Speech at the Inauguration Ceremony of Hojjatoleslam Hashemi Rafsanjani's Presidency

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

The Hosseiniyeh of Jamaran is a place that has always been a maker of our revolutionary history over the past ten years. It is in this place, under this sacred and blessed platform, that we have been able to endure difficult experiences over these ten years, begin critical phases in our revolutionary life, and learn constructive lessons from our Imam and teacher and guide. In summary, the Iranian nation has started its movements from this point, sought refuge in this point during difficulties, and initiated critical phases from this point.

Today, with the absence of our dear and unparalleled leader and Imam, we undoubtedly face a significant void and deficiency; however, with the memory of his firmness, decisiveness, spirituality, and the unforgettable lessons he taught us, we begin another phase and era today.

In my opinion, today is an important day and the beginning of a critical and significant phase. Of course, the propaganda loudspeakers of global arrogance and Zionism want to suggest to both the Iranian nation and the global public opinion, and perhaps even to some officials, that the Islamic Republic system has begun a new era with a new orientation! This statement, like all the statements suggested by the arrogant loudspeakers, is both wrong and very naive and foolish.

The new era, if it means deviating from the definitive lines drawn by our dear Imam—which are the lines of the revolution and Islam and nothing beyond that—will never occur in our revolution. As long as there are vigilant hearts, responsible people, faithful and knowledgeable officials, and those who recognize the Imam in this country, America and other enemies and arrogant powers of the world, and ill-wishers and hypocrites, must take the wish for such a day to their graves.

The line that the Imam drew for the revolution and which the Iranian nation has been following for ten years is the line of the greatness of Islam and Muslims and the defense of the oppressed and downtrodden around the world. It is a line and path that has made the Iranian nation a living, proud, and the most independent and vibrant and active nation in the world, and has taken us out of the state of a backward, dependent, dead nation. It is a line that has stirred the faith, love, and passion of the people for Islam and has driven them to astonishing and unparalleled sacrifices in this path. This line is our life and all our national and revolutionary identity, and by the grace of God, this line will advance with decisiveness, power, and hope, with the same spirit that the Imam taught us throughout the movement and revolution. We are ready for the consolidation of the Imam's path and the revolution and for sacrifice and day-and-night effort. Our lives and blood are devoted to this path and line. Our happiness lies in spending our lives in this path. There is no doubt about this.

Today, we begin a new chapter that is noteworthy for the Iranian nation and officials. We are that large and active family whose hope, reliance, and strength of heart were in the father of this family. With his presence, all reliance—after God—was on him. Whenever a problem arose for the country and officials, it was his skilled and effective finger that untied the knot. In war, foreign policy, internal affairs, economic and social issues, the nation, government, and officials truly relied on our great Imam. This is a reality that we have moved and progressed in this way for ten years and managed this country.

During the extended period of responsibility I had from the early days of the revolution, I often remembered this sentence of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) who said: 'When the fire of war intensified, we sought refuge with the Messenger of God.' The Commander of the Faithful says: When in wars things became difficult for us and we felt weak in the face of the event, we sought refuge with the Messenger of God. When this sentence of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) came to my mind, I saw that it was also true for our situation.

Repeatedly, it happened that we sat with responsible brothers over various issues, exchanged our thoughts, placed the problem in a collection, and took it to Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), and it was he who, with his insightful view, strong will, and unparalleled faith and trust in God, solved the problem. God is witness that in my lifetime, I have not seen or heard of anyone with such a degree of trust and good opinion of God. He solved the problem and untied the knot. Today, this father of the family and that firm support and the one we were assured we would refer to in difficulties is not among us.

In such circumstances, we must act like all families who lose their father and elder. In such a situation, each member of the family feels a new responsibility in their turn, and sometimes a fifteen-year-old youth who was busy playing or studying until yesterday and felt no responsibility, today takes on the face of a man in the house and feels that he too must have a role and fill some of this void.

Dear brothers! This is the characteristic of our new era as officials and the nation. We must fill this void with responsible effort and cooperation, love, strong bonds, the constant presence of the people on the scene, the complete compassion of the learned scholars and great figures of Islam, and various sectors of the country, with unity of word, maintaining the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic system, the centrality of this system, gathering around this axis, and submission to the orientations that arise from the same guidelines and principles that are in accordance with the country's interests.

There is no doubt that we do not consider the absence of our great Imam in any way as the end of the path or duty or hope. The Prophet of God (peace be upon him) passed away, and the great conquests of the Muslims had just begun. He, by creating the foundation and basis of a great global system, was able to build an Islamic society that, centuries after his passing, showed itself as the first political, economic, military, and social power in the world.

If it were not for the corruption of the leaders in later periods who ruled among the people in the name of Islam, years after the Prophet's (peace be upon him) passing, surely the effect of the Prophet's movement would have continued for many more centuries and perhaps until these days; however, the corruption of the leaders cut the path. We can continue his path after the passing of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified). Just as the Messenger of God was among his people for ten years and a few months, our dear Imam, who was a student and follower of the path of the prophets and saints, was among us for about ten years and a few months.

If we take the same principles and lines and the same foundation and basis in the true sense of the word and seriously and with the same will and hope, we will continue this path. Hopes and efforts have not ended. With the comprehensive effort and endeavor of you, the nation, and with the love and sincerity that the pure and blessed spirit of that dear departed spread over this nation and made them fragrant with the scent of love and effective tools, we can continue the path very well and quickly.

I truly have faith, confidence, and hope in the new management of the country from the depths of my heart. I see the day when this competent, healthy, effective, and revolutionary management, God willing, with the help of the people—which is the main condition—will be able to untie all these knots that exist and pave the ways. Of course, as has been said many times and we emphasize again, people should not expect miracles. This country was at war for eight years, and if we look correctly, it was at war for ten years. The dear and devoted officials who worked for the people during these eight years grappled with various problems to keep the country in an acceptable and relatively good condition—which we do not exaggerate—and maintain it. However, the problems of the war have not disappeared and are not over.

Some imagine that as soon as the war is over, all the problems of the war will disappear. No, the problems of the war must be resolved after the war. Solving a problem is much longer than creating a problem. A bomb hits and in a moment destroys a building. If we want to rebuild this building, a lot of time is needed. All the destructions that occurred in the war, all the resources that remained idle, all the resources that were wasted and destroyed, all the problems that befell the people, their repair requires a lot of time. We should not rush and demand too much. This thought should not be suggested that as soon as the government is formed, all problems will be solved in a short time. Of course, the problems will be solved in a reasonable and appropriate time. Planning, effort, obtaining cooperation from the people, and various initiatives are necessary so that, God willing, the problems will be resolved.

Let me also say that the solution to our problems is to see the construction of the country alongside maintaining the revolutionary spirit in the people and preserving the same grandeur and majesty of the revolution. If we do not think about public welfare and do not think about the construction of the country, certainly, the Islamic Republic system will not be able to present the desired model and experience to the world.

If we become immersed in the issues of public welfare and creating facilities and solving problems to the extent that we neglect revolutionary orientations, we have harmed the grandeur and majesty of the revolution and tarnished its attraction in the world, and this will certainly harm our effectiveness. Therefore, these two are presented alongside each other.

Of course, in internal issues and construction, welfare and solving problems and creating construction are not the only goals. In internal issues, ensuring social justice and public security and considering the weak and deprived classes is a main pillar; just as in the general movement of the country, Islamic ethics and brotherhood and forgiveness and sacrifice and other good Islamic morals must also be considered.

Our trust is in God. God willing, the determination and effort of the people and officials will set things right and pave the ways, and the prayer of His Holiness the Remaining Proof (may our souls be sacrificed for him and may God hasten his reappearance) will, God willing, help us and lead us forward, and we hope that day is not far when we see many of the ideals of our great Imam realized in our Islamic and revolutionary society.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings