Leader of the Revolution's Statements in Meeting with the People of Qom on the Anniversary of the Uprising of 19th of Dey 1356

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

I extend my warm welcome to all the brothers and sisters, dear youth of Qom, esteemed clerics, and scholars, who have once again filled the atmosphere of our Hosseiniyeh with fervor, affection, emotion, and contemplation on this very important occasion. You have revived the unforgettable memory of the enduring 19th of Dey in history. We thank you for the program that was executed; the meaningful anthem that brothers and sisters repeated and sang.

The issue of the 19th of Dey and keeping this memory alive is not merely a repetitive matter or one arising from habit; it is a fundamental and principled issue. All our significant historical occasions are like this. Firstly, the new and young generation, who bear the responsibility of the youth of that day today, recognize their historical roots and background through these reminders; they feel it. Secondly, the value of the struggles endured for the Iranian nation to reach today is acknowledged; the hardships endured, the dangers faced by the people are articulated and clarified, showing that what the Iranian nation possesses today is not an easily acquired blessing; it is not an accidental event. "Face the danger of the lion's mouth - it must be said from the wolf's mouth - seek it out." The Iranian nation faced danger, worked hard, sacrificed their lives, stood against the brutal police of the tyrannical regime, suffered casualties, martyrs, and injuries, until they could set this great caravan of determined will on its path and bring it to this point. This is the second point.

The third point is the lesson we learn today. Our dear youth did not witness that day; they do not know what happened on that day. Those who understood know; standing against the apparent power of the tyrannical regime, which was full of pomp and circumstance, did not seem easy. If many of these opportunists, who are captivated by appearances, were told that the Iranian nation - exemplified by the people of Qom - wanted to stand against the Pahlavi tyrannical regime and eliminate it, they would have scoffed; they would have said, "Is it possible?" But it happened. What seemed impossible became possible, realized, and enduring. This is the lesson.

Today, the Iranian nation has aspirations, claims, and great words; for its own country, for the Islamic world, and for humanity. Against the Iranian nation stand hungry wolves, unleashed beasts, these companies of wealth and power, these worldly, materialistic groups lined up; they manufacture weapons, export arms, incite wars, manipulate the United Nations to their will; wherever they want, they send military personnel; they commit crimes, support oppression, and back the usurping Zionists; they perpetrate injustices in human society, with apparent power, with visible pomp and circumstance; similar to what we witnessed during the tyrannical regime in Iran. Today, some say: "Can we stand against this united front of enemies armed with money, power, media, economy, politics, and everything? Can we move forward?" Today, the same words are echoed. This is an experience.

Yes, this is not our statement; this is the statement of the Quran: If you step into the field for God and stand firm, victory is certain; "And if those who disbelieve fight you, they will turn their backs, and they will find neither protector nor helper. This is the tradition of God that has passed before, and you will not find any change in the tradition of God." This is not only related to the events of the early Islamic wars that "if those who disbelieve fight you, they will turn their backs"; it is the tradition of God.

Yes, when we do not know our rational arguments, do not know how to articulate them, or do not stand firm on them, or falter midway due to satanic whispers, temptations of the self, or laziness, our struggles will not reach anywhere; it is evident. The discussion is about where: "Indeed, God will surely aid those who aid Him." There cannot be a stronger emphasis than this. If we support God's cause - supporting God means thinking, accumulating pure thoughts, correctly presenting them in the world, standing firm on them, devising plans to advance them, and shielding ourselves against their dangers - "Indeed, God will surely aid." The meaning of "Indeed, He will aid" is that God will certainly and definitely provide assistance. "And who is more truthful than God in speech?" The Iranian nation has experienced these in practice. If you, our dear nation, you spirited and capable youth, stand firm on the path you are taking, do not doubt that in due time, all the hopes, aspirations, and slogans of the Iranian nation will be realized not only concerning this country but also concerning the Islamic world and the Islamic community and humanity. Every endeavor has its period, its time; in its appropriate time, these aspirations will be realized. The Iranian nation has moved towards the point it desires, has endeavored, and will reach it; the way is through resistance.

What will happen then? The course of world history will change; the course of history will be altered. Today, the course of history is one of oppression; it is one of domination and submission; some in the world are dominators, and some are dominated. If your voice, the voice of the Iranian nation, prevails, if you can achieve victory and reach that promised point, then the course of history will change; the ground for the emergence of the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) will be prepared; the world will enter a new phase. This depends on our determination today, this depends on our understanding today.

God Almighty, in order to reassure hearts regarding the fulfillment of future promises, fulfills some of these promises in the short term. God Almighty revealed to the mother of Prophet Moses: "Throw him into the river." Then He said: "Indeed, We will return him to you and make him one of the messengers." He made two promises: throw the child into the sea - do not worry - We will return him to you, and We will elevate him to the rank of prophethood and messengership. That prophethood was the same prophethood that the Children of Israel had been waiting for for many years - perhaps centuries. When Prophet Moses returned to his mother from the palace of Pharaoh, God Almighty says: "And We returned him to his mother so that her eyes might be comforted and she would not grieve and so that she would know that the promise of God is true." He fulfilled that first promise for her, returning him so she would know that God's promise is true; that second promise will also be fulfilled.

God Almighty has treated the Iranian nation in this way; He has fulfilled many promises, and great works have been accomplished. Dear youth! Know that at that time, no one believed that the tyrannical monarchy could be shaken, let alone that one would want to eliminate it. Today, you see that the tyrannical regime is the most detested regime in the Islamic world; it has been completely eradicated from Iran and, as they say, thrown into the dustbin of history. At that time, if it was said that Iran could emerge from the grip of American dominance, those who understood the country's issues would have undoubtedly said that such a thing was impossible. All the affairs of the country, all the major policies were under the control of the Americans; sometimes they even interfered in details: who should be the minister of a certain ministry, whether the price of oil should rise or not. With the dominance that the Americans and, on the fringes, the rest of the global riffraff had over our country, our nation, our resources, our dignity, who would have believed that this could be eliminated? Today, you see that in the world, if a nation is to be named that is independent of the imperialist policies of America and its ilk, Iran's name is mentioned. Other nations look to Iran, they become excited by this steadfastness, this clarity, this courage, this resilience that the Iranian nation has shown.

All the world of arrogance and the arrogant governments have joined forces to impose sanctions on the Iranian nation; with these sanctions, they aim to exhaust the Iranian nation and bring it to its knees. They themselves say that we wanted to force the nation to stand against the Islamic Republic so that the officials of the Islamic Republic would change their calculations! They now state this explicitly. In the early days, when we analyzed, they did not say this explicitly; but now they do. The result is that you observe that the Iranian nation is increasingly inclined towards the principles of Islam, towards the principles of the revolution, towards this dignity that God Almighty has granted to this country; the exact opposite of what they desired has come to fruition.

These are great lessons that God Almighty has given us; and one of these lesson points is this 19th of Dey that you people of Qom take pride in. Of course, Qom does not only have this pride; there are many other honors in the history of Qom. In the past ninety to one hundred years, many bubbling springs of pure water have flowed from Qom. It was the people of Qom who warmly welcomed the late Haj Sheikh (may God be pleased with him), brought him in, and this great seminary was established. This divine and unexpected education that took place in this seminary was due to the efforts of the people of Qom; a seminary from which someone like our great Imam (may his soul be sanctified) emerged, leading to this great event in the world - it should not be said that it was merely a great event for this country. In the events of 42, in the events of 41, in the revolution, in the events of the imposed war, Qom has a prominent and significant face that we hope will always remain so.

One important point - I say to you dear youth of Qom - in this movement is that one must be vigilant and astute, observing the movements of the enemy, keeping them under scrutiny, and discovering the enemy's objectives; this is very important. If you are in a personal struggle, in a self-defense situation against an opponent, if you can predict their movements, you will not suffer any blows. If your attention is diverted, if you become heedless, if you lose focus, if you become preoccupied with something else, and cannot foresee what they intend to do, you will certainly be struck. The enemy is not asleep; they are awake: "And indeed, the brother of war is the one who is alert, and he who sleeps will not be spared from it." If your attention is diverted, if you become oblivious to your position, it does not mean that the enemy in front of you has also lost focus; they may be very alert and strike. Therefore, attention must be focused. This is why we emphasize, recommend, and insist, both to the officials and the people, not to get distracted by secondary issues; this is the reason.

A nation must keep its attention focused, know where it steps - collective piety means this - know what it intends to do, and be cautious about where the blows may come from. In individual practice, if we have piety, we will monitor our actions, we will take care of ourselves; where one might slip, one does not step; where there is fear of falling, one remains vigilant. This is necessary.

Today, what I discern - which the examination of the enemy's movements indicates - is that despite the fact that we have about five months until the elections, the enemy's focus is on our elections. The elections that we have coming up in Khordad are important to us, and they are also important to the enemy; they are paying attention to those elections. If they could, they would do something to prevent the elections from taking place at all; they would do that. Well, this task is not feasible for them; they are hopeless of being able to accomplish this. Once, some tried to postpone the parliamentary elections; they even told us if it could be postponed by two weeks. We said it cannot be; the elections must take place on the scheduled day; not even one day should be postponed. They could not, their hands did not reach anywhere. They have experienced this; they know that elections cannot be postponed; hence, they are looking for other ways.

One of their objectives is to ensure that the elections are held without the enthusiastic and widespread participation of the people. Everyone should know this from now on: those who may, out of concern, make general recommendations regarding the elections, that the elections should be this way or that way, should be careful not to assist the enemy's objective; they should not dishearten the people regarding the elections, constantly saying that elections must be free. Well, it is clear that elections must be free. We have had thirty-some elections since the beginning of the revolution; which of them has not been free? In which other country are elections freer than what takes place in Iran? Where are qualifications not considered, that they keep insisting on these issues, keep emphasizing them, keep repeating them, and gradually create this mindset in the people that this election is of no benefit? This is one of the enemy's demands. Those who say these things internally may be oblivious. I say do not be oblivious, be aware, your actions should not fill the enemy's desired table; do not complete their objectives. This is one of the ways to diminish the enthusiasm and excitement of the elections.

Another issue is that people are told, suggested that the elections do not have the necessary integrity. Of course, I also emphasize that elections must be held with integrity; however, there are ways to achieve this. In the Islamic Republic, in our laws, there are very good legal avenues to ensure the integrity of elections. Of course, those who wish to act unlawfully will harm the country; just as in 88, they entered through unlawful means, causing costs for the country, creating hardships for the people, and bringing about their own misfortune and disgrace in this world and in the higher realm. There are good legal avenues. Yes, I also insist that elections must be conducted with complete integrity, with full adherence to trust. Government officials and non-government officials involved in the elections must act according to the law, with utmost diligence, and with complete piety and integrity to ensure a sound election; and it will certainly be so.

One of the ways is to try to distract the people during the election period; to create an incident, to fabricate a story; a political incident, an economic incident, a security incident. Of course, this is also part of the enemy's plans, but I am confident that the Iranian nation is much more insightful and intelligent than to be deceived by such hostile tricks of the enemies or their agents; no, God willing, the elections will be good and enthusiastic, with God's permission, by the divine power, by the grace of the Lord.

Of course, I have much to say about the elections. If I have life left, I will speak again about the elections in the future. There are recommendations, words, and points, but for now, I will suffice with this much. Keep in mind; elections are a right and a duty. Each of us, as individuals of this nation, has both the right to participate in the elections and the duty to do so. Those who believe in the Islamic Republic, who accept the Constitution, want to utilize this right and fulfill this duty. Everyone must fulfill this duty. One of the duties is to present their qualifications for the people's choice. Anyone who feels qualified and knows how to execute will come and present themselves for the people's choice. Governing the country and executing tasks is not a small matter. There are great tasks and heavy burdens on the shoulders of high-level executives. Those who work at other levels may not always recognize the dimensions of this burden and how heavy it is. Those who enter the field must be those who find the capability to bear this burden; they must also observe the qualifications that are in the Constitution and that the esteemed Guardian Council will emphasize, and truly be devoted and attached to the system and the Constitution; they must want to implement the Constitution; because the President swears to uphold the Constitution; one cannot take a false oath. Those who feel this will come into the field; those who do not intend to be present in this scene will participate in the scene of choosing and helping to make the elections enthusiastic.

I tell you; with the confidence we have in God's promise - and God's promise is true and sincere - without a doubt, God Almighty will grant this nation victory over its enemies, both in this stage and in all future stages. We thank God that He has not caused us to have suspicion about Him; "Those who think ill of God." He has not placed us among them. We have good thoughts about God's promise, we trust in God's promise. On one hand, we see that God Almighty has promised assistance, and on the other hand, one observes these people; their presence, their interest, their determination, the sincerity of these youth, the purity of these youth, the believing and caring parents across the country, in all classes, with all forms and appearances. One observes that this nation is, thanks be to God, present in the scene.

We request from God Almighty to bestow His mercy, grace, success, and health upon you, the dear people of Qom, and the esteemed seminary of Qom. May the pure spirit of our great Imam (may his soul be sanctified), who opened this path for us, be joined with His saints. May the pure souls of our dear martyrs who sacrificed in this path, as well as all the fighters for the truth, be encompassed by His mercy, blessings, and grace, and may He keep us steadfast on this path.

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