Statements in Meeting with Members of the Assembly of Experts

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

First, I thank the honorable gentlemen who are the pillars of the country for their efforts in attending this important meeting and for expressing these matters and for coming here. God willing, may God grant you success and grant us all the ability to fulfill our duties.

We also extend our condolences to all of you dear brothers and his colleagues on the passing of the late Mr. Fakher, and we express our sorrow for the loss of a dedicated, zealous, capable, and hardworking individual. Since 1963, I have witnessed his activities and his imprisonment. In 1963, I was imprisoned with the late Mr. Fakher in Mashhad. May God, God willing, elevate his ranks.

The issue of the Assembly of Experts - as has been stated many times - is a very important and exceptional matter; one of the distinctions of the Islamic Republic system is this. The Assembly of Experts is a collection of renowned and respected scholars among the people, and they are trusted by the people in all matters, especially in the very important issue of leadership and the matters related to it. This impactful and sensitive presence among the people has had and continues to have its effects and blessings. The presence of the people in major and important events and the positions they declare - such as the significant rally on the 22nd of Bahman, which was truly a monumental phenomenon in the history of the revolution under these conditions; and prior to that, the presence of the people in the streets across the country on the 9th of Dey - would not have been possible without the scholars and spiritual guides whom the people trust directing their hearts towards the truths of this revolution. The role of religious scholars in guiding the people is not limited to guiding in subsidiary matters and personal issues. More importantly, it is guiding the people in the great social issue and the issue of governance and the Islamic system and the duties that arise from this in confronting global events. Certainly, if the role of religious scholars and spiritual guides were to be eliminated and did not exist, this revolution would not have materialized; this system would not have come into being and would not have remained, despite all the numerous problems that have arisen in the path of this revolution. Therefore, religious scholars - among whom the Assembly of Experts is one of the foremost - have a lasting and continuous impact on the events of society and the fate of society; and we see, thanks be to God, the effects of this.

The foundation of the Islamic system is based on obedience to God; this is the main distinction; "Obey God and obey the Messenger" (Quran 4:59), "If you love God, follow me, and God will love you" (Quran 3:31). Therefore, the foundation of the Islamic system is obedience to the Almighty God.

Obedience to the Almighty God has several levels: one type of obedience is situational obedience. In certain cases, God commands that this action be performed - even if this matter is personal - for example, to pray, or consider fasting and almsgiving and other matters. This is a type of obedience where a person obeys the divine command and the divine prohibition. More importantly, there is line obedience. This means the method and path and plan that God has determined for life; this must be obeyed by a group of people so that this plan can be realized. This plan cannot be achieved through individual actions; it requires a collective effort so that the divine plan, the divine geometry in the state of the Islamic society can be realized. For instance, suppose that in Mecca, Muslims were performing their acts; however, the Islamic society in Mecca was different from the Islamic society in Medina where the Islamic government was established. A new action, a movement beyond individual actions emerged and was necessary; if this is realized, then "They will eat from above them and from beneath their feet" (Quran 5:66); life will be a good life; a prosperous life; the effects and blessings and desirable results that are contingent upon obeying the divine command will be realized in life.

The Islamic system provides happiness to people. The Islamic system means that system which is based on divine geometry for society; based on God's plan in society. If this plan is realized, many individual and personal violations and minor issues will be forgivable. There is a well-known narration that conveys a sacred hadith: "I will punish every subject who obeys an unjust ruler who is not from God, even if the subjects are righteous and pious in their actions." The opposite point: "And I will forgive every subject who obeys a just ruler from God, even if the subjects are unjust and sinful in their actions." This means that individual actions and individual violations in a great social system that is a public movement towards a correct direction are forgivable; or perhaps to put it more precisely, they are correctable; ultimately, this can lead this society, these individuals to their intended destination; unlike if individual actions were correct, but social relations, social systems, were wrong systems, unjust systems, systems that were not from God, but from Satan, from the self, individual actions cannot ultimately lead this society to its intended destination; that which is desired by divine laws for human happiness cannot be created for them. Therefore, the issue of large-scale obedience and that a person seeks and follows the divine path becomes very important.

The Islamic system is based on monotheism. The main foundation is monotheism. Another important foundation is justice. Another important foundation is the honoring of human beings and the dignity of human beings and their opinions, and so on. Well, if we look at our Islamic society with this perspective, we will see that the Islamic system has been able to create a tremendous movement in the Islamic world regarding this specific collection that was not possible with any individual movement. That is, today when we look at the Islamic world, we see that the society that has been formed based on divine shape and geometry is the Islamic Republic.

The foundation is divine. Of course, there are shortcomings, there are weaknesses; these weaknesses must be compensated for and corrected, and efforts must be made for reform. It is like a train that is on a track and is moving towards a goal. Inside this train, it is certain that some people fulfill their duties, some do not, some dirty the ground, collect trash, some are careful about their duties, some are not; but this train is moving towards its goal and will undoubtedly reach its destination.

Minor issues within society can be corrected. When we say minor, it does not mean they are unimportant - they are important - but these are individual and personal issues related to individuals; these can be corrected. The main issue is that a person can preserve the system. The main challenge of the Islamic system from the very beginning until today has been this; that is, preserving the Islamic system and maintaining this foundation and preserving those borders and indicators that distinguish this system from other systems in the world.

We have some similarities with others, we have commonalities; but what constitutes the main identity of this system - which is obedience to the Almighty God and following the divine path - must be preserved. The real and main challenge of our system has always been this; that is, the opponents do not tolerate this movement based on divine command and divine religion. Why do they not tolerate it? Now some, with their deep and penetrating insight, understand that this is a challenge against material systems, hence they confront it; some also observe the consequences of this system in the world: just as Imam said, the cells of Hezbollah must be formed throughout the Islamic world, they see that it has been formed. They see hearts turning towards Islam. They see the feeling of Islamic identity emerging in many Muslims in various parts of the Islamic world; and this threatens their material interests. In any case, they understand that the source is here; hence they confront it, they oppose it. Truly, we do not know of any system that has faced such intense opposition and where the front of global arrogance is united and allied against it. This has existed from the beginning of the revolution until now.

Well, we must strive to strengthen and preserve the system. The foundations of the system are clear and known; everyone must move based on that; they must strive, act, and innovate in the direction of strengthening these foundations.

One of the issues is the role of the people and the presence of the people - this is very important - one of the major manifestations of this is elections. Therefore, in the Islamic Republic system, elections are a real matter; it is not a formal and superficial thing. It is not that we want to imitate others; that because others have elections in the name of democracy, we should have elections too; no, elections are a real matter for involving the opinion of the people and the public satisfaction; the same as in the famous command of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) to Malik al-Ashtar: prioritize public satisfaction over private displeasure, and do not fear private displeasure for the sake of public satisfaction.

We must look and see what the people are saying and what they want. The presence of these people has blessings. One of its blessings is that when the enemies look and see that the people are behind the system, they feel that they cannot oppose this system; because one cannot oppose a nation. A regime can be weakened or overthrown with various pressures, economic constraints, diverse propaganda, and psychological warfare; but when the roots are the people and this system and its officials are connected to the people, the enemy's task becomes difficult; just as it has become difficult, and you can observe.

Since the beginning of the revolution, hostilities have expanded, deepened, and become more complex; however, at the same time, the enemy's hope of breaking the revolution has diminished. That is, the enemies of the Islamic Republic have lost the hope they had twenty or thirty years ago that they could eliminate this system or at least weaken it to the point that it could not continue its movement; today they do not have this hope. One can understand this from their words; from the initiatives they undertake, one can feel this well. Therefore, the issue of the presence of the people is important. And one of the most important signs of the presence of the people is elections.

In these post-election crises, the fundamental issue is that the people's vote and presence were denied by some, were questioned, the system was denied, and slandered. The great sin they committed was this. They should have submitted. Ultimately, when the elections occurred with the same criteria that exist in Islam - which now some of the criteria and indicators that we consider valid for elections, which is the opinion of Islam, I will mention - they should have submitted to the law, to the judgment of the law; just as they must submit to that judgment which the law determines. If the law has specified a judge in an important matter like the issue of elections, or has specified a method of judgment, they must submit to this, even if it is against their inclination; this is what constitutes a healthy election.

Then, if this election is conducted in this manner and in the same form that is valid in the Islamic system, it has these characteristics: firstly, there is respect for the vote and judgment and satisfaction of the people in elections. Let me say; today in the world of democracy where elections are held and they raise the banner of democracy, what does not exist is "public satisfaction"; the matter is superficial; in reality, it is often like this. In the United States, it is like this; in the well-known democracies of the world, it is like this. Behind those who enter the electoral field and engage in electoral competition, there are groups from the specific front; that is, the capitalists, the company owners, the financial influencers, the large financial gangs; these are the ones who are organizing things; with misleading propaganda and various methods, they steer the votes of the people this way or that way. In reality, the dispute is between the company owners; it is not a dispute between the votes of the people; it is a fictitious matter. In reality, the government of democracy there is the government of the minority; it is the government of the elites whose elite status is due to their abundant financial resources; these are the ones who are making policies.

In the elections of the Islamic Republic, it is not like this. Here, it is the people who are making decisions, it is the people who are determining. This determination may be correct in one instance and incorrect in another - the discussion is not about this - but the decision-makers are the people themselves. Behind the votes of the people, there are no votes from the power and wealth gangs. In these elections, there is truly respect for the vote of the people; respect for the judgment of the people. One must submit to this judgment. This is one issue.

Another issue in elections and the importance of elections is the healthy competition and rivalry that exists; the public enthusiasm that arises in elections. Elections are something that makes people feel responsible, they must discern, they must come into the field. Public enthusiasm injects fresh blood into the veins of the system and breathes new spirit into it. There is transformation in management. One of the greatest advantages of these elections is that it prevents stagnation. The best form of continuation of a social system is that while maintaining stability, it has transformation. Stagnation is bad and stability is good. Stability means establishment; it means this framework, this geometry, remains in its place, is established, and is rooted; while at the same time, within this framework, transformations, competitions, and rivalries exist. This is the best form for the ship of the system to navigate in stormy seas without concern. "And it sails with them in waves like mountains" (Quran 11:42); this is about Noah's ship. The ship moves, and it is amidst various waves; but these overwhelming waves cannot disrupt its stability. This stability must exist. Of course, within this stability, within this framework, there is transformation.

Therefore, all transformations must be within the framework. If someone enters the electoral competition and election race but wants to break the framework, they have stepped outside the rules of the system, they have stepped outside the rules of electoral movement; this is wrong, this is not correct. Everything must be within the framework of the system. This framework cannot be changed.

Emphasis on the borders of the system with opponents and enemies is necessary in elections. There may be two different opinions regarding a social or economic issue among the candidates; there is no problem, they can express these two opinions; but they must delineate the borders with those things that are opposing the system. They must clarify what our border is; this delineation is necessary. We have repeatedly emphasized this delineation; this is because if the delineations weaken, if the borders become blurred, it causes confusion among the people. Just like national borders, if the borders weaken and become blurred, some can enter the borders with treacherous intent without being recognized; some can exit these borders with negligence without realizing they are leaving the borders. Therefore, the emphasis must be placed on the borders. The gross mistake of those who do not observe these borders in elections is that they cause the people to suffer, they confuse the people. The borders of the system with the opponents of the system, with the enemies of the system, must be clearly defined, emphasized, and a declaration of disassociation from the opponents of the system must be made.

Of course, in elections, the interests of the system, the interests of the country, the interests of the country must be prioritized over party, factional, and personal interests and the like, and the opinions must be clear and transparent; it must be clear what they want. If such an election is held, it will undoubtedly be in favor of the system, in favor of the progress of the country, and in favor of the people; it will keep the system alive and vibrant and advance it.

And I want to say, today, fortunately, the overall condition of the system is not at all behind our past and in many respects is much better; this must be noted. This is not wishful thinking, it is not expressing desires; rather, it is based on looking at realities.

Today, observe that we do not have the warm breath of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), we do not have the incident of war - which made the people excited and mobilized, and naturally created a surge among the people - we have moved thirty-one years away from the beginning of the revolution, yet you see a large number of the youth of this people - now the non-young individuals aside, even the youth who are most exposed to moral and intellectual threats and various deviations - with complete purity, with complete decorum, are present in various fields. In universities, it is the same, outside universities, it is the same, in social arenas, it is the same.

In the massive gatherings that are formed, the youth are often present. On the 22nd of Bahman, you witnessed a rare example of it; both in Tehran and in other cities - as one can see now on television cameras and hears from some who have seen it up close - most of those present were young; the majority of this crowd were young people. Well, what does this indicate? The people feel responsible, they come into the field. This sense of responsibility among the people, especially the youth, after thirty-one years of the revolution, is a very significant event; it is a very great event.

Why did the people come out warmer and more densely on the 22nd of Bahman this year than last year? Because they felt danger; because they saw that some, under the pretext of the election issue and the matters following the election, were creating a blemish on the very essence of the system, they were opposing, they were striking at the face of the system. Their dangerous behavior was that they sometimes brought up the name of the Imam, the revolution, and the system, but their words, actions, and provocations were exactly opposite to the method of the revolution and the path of the revolution and the goals of the revolution; the people felt this. That the people understand and feel this is a high level of insight, this is very important; and that the people, after this feeling, enter the field in this manner, declare their presence, this shows a high level of determination and resolve; these are very important. We must see these, we must appreciate them, and we must recognize their cause. Their cause is the faith of the people; their cause is this main criterion in the Islamic system; that is, obedience to the Lord of the worlds. This, in my opinion, is the most fundamental issue.

Today, we are faced with a large front of enmity throughout the world of the powerful; this is a front that has formed in the centers of international power, financial and economic powers, which are often in the hands of Zionists and large capitalists. This front uses all means against the Islamic system, and unfortunately, there are those inside who respond to them; there are those who become their trusted allies, repeat their words, pass them on, so that they can strike at the Islamic Republic! Such a situation unfortunately exists. However, in contrast to that, the awakening of the people, the awareness of the people, the motivation of the people, the presence of the people, the faith of the people in the foundations and pillars of the system exists. These are the realities that exist in the Islamic Republic. And we have progressed. We thank God that we have progressed over these years.

What is our duty today is to preserve this great geometry; this must be preserved. We must delineate the borders in preserving this geometry. This delineation that I am mentioning is here; otherwise, in matters of lesser importance - whether they are issues of second degree importance or lower levels - there may be differing opinions; these differing opinions do not harm society. Differences of opinion lead to progress. These differing opinions are not important; they may influence electoral competitions, which is not a problem. What is important is the foundation of the system, the overall geometry of the system, the comprehensive plan of the system; this must be kept in mind and sensitivity must be shown towards this. One must see the words that are spoken and the actions that are taken, in comparison to this overall plan, in what condition they are.

One must recognize the hostilities. This is our problem. The reason I repeat the issue of insight for the elites is because of this. Sometimes there is negligence regarding the hostilities that are being directed against the foundation; these are carried over to minor issues. We had the same meaning at the beginning of the Constitutional Revolution. At the beginning of the Constitutional Revolution, there were great scholars - whom I do not name; everyone knows them, they are famous - who did not see the conspiracy that the Westernized individuals and so-called intellectuals who were influenced by the West were designing; they did not pay attention that the words they were saying in the National Assembly of that time, or writing in their newspapers, were a struggle against Islam; they did not pay attention, they were lenient. The result was that someone who knew and understood - like the late Sheikh Fazlollah Nouri - was executed before their eyes, and they did not show sensitivity; later, those who did not give importance to this sensitivity were also subjected to assault and humiliation, some lost their lives, some lost their honor. This was a mistake that occurred there; we must not make this mistake.

Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) who was comprehensive in all aspects, one of the aspects of his personality was this; he was sensitive. For example, as soon as an action was taken against the law of retribution - which was a law - Imam immediately understood the sensitivity of the matter; he understood what opposing the Islamic law of retribution meant; and he took that remarkable and decisive action that you remember. We must be like this; we must be sensitive.

Regarding the main issue of the system and the plan of the system and the entirety of the system, no negligence should be tolerated. There are secondary issues that can certainly be resolved. Now I have seen, for example, that these days a plan that is in the Expediency Council is receiving attention. Of course, it is clear; when this plan is raised in the Expediency Council, ultimately the opinion of the council is advisory; it will come before us and what we believe will be implemented and stated as a general policy. There is no doubt that the Guardian Council has legal duties. These duties specified in the Constitution - which include oversight of elections and determining qualifications and such matters - must not be violated. These matters can be corrected. That is, this issue should not be a matter of discussion and dispute; these are things that can be corrected. It is possible that someone there may make a mistake; mistakes can be compensated for. These are not the main issues; the main issue is the issues that have been the subject of dispute between the Islamic system and the infidelity and arrogance over the past eight or nine months after the elections, where some have repeated their words.

They want the Islamic system, the religious system, the system based on obedience to God and the Messenger not to exist. Everything that guarantees the public obedience of this system is considered an enemy to them; they act against it, they work against it, they concentrate all their efforts to strike at it. This side of the issue must strive and make efforts to preserve these main pillars, these fundamental principles. The main issue must not be neglected.

It must be clearly and explicitly delineated. That is, those who are committed to the Islamic system and committed to the presence of the people - with the same motivation and faith that the people have - must delineate their borders with those who do not want this movement to continue in this Islamic manner. They oppose the law, they oppose the law. This border must also be a clear and obvious border so that the people do not fall into error and confusion. The people look at us; we must know what the line is. This is the essence of the matter. Everything that is below this is forgivable, is solvable. Even if there is a difference of opinion, this difference of opinion should not lead to opposition and contention; that from these contentions, the enemy benefits. This is our message.

Those who accept this overall plan that is manifested in the Constitution and the rule of law and the judgment of the law are part of the Islamic system. Those who reject these are the ones who, by their own hands, lose their eligibility to participate in the Islamic system and are unqualified. Those who are not willing to tolerate the law, those who are not willing to accept the majority, those who question the magnificent election of forty million votes that is a source of pride, want to turn a point of strength for the system into a point of weakness; these are actually throwing themselves out of this rescue ship - which is the Islamic system; otherwise, no one wants to throw anyone out of the rescue ship.

Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) said to his son: "O my son, embark with us and do not be with the disbelievers" (Quran 11:42). The Islamic system also, following the example of Prophet Noah, says to everyone: come be with us, come enter this ship of salvation, "and do not be with the disbelievers." This is the goal and the foundation. We do not exclude anyone from the system; but there are those who themselves exclude themselves from the system; they remove themselves from the system.

We hope that the Almighty God grants us success so that we can preserve the Islamic system with this entirety and with this correct orientation that, thanks be to God, we have come to today, and we can serve this system and this people.

When one looks, they see the awareness of the people, the insight of the people, the sense of responsibility of the people towards the Islamic system is truly unparalleled. With this sense of responsibility, with this readiness, certainly if today an incident like the incident of the Sacred Defense were to occur in our country, those who would enter the field would be more than those who came in the Sacred Defense; they would not be fewer. One feels this from this massive popular movement.

We hope, God willing, that the Almighty God grants us, the people, and all the officials the success to fulfill their duties. Especially the responsibilities of the officials in the three branches are very heavy; they must act on their duties with greater precision, with more seriousness and diligence so that, God willing, the Almighty God also sends down His mercy upon us and does not withhold His favors from us. What has happened so far is from the Lord, and after this, if divine guidance and divine mercy encompasses us, God will continue to help us.

I thank the honorable gentlemen in the Assembly of Experts; I thank the esteemed president of the Assembly of Experts, and the responsible gentlemen, for the efforts you endure and the good works you perform and the valuable statements you make. I hope that, God willing, all these efforts and endeavors will be included in the satisfaction of His Holiness, the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him and may God hasten his honorable reappearance) and may the Almighty God help us to make the sacred heart of that great figure happy and to make ourselves worthy of the prayers of that great man and to have the pure spirit of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the pure souls of the martyrs pleased and satisfied with us.

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