Speech in Meeting with Officials of the Martyrs Foundation, University Professors and Students, and Various Segments of the People

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

First, I extend a warm welcome to all of you, brothers and sisters, especially the esteemed families of our martyrs and dear veterans, as well as the warriors, intellectuals, scholars, and guides of society. This gathering is significant in terms of quality because the distinguished segments of the Islamic society and the prominent figures of the Islamic system are present here, unlike materialistic systems where the wealthy, the lords, and the tyrants are present. In the Islamic system, those who are spiritually more distinguished and outstanding are those who have shown greater sacrifice, faith, righteous deeds, and sincerity in their actions and words, and they are these selfless groups—those who have given martyrs, veterans, enthusiastic and faithful youth, servants of society, or those preparing themselves for service.

In this enthusiastic, sincere, and faithful gathering, I wish to present a matter that is among the fundamental issues of our thought. In Islam, the main and central point for the reform of the world is the reform of the human soul. Everything starts from here. The Quran told that generation, which wanted to turn the pages of history with its powerful hand, "Protect yourselves," "Take care of yourselves." Watch over yourselves, attend to yourselves, and reform and purify your souls; "He who purifies it succeeds." If the Islamic society of the early days of Islam had not started with the purification of individuals and if there had not been enough purified and sincere people, Islam would not have taken root, would not have spread, would not have triumphed over the polytheistic religions of the world, and history would not have moved in the line of Islam. If there are no purified and sincere individuals, there is no jihad.

Our revolution succeeded due to the purity, sincerity, and devotion to God and rising above material and personal interests. The resistance in the imposed war was the same. Our dear martyrs or these veterans went to meet martyrdom at the peak of purity and sincerity and were martyred, and it was these martyrdoms, resistances, and facing dangers that preserved the revolution, honored Islam, strengthened Muslims, and humiliated the enemies of Islam and America.

Within us, our greatest enemy lies in ambush, and that is our commanding self, desires, selfishness, and egotism. Every moment we can subdue this venomous snake and this deadly enemy—even temporarily—in that moment, we are successful, fortunate, capable of action, resistance, steadfastness, and jihad in the way of God. Whenever this enemy raises its head and suppresses the intellect and spiritual force and the divine soul within us, we are in a state of stagnation, regression, or retreat. Stagnation means regression. These two are one.

As those who have taken on the heavy burden of guiding humanity and saving mankind, we must attend to ourselves, reform our souls, and save the spiritual human power—which God has entrusted to us at the highest level—from the mud and mire of desires, whims, and selfishness and strengthen it. You, the youth, you, the families of martyrs, you, the veterans, you, the devoted and concerned propagators in the Revolutionary Guards or elsewhere, are the first to engage in this inner struggle.

We must first reform ourselves. Whoever is more attached to Islam and the revolution must be more determined and serious in reforming their soul. Whoever is more disturbed by the state of the world, by the bullying, wickedness, and baseness that the powers and bullies of the world commit, must attend more to themselves and reform themselves. This situation in the world today is due to this deficiency.

The problem of nations is the problem of the dominance and rule of those who, although they wear human clothing, are inwardly a wild, ruthless beast. The one for whom killing thousands of people, chemically attacking families and small children, is of no importance and who commits crimes easily, is outwardly human but inwardly a wolf. His spiritual and true form, the form with which he will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment, is the form of a wild animal.

O you who have torn the garment of Josephs, Rise from this heavy sleep as a wolf.

Such individuals, on the day death seizes them and they awaken from the heavy, delirious sleep of their disgraceful life, when they look at themselves, they will see themselves as wolves. Those who endure this bad situation in the world, remain indifferent and calm in the face of all these disasters and crimes, and do not feel a sense of duty, they too have a flaw from another angle; they too lack spiritual training; they too are gripped by a love of life and fear of death; their spiritual form, if not a wolf, is a mouse; if not a predator, it is an animal that can be torn apart and eaten; it is a lamb; this is the more respectful expression. The human spirit neither allows someone to commit such crimes and oppression nor allows a human to endure so much oppression and injustice.

Look at the world, see what is happening. See what is happening in our region. These days, the whole world is focused on the events of the Persian Gulf, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the military mobilization and uproar of America in the region, and the clamor of powers and governments, the same ones who stood behind Saddam until yesterday; those who analyzed in his favor, wrote articles, played political games, and issued resolutions because he stood against Islam. Now Saddam's image in their magazines and newspapers has overnight turned into a terrifying monster! Now they have realized that Saddam bombed Halabja with chemical weapons! Now they have realized that Saddam was the initiator and aggressor in the Iran war! Now they have realized that Saddam is untrustworthy and not honest in his statements! Now they have realized that Saddam oppresses his own people with tyranny! As if until the day their interests in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were not threatened, they did not know any of this! That is, neither the President of America nor other governments knew, nor the mercenary journalists and paid writers! Now everything has become clear.

On the other side of the issue, Saddam has overnight become anti-America, anti-colonialism, and anti-Saudi! The same friends of yesterday, the same ones who sat together openly and publicly conspired against Islam and Muslims and against the revolution and the anti-global arrogance base—meaning Iran—now Saddam accuses them of being dependent on America and anti-Islam!

Were they not dependent on America until yesterday?! Were they not Qarun until yesterday?! Until yesterday, when they were helping Saddam to attack the fortress of resistance against colonialism and global arrogance, were they not America's mercenaries; have they become so today?! Can someone become anti-American overnight?! Can someone transform overnight from an aggressor against Islam and Muslims and a stubborn enemy of the Islamic revolution and the Muslim nation into a defender of Islam?! Now Saddam gives speeches, addresses Muslim nations, and says preserve Islam and save it from Fahd and Mubarak! Until yesterday, they were the supporters and protectors of Islam, but now overnight they have become anti-Islam, and you have become a supporter of Islam?! Woe to this Islam that someone like Saddam Hussein becomes its supporter and defender. These are points you must pay attention to.

Analyzing current events is not a complicated task. Anyone who looks at this scene and view can analyze the events. Analysis is not difficult. What is difficult is something else. Anyone who looks at this scene sees the scramble for the spoils of the world—just as it is in our narrations—observes the war of vultures over the carcass. One vulture is Saddam Hussein; another vulture is Mr. Bush.

Saddam, who claims he wants to defend his nation or the Arab nations, his words are nonsense, lies, and ridiculous; he defends his own power. He is someone who, if thousands, rather hundreds of thousands of his own people stand against him and he deems it necessary to eliminate them, he will not hesitate for a second and will eliminate them! He works for himself, his power, his insatiable human greed; the same thing Imam told his audience, if they give you the whole world, it is still not enough for you; the government of this country is nothing. His activity is for the carcass of the world, for power, and for being on the throne of power for two more days. Shame on the heedless human who does not understand the philosophy of his existence and does not recognize his happiness.

On the other side of the issue, who has entered the battlefield under the pretext of defending the interests of the free world and confronting Saddam's dictatorship—meaning America—is even more of a liar; he too is an aggressor and works and strives for his own interests. What Saddam Hussein did in Kuwait is exactly what America did about a year ago in Panama and a few years ago in Grenada; it is the Arabic version of it! That was the American version, which was accompanied by a bit more glitter and a crime wrapped and packaged in cellophane, descended upon the people of those countries; but this person's work is the Arabic, Iraqi, and Saddam version! That is, the essence of the matter is the same; there is no difference. The powers, like vultures eyeing the carcass and pecking and clawing at each other, have fallen upon each other. This is the interpretation and analysis of the issue.

For a long time, America has been thinking about having a stronger foothold and military presence in the Persian Gulf. Of course, it has bases in the Persian Gulf and in some small and insignificant countries, but it is not enough! Even what it finds now is still not enough! Whatever they find, it is not enough for them! The one who occupied Kuwait is also thinking about expanding his coastline, oil resources, apparent power, bullying, and tyranny and taking the place of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi after ten or twelve years of his demise. He was the same way. The interpretation and analysis of the issue are clear and not complicated.

Of course, the stance of each government is according to its own interests. One is more unfortunate and helpless; like that poor Hussein of Jordan who has lived for a lifetime with the help and reliance on the West, America, and Britain, now he also feels that the ground is slipping from under him. One is still reliant on America, another is thinking differently. There is no difficulty in understanding the issue.

What is difficult is the next issue; not understanding it—understanding it is easy—but acting on it is difficult. The next issue is that ultimately, how long must nations be a means for the whims of powerful individuals and humans? How long must this hellish system of domination that rules the world continue to rule? Today Saddam's game with Kuwait is to enter this country and put the Iraqi and Kuwaiti nations under pressure; tomorrow it will be something else. How long must the governments dependent on global arrogance, America, and the West do whatever they want with their nations without considering the interests of the nations? What is the way to salvation? Is there no way to salvation? There is a way to salvation. The way to salvation in Islamic countries is a return to Islam. The way to salvation is insight into the real enemy. Muslim nations must recognize the real enemy and understand the tricks and deceit of arrogance.

Today is the day that if for some people in the world, the events of the past eleven years and the alignment of the arrogant world against the Islamic Republic have been ambiguous and they have not understood, they should now understand and know why the East and the West and America and the Soviet Union and Europe and reactionaries and their agents all over the world have joined hands and exerted the highest pressures they could on the Islamic Republic in these eleven years. They should understand that the reason arrogance fears Islam is that Islam blocks these aggressions—aggressions against the boundaries and rights of nations and humans.

Governments too should awaken today and discover the truths. See how these countries around the issue, the Arab countries, even those that are somewhat distant, tremble and are forced to seek help from America and write letters of devotion to the enemy and say come into our house and defend us! America is the enemy, after all. Why do these governments find themselves in such a situation? Why can't they defend themselves?! Because they have no roots, because they are not reliant on the people, because they are estranged from their people, because they have wronged their people, because they have killed the spirit of Islam and Islamic faith in their people and have not understood that they are cutting the roots of their country and nation.

The presence of America—a powerful and wealthy force—in a country, which has supposedly come for defense, does it come cheap for that country and its people? In the previous regime, during those few years when American military advisors were in our country, even though they were mercenaries and employees and paid by the Iranian government, they still had authority over all military and even non-military aspects of the government in many cases and acted as masters and corrupted, and the lives, property, and honor of the people in those places where they were present were at their disposal. A low-ranking officer or a junior American officer, in the place where he was assigned, had authority and did whatever he wanted, and nothing stopped him. When this same force enters a land under the pretext of defending a government or a country, do the people and the honor of that country have any sanctity left? What will these forces do with the Muslims residing in Hejaz and Saudi Arabia?

When they establish a base for themselves in a place and gain oversight over the entire region, they expand their power day by day and increase their bullying more than before. The presence of Americans does not come cheap for that unfortunate nation and the nations of the region. But they consider themselves compelled. The Saudi government feels compelled. The Kuwaitis too, if they thought such a thing would happen, would pay America and others to come and defend them! Why? Because there is nothing there called the will and desire of the nation. The government there is on the shoulders of the people—not under the feet of the people.

In a proper system, the government is like a platform for the people to step on to elevate themselves. A good and courageous government, a caring state, is a source of pride for its people. The Iranian nation gained greatness in the world because of the greatness of our dear Imam. This is what responsible and good leaders and governments are. But a bad government is one that rides on the shoulders of its people, strikes them on the head, is a burden on their necks, and is a weight and burden for them. Unfortunately, when Islam is not alive and ruling in a country, it becomes like that. These are lessons for us.

Our positions are fixed positions. We do not have changing positions like other countries and governments. You heard that our dear statesmen and our devoted and revolutionary officials clearly stated the positions of the Islamic Republic. We strongly condemn aggression, both from Saddam and from America. We consider these claims that Saddam and the likes of him make today that they are anti-America as tasteless and ineffective jokes. We say if you are telling the truth and are anti-American, come and withdraw your forces from the land that has been a base for fighting America. Why have you not retreated so far?

We know and believe that still, both America and its counterpart Saddam, if they can agree against Islam and Muslims and secure their interests, they will do so. Both are against Muslims and against the Islamic revolution. These are our positions.

Americans have no right to consider themselves the sheriff of the world and rush to any place where there is an incident; that is, we are the owners of the issue and must intervene. What is it to you?! When nations are alive and the day governments are elected by the will of the nations, they will slap America and the likes of it for these intrusions.

The Iranian nation should appreciate Islam and the revolution and the guidance of their dear and departed Imam. Islam and the revolution revived us, the Iranian nation. The warm, celestial breath of that great man, which was like the whisper of angels, was heard by the soul of the Iranian nation and honored us.

The same person who invaded Kuwait and stirred the world—the unjust world that remained so unfairly silent in the face of the eight-year aggression against Iran, rather helped him—this same person attacked Iran with his forces and struggled for eight years and received help from the whole world—not like now when the whole world is supposedly angry with him—the whole world was behind him; from America to the Soviet Union and France and many Eastern European countries, to many regional reactionaries—who now themselves say they gave him money and everything—to be able to overthrow the Islamic Republic system; but they could not. They did everything they could to divide Iran; but they could not. Their intention was these things after all.

They did not fight to stay in Khuzestan for eight years and then go back to their original place. They fought to overthrow the system, destroy the revolution, humiliate the Iranian nation, separate Khuzestan, and divide Iran. They entered the war with these intentions; but not a single one, not even a tenth of one of their goals was achieved. Why? Because the nation was on the scene, because you people were there, because you decided, because you relied on God, because you hoped for divine assistance, because you stood firm and finally because you slapped the aggressor in the face and he was left unsuccessful. Preserve this spirit, this state, this presence, this will, this unity of word, this independence, this self-reliance, and reliance on God; you are dear.

Such a situation, if it arises for any country, that country will be defeated. They push one person forward, the whole world stands behind him, they provide equipment, give chemical weapons, provide technology, give money, provide specialists, even write war maps and tactics on paper and give them to him, put satellites at his service. Such an attack and aggression, if it happens to any of these countries, will certainly bring them to their knees; but Iran did not and will not come to its knees and will always remain steadfast against the powers by the blessing of people's faith and unity of word.

Preserve the unity of word. Let not anyone or any tongues, without any bad intention, just because of a mistake and because they do not understand the interest, say things that discourage the people. Unfortunately, sometimes it is seen here and there that some do not understand their own interest and the interest of the revolution and the nation. They want to do harm to Zayd, they do harm to the system. They want to question an official, they question the revolution. They do not understand that this action is questioning the revolution. They want to create a front, but they do not understand that this front will harm unity.

Fortunately, our people have maintained their unity from the beginning of these front formations—that is, from seven, eight years ago until now. Imam (may his soul be sanctified) constantly told the groups and factions not to fall out with each other like this, not to argue with each other in the parliament like this, and not to speak against each other like this. In all these matters, the people maintained their unity; maintain it again. If four people are against each other and speak against each other, let them say whatever they want, and let them say so much that they get tired. You, the youth and warriors and students, you, the families of martyrs, you, the dear clergy, you, the various segments of the people, just look at the flag of the revolution and Islam, move behind this flag and be with your officials.

Today, thanks be to God, the Islamic Republic system has good pillars: a good government, a good parliament, a good judiciary, faithful armed forces, that Revolutionary Guard, that army, those law enforcement forces. The foundations are strong and good. When the foundation is strong, the building is stable. Now, in one corner, for example, there may be a spider web woven, or dust settled, or perhaps a corner of a brick decayed. It does not matter, we remove the decayed brick and put a healthy brick in its place; but the building is strong.

Today, thanks be to God, Islam rules over hearts. I see and feel that the officials truly work with care. Maintain and multiply your support for the officials. Today, when one looks at the political scene of the country, thanks be to God, one becomes happy. The President is a prominent and distinguished figure and beloved by the Imam; many of the executive officials are among those with a history of service to the revolution and Islam; the Islamic Consultative Assembly is composed of popular representatives, many of whom are caring and interested; the judiciary, thanks be to God, has knowledgeable, righteous, and courageous individuals; and our dear nation—which is the backbone of all these movements—is at the peak of national power in the region, even in the world. Everyone feels this way.

We always maintain our readiness to confront global arrogance; even now we are ready. We have never intended to aggress against anyone, and we still do not; but we are ready to act to confront aggression—whoever it may be. Saddam too, if he aggresses, will be slapped. America too, if it aggresses, will be slapped.

University students in university environments should give maximum importance to study, knowledge, and revolutionary and Islamic spirit. Young people should see how much they are needed today and in the future; they should prepare themselves for the future. Today too, the student youth must, as always, be at the forefront and pioneer of the revolutionary movement and make themselves worthy and fit for these great responsibilities.

We hope that God will bestow His blessings, grace, and favor upon our dear nation and all Muslim nations and help the oppressed and turn the enemy's plot against themselves.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings