Statements in Meeting with Students on the Eve of the Thirteenth of Aban

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

I extend my warm welcome to all of you dear youth, students, and the esteemed families of martyrs.

The 13th of Aban has been designated by our nation and our officials as the Day of Struggle Against Global Arrogance. Struggle is an important and complex matter. There are different ways to confront each phenomenon. One must confront the enemy that attacks the country at the borders in one way; one must confront the enemy that employs security methods in another way; and one must confront the enemy that threatens the very foundation of a nation, a society, and a country, and harbors enmity against a nation with all its might, in yet another way. A correct, logical, and reasonable struggle, while being decisive, requires several things:

One is motivation arising from faith. A nation, especially its youth, cannot be compelled to stand firm in a difficult arena merely by orders. Motivation must spring from the heart; it must be motivation stemming from faith. This exists sufficiently among our youth today; I can say with certainty, based on my familiarity with our young generation, that today our youth have even more motivation than they did on that day in 1979 when the Pahlavi regime—an American puppet regime—attacked our youth in these very streets and shed their blood.

Since the day when a group of young people seized the American embassy, which had become a center and base for conspiracies against the revolution, our youth's motivation has not diminished; if anything, it has increased. The reason is clear; thirty years of experience have been recorded in the history of this nation. The awakened minds of the youth, their open eyes, even if they did not witness those days, receive these experiences. From generation to generation, the experiences of a nation become richer, deeper, and more beneficial. Thus, our youth today lack nothing in terms of motivation. Aside from a few disillusioned revolutionaries who, for various reasons, preferred a comfortable life, compromise, or did not see anything wrong in dancing to the enemy's tune, the youth of this country, the majority of whom are young, possess this deep motivation. I tell you: if today an event similar to the imposed war that occurred in 1980 were to arise in our country, the influx of youth to the front lines and their volunteering to confront the open and visible enemy would be far greater than in 1980 and 1981.

Another necessary element is insight. The reason I repeatedly emphasize insight in my meetings with youth, students, and various segments of the people is that in today's very important world and the exceptional position of our dear country—today, the world is in an outstanding position—any public movement requires a public insight. Of course, I must also tell you: today, the insight of our youth is certainly greater than that of the youth of the early revolution and during the revolution. There are many things that you know today, which are obvious to you, that we had to explain to the youth back then; however, today our youth are aware of these matters; their insight is high. At the same time, I emphasize the importance of insight.

Now, the first issue of insight is to understand what this global arrogance is that we must struggle against. Arrogance means a power or powers in the world; when they look at themselves, they see that they possess financial, military, and propaganda capabilities; therefore, they believe they have the right to interfere in the lives of other countries and nations. This is the meaning of arrogance. The spirit of domination was clearly present in our country before the revolution. The United States arrogantly extended its hand over this vast country, over this great nation with its rich history, and interfered in our country's important and fundamental affairs. The reason was that the rulers of the country were corrupt, had no standing in the nation, and were looking for a support base, relying on the United States. The United States, which does not give anything for free, conditioned its support on complete interference in the affairs of the country. You may find it surprising, but know that the Shah—Mohammad Reza—had to go to America for two or three weeks to gain their approval to dismiss one prime minister and appoint another in his place! Our country had reached this point. In the last years of the Pahlavi regime, it was even more disgraceful. The discussion of going to America was no longer relevant; the American and British ambassadors would go to the Shah's palace and tell him how to act regarding oil, how to handle international relations, how to deal with the nation, and how to treat the revolutionaries; they would give orders. The Shah would comply. Well, when the head of a country is so weak, so submissive, and so surrendering to foreigners, the situation of others is clear. This was the state of our country. This is the meaning of arrogance.

America is a quintessential arrogant power. Our issue is not just ours; it is a global issue; it is an issue for the Islamic world. The Americans have this spirit of arrogance everywhere in the world. After defeating Japan in World War II, they established a base there, which still exists today. Despite all the scientific advancements, the Japanese have not been able to remove the American base from Japan! There is a military base there; they oppress the people, and they cause harm; this has been reported in newspapers and news agencies; there have been violations of rights and other wrongdoings; yet they remain there. In South Korea, American bases still exist. In Iraq, the American plan is to establish a base and remain in Iraq for fifty or a hundred years; and in Afghanistan; because Afghanistan is a point from which they can dominate the countries of Southwest Asia, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and Iran. They are making all these efforts to establish a permanent base there and stay. This is the meaning of arrogance.

The Iranian nation, by overthrowing the American puppet regime, expelled America from this country. Well, the Americans could have immediately realized after the revolution that this nation is so powerful. A regime supported by both East and West can be uprooted; it can dismantle a monarchy with a 2500-year history. They could have apologized to the Iranian nation; they could have compensated for the damages they inflicted on our nation to the extent that it was possible to compensate. If they had done this, their issue with Iran would have been resolved. Although the Islamic Republic would still remain critical of the injustices they commit in the Islamic world, the severe discord between them and the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation would not have persisted in this manner. However, they did not do this. They neither apologized nor learned from the fall of the monarchy; rather, from the very first months, they drew their swords and the embassy became a center for conspiracy; a den of espionage, a center for suspicious communications to incite this and that, in hopes of perhaps bringing down the Islamic Republic; perhaps defeating the Islamic Republic. This was the great mistake made by the Americans. Then, they did everything they could against the Islamic Republic and our dear nation and country, one example being the attack on Tabas; another being the incident of shooting down our passenger plane, which killed nearly three hundred people in the Persian Gulf—they shot down the passenger plane and it fell into the water—another example being the attacks on our oil platforms, which were attacked during Reagan's time; another being the comprehensive support for the wicked Ba'athist Saddam, in hopes of perhaps enabling him to defeat us in the war and strike the Islamic Republic. If we were to compile a list of American crimes, it would fill a book. One of the American defense ministers at one point expressed the heart of the Americans; he said: We must uproot the Iranian nation. You see; the root of the Iranian nation, not the Iranian government, not the Islamic Republic. They understood correctly; they understood that the Islamic Republic means the nation; the officials of the Islamic Republic mean all the Iranian nation; hence, he said we must uproot the Iranian nation. This was the American approach. They did everything they could.

Our great Imam, that exceptional man of history who was truly exceptional, said in the face of all this: No matter what conspiracies you make, they will be to your detriment, and the Islamic Republic will not retreat; America cannot do anything. This is arrogance. The Islamic Republic has no qualms with any government; however, the government that has been cut off from the vast financial and human resources of the country and has conspired as much as it could is the American government. For thirty years, the American government has conspired against the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation, struck blows, and devised various plans; they have done everything they could. If you think there was something the Americans could have done and did not do, know that there is nothing they have not done. Well, you see that the result of this confrontation has been the ever-growing strength of the Iranian nation, the ever-increasing progress of the Islamic Republic, and the growing power of this country and this system. Those who have suffered are them. Sometimes they have made seemingly conciliatory remarks during this time; however, whenever they smiled at the officials of the Islamic Republic, upon closer inspection, we found that they had hidden a dagger behind their backs; they have not given up on threats; their intentions have not changed. Tactical smiles, friendly faces, only deceive children. A great nation with this experience, and the chosen officials of such a nation, if they are deceived, they must be very naive; or they must be naive, or they must be immersed in desires and whims; they must seek a comfortable and pleasant life and wish to make peace with the enemy. Otherwise, if the officials of the country are intelligent, precise, experienced, mature, and wholeheartedly devoted to the interests of the nation, they will not be fooled by smiles. The new American president has made beautiful statements; he has repeatedly sent us messages, verbally and in writing, saying let us change the page, let us create a new situation, let us cooperate in solving the world's problems; to this extent! We also said let us not prejudge; we look at actions. They said they wanted to create change. We said well, let us see the change. Since the first of Farvardin when I spoke in Mashhad—I said if you have a velvet glove over an iron fist and extend your hand, we will not extend our hand; I gave this warning there—now eight months have passed. Throughout these eight months, what we have seen has been contrary to what they superficially express. The reality is that they want to negotiate; however, alongside negotiation, there are threats; that if the negotiation does not reach this desired outcome, then such and such will happen! Is this negotiation?! This is the same wolf-and-sheep relationship that the Imam said: We do not want a wolf-and-sheep relationship. Come and sit with us at the table, negotiate over a certain issue; for example, over the nuclear issue, but the condition is that this negotiation must reach a certain outcome! For example, the country must abandon its nuclear activities; if it does not reach this outcome, then such and such; threats.

I am astonished. Why do they not learn from the past? Why are they not willing to recognize our nation? Do they not know that this nation is one that, on the day when two superpowers existed in this world, who were almost opposed to each other on all issues, except in their enmity towards the Islamic Republic—only in their enmity towards the Islamic Republic, these two superpowers: the American superpower and the former Soviet Union, united—stood firm and brought both superpowers to their knees. Why do you not learn from this? Today, you do not even have the power of that day. The Islamic Republic today is several times more powerful than it was then, yet you speak in this manner? This is what arrogance means. Speaking from a position of arrogance with a nation, advancing matters through threats; if you do not do this, then that will happen. Our nation says that we will stand firm.

What the Islamic Republic seeks is no more than its reasonable rights. The Islamic Republic seeks its independence, seeks its freedom, seeks its national interests, seeks the advancement of science and technology in the country; these are the rights of this nation. Anyone who infringes upon these rights will face the full force of the Iranian nation and will be brought to their knees.

The day America abandons its arrogance, the day it ceases its unwarranted interference in the affairs of nations, it will be a government like all other governments, and for us, it will be a government like all other governments; but as long as the Americans still harbor the desire to return to Iran and restore the past and change history and turn back time, and wish to dominate our country, they will not be able to force our nation into retreat by any means; let them know this. And do not be comforted by the disturbances that occurred after the elections; the Islamic Republic is stronger than these matters, deeper than these matters, and more rooted than these matters. The Islamic Republic has faced much harsher events and has overcome all of them; now, a few individuals who are either naive—whatever their motivations; let us not judge—or with bad intentions and malice, or with not so bad intentions but accompanied by naivety and misunderstanding of the issues, have confronted the Islamic Republic; these cannot lay a red carpet for America in our country; let them know this: the Iranian nation stands firm.

I tell you young people: dear youth! The country belongs to you, this land belongs to you, this history belongs to you. Our share has been fulfilled. What our generation and those like us knew—what God granted us the ability to do—we have done. Today, the country is in your hands; it belongs to you. It belongs to you today, and it will belong to you tomorrow. You must hold this country firmly; with strong will. This country can become increasingly powerful day by day with your strong determination that arises from religious faith. You must bring your country to a point where no one dares to threaten it. This depends on your determination and will.

Youth must engage in science. I have said this many times, and I will repeat it again: the true power of a nation lies in science. Science provides the country with the other resources and means of power. Do not neglect science; whether you are students or university students; at whatever level you are. The issue of science, the issue of research, is a significant matter alongside religious motivation. Religion is very valuable. Religion is not only for the prosperity of the hereafter; it also makes your world prosperous. Religion gives you enthusiasm, vitality, and freshness. Religion instills in you the spirit that makes all these material powers appear small and insignificant before your eyes, that the threats of these powers do not affect you, that their actions do not have an impact. Know that victory is with you, divine assistance is with you. These threatening superpowers—now their internal followers are another matter—and the centers of arrogant power and threats have no choice but to retreat before a powerful and faithful nation. Trust in God Almighty, have good expectations. This is what God emphasizes: "And indeed, Allah will support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise"; undoubtedly, without a doubt, God Almighty will support those who assist His religion and His goals; this is a true statement, this is a sincere promise. Trust in this. Move forward with strength, with sufficient determination, with self-discipline—both scientific self-discipline and moral self-discipline. God willing, you will see a day when your country, thanks to your struggles, will be at the peak of pride and power.

We hope, God willing, that God Almighty keeps you all safe and grants you success, and God willing, you will witness all those sweet and bright days.

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