Statements of the Supreme Leader on the Anniversary of Imam Khomeini's (may his soul be sanctified) Passing at the Holy Shrine

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our Master and Prophet, the beloved of our hearts, the intercessor of our sins, the bearer of glad tidings, the warner, and the illuminating lamp, our Master and Prophet, Abul Qasim Muhammad, and upon his pure, chosen, and infallible family, especially the remaining proof of God on earth.

I extend my condolences on the anniversary of the passing of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) to the great Islamic nation, the noble people of Iran, and the free people of the world. This year, this great Ashura-like event coincides with the days of Ashura of Imam Hussein, which doubles the importance of these days. Especially since the pure body of the Imam's son and beloved, the late Haj Seyyed Ahmad Agha, rests beside the blessed shrine of the great Imam, our nation has a double mourning this year: both in memory of the Imam and in renewing the memory of his dear son, all during the days of Ashura of Imam Hussein.

After offering my condolences to you, the esteemed and honorable audience, I wish to use this opportunity to express an important point about the revolution and its message:

The great Islamic Revolution, which Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) guided, brought to fruition, and resulted in the significant outcome of the Islamic Republic, has two aspects: one internal and Iranian, and the other global, international, Islamic, and human. Both aspects of the revolution are of great importance. In both aspects, thanks to our inherent talents, the leadership of that great man, and your dear nation's struggle and perseverance, we have made significant progress. Today, in front of the shrine of that unparalleled leader of our time, on the occasion of the anniversary of Imam Khomeini's (may his soul be sanctified) passing, I wish to declare that the revolution continues to advance in both aspects, and the direction of the revolution remains strong in both directions.

The first aspect concerns the country and the nation of Iran. The primary goal of the revolution was to establish a system within the country that is independent and not dependent. Dependency is a great affliction for a country and a nation, and all other afflictions stem from it. A nation dependent on an external power spends its blessings, talents, and vast human and material resources according to the wishes of that foreign power, not for the good of the nation. The devoted and caring individuals of these nations are either marginalized or destroyed by the dependent system and regime. If its oil, gas, and other underground resources are extracted, they are used for the benefit of the power it is dependent on. Its friendships, enmities, and global stances follow the desires and wishes of the power it is dependent on. Its religion, ethics, culture, and customs are chosen and determined by that foreign power. Its own desires, faith, will, and the opinions of its people are not considered. Therefore, in a dependent system, the people and intellectuals are rendered powerless. The true administration of a dependent country is not in the hands of its own government but in reality in the hands of the government it is dependent on.

There is no greater misfortune for a nation than this. The mother of all national afflictions is dependency. Dear brothers and sisters! Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iran was a dependent country. This dependency, especially during the fifty-plus years of the corrupt and vile Pahlavi regime, reached its peak.

I will present two or three clear and tangible examples to show the greatness that the internal and Iranian aspect of the revolution has brought to this nation and the great work it has accomplished: The British brought Reza Khan to power in Iran and made him ruler. This is not something said by Reza Khan's opponents. Even those affiliated with that regime and all impartial historians have acknowledged and admitted this. The British themselves also removed Reza Khan because during his reign, they felt that the Pahlavi regime had developed a tendency towards Germany, which at that time, during the Second World War, had made some progress. Also, because Reza Khan's ethics were similar to Hitler's, to the extent that Reza Khan became fond of and attached to Hitler. The British sensed this. They could not tolerate it and removed Reza Khan. The British then brought Mohammad Reza to power. This is something they themselves have admitted, and it is among the certainties and clear facts.

I will recount a story from one of the affiliates of Mohammad Reza's regime; you will see how degrading and humiliating this dependency was! In the early days of Reza Khan's departure, when the fate of the monarchy in Iran was not yet clear, the British ambassador in Tehran told someone who had approached him on behalf of Mohammad Reza to know his fate that, according to our information, Mohammad Reza listens to Radio Berlin and follows Germany's progress on the map, so he is not trustworthy. That person conveyed the news to Mohammad Reza. He then stopped listening to Radio Berlin and set it aside! At that time, the British ambassador said, 'Now there is no problem; he can be chosen for the monarchy.' A regime and government with someone at its head who is so dependent on a foreign embassy that they set such petty and humiliating conditions for his monarchy, and he accepts and acts on those conditions so they can bring him to power, clearly shows how dependent it is on foreign powers beyond these borders.

In the final years of the vile Pahlavi regime, the memoirs and statements of those who were among their friends clarify this. In 1979, the American ambassador and even the British - at a time when the British government was no longer considered a global power - were influential in determining Mohammad Reza's situation, his fate, and the decisions he had to make. They would approach him and say: you must do this, you must not do that. They would give him advice, and he would accept it from them. Throughout these fifty years, it was always like this. They extended the oil contract for sixty years with Reza Khan. They appointed governments by name, saying that so-and-so must be at the head of the government. See how much disregard and insult this great nation endured over these fifty years!

The revolution uprooted and destroyed a regime with this level of dependency. The first thing that matters to the revolution is that a system and statesmen govern the country who do not look to powers outside this country. This is the first aspect of the revolution. National interests are important for a system that stands on its own, is independent, and does not pay attention to other powers. When such a system is in place and the country's statesmen and rulers are such people, it is obvious that in all decisions, actions, and stances, what is considered is the welfare, benefit, and desire of the nation. What is necessary for this country and nation is what today the enemies and opponents of the revolution and the Islamic Republic system are upset and worried about.

Dear nation of Iran! The issue of powers' inclination towards the dependency of countries is not a matter of history; it belongs to today and this moment. These days, the great global powers are devoting all their efforts to expanding their influence and the dependency of countries on themselves. Today, the measure of friendship and enmity of countries for the great powers is this. Today, when the superpower America claims dominance over the world, this is the issue. The President of America, just a few days ago, in response to some Americans who believe 'the American regime interferes too much in the affairs and issues of other countries,' explicitly said: 'We interfere in the internal affairs of countries for the interests of America!'

What is important to them is the interest of their own country, and to secure the interests of that country, they interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and consider themselves entitled to do so. A country like Islamic Iran and a system like the Islamic Republic that stands against this illegitimate demand is considered an enemy by them. Their argument and reasoning are that they say: 'They oppose America's interests.' In global statements, they repeat that 'the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran opposes America's interests.' If you confine your interests within the country of America, what do we have to do with you?! If you do not interfere in the affairs of Iran and other countries, we have no issue with you! But you are expansionist. You are doing the same thing that European governments did around the world in the nineteenth century; that is, colonialism. In the nineteenth century, European governments set up colonialism around the world. Wherever they could, they colonized and took control of small countries. Some countries were colonized with their direct rule - like India - and some with illegitimate interventions, by raising seemingly national governments but dependent on the British government.

After the European governments weakened in the mid-twentieth century due to two world wars - both of which originated in Europe - nations awakened and rose up. The colonized nations freed themselves from the grip of colonialism one after another. Western intellectuals began to speak and write against colonialism. One of the centers where colonialism was severely condemned was the United States of America itself; because until that day, it had not found the opportunity for colonialism. European governments had outpaced America in colonialism. Americans spoke ill of colonialism. Gradually, nations freed themselves, and independent governments emerged. What the American government is pursuing today, in spirit and meaning, is the same thing that colonialists pursued in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In those days, European governments claimed that 'we need the vital resources of these countries. Therefore, we enter and colonize.' They belittled small and weak countries. Today, America, for its own interests, is doing the same thing. Well; interests that must be secured against the welfare of another nation are illegitimate interests.

The President of America, in the same speech, says: 'The American nation must remain a fighting nation.' I say: this struggle that he wants to lead the American nation to - as he says - is not a struggle for justice, peace, goodness, and virtue; but a struggle for oppression and encroachment on countries.

Certainly, among the American nation, there are many who abhor this kind of movement and policy. Other nations also strongly detest such a motive in the American government and statesmen. For this reason, the Iranian nation does not feel reconciliation in its heart with the colonial and domineering power of America; rather, it feels that they are intent on encroachment and aggression. Conditions develop in such a way that they express it verbally. The first task of this great revolution within a country that has spent many years in dependency was to sever the ties of dependency and achieve independence for the Iranian nation.

Today, the Iranian nation, in none of its internal, international, political, economic, cultural, and propaganda affairs, has considered or considers the desire, will, and interference of great powers, especially America.

The fact that the Islamic Republic system has become known in the world for standing against the will of powers and especially against America's will and not paying attention to their domineering will is due to this fundamental spirit of our great and magnificent revolution, which was fundamentally against dependency and in the path of independence for this nation. The Islamic Republic system was established on this basis, and today, by God's grace, it remains so. This is the internal aspect of the revolution. However, our great revolution's sphere of influence is not limited to within Iran.

The Islamic Revolution has a larger sphere, which is the sphere of humanity and, more specifically, the sphere of the Islamic Ummah and Muslim nations. In this large sphere, contrary to what the propagandists of global arrogance have wanted everyone to believe that Iran interferes in the internal affairs of countries, we do not interfere in the internal affairs of countries at all, nor do we have such an intention or plan. We do not see any need for this. For us to be an independent and prosperous country and a strong, courageous, and leading nation, we have no need to interfere in the affairs of other nations. Our nation is also a fighting nation. But this nation's struggle is against oppression, discrimination, and imposition. This struggle is by no means in the path of interfering in the affairs of other countries. Therefore, when we say 'the revolution has an international and global aspect,' it does not mean that the revolution interferes in the affairs of countries and nations. The revolution has a message, a logical argument, and a clear path. This clear path is in front of the nations. Nations see it. If they like it, they accept it and follow that path. We have no imposition on other nations; but the reality that has occurred is that nations have seen and recognized this clear path. The number of nations that have chosen to follow this path is not small.

This is a truth that I want to present in the second part and should be paid attention to. The global and international aspect of the revolution is the message of spirituality on a global scale. The world is immersed in materialism. The hands of leaders and materialistic octopus networks have, for one or two centuries, driven the world towards materialism and drowned nations in the mire of materialism. Today, the world, in its orientation and the path that powers and governments have predicted for it, not only has no spiritual aspect, but it moves towards materialism and deprives humans of spirituality. The reason you see in many countries, young generations become distressed, suicides increase, families disintegrate, and young people become homeless is this lack of spirituality. For humanity, spirituality is a nourishment and spiritual sustenance. Can a person live comfortably for a long time without spirituality? Wherever science and material civilization are more prevalent, disturbances also increase. This is due to the sin of removing spirituality by global powers from the lives of the world's people. The message of the Islamic Revolution is the message of spirituality, attention to spirituality, introducing the element of spirituality into human life, and attention to ethics and God. Wherever the name and message of the Imam penetrated, it brought spirituality there. Even if you look at Christian and non-Muslim societies that showed a favorable attitude towards the Islamic Revolution, sought a lesson from it, and benefited from it, you will see spirituality there. The trace of our great Islamic revolution is spirituality, and this spirituality is the first message of this revolution and the spiritual Imam; an Imam who was himself a noble and spiritual person, a mystic, a jurist, a religious scholar, a devout and night worshipper. The Imam was someone who would retreat with God at midnight and supplicate.

Another message of the revolution is 'justice.' Wherever the call for justice has been raised in the world, this revolution has found that place with itself and compatible with itself and has accompanied the truth-seekers and justice-seekers of the world. Many justice-seekers, freedom-seekers, and fighters against oppression and discrimination in the East and West and the five continents of the world say 'we learned this lesson from your revolution' and they are right. This is also a message; the message of justice-seeking. The great and important message of our revolution for the Islamic Ummah and the societies and nations of Muslims is 'the revival of Islamic identity, the return to Islam, the awakening of Muslims, and the return to the Islamic movement.' This is the great message of our revolution to Muslim nations, which the Imam and the great leader of this path and the great teacher of this line and school was.

Muslims had been alienated from themselves. Muslims around the world were ashamed to say 'I am a Muslim.' Non-Islamic and anti-Islamic governments had created a situation in their countries where no young person today would have any sense of Islam or any news of Islam. They introduced Islam as belonging to the past generation. They said 'Islam is dead; it is gone; it is over.' In modern, progressive, and civilized societies of the world, they had made it so that Muslims did not dare to express their Islam. Either they completely abandoned practicing Islam, or if they did, it was in secret and with fear and anxiety.

Islamic countries also did not have a better situation. A head of an Islamic country, in a global assembly of heads of countries, was ashamed to start his speech with 'In the Name of God!' They considered this a defect and backwardness! They were ashamed of Islam and the signs of Islam, and the agents of global arrogance, who had received blows and slaps from Islam in the early and mid-periods of arrogance and colonialism and feared Islam, reinforced the feeling of setting Islam aside among the people.

In our own country, Iran, it was the same. Brothers and sisters! Which of you who experienced that era remembers that a Muslim dared to pray in the presence of a group outside the mosque? If someone prayed or called to prayer in airports or in a square in the middle of the city, they would be mocked. Islam had gradually become contraband. In barracks, Islam was contraband. In universities, until a group of Muslim fighters emerged, Islam and praying were contraband. Everywhere in the world, it was like this. In some places, it was even worse than in Iran. The great message of our revolution was the revival of Islamic identity among Muslim nations. Today, all Muslim nations, everywhere in the world - whether in Europe, America, or Asia - take pride in their Islam. Today, in the heart of Europe, a veiled schoolgirl takes pride and says: 'I am a Muslim and I want to go to school with a veil.' Today, a nation like Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the heart of Europe, despite all the hostility and pressure against it, stands and says: 'I am a Muslim.' It bears the cost of this Islam and suffers for it; but it stands firm. The heads of Islamic countries, due to the inclination of their nations towards Islam, are forced to express their Islam and speak of Islam. Today, even the arrogant heads of arrogant countries, to attract the hearts of Muslims to themselves, say: 'We agree with Islam and support Islam.' Of course, they lie and say it with their tongues; but even for show, they say this. Why? Because today Islam is alive and Islamic identity is esteemed and great. Because today Islam is dear. Because today Islamic movements are growing, and by God's grace, until the day when 'He may make it prevail over all religion,' this Islamic liberation movement and the advancement of Islamic thought will become stronger day by day in countries. When this feeling of Islam and Islamic identity is revived in nations, it is when all those and factions who have plotted against Islam feel isolated, alienated, and frightened. Therefore, you see that just a few days ago, one of the leaders of the Zionist regime said, 'We are not afraid of Arab armies and forces; we are afraid of Islamic fundamentalism.' Yes; although we oppose the Zionist enemy in all matters, we agree with them on this one point. What can cure the Zionists is this Islamic awakening and nothing else. What can liberate the land of Palestine is the awakening of Muslim nations and Islamic awakening.

Brothers and sisters! The enemy who says 'the revolution is exported by revolutionaries' is making a double mistake. They are wrong twice. Their first mistake is that the Islamic Republic system is not trying to export anything. The Islamic Republic system has a truth, which is the revolution itself. This nation created the truth of the revolution, and the Islamic Republic system is the embodiment of the revolution. Their second mistake is that the thought of the revolution and the message of the revolution, which is the message of freedom and awakening, does not need to be exported. Is it necessary for someone to export these concepts?! Well; it is a truth and reality that nations are unaware of. When they encounter it and see the successful experience of the Islamic Republic, they naturally learn from it. It is not necessary to tell nations, 'You also come and act this way.' Nations see the Islamic Republic system, the revolution, the successes of this nation, and the dignity of Iran and Islam and learn from it. Today, Islamic awakening in various countries and the awakening of the spirit of spirituality around the world is indebted to the Islamic Revolution.

The point I want all brothers and sisters to pay attention to is that, my dear ones! Today, global arrogance, led by the United States of America, and following it all the bad people of the world, all those who seek discrimination, oppressors, tyrants, and all those who oppose truth and justice, have reached a conclusion that you must pay attention to. They have concluded that 'the Islamic Revolution is promoted today by the very existence and standing of the Islamic Republic system.' As long as this system stands; as long as the Islamic Republic stands firm and strong; and as long as the country of the Islamic Republic of Iran becomes more prosperous and stronger day by day, they feel threatened. What they are pursuing is that if they can, they will destroy and dissolve the Islamic Republic system. Of course, they are desperate and know that this is no longer feasible. But in the second degree, all their efforts are to prevent the Islamic Republic system and the Iran that is governed by this system from being presented to the world as an independent and prosperous system and country. They want to undermine Iran's independence and encroach on it in various ways. They want to falsely pretend that 'if we are not with you, you cannot do anything'; so that they can somehow undermine the independence and non-dependency of this nation, and if they cannot do this, they will try to prevent this nation from building its country; to prevent Iran from becoming prosperous and making life in this country a source of envy for other nations. Be vigilant!

The Iranian nation should know: today, the greatest efforts and struggles on a global scale that are in the direction of strengthening Islam and the message of Islam in the eyes of God Almighty are to make Islamic Iran prosperous and reveal its blessings. Life in this country must become a source of envy for other nations so that they want to learn from it. This is a factor that condemns the enemy. The enemy wants to pretend that if a country and nation take refuge in Islam, they must live in poverty, be deprived of scientific advancements, and be unable to manage themselves. Iranian nation! You have fought and struggled against this desire of the enemy throughout these sixteen years - from the beginning of the revolution until today. You, the great, dear, wise, and capable nation, have made your country, which lives in the embrace and under the banner of Islam, a model for other countries. You, the Iranian nation, have worked hard to rebuild this country. You endured eight years of imposed war; you fought against the enemy's interference; you preserved the borders; you secured independence and have tried to make this country prosperous until today. From today onwards, the general duty of this nation is to make this country as prosperous as possible.

Everyone should participate in the construction of the country. The nation should maintain its unity and cohesion so that the enemy's propaganda cannot have the slightest effect on the minds and thoughts of this enlightened nation; just as it has been until today. By God's grace, with the passage of a few more years, under the shadow of Islam, build an Iran that when anyone from anywhere in the world looks at this country, they will see the miracle of Islam in building a country and nation with their own eyes.

If you, God forbid, had been defeated in the imposed war or had lost your land, this wave of Islamic awakening would have stopped. Nations experience Islam and the Islamic Revolution in you. If you had not been able to make your country prosperous and maintain your dignity in the world, the Islamic wave would have stopped. If you had not been able to maintain your national unity, God forbid, Iran would have fallen into internal conflicts and wars. Now the enemies want to do this and are trying to make it happen. God knows how this unity that the Iranian nation has today pierces the enemy's eye like an arrow and makes them uncomfortable. The enemy wanted the Iranian nation, after the revolution or after the war or after the Imam's passing, to fall into division; to start a civil war and fight and kill each other. Then, global arrogance would tell other Muslims: 'Look! This is the Iranian nation! This is the Islamic Revolution! Here you go!'

The Iranian nation maintained its unity and dignity; continued the reconstruction and rebuilding of the country; showed its growth; advanced its culture; made its universities more prosperous and crowded day by day; spread knowledge and understanding more and more in the country. The country's progress increased day by day. Nations are not blind! They look, see this situation; therefore, they turn to Islam. Islamic awakening and the return to Islam increase day by day. If you want Islam to advance further and Islamic awakening to encompass the Islamic world; if you want even non-Muslim nations to turn to spirituality and find the right path of life, you, the Iranian nation, must always respect the principles you have respected until today. Maintain your unity and brotherhood. Continue your cooperation in building and rebuilding the country with the devoted and caring statesmen.

Thanks be to God, the country's officials are busy. Good people are in charge of affairs today and are pursuing the country's tasks. The enemy engages in a lot of propaganda, venom-spreading, and mud-slinging. From the enemy, nothing but enmity is expected. The enemy must either impose economic sanctions, engage in false propaganda, or engage in security aggression and conspiracy. The enemy is the enemy. But the Iranian nation believes in and relies on the great God. It has a relationship with the great God. It enjoys the power of the Lord of the worlds, which, by the blessing of Islam and Muslims, has granted that power to a nation.

You have come the right way until today. If the great Imam is not among us himself, his awake and living spirit is observing and present, and according to what we know and are informed about the spirits of the believers and God's chosen ones, he knows and sees the situation of the nation. By God's grace, the pure spirit of the Imam is pleased with you, the great nation. God willing, he will be more pleased day by day. May the sacred heart of the Imam of the Age be pleased with all of you.

O Lord! By Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, make this nation's world and hereafter prosperous.

O Lord! Crush the enemies of this nation; make this nation victorious in all arenas.

O Lord! Make Iran more esteemed, prosperous, independent, and leading among the nations and countries of the world day by day.

O Lord! Make the Islamic Ummah more dignified day by day and bring the hearts of Islamic countries closer to each other day by day.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.