Speech at the Allegiance Ceremony of Various People from Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, and Kermanshah

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

I also sincerely offer my condolences to all of you dear brothers and sisters who have come from afar and the Kurdish regions.

The love, sincerity, and unity of word shown throughout the country, including in the regions of Kurdistan and the Kurdish cities, villages, and districts, is a manifestation of the greatness and elevation of Islam and will undoubtedly disappoint the enemies of the Islamic Republic and make them despair of continuing their conspiracies against Islam and the Islamic Revolution.

The combination I see here of dear Kurdish and Persian brothers, Sunni and Shia, is similar to the gatherings and affections I have seen before. This unity and harmony are beautiful for friends and painful for enemies. You must preserve this blessing with all your being.

There are many issues in the world that remain unresolved; however, the Islamic Republic, by the blessing of the revolution and the revolutionary spirit of the people, and the strength, character, spirituality, and faith of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the great leader, has resolved them. One of these issues is the matter of ethnicities and Islamic sects, which has been resolved in Iran by the blessing of Islam, the revolution, and the Imam.

All intelligent individuals in this era understand that the enemy wishes to create discord among Islamic sects and to separate the ethnic groups and classes of the nation. Separation and enmity are not natural; they are the work of Satan. Satan creates discord among brothers, friends, and close ones. When we expelled the Satan of colonialism, the Satan of America, and the Satan of the expansionist policies of foreigners from the country, these problems were naturally resolved.

From the beginning of the revolution until now, I have been sensitive and interested in the state of sincerity that was always thought to be necessary among brothers. This was also due to the guidance and enlightenment of that great sage and that spiritual and divine soul (may God elevate his rank and word).

Today, thanks be to God, we feel that the enemy has despaired of creating discord among the Iranian ethnic groups and Muslim brothers within the country. Of course, the nature of Satan is such that he never completely despairs of whispering, infiltrating, and causing sabotage. You see that even the 'servants of God who are sincere' are exposed to Satan's whispers; even the great prophets of God are exposed to the influence and interference of satanic opinions and whispers; however, Satan cannot overpower them, but he still makes his attempts.

Satan does not say that because this person is a believer, righteous, and a sincere servant of God, he cannot be led astray and should not be approached; no, Satan even approaches the sincere ones; however, the sincere ones slap Satan in the face; 'Indeed, those who are pious, when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [God] and at once they have insight.'

The great Satan, the Satan of global arrogance, and the Satan of politics are exactly the same; they receive a slap in the face, but they do not become completely despondent. Let us not think that because from the beginning of the revolution until now, we have not given the great Satan room and opportunity to create discord among us, he will no longer attempt to whisper to us; no, the great Satan, meaning America and its minions—the reactionary governments—are constantly thinking, with their political methods and the creation of invented religions and their satanic policies, of separating even two blood brothers; let alone religious and national brothers and various ethnic groups!

Unfortunately, at present, there are pens and tongues active across Islamic countries, using money and dollars obtained from oil that belongs to Muslims, to sow discord among Muslims contrary to Islam's view, and to expel a large number of Muslims from the circle of Islam. The greatest art (!) of some colonial-made sects is to, under various pretexts, expel the vast population of the world's Muslims from the circle of true Islam, and it is strange that all these actions are carried out in the name of religion and monotheism!

Today, the tools of America's work and the leaders of American policies in the region are mainly those court clerics who are mercenaries and sell their pens and religion, whose vile fingerprints can be seen in many of the sowing of discord and spreading of conspiracies.

Great efforts are made to create discord among Muslims; especially since the Islamic Revolution raised and carried the flag of Islamic unity, this effort has increased. Within our country, too, much effort was made to incite some to sow seeds of discord in areas where Sunni and Shia brothers reside. Unfortunately, all these sinister actions were also carried out in the name of religion. Of course, those who held the flags of ethnicity and support for the Kurdish people were, in another way, mercenaries of the great Satan and tools of America. Thanks be to God, all of these were silenced by your faith, vigilance, and attention to the enemy's schemes, and their efforts were fruitless. If a nation is vigilant, it is very valuable; 'The one who is aware of his time is not attacked by ambiguities.' This is the property of knowledge of the time and awareness of the enemy's conspiracies.

In the journey I made to Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan, and in my meetings with the people of Sanandaj and Mahabad and the dear Kurds and clerics and intellectuals of those regions, they expressed devotion to the Imam and the revolution, which was truly a strong slap to the enemies and claimants and sowers of discord. When I returned to Tehran, I met with the Imam and recounted those meetings to him. I saw that the enlightened heart of that spiritual man was gladdened, and the effects of it were evident on his pure and immaculate face.

The view of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) from the beginning was that the people are with the revolution and Islam because they are Muslim and believers. Those who are not in agreement with the revolution and the Islamic Republic are against Islam; otherwise, why should a republic founded on Islam be opposed by someone who believes in Islam?! Those who oppose the Islamic Revolution are against Islam.

May God's curse be upon those who, for the sake of pleasing Israel, fought and opposed Islam, the revolution, and the Islamic Republic. The Islamic nation and Islamic history will not forget and will not forgive those who made peace and showed friendship with America and Israel and the enemies of Islam, providing them with security, but opposed Islam, the Islamic Republic, and the Imam of the nation. Of course, you people, from the beginning of the revolution until now, have given them a strong slap in the face, and with your loyalty, unity, and solidarity, you will continue to do so.

What is important is that all members of society, wherever they are in the country, feel responsible for the development and construction of the country; this is our primary duty. We are in the post-war period and must concentrate all our forces on the real development and true expansion of the country; something that our country has never properly enjoyed. After the revolution, when we wanted to engage in construction, the enemy imposed war on us; now, too, they are sabotaging the issue of the resolution, but ultimately we will overcome these problems.

The Iranian nation and officials must seriously begin the main task of construction. Although many works are currently underway, the foundational movement for the construction of the country, with the planning that has been done and is being done, must proceed with full strength. Officials must apply their efforts and roll up their sleeves and ask for help from the people; the people, too, should help them with heart and soul.

Iran is a country with potential. The western regions of the country, from top to bottom, and other regions, each have many potentials in terms of agriculture, proper industrial development, rural development, and the expansion of universities and investment in science and research. We have abundant resources in every respect that, God willing, the Iranian nation should benefit from, and this is possible with the correct management of officials and the support of the people for them.

More than ever, 'unity' must be observed for Islam and progress towards Islamic goals and the construction of the country. Be very careful that the enemy's infiltrators do not raise the flags of discord. Any flag of discord that is raised, you should accuse it of being an enemy infiltrator; even if it does not know itself.

Sometimes the corruptor does not know and is not aware that he is corrupting; 'Say, shall we inform you of the greatest losers in deeds? Those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well.' They think they are doing good work, while they are corrupting.

Unfortunately, there are those who, with their baseless words or through undesirable positions and actions, corrupt society. Therefore, whoever speaks of discord and talks of despair and hopelessness, you should accuse him of being knowingly or unknowingly under the influence of the enemy; disassociate from him, and God willing, the Almighty will also help you.

Once again, I thank all of you for your sincere loyalty, especially the gentlemen scholars and the esteemed Friday prayer leaders and the esteemed families of our dear martyrs, and I hope that God grants you all success and bestows His grace upon you.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings