Full Text of the Supreme Leader's Statements in Meeting with a Group of Students and Various Segments of the People

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

Dear brothers and sisters; welcome. There is much to say; however, the matter that concerns me the most and occupies my mind is the attack on the dormitory of the youth and students. This bitter incident wounded my heart; it was an unacceptable event in the Islamic Republic. An attack on the home and shelter of a group—especially at night or during congregational prayers—is absolutely unacceptable in the Islamic system. The youth of this country—both students and non-students—are my children, and anything that causes anxiety, distress, or misunderstanding for these groups is very hard and heavy for me. It does not matter who it is; whether in police uniform or otherwise. Certainly, those who violate the laws of the Islamic Republic must be dealt with; however, to confront someone who has committed no offense, someone who is resting in their home, especially in a student environment, is a very wrong and unjust act.

The fact that one hundred or two hundred people left the university campus and made speeches and chanted slogans does not justify the entry of others, in any uniform and under any name, into that environment to commit wrongful acts; especially when the sacred name of the police force is mentioned, an act that tarnishes the reputation of the police makes the situation even more difficult. You know that today the police force sacrifices and struggles in various parts of the country, on the roads, at the borders, and in confronting criminals. How many of them lose their lives to maintain our security? Yet, for a few individuals to carry out an act that tarnishes the image of these servants in the eyes of some—is this fair?! Or as has been reported, some enter the room of a student from the Basij or a disabled student by invoking the sacred names of 'O Hussein' and 'O Zahra' and wake him from his sleep, or create such incidents; is this right?! These things weigh heavily on the heart. This was a very bitter incident for me. Of course, I emphasized that an investigation should be conducted into this incident and that it should be properly assessed. It was decided that the respected President and officials would appoint an investigative committee; I may also appoint someone to this committee.

I have a few points to make; one point for the students, one for the general public of Iran, one especially for you young people, and one for the enemy. My message to the students is to be vigilant against the enemy; know the enemy well; do not become negligent in recognizing the enemy. Recognize the strangers who infiltrate everywhere disguised as insiders; see the hidden hands. No one is praised for negligence. No one is commended for closing their eyes. If a blow is struck against a negligent person, the first person who is responsible and blameworthy is themselves; be vigilant. The student is a noble and valuable class. The enemy has targeted the student. For several years, they have tried to set students against the system; however, they have not succeeded, and they will not succeed in the future either. If a number of infiltrators want to take advantage of an opportunity and fish in troubled waters—entering the student community, creating slogans, and making speeches—they should not think that we will make a mistake; no, we will not make a mistake. We know our audience and our counterpart. The student is our child; belongs to us; belongs to this country. It is the enemy that wants to create corruption and ruin under the guise of being a student or through infiltration among students; the students themselves must be alert and aware.

In such a sensitive situation and season like this time of year—the examination season for students, the entrance exam season; when all families with young people put all their efforts into ensuring their youth are focused and can succeed in their exams or entrance exams—what hand is it, what enemy of the future of this country and its universities that leads these youths astray, creates distractions, and encourages them not to pursue their studies and exams; to gather instead?! The first person who must open their eyes and make a decision here is the student themselves.

To the great and brave nation of Iran, I say: O great and brave nation that for twenty years have kept the enemy, which the revolution expelled from this country, firmly at the door and have not allowed this enemy to enter through any opening; be vigilant. This is the meaning of the repeated words I have conveyed to the Iranian nation and the officials over these years that the enemy is seeking to infiltrate. They will enter through any window they find; increase your vigilance. The enemy has targeted our national security. National security is more important than anything else for a nation. If there is no national security, no government can function; for construction, no stone will be placed upon another. When there is chaos and insecurity, no problem of the country will be solved; neither the economy of the people, nor the culture of the people, nor the social issues of the people, nor the political issues of the people. When there is no security, all of these will be lost. The enemy has targeted this. This must be understood by the Iranian nation everywhere in the country; and of course, they understand and know. Thanks be to God, the nation is vigilant.

I also have a word for you young people. Dear youth! You are the hopes of the revolution and Islam. Your behavior can propel this country towards prosperity at great speed. When the youth of the country speak, decide, and act with awareness, wisdom, patience, and attention to circumstances, the country will flourish. When blind passions intervene, the enemy will immediately take advantage. I have said this many times, and I repeat it again; I believe that the youth of the country must be present and prepared in all fields; however, with discipline. Such actions that we have seen where individuals attack universities stem from a lack of discipline; regardless of the name under which they are carried out, they are wrong and condemned. If it is done in the name of defending the faith, it is wrong; if it is done in the name of defending the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, it is wrong. Have I not repeatedly said that in gatherings of those who oppose, no one should behave violently; because this pleases the enemy? We have said this many times; why do they not listen?! Why do they not listen?! Even if someone says something that angers you—let's say they insult the leadership—you must still be patient and silent. If they burn or tear up my picture, you must remain silent. Preserve your strength for the day when the country needs it, for the day when the young, faithful, and God-worshipping forces must stand against the enemy; otherwise, let us assume that a deceived youth or student said something and did something; what harm does that do? I will overlook it.

And now I say something to the enemy; whoever they are and wherever they are. Our main enemies are in the intelligence organizations, the architects of these matters. This money that the U.S. Congress approved to be spent on fighting the Iranian system, where has this money and many times more been spent?! It is clear; it is spent on such plots; there is no doubt. These enemies should know that the dream of America's return to this country is a delusional and unattainable dream. These despicable internal elements, these rejected and hated political elements, whom the nation has expelled like rotten teeth and thrown aside, have been lying in wait for eighteen or nineteen years to take revenge on the nation, on the Imam, on the name of the Imam, and on the path of the Imam. They should also know that they made a mistake; in this matter, they made a mistake, revealed themselves, and exposed their faces. It is true that they dealt a cowardly blow to our intelligence apparatus; they also inflicted a blow on our police apparatus here, but the dedicated and nameless servants and soldiers of the Islamic Republic gather information and understand who is where and what they are doing. They cannot push this nation off the scene of struggle for their independence, for their dear Islam, and for their fight against their enemies with these methods.

One point I would like to make regarding political lines and factions. Gentlemen who are the leaders of political lines and tendencies, now consider this point that when you insiders engage in such disputes over trivial matters, the enemy takes advantage; see, this is one example; did you see how the enemy took advantage?! Did you see how the enemy struck? Set these matters aside. Of course, we do not insist that everyone thinks the same way; however, set limits for political work and disputes and establish a red line. Do not engage in unrestrained struggles that keep you so occupied that you allow the enemy to come in and enter these fields. Over the issue of the press law and various other matters, what uproar and what quarrels arose! All about lines and factions! Why? Because a law is being passed in the parliament! I do not refer to a specific political current; my address is to all. For me, that line and this line and any other political line or tendency do not matter. For me, the criterion is the path of God, the path of the Imam, the path of Islam, the preservation of the country, the consideration of the people's interests, and the safeguarding of the future of the country. It does not matter to me whether someone belongs to line 'A' or line 'B'. I say to all; you too should be vigilant.

I conclude with a final sentence to our Imam and our leader, the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him): O our master and lord! Bear witness before God Almighty that we stand in the way of God until our last breath. My greatest wish and pride is to offer my life in this glorious, blessed, and joyful path. God willing, may God Almighty grant you success and support.

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