al-Thumali and various other supplications from these great individuals are the same. You and I need to seek forgiveness. O believers, dear ones, O pure and sincere hearts! Do not be deceived and say we have not sinned! No, we are immersed in negligence, immersed in fault! 'And what is the value of our deeds compared to Your blessings?' What good deeds we think we have done, in comparison to the blessings of the Lord and in comparison to the right of divine gratitude, what relation and proportion do they have? How mentionable are they? We cannot fulfill that right of gratitude; we cannot! 'Not even the one who has done good can dispense with Your help.' Is it possible for a person to be independent of divine favor and grace for a moment? We are always in need; always the grace of the Lord reaches: 'Your goodness descends upon us.' We are also incapable of expressing gratitude, and this negligence, or fault, in any case, requires seeking forgiveness.

The Night of Qadr is an opportunity for forgiveness and apology. Apologize to God Almighty. Now that God Almighty has given me and you the opportunity to return to Him, to seek forgiveness, and to apologize to Him, let us do so, otherwise, a day will come when God Almighty will say to the criminals: 'They will not be permitted to apologize.' God forbid, on the Day of Judgment, we will not be allowed to apologize. The criminals will not be allowed to open their mouths to apologize; there is no place for apology there. Here, where there is an opportunity, here, where there is permission, here, where apology creates a rank for you, washes away sins, and makes you pure and luminous, apologize to God Almighty. Here, where there is an opportunity, make God attentive to yourself and make the grace of God and the loving gaze of God attentive and inclusive of yourself. 'So remember Me, I will remember you.'

At the very moment when you turn your heart to God Almighty and make God present in your heart and remember God, God Almighty at that moment, His gaze of grace and affection is directed towards you; His hand of grace and generosity is extended towards you. Remind God of yourself, otherwise, a day will come when the divine address will be directed towards the sinners: 'Indeed, We have forgotten you.' We have forgotten you, we have consigned you to oblivion, go away! The arena of the Day of Judgment is like this.

Today, when God Almighty has allowed you to cry, to supplicate, to extend a hand of devotion towards Him, to express love, and to let the tears of purity and love flow from your warm heart to your eyes, seize this opportunity, otherwise, there is a day when God Almighty will say to the criminals: 'Do not cry out today.' Go away, do not cry and supplicate, it is of no use: 'Indeed, you will not be helped by Us.' This opportunity is the opportunity of life and existence that is available to me and you for returning to God, and the best opportunities are the days of the year, among which is the blessed month of Ramadan, and among the blessed month of Ramadan, the Night of Qadr!

The Night of Qadr is among these three nights. According to a narration quoted by the late 'Muhaddith Qummi,' they asked which of these three nights—or the two nights of the twenty-first and twenty-third—is the Night of Qadr? In response, it was said: How easy it is for a person to observe the Night of Qadr for two nights—or three nights. What importance is there in being uncertain between three nights? How much is three nights? There have been those who considered the entire month of Ramadan from beginning to end as the Night of Qadr and performed the acts of the Night of Qadr! Appreciate it.

A nation that purifies its heart with its God in such a way that it goes to the door of God, sincerely asks from God, and sincerely seeks refuge in God, will never be wretched and disgraced; it will not fall into corruption, humiliation, be captured by the enemy, or suffer internal discord. What befalls nations from these misfortunes is 'because of what your hands have earned'; due to shortcomings, negligence, sins, and corruptions that we create for ourselves! One who goes to the door of God brings themselves a step closer to infallibility and protection from sin.

Let us seek refuge in God, ask from God, work for God, take steps for God, and entrust our hearts to God. Let us increase the purity of our hearts with the remembrance of God. When hearts become pure; when hearts do not cling to the world and are not captivated by the world and material things, then the society becomes a society with truly luminous, pure, and sincere people. Such people work well, strive well, and build their world well. Not being attached to personal worldly matters does not mean not building the world; building the world is a work for God and part of the hereafter. What leads to the prosperity of material life is something that God has asked of us, and this is also an act of the hereafter. This too, when accompanied by the remembrance of God, is done better, more smoothly, more pleasantly, and more completely.

Appreciate these days. Truly appreciate the Nights of Qadr. The Quran explicitly states: 'Better than a thousand months'; one night is better than a thousand months! This is of great value. It is a night when angels descend. It is a night when the spirit descends. It is a night that God Almighty has designated as peace. Peace, both in the sense of divine greetings and salutations upon humans, and in the sense of safety, peace, and tranquility, harmony among people, for hearts, souls, bodies, and communities. From a spiritual perspective, it is such a night! Appreciate the Nights of Qadr and pray for the issues of the country, your issues, the issues of Muslims, and the issues of Islamic countries.

How many problems do Islamic countries have! Ask God to solve those problems. Pray for all humanity. Pray for the guidance of humanity, for yourselves, for your lives, for your officials, for your country, for your predecessors, and for what you want God Almighty to give you. Appreciate these hours and minutes. I too am in need of your prayers, dear brothers and sisters, during the blessed Nights of Qadr.

Let us also pray for a few sentences, God willing, in these hours close to noon, may the prayers be accepted:

We ask You, O Allah, and we call upon You. By Your great, greatest, most honored, most exalted, most generous name, O Allah. O Lord, grant us the attainment of the Night of Qadr. Make the Night of Qadr better than a thousand months for us. Accept our prayers on that night. Convey our greetings and salutations now and on that night to our guardian and Imam, His Eminence, the remainder of God, may our souls be sacrificed for him. Include us in the pure supplications of that great one on that blessed night. O Lord, honor the Iranian nation. Establish and govern the laws of Islam throughout the world. Crush and defeat the enemies of Islam, the enemies of Iran, the enemies of this nation, and the enemies of the Islamic Republic system. Guide all humanity towards the truth everywhere in the world. O Lord, increase the bond of brotherhood, peace, and harmony among our nation more than ever.

O Lord, gather our dear martyrs in the highest ranks of the Illiyin with Your saints. Gather the pure soul of Imam with Your saints. O Lord, include the souls of our predecessors, our parents, and those with rights over us in Your forgiveness.

O Lord, by Your grace, relieve the troubles of the people—personal, public, social, and others. Illuminate the face of this nation with the light of joy, spirituality, and purity. O Lord, make this nation proud and honored in the presence of its enemies. Crush and defeat its enemies by its hand. O Lord, strengthen our relationship with the Quran and Islam day by day and make us appreciative of the laws of Islam, appreciative of the revolution, and appreciative of the blessed verses of the Quran.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Say, He is God, the One, God, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. And blessings and peace be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate, chosen family, especially Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, and the truthful, pure Lady, the Mistress of the Women of the Worlds, and the two grandsons of mercy, Hasan and Husayn, the masters of the youth of Paradise, and Ali ibn Husayn, Zain al-Abidin, and Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir, and Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq, and Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim, and Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, and Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad, and Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi, and Hasan ibn Ali al-Zaki al-Askari, and the awaited Mahdi. Your proofs over Your servants and Your trustees in Your lands, and send blessings upon the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers. I advise you, servants of God, to observe piety.

At the outset, I advise all dear brothers and sisters who are performing the prayer to observe piety in speech, in action, in thought, and even in the feelings that are under human control.

Before I present the main topic of my discussion, I would like to briefly mention two or three short points: One is related to the tragic and bloody incident in Pakistan, where a group of Muslim and believing people were martyred for the crime of being Shia by a hostile and malicious group. It is a bitter incident. Of course, the officials of the Pakistani government have repeatedly told us and promised to follow up on previous cases; we also wish to, God willing, maintain our trust in this commitment of our Pakistani friends. We hope that this matter will be pursued more seriously. I have no doubt that the issue is largely related to the relations between Iran and Pakistan, and in fact, the enemies of these relations have taken the initiative in these crimes. They must be dealt with decisively, otherwise, God forbid, if there is any negligence, then there are different sects; the other side may also think that they must defend themselves in some way and are forced to be armed; naturally, the dimensions of the issue will become very dangerous. In such situations, it is the governments that must enter the field; they must pursue the criminal without hesitation and establish their governmental power.

Another issue that is also very bitter and tragic is the events in Algeria. Of course, there are those in the world who point their fingers at the Algerian government as the responsible party for these incidents. We do not want to make a definitive claim in this regard; however, there is no doubt that a government is responsible for the lives of its citizens. It is a very strange and rare and bitter incident. As far as we remember, in recent times, we do not recall anything like this, where in a country, individuals whom the government claims it cannot identify, in a short period, slaughter hundreds of innocent people—women, men, and children—and mainly those affiliated with a political faction or their supporters, and kill them with utmost cruelty!

Of course, global circles and those who always hold the banner of human rights and raise their voices whenever a person in a corner of the world suffers a slight injury—provided that they are Western and especially affiliated with themselves!—today show indifference in these matters; because the party that has been oppressed is not among their affiliates! This is also a cause for astonishment. We saw a similar situation in Bosnia a few years ago. This is itself a strange story that if someone in the world is oppressed who is not among the affiliates of the powers and arrogance and their supporters, they make a mountain out of a molehill! If they are not among them, or are among the opponents, they remain silent and even encourage and promote the oppressor. Among the strange events of today's world is this incident, which God willing, will be further discussed in the next discussion. We strongly condemn these incidents and this silence and indifference in follow-ups.

The third issue that I must mention is the matter of Quds Day. God willing, next Friday, which is the last Friday of Ramadan, the people of Iran, as the custodians of Quds Day, must do something that will serve as a model for other nations; because every year other nations, here and there, even in Europe and other places, follow you and honor Quds Day. You must raise this flag higher and make this center of brilliance and light more radiant, so that more people can benefit.

The main topic I want to talk about today, which I briefly mentioned in the first Friday sermon of the month due to another topic and could not pursue due to the snowfall, and now newer issues have arisen that I need to follow up on, is the propaganda uproar that has been made in the past one or two weeks regarding Iran-U.S. relations, as a new piece of news from Iran, which has attracted the attention of the whole world. As was somewhat mentioned in that previous sermon, mainly American agencies and their followers are pursuing a propaganda tactic to present a lie as reality and completely cover up a reality, which I will talk about a little today.

Of course, this propaganda wave is mainly from outside the country; however, it also has reflections inside. Some of those whose revolutionary commitments are not as much as we expect from those in charge of press affairs, unfortunately, in some newspapers, behave in the same way as the enemies of the revolution and the enemies of the Iranian nation and the agents affiliated with global arrogance in the world or, for example, in the United States! This is also regrettable.

The issue that is the subject of their uproar is that the Islamic Republic of Iran wants to reconsider its relations with the U.S. They published this as a new piece of news! They exaggerated a completely baseless and unfounded matter and created an uproar and clamor. Of course, they have very dangerous intentions for the Iranian nation. They are pursuing their own agendas; but we must recognize the enemy's work. Even if we do not want to take any action against the enemy, we must know what the enemy is doing. We must not allow the enemy to do whatever they want in terms of propaganda against the country of Iran and its nation and officials, and we remain silent! This is not possible. It is necessary to recognize the enemy's goals and intentions.

Of course, in some media and by some officials, really correct words are spoken. Last night I saw on television that the honorable Foreign Minister was giving an interview. Good and correct words are said—not that they are not said—but I am also obliged to state what exists and the reality of the matter to our dear nation.

Let me also tell you that this is not the first time. Such incidents have happened before; especially the time after the passing of Imam, which is somewhat comparable to today. There too, they created an uproar, and even our newspapers wrote articles, and some individuals opposed to and hostile to the revolution wrote things and made claims; they openly criticized the era of Imam, which, thanks be to God, the slap of the nation on their face did not allow them to continue. Of course, this time the uproar is more extensive and they are creating an uproar in a different way. The head of the uproar is outside the country; mainly they are. The situation is different; it was there too; although not with this extent and in these dimensions.

The pretext they have created for this uproar is the interview of our honorable President last week. This is also really a great injustice; both to the Iranian nation and to the President. This concealment of the truth and covering up what they want to keep from the eyes of the people is really something strange.

I must initially state that in that interview, all our principled positions regarding relations with the U.S. and Israel were well expressed. All the points that needed to be stated were stated; I listened carefully. What needed to be said about negotiations with the U.S. was said; what needed to be said about relations with the U.S. was said; what needed to be said about Israel, about the Palestinian fighters, and some internal issues was stated, and it was very good. I prayed; both for him, for the Foreign Minister, and for some other officials who took good positions in these matters. Now, there may be things related to tastes and tones; we do not deal with them. What was principled and important were these issues related to relations and negotiations and the Zionist government, which were well said and were good points. Now, if the enemy does not want to acknowledge these words—which are contrary to their desires—the enemy is the enemy; what do we expect from the enemy? We must understand for ourselves what the enemy's goal and purpose are.

First, let me explain to you, dear brothers and sisters, what the goals of the American propaganda uproar—mainly—and our opponents in the world are. What do they want by constantly saying that Iran wants to negotiate with the U.S.; Iran wants to gradually establish relations with the U.S.? What do they want? What are our opponents pursuing? What is certain is that they are not pursuing the good of the Islamic Republic and the good of the Iranian nation; this is clear. Until now, throughout the nineteen years since the revolution, both the U.S. government, the U.S. press, and the U.S. media, television, and radio, as far as they could, have struck the Iranian nation, stabbed it in the back, insulted it, betrayed it, and fabricated lies. In the eight years of war we had and in economic matters, they did not work in our favor anywhere; now it is the same.

So, what is their goal? The goal is several things, which I will briefly state. You should think about the points I am making; especially you educated young people, students, university students, and religious students, pay close attention and reflect; because these are important issues. Often, a nation's destiny is made in these seemingly small places. If at such a juncture, people, young people, officials, and others do not understand what the truth of the matter is, an angle will open that, God forbid, this angle will lead to the destruction of everything. It is usually like this; therefore, it is very important to pay close attention.

What is their goal? What is the goal of the U.S. government and the American news empire from these words that they constantly say: Iran wants to negotiate?

The goal is several things: One is that they want to turn what has been a means of unity for the Iranian nation until today into a means of division for the Iranian nation. Until now, the people of Iran, knowing that the U.S. government is their enemy, in the face of U.S. hostility, if they had minor differences, they would set them aside and unite. Confronting the U.S. has been one of the means of unity for this nation. They want to turn this means of unity into a means of division with these uproars. This one against that one, that one against this one. This one says negotiation, that one says what is the benefit of negotiation; that one says what harm does it have? A group argues from this side, a group argues from that side! And they turn this great national unity that the Iranian nation has in confronting the presence of the enemy into the division of the Iranian nation.

The second goal is that they want to, by repeating this issue—negotiation and relations with the U.S.—remove the ugliness of something that is one of the ugliest things in the eyes of the Iranian nation for logical reasons. To the extent that it can be discussed in Friday prayers, I will say what those logical reasons are. They want to remove the ugliness of this; like what they did with the issue of Israel with the Arabs.

There was a time when Arab governments considered talking to Israel, relations with Israel, and even mentioning the name of Israel as one of the very ugly things. By raising and bringing up this issue, they gradually took them out of the ranks of the Arab nation one by one and placed the burden on their shoulders. Gradually, they made the ugliness of this issue disappear; even governments that are not on the borders of Israel and see no danger or harm from Israel, sit in their homes and talk about negotiating with Israel! Really, what is the necessity? But they do; because its ugliness has disappeared.

The Iranian nation, for completely solid reasons and with logical reasoning, considers the U.S. government as its enemy; which I will later refer to. All the nations of the world have recognized this from the Iranian nation and look at it with respect and admiration. Gradually, they want to remove the ugliness of this and make it an ordinary and normal matter.

The third goal is that the very act of negotiating with Iran is very important for the U.S. as a superpower. Some may be surprised and say, what is Iran that it is important for the U.S. superpower to sit at the negotiating table with Iran?! Yes, it is very important. In fact, because it is a superpower, it is very important for it. A superpower means the power that is above all political powers in the world and can impose its will on them.

There was a time when there were two superpowers in the world—America and the Soviet Union—and each had a sphere of influence; they could do whatever they wanted. Even America, in the face of that enemy, had stationed American missiles—cruise and others—in European countries; the poor Europeans had no choice, they did not say anything; because it was for defense against the former Soviet Union. The Soviet Union also did these things in its sphere of influence. Today, with the Soviet Union gone; America claims and is strongly pursuing the creation of a unipolar system in the world; one superpower at the head of a great empire called the world!

What I am saying is something that American political experts do not shy away from saying. In American newspapers, political and intellectual articles with this content are published. About a month ago, in one of the American newspapers, I saw that a well-known American political writer was addressing the world, saying, 'What is wrong with America being at the head of a single global empire?! America today is such and such!' They are claiming this; they are pursuing this.

Now, a superpower with all these global and political claims, there is one place where it is not valued and respected; where is that one place? The Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation have become the breaker of the superpower's awe in the world. I have repeatedly said that the main power of superpowers is based on their awe; it is their awe that can work. They do not enter the field everywhere, they do not use guns and bullets; it is their intimidation and awe that makes the heads of states and the heads of political parties in the world tremble and give in.

For America, it is important that Islamic Iran, which from the very first day stood against America for clear reasons and did not submit to America and said that I will not negotiate with America, now says, very well, yes, we will negotiate too! They say, behold, the superpower is complete! This area that did not submit, submitted; they kissed the threshold here too! Therefore, the mere negotiation is very important for them.

Of course, regarding relations, it is not like this; I will say later. Americans think differently about relations. What is very important for them is negotiation. They want Iran to sit at the negotiating table; once the negotiation starts, then they have stories and tales about relations.

The second point for why negotiation with Iran is important for America is that the movement of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation has awakened Islamic sentiments everywhere in the world; in Asia, in Africa, and even in Europe, Muslims have raised their Islamic sentiments and started a struggle in some way. Some of these struggles are political struggles with governments. Some of these struggles are reformist struggles; in any case, they are engaged in struggle. All of these have flowed from this peak of the Islamic Republic and Imam and this nation.

I know and am aware of people in the Islamic world who accepted the religion of the Ahl al-Bayt without any propaganda, just because of the events of the war. Just as you young people, you veterans, you sacrificers went to the battlefield and these news were spread in the world in this way; just as mothers stood so bravely and showed such courage, it made some people in the world Muslim, made some Muslims Shia, made many more lovers of the revolution and lovers of Imam and the Iranian nation, and Islamic sentiments emerged. In fact, the pole of all these is the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic system.

If the Islamic Republic sits at the negotiating table with America, Americans will be reassured in this regard; they will say to anywhere in the world: why are you striving? You will not become like Iran, you will not reach the level of Iran! Whatever you become, you will not have that nation and that system and that grandeur and courage; they too were finally forced and came here to the negotiating table; what are you saying?! That is, with the submission of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic system of Iran to sitting at the negotiating table with America, America's mind will be at ease from many of these struggles in the Islamic world.

Pay close attention! Each of these has long and detailed discussions that are suitable for special gatherings of these talks. I would like to only present the main points in Friday prayers. Negotiation is important for them. Look; there are many countries whose governments are considered friends of the U.S. government; that is, they are under the influence and submission of the U.S. government, their political positions follow the U.S. government, and they are generally followers of America; cut off relations with such and such a place, deal with such and such a place, do not deal with such and such a place, do oil like this, do copper like that. These governments that are submissive to America, gradually this thought arises for them that there is a government called the Islamic Republic of Iran that pays no attention to America; America cannot do any serious harm to that government. So, why are we so afraid of America?

This question exists today in the minds of many officials of Islamic and non-Islamic so-called Third World countries and has caused serious trouble for the U.S. apparatus; getting out of the state of submission and surrender, because of the existence of the Islamic Republic, which is there, pays no attention to America, and America cannot do anything significant with it. Yes; sometimes they make noise; for example, they pass a 'D'Amato' law, the law becomes obsolete after a few months; they cannot do anything fundamental. So, why have we unnecessarily delayed ourselves and become captives of America?

For America, it is very dangerous for this thought to infiltrate the friends and subjects of the governments that follow and obey it. America is looking for an answer; it must do something to make them understand that: 'You see, this economic siege and these pressures that we exerted against the Islamic Republic finally tired the Islamic Republic and forced it to come and kneel and come down from that high position and that raised neck that it had!' This is to make the governments that follow and obey it understand that: 'No; it is not that you think that someone who is not with us can remain safe from harm. The Islamic Republic was finally forced to come'!

Another point is that makes negotiation truly important for Americans as a superpower, and that is that in the confrontation of two opposing poles that have been fighting in the political arena of the world for nineteen or twenty years—the pole of arrogance on one side, and the pole of Islam on the other; the pole of arrogance led by America, and the pole of Islam centered on the Islamic Republic system, which until now has belonged to the pole of Islam in terms of expansion and progress—you look at the world scene, you see countries where the scent of Islamic movement and revolution was not smelled, a situation has arisen for them where Islamic governments—at least according to those countries—have come into existence! In Turkey in one way, in Algeria in another way, and in other places as well. Of course, they have dealt with all of them; but they cannot deal with the feelings of the people in the same way that they dealt with the 'Welfare' government in Turkey or with some other governments. The feelings of the people remain as they are.

Until now, in the confrontation of these two opposing poles with each other—the pole of arrogance on one side and the pole of Islam on the other—progress and struggle and victory have belonged to the pole of Islam. The pole of Islam has always advanced; but the pole of arrogance has not advanced. They want to, with the rumor of the Islamic Republic's negotiation—which they say the Islamic Republic surrendered; came to our side and was forced to come to terms and negotiate with us—make it seem that in this confrontation, the Islamic pole was finally defeated and forced to retreat, and the pole of arrogance won in this confrontation.

They want to make it clear that the enemy has won and Islam has been forced to retreat. They want to say that revolutionary Islam has passed from its words and returned. They want to say that all these words over these nineteen years—the first ten years that Imam said, and the nine years after Imam, officials and the nation all expressed—were set aside, consigned to oblivion, and all these words were refuted; because Imam repeatedly said that we will not come to terms with the enemy and will not surrender to the enemy. These rumors are for this purpose to refute that past. Finally, America will make the most use of the rumor that the Islamic Republic has surrendered to negotiate with America and sit at the negotiating table—that is, to give up its words and claims against arrogance. This propaganda uproar is for this purpose. Therefore, even though the honorable President said in his interview that we do not negotiate; he said that we do not need to negotiate, they said yes, this is the prelude to negotiation; they want to negotiate! Everyone said something; they created an uproar in the world. So, the motivations of America and the American news apparatus from this uproar are these.

Now, what is our position? Of course, our position has been stated many times; it is not something that I want to state now. Imam said it many times, after Imam we, the officials of foreign policy, and those who spoke and acted in these matters, have said the words. The words are the same words; they are solid words; they are not words that can be said today and retracted tomorrow; nevertheless, I will briefly state them.

The position of the revolution and the position of the Islamic Republic system is that first, any decision we make for the revolution and as the principled positions of the revolution must be based on reasoning. We are people of logic. Our government is also a government of reasoning, our laws are also reasoned laws, our knowledge is also reasoned knowledge, our political positions are also reasoned positions. Sometimes someone may give a slogan about these positions—very well; there is no problem—but behind this slogan, there is reasoning and argument and logic. The basis of this logic is both the benefit of the Iranian nation and the interests of the country, and also the principles and beliefs and convictions for which the Iranian nation has struggled and fought, given martyrs and veterans, stood firm, and attracted the attention of the world. Our positions are subject to these things. Now I will summarize the matter in three short titles.

The current situation—meaning our severed relations with America—first states that this situation is the result of the behavior and natural state of American arrogance; in fact, it is the result of the oppression of the Iranian nation. The second point is that negotiation with America has no benefit for the Iranian nation. The third point is that negotiation and relations with America are harmful to the Iranian nation.

But the first point we said is that this severed relationship is due to American behavior. My dear ones! The policy of the U.S. government entered our country from the years 1320 onwards—approximately the years twenty-one and twenty-two; gradually they came and gained influence and slowly replaced the British. During these approximately twenty-seven or eight years that the Americans had a powerful presence in this country, they did all the insults and evils and oppressions that a domineering government can do to an oppressed nation; they took away resources, strengthened the despotic Pahlavi regime, insulted our officials, insulted the people, brought capitulation, overthrew national governments, and many crimes that really if someone wants to write the crimes of America during the approximately twenty-seven or eight years before the revolution, it will certainly be a thick book.

The revolution was victorious. When the revolution was victorious, one of the things people did was to go to the U.S. embassy on the very first days of the twenty-first and twenty-second of Bahman and capture the Americans, and in those days where we were stationed, I myself saw that they brought the members of the U.S. embassy with their eyes blindfolded to that place. I was sure that Imam would order them to be executed or, for example, imprisoned! Contrary to everyone's expectation and contrary to the expectation of the Americans themselves, Imam ordered that they be released and they went to their embassy. Of course, some of them left Iran; because they did not find the situation in Iran suitable for themselves; some also stayed in Iran.

After the victory of the revolution, our relations with America were not severed from our side. That is, the Iranian nation, in a state of power, overlooked its past oppressions and forgave the U.S. government. Is there any greater magnanimity than this? We had thirty years of oppression from the Americans; but we could not retaliate and react. When the revolution was victorious, the Iranian nation gained power and could react. The natural expectation was to react; not only did it not react, but Imam ordered them to be released! Of course, some of them left; but some stayed and our political relations with America were established.

But the U.S. government ignored these magnanimities of the Iranian nation and the revolution. From the very first days when they were reassured, they made the embassy a place of conspiracy against the Islamic Republic system. In America itself, they started actions against Iran. The U.S. Senate at that time did an ugly act that caused a roar of anger from the people against that act. A huge gathering was formed in one of the squares of Tehran and the people there expressed their anger against this act of the Americans. The Americans started conspiracy and evil from the very first days; they saw the enemies of the Islamic Republic and incited them to do things; they prepared the groundwork for a coup; that is, they did not learn from the past! The inevitable result of these actions was that the Muslim students following the line of Imam stormed the embassy and took the embassy members hostage. This action was actually a punishment for the Americans.

Today, when Americans want to state the history of hostilities between the U.S. government and the Iranian government, they start with the embassy incident. During the presidency, in the year I went to the United Nations, the first thing the reporter raised during the interview with me was the embassy issue that you took our embassy members hostage! While history does not start from there; it is before this incident. If we say the previous events, they say these belong to the past! If it belongs to the past, is the embassy incident not also belonging to the past? They always present it as an act of why you attacked us; while in fact, this was a reciprocal action resulting from the revolutionary anger of the Iranian nation. The Iranian people showed nobility by not killing them; otherwise, if our young people wanted to act without consideration and without piety, they would have destroyed them right there; but they did not do this, they preserved their lives and after a while, by Imam's order, which was referred to the parliament, they were released and went.

So, the issue of American strikes and stabbings and betrayals and coup-making and the issue of the Nojeh airbase coup and other issues were carried out one after another against the Islamic Republic and continued until the imposed war began. In the war, they gave weapons to the enemy of the Iranian nation. One of the things that in the custom of all nations and governments of the world is considered entry into war is this: two countries are at war, one comes and gives weapons to the side that is fighting this country, or gives military facilities, or gives military advice. This is entry into war. These should not be completely ignored. The Iranian nation stands against these actions and these oppressions in this way against America.

Last year I said that this nation is like its Imam—Amir al-Mu'minin, peace be upon him. Amir al-Mu'minin was the most oppressed powerful person in the world. You do not know anyone with the power and authority of Amir al-Mu'minin; but you do not know anyone more oppressed than Amir al-Mu'minin! The Iranian nation is like its Imam. In our time, we do not know any nation with the vitality and liveliness and power that the Iranian nation has shown in these two decades; but the most oppressed nations are also the Iranian nation! Who has oppressed it the most? The Great Satan!

They say why do you call us the Great Satan?! What does Satan mean? You are being satanic. Do not be satanic, so we do not call you the Great Satan. They are being satanic, they are betraying, they are striking, they are committing crimes, they are being arrogant, they are being domineering. The Iranian nation is a living nation; do not compare it with other nations. The Iranian nation also stands against such a government and such a regime, resists, disregards, cuts off relations, does not talk to it, and adopts its positions in the global arena contrary to its false positions.

Another aspect is the global positions of America. America today is the biggest supporter of the usurping Zionist government. The Zionist government is the worst of governments and political entities in the world; because it has expelled a nation from its own country. Do you have such a thing in the world? Do you have it in history? After all, expelling a family, a clan, a city, a million people from their own country is one thing; someone comes and expels a nation from its own country, and those who are inside the country are placed in the utmost weakness and severity and pressure and governs them, is really a strange thing! A government worse and uglier than this? Then they behave with the people with utmost cruelty.

State terrorism, which was mentioned in that interview—which is a very correct statement—is today exemplified by the usurping Zionist government. This statement has greatly offended the Zionists! This is a completely correct statement. You saw what they do with their people! You saw what they do with the Palestinians! You saw what they do with the people of Lebanon! They come with helicopters to the villages of Lebanon and kidnap people from their homes and take them away! Where else is such a thing in the world? Americans are the biggest and most serious supporters of the Zionists. Is this crime not great? Is this crime not enough? Is this not enough for a truth-seeking nation like the Iranian nation to say I have nothing to do with you, I reject you, I condemn your behavior? The Iranian nation says this to America.

The second title is that relations and negotiations with the U.S. have no benefit for the Iranian nation. Today, one of the interesting things is that American hands and American propaganda—as I mentioned in the first week of this month—are spreading in the world that the Iranian nation has problems; the solution and key to these problems is to come and negotiate with America! You said it and I believed it! Negotiation has no significant benefit for the Iranian nation. Of course, it has harms that I will mention later; but it has no benefit at all.

Anyone who thinks that if we negotiate with America, the economic siege and the D'Amato law and ... will disappear, is mistaken. First of all, each of America's behaviors with Iran, after a while, is doomed to failure. Is it the first time they have behaved like this with us? Is it the first time they threaten? Is it the first time they impose an economic siege? Is it the first time they go around and tell this country and that country not to make such and such a deal with Iran, or not to sign such and such a contract? It is not the first time; they have always done this. All the progress we have made in these eighteen, nineteen years; all the outstanding work our governments have done in these few years, has been while America did not want it. Is it according to America's will?

Last year, due to the D'Amato law, their own company's contract with our gas company was canceled. They passed a law that no company has the right to make an oil deal with Iran for more than a certain amount. First of all, that company sent a message to our officials that we are upset and at the first opportunity we can, we will sign the contract again! Now one of America's problems is these companies that cannot come and invest in our oil-related projects in the Persian Gulf. American oil companies are very upset. It is not related to now; it is related to about a year ago. They put pressure on the government, created a gathering, made a resolution; therefore, those efforts have been able to weaken the American D'Amato law to a large extent. So, they need it more.

Secondly, as soon as that American company canceled its contract with our gas company last year, shortly thereafter a French company came and volunteered to sign a contract. The Americans started making an uproar about why you want to sign a contract?! The French government, and later the entire European community, stood up and said that this contract must be signed with Iran and America should not be able to impose its word in this matter. It is not that now the problems of the Iranian nation are in the hands of America and America can create a serious problem. Of course, they try, they do their wickedness—not that they do not—but things are not in their hands.

Moreover, you observe! The governments that today America punishes according to its own State Department—like China, Russia, Turkey during the Welfare Party government—do they not have relations with America? Do they not negotiate? All those whom America deals with harshly have political and economic relations with America. It is not that relations with America or negotiations with America prevent America's hostility. Now there are countries whose embassies are in America, American embassies are also open and active in their capitals; they have political and consular and other relations with each other; but America introduces them as part of the list of terrorists in the world! I do not want to name those countries now. It is good for our brothers in the Foreign Ministry and other places to tell these to the people and explain them.

Do not think that now if relations are established with America, or negotiations are held, then from America, not even a word softer than a flower will be said to the Islamic Republic; no. Many countries have relations with America, their relations are apparently good and friendly and polite on the global level; yet America strikes wherever necessary; imposes an economic siege, sanctions!

Americans are arrogant. An arrogant person and an arrogant government are looking to impose their word. Therefore, it is not that relations have any benefit for our country; that if there are no relations or negotiations, these problems will arise and if these negotiations and relations are carried out, the problems will disappear; no. Neither is America so open-handed in creating problems, nor do relations and negotiations have such miraculous power to solve problems. None of these are; it depends on the nation's ability, it depends on the competence of a government, it depends on our power and desire for dignity to be able to stand against America and act according to our country's interests and will.

These propagandas are being carried out while when the U.S. government had a government in front of it that was at war, it could not do anything with it. We were at war one day. Before that, there were times when our government was a very weak government in terms of facilities. That day they could not do anything with us. That day they could not cause significant harm. Today, thanks be to God, the government of Iran is a dear and powerful government and is recognized as a powerful and dear country on the global level; it is the president of the Islamic Conference. In many global conferences, it is recognized as a respected member; governments respect it, nations respect it. Today, what should we fear? Why should we fear? Why should we think that if we continue with the same situation we have had for these nineteen years, such and such will happen?

America needs it. America today does not even have the strength and power it had ten or fifteen years ago. There was a time when the words of the U.S. government were received with respect in Europe and other places and were treated with respect; today it is not even like that. Today, Americans are in a position of weakness in terms of diplomacy and foreign policy; they are not in a position of power. They want to use the same superpower awe against us and in front of the Iranian nation in their state of weakness!

The third title, which I will also briefly state because I am afraid the time for prayer will pass, is that relations and negotiations are harmful to the Iranian nation and the global movement. The first harm is that Americans, by entering this field, will make it clear that the Islamic Republic has given up all the words of the Imam's era and the era of the sacred defense and the era of the revolution. The first thing Americans claim is this. The first thing they will spread in the world is that the Islamic revolution is over and ended; as they are whispering these words even now when nothing has happened!

Just two or three days ago, I saw a telex that the president of one of the African governments—who a few days ago, one of our officials had said something against that government—had an interview and said that yes, Iran claimed for a while that it was against America; but now it is preparing the groundwork to be able to shake hands with America! Nothing has happened yet, they say this way! In the world, propaganda and rumors against the Iranian nation and against the Islamic Republic and against the government will fill the space that they have returned from the revolution. This will take away the honor of the revolution in the world in front of the oppressed, will make hearts doubtful, will cause the global Islamic movement to decline, will take away the independence of the Iranian nation.

This nation, throughout a long period of almost more than one hundred and fifty years—that is, from the middle of the Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar era to the day of the revolution—was always under the umbrella of powers and under the burden of foreign powers. Now, if the previous kings were despotic, bad, oppressive, cursed, whatever they were, at least they preserved the honor of the country of Iran and the Iranian nation and were not under the burden of foreigners. From the middle and late Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar era, the influence of foreigners and foreign interference in Iran's affairs began and gradually increased until the Pahlavi era, and Iran completely fell into the hands of foreigners. Reza Khan was brought by the British; he was in the hands of the British. After they took Reza Khan away, they brought Mohammad Reza themselves; he was also completely in the hands of the British. After a few years, the Americans entered the field with money and facilities. The country of Iran and the fate of the Iranian nation were in the hands of foreigners. The Iranian nation was able to respond to this humiliation and this insult and this audacity to itself in the revolution.

My dear ones! One of the dimensions of the Islamic revolution was a punch to the mouth of traitors to the homeland and dependents and agents of foreign enemies and foreign enemies. In fact, the revolution was the anger of the Iranian nation in response to foreign influence. The revolution gave independence to these people. Now, after all this blood has been shed for this independence, the claimants of lordship over this country, the claimants of ownership over this country—that is, the Americans who considered themselves the owners of this country—return inside this country and come and make petty orders and interfere in affairs and influence various apparatuses and gather the enemies of the revolution! Will the Iranian nation allow such a thing to be done? Has the Iranian nation given up on the revolution, on the Imam, on its greatness and splendor to allow Americans to open their feet in this country again?

Of course, we have said and repeated many times; I have said, officials have also said that our issue is the issue of the U.S. government; we have no discussion with the American nation. Our issue is not with the American nation; the American nation, like other nations, has its own good and bad; it is related to themselves. The issue is the issue of the U.S. government and the U.S. regime, and the U.S. regime is the enemy of the Islamic Republic system and the enemy of the revolution and the enemy of the Iranian nation, and they have stated this explicitly and have said it many times. Of course, they do not find it in their interest to say this explicitly; but the essence of the matter is that they are enemies of your independence, enemies of your Islam, enemies of your dignity, enemies of your resistance against their excessive demands; they try very hard to be able to eliminate these.

Of course, the divine law is contrary to their desire. The divine law is that you remain, you become strong, you become victorious; God willing, you will be victorious and we have no need for relations with the Americans; as our President also said in that interview and others also stated. Thanks be to God, it was very good; we have no need for negotiation and relations with them and despite the enemies of the Iranian nation, our nation, God willing, will continue to ascend the ranks of progress and advancement more and more day by day.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. When the victory of God has come and the conquest, and you see the people entering into the religion of God in multitudes, then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings