Statements in Meeting with Members of the World Assembly of Ahl al-Bayt and the Union of Islamic Radios and Televisions

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially the Awaited One among the people of the earth.

I extend my warm welcome to the esteemed attendees; dear brothers and sisters; both those who are present here from the World Assembly of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and those from the Union of Islamic Radios and Televisions, as well as the honorable families of the martyrs present here; I pray to the Almighty God for blessings upon all of you.

Regarding the World Assembly of Ahl al-Bayt and the Union of Radios and Televisions, I would like to express a few points. However, concerning the World Assembly of Ahl al-Bayt, the significance of this assembly lies in its affiliation with the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them); for the Almighty God has explicitly stated in the Quran about the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet, a statement that has been repeated about few groups in the Quran: "Indeed, God intends to remove from you, O Ahl al-Bayt, all impurity and to purify you with a thorough purification." (1) The defining characteristic of the Ahl al-Bayt is their purity and divine purification; well, this purification has many dimensions. If a group claims to be affiliated with the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), it must adhere to certain obligations - this is our assertion - there are obligations that must be adhered to. The efforts of the Imams (peace be upon them) were aimed at striving for these several goals: firstly, keeping alive the true Islamic teachings, the principles and foundations of Islam; these must be preserved. The tyrannical governments and oppressors of the nation have sought to either annihilate or distort Islamic teachings. One of the most important aspects of the movements of the Imams (peace be upon them) has been standing against this; preserving Islamic teachings, reviving Islamic knowledge.

Another task of the Imams (peace be upon them) has been the establishment of divine laws. They endeavored to establish divine laws; whether at times when they held power or when they were removed from governance and authority. Their efforts were dedicated to realizing divine laws in society. Another aspect of the Imams' (peace be upon them) struggle was jihad in the way of God, which you read in the visitation of the Imams: "I bear witness that you strove in the way of God as is rightfully due." They left nothing lacking in their struggle for God; they strove with all their being, with all their strength, with all their capacity in the way of God.

A significant part of this struggle, which is a separate chapter, has been the fight against oppression and the oppressor. The life of the Imams (peace be upon them) is entirely characterized by the struggle against oppressors, the fight against oppression. The reason for the pressures, poisonings, martyrdoms, and similar events has all been due to this; because they fought against oppression and the oppressor. This is the life of the Imams. Now, if we want to be followers of the Ahl al-Bayt, we must observe these principles. We must promote Islamic teachings; we must consider the establishment of divine laws as one of our goals; we must strive in the way of God with all our being; we must fight against oppression, fight against the oppressor; this is our duty. Well, jihad is not merely military warfare; jihad encompasses various forms of struggle, from cultural struggles to political struggles to economic struggles; all of these fall under the title of jihad. One's mind should not only go to military warfare; there may be times when military conflict arises, but all of jihad is not limited to that.

Today, in our view, the manifestation of jihad that confronts us Muslims, we followers of the Ahl al-Bayt, is the struggle against the plans of global arrogance in the Islamic region; today, the greatest jihad is this. We must fight against the plans of global arrogance. These plans must first be recognized; we must first read the enemy's hand, understand what they intend to do; then we must sit down, plan, and struggle against the enemy's objectives. It is not merely a defensive and passive stance. The struggle encompasses both defense and offense; at times, it is necessary to take defensive positions, and at other times, it is necessary to take offensive positions; in both cases, the goal is the struggle against the plans of global arrogance, which is the fundamental and primary enemy in this region; and throughout the entire Islamic region, especially in this area known as West Asia. This area that Europeans insist on calling the Middle East; that is, they measure the East in relation to Europe. There is the Far East, the Middle East, and the Near East; this European arrogance [is evident!] from the beginning, it has been called the "Middle East"; the term Middle East is incorrect; this is West Asia. Asia is a vast continent, and we are located in West Asia. This region is very sensitive; it is strategically important, militarily significant, rich in underground resources, and crucial for the connection between three continents - Asia, Europe, and Africa. It is an important region. They have plans for this region; we must see what these plans are and confront them; this is jihad. The Quran tells us: "Strive in the way of God as is rightfully due." (2) Jihad in the way of God today is this.

The conspiracy against the Islamic world and this region in particular is not new; it has been ongoing for many years - for a hundred years, since the First World War - this region has been subjected to immense pressures from the arrogant powers; one day it was Britain, another day it was America, and at times it was France; the arrogant powers have been active here for over a hundred years. However, these pressures and these plans and conspiracies intensified after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran; because the event of the victory of Islam in a significant country, a large and sensitive country like Iran was bewildering for global arrogance. Initially, for a while, they were unable to analyze it - we followed the issues and saw - they were confused at first. After they regained their composure, they began to exert pressure. The focal point of this pressure was the Islamic Republic of Iran. Their primary aim was to prevent this experience from being repeated in other countries; they sought this. Therefore, they thought to increase the pressures on Iran; now we have become accustomed to the pressures of the enemy for 35 years; the Iranian nation has become accustomed to pressures: threats, sanctions, security pressures, various political conspiracies; we have faced all kinds of pressures for 35 years - this has been since the victory of the revolution in Iran, but after the Islamic Awakening movement that began four or five years ago in North Africa - in Egypt, Tunisia, and some other places - the enemy's actions intensified; that is, the enemy became genuinely frantic, panicked; they did many things, and this continues now. Of course, their assumption is that they have suppressed the Islamic Awakening movement, but my humble opinion is that the Islamic Awakening movement is not suppressible. It is true that they have done some things, but this movement exists; it will find its place, whether sooner or later. In any case, they have increased their efforts in recent years; they have done many things and introduced new factors into the equations.

Let me first say this: when we speak of the enemy, we are not referring to an imaginary or delusional entity. By enemy, we mean the system of global arrogance; that is, the arrogant powers; powers whose existence depends on dominating others, interfering in the affairs of others, and seizing the financial and vital resources of others; these are the arrogant powers; or in other words, the leaders of the system of domination. We have a term in our political literature, which is the system of domination; that is, the division of the world into dominators and the dominated; this is the system of domination. Those who are the leaders of the system of domination are the enemies. If we want to specify an external example, it is the regime of the United States of America. The complete manifestation of the system of domination is the regime of the United States of America. There are certainly others, but the most evident, clear, and obvious is the regime of the United States of America; which has no regard for human ethics, and in committing crimes - all kinds of crimes - they have no shame and easily conceal this crime, this pressure, and this violence under smiles, under conventional, nice, and beautiful words. This is its manifestation. Therefore, when we say enemy, we mean this.

The enemy's plan in this region is primarily based on two pillars - of course, it has many branches, but these two are the main ones - one is creating discord, and the second is infiltration. This is the essence of the enemy's plan in this region: creating discord; discord between governments and then discord between nations, which is more dangerous than discord between governments, is discord among nations; that is, to poison the hearts of nations against each other and to create animosity; under various names; sometimes it was the issue of Pan-Iranism, Pan-Arabism, and Pan-Turkism, and sometimes it is the issue of Sunni and Shia and takfir and similar matters; by any means they can, they create discord. This is one of the things they are intensely working on.

Of course, the British have specialized in this work; they have expertise in creating sectarian discord, and the Americans have learned from them and are working with all their might today. The Takfiri groups you observe are all products of their making. We have said this for several years; some had doubts [but] today the Americans themselves are confessing; they confess that they created ISIS, they confess that they created al-Nusra Front, they created the Takfiris; they made them, and a number of naive Muslims, although sincere, fell for them; this is what matters. What is very instructive for us and we must pay attention to is that sometimes a sincere person, due to a lack of insight, works within the enemy's plan; this has happened. A clear example is the issue of Syria. When in Tunisia and Egypt, with Islamic slogans, the tyrannical governments were overthrown, immediately the Americans and Israeli agents sought to use this formula to destroy the governments of resistance and the countries of resistance, [thus] they went after Syria; a number of naive and shortsighted Muslims fell into this plan, leading Syria to the point where you see it has been in such turmoil for four or five years, and it is unclear when it will end; this was the work of the enemy, and naive Muslims fell into the enemy's plan and filled the enemy's table. This happens in many cases. These Takfiri groups were created by them, the groups that are aggressive and tyrannical were created by them and unleashed upon the Islamic nation, and they portray this as a religious war. I tell you that the conflicts you see today in Iraq and Syria and elsewhere are attempted to be labeled as sectarian disputes, but they are in no way sectarian disputes; they are political disputes. The war in Yemen is a political war, not a sectarian war; they falsely claim it is about Shia and Sunni, while it is not about Shia and Sunni. Some of those who are under bombardment by the Saudis in Yemen are Shafi'i, some are Zaydi; it is not about Shia and Sunni; the dispute is a political one, it is a dispute over policies.

Today, the situation they have created in the region is such; they have created discord; efforts must be made to eliminate these differences. We have explicitly and publicly told everyone: we extend a hand of friendship to all the Muslim governments in the region; we have no problem with Muslim governments. Of course, our relations with many of our neighbors, that is, most of our neighbors, are friendly and brotherly. In the north, south, west, and east, the countries surrounding the Islamic Republic of Iran have good relations with us. Of course, some have disagreements, stubbornness, and malice - this exists, but our policy is based on good relations with neighbors; with governments and especially with nations. Our country's relations with nations are good relations.

Of course, our belief is adherence to principles and foundations. We say that principles must be preserved. Our great Imam, by virtue of adhering to principles, was able to achieve victory for the revolution and preserve it and stabilize the Islamic Republic; he was committed to principles. One of the principles is: "Harsh against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves." (3) We have no reconciliation with the enemies, with global arrogance, and we have no enmity and hostility with our Muslim brothers; we have a foundation of friendship, camaraderie, and brotherhood; because we believe we must be "harsh against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves"; this is the lesson of our great Imam; this is the clear line of the Islamic Republic. In supporting the oppressed, we do not consider the religion of the opposing side; we have not done so; this was the line of our great Imam. The Imam treated the Shia resistance in Lebanon the same way he treated the Sunni resistance in Palestine; without any difference. The support we provided to our brothers in Lebanon, we provided to our brothers in Gaza; without any difference. They were Sunni, these are Shia. The issue for us is the defense of Islamic identity, support for the oppressed, the issue of Palestine; today, the issue of Palestine is at the forefront of the concerns of the Muslim world; this is our main issue. In our enmities, there is no difference; our great Imam fought against Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was Shia in appearance; he fought against Saddam Hussein, who was Sunni in appearance. Of course, neither was he Shia, nor was he Sunni; both were alien to Islam, but one appeared to be Sunni, and the other appeared to be Shia. The Imam fought against both of them in the same way. The issue is not about Sunni and Shia and religion and such matters; the issue is the principles of Islam: "Be an enemy to the oppressor and a helper to the oppressed." (4) This is the command of Islam. This is our path; this is our line.

Intensifying discord in the Islamic world is forbidden. We oppose the behaviors of some Shia groups that create discord. We have explicitly stated that we oppose insults to the sanctities of the Sunnis. A number of individuals from this side and a number from that side stoke the flames of enmity and exacerbate them; many of them have good intentions, but they lack insight. Insight is necessary; one must see what the enemy's plan is. The enemy's plan is primarily to create discord.

The second enemy plan is infiltration; they want to create an infiltration in Islamic countries and in the countries of this region that will last for decades. Today, America has no credibility in this region; they want to rebuild that. In our country, their intention is the same; their intention in Iran is the same. They think that in this nuclear negotiations process - this agreement, which is still uncertain here and in America; it is not clear whether it will be rejected or accepted here, nor is it clear whether it will be rejected or accepted there - their intention was to find a means for infiltration within the country through these negotiations and this agreement. We have closed this path and will decisively close it; we will not allow American economic infiltration in our country, nor their political infiltration, nor their cultural presence; we will confront it with all our might - and thanks be to God, today we have considerable strength - we will not allow it.

In the region, it is the same; they want to create infiltration in the region; they want to establish a presence for themselves and pursue their objectives in the region. With God's grace, as much as we can, we will not allow this to happen. Our policies in the region are in direct opposition to the policies of America. The territorial integrity of the countries in the region is very important to us; the territorial integrity of Iraq and the territorial integrity of Syria is completely important to us; they seek division. I previously stated that the Americans are seeking to divide Iraq; some were surprised; recently, the Americans themselves have explicitly stated that they are seeking to divide Iraq! They want to divide Iraq; if they can, they want to divide Syria; they want to create small, subordinate countries; with God's grace, this will not happen. We defend the resistance in the region; we defend the Palestinian resistance - which is one of the most prominent chapters in the history of the Islamic nation, throughout these years the Palestinian resistance has been - we support anyone who fights against Israel and strikes the Zionist regime and endorses the resistance; we will support them in all possible ways; all kinds of support that we can provide, we will provide to anyone who confronts the Zionist regime. We support the resistance, we support the territorial integrity of countries; we support all those who stand against the divisive policies of America; we are against and confront all those who create this division. We do not accept the Shia that has its center and base of propaganda in London; this is not the Shia that the Imams (peace be upon them) promoted and desired. The Shia that is based on creating discord, on paving the way for the presence of the enemies of Islam, this Shia is not Shia; this is deviation. The true Shia is the complete manifestation of pure Islam, the manifestation of the Quran. We support those who contribute to unity, and we oppose those who act against unity; we defend all the oppressed. We will not retreat from the claims that say, "You intervened in the case of Bahrain and the like." We have not intervened at all, but we support them. We feel sorrow for the oppressed people of Bahrain, for the oppressed people of Yemen, we pray for them, and we do whatever help we can for them. Today, truly, the people of Yemen and the Yemeni nation are oppressed; they are destroying a country for the sake of arrogant and political objectives, accompanied by foolishness; political objectives could have been pursued in other ways, but they are pursuing these political objectives with foolishness. The events in Yemen are painful for us, as are many events in the Islamic world; in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and similar places, there are many painful events. These must be addressed by the Islamic world with awareness and insight.

However, regarding the Union of Radios and Televisions, I would like to say; this union is very important. The work you have started - creating this union - is a very significant task. Look! Today, in Muslim countries, at least seventy or eighty percent of the people adhere to religious principles and Islamic beliefs; look at the Islamic countries; the people are committed; the people accept their religion. How much do these radios and televisions, which should represent the will of the people, reflect religious adherence in Islamic countries? This gap is very strange; this is a very strange divide. Seventy percent, eighty percent of the people have religious inclinations, yet in those same countries, radios and televisions do not move in a religious direction and do not reflect the will of the people; this is very [strange]; they reflect what the dangerous media empire of global arrogance desires. Today, global arrogance has created a vast media empire; they distort news according to their will, conceal it, present lies, and convey policies through this means; and they constantly claim that they are [neutral]! This British radio claims that it is neutral; they lie, what neutrality? They operate precisely in the field of the policies of global arrogance and colonialism, whether American policies or British policies; whether auditory media, written media, news agencies, or the strange communication tools that have emerged today, all serve their policies; they serve global arrogance, they serve Zionism, they serve their objectives. In confronting this dangerous empire and this vast media mafia that is today in the hands of American and Zionist capitalists, something must be done. The work you are doing is the beginning of a movement; this movement must be pursued, it must be strengthened, and day by day it must be intensified, and you must add partners and companions.

And God willing, a good future awaits. I tell you that despite the boastful rhetoric of global arrogance and the extensive efforts they are making in terms of finance, military, political, and security, global arrogance and its allies and followers are making in this region and throughout the entire Islamic world, the future undoubtedly belongs to Islam; day by day, God willing, the dignity of Islam will increase, the power of Islam will grow. Of course, it is necessary to strive, and there are many striving individuals, both men and women, young strivers throughout the Islamic world, thanks be to God, we must appreciate them, our slogans, our movements, our words, our activities must be directed towards this, and certainly, the Almighty God will assist. "If you help God, He will help you and make your feet firm." (5)

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