Statements to the People of Kermanshah

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, the infallible guides, especially the remainder of God on earth.

I am very pleased and grateful to the Almighty God for granting me this opportunity today - albeit late - to be present among you, the dear, loyal, and faithful people of Kermanshah. If my visit to your city and province has been delayed, it does not diminish the importance of this province and its dear people. This province, in terms of human, natural, and geographical standing, is one of the distinguished provinces of our beloved and vast country. At the outset of my remarks, I would like to mention a few sentences about the virtues of Kermanshah and its dear people.

Some positive characteristics are common among the people throughout the country; however, some traits are more prominent and vivid in certain provinces. The people of Kermanshah have long been known for their chivalry, bravery, loyalty, and kindness; they are hospitable and, in short, possess noble qualities of heroism. This is one of the characteristics that shines in Kermanshah; everyone knows and feels this from afar and near.

What has always compelled me to admire Kermanshah is that the people of this province, despite their diversity in ethnicity, religion, and even dialect, live together with kindness, peace, and brotherhood; this is a very positive trait that must be emphasized, preserved, and enhanced. The valiant tribes and border guards of this province are recognized everywhere in this province for their tribal characteristics and valor.

In 1979, at the beginning of the imposed war, I traveled throughout this province and saw it up close. In Gilan-e Gharb and Islamabad, where the people are Shia, in Paveh and Uramanat, where the people are Sunni, and in Rijaab and Dalaho, where a group of people belong to the Ahl-e Haqq; everywhere, the people were in defense, expressing their devotion to the Islamic Republic. I observed the same spirit in the provincial center, where a collection of various ethnicities and tribes are present. This is a prominent trait.

The Sacred Defense era was a great test for this province. The eight-year war began in this province and ended here. The first airstrikes of the Ba'ath regime of Iraq targeted this province and its cities - including Islamabad, Gilan-e Gharb, and other border areas - and the first border violation occurred in Qasr-e Shirin in this province. Eight years later, the last defensive movement of our country and our dear people in the Merasad incident also took place in this province. Thus, throughout these eight years, this province was in a state of defense, steadfastness, and courage. Even before the start of the imposed war, it was the same. One month after the victory of the revolution - that is, in Esfand 1978 - the youth of Kermanshah went to defend the Sanandaj garrison; they were the first groups mobilized to defend against the counter-revolutionaries, and some of them are among the renowned martyrs of Kermanshah.

There have been prominent and distinguished figures in literature, various arts, poetry, calligraphy, sciences - technical and engineering sciences, basic sciences, religious sciences - in sports, both in the distant and recent past in this province; today, thanks be to God, they still exist. Well-known scientific families, whose scientific presence in this city and province dates back sometimes over a century or two, are present in this province. In terms of human resources, this province is indeed a distinguished one.

The role of women in this province is one of the prominent roles. In all provinces of the country - except for one other province besides Kermanshah - we do not have this many martyr women and disabled women who were martyred or became disabled during the Sacred Defense. Here, the women who were martyred at the front and those who were martyred in enemy bombings have only one other example throughout the country. This is also one of the advantages.

The natural conditions of the province correspond to this human situation; it is an excellent natural situation. Both in terms of natural conditions and geographical location, this province is distinguished. This province has excellent agricultural potential, abundant surface water, which, unfortunately, is not yet harnessed; one of the tasks that must be undertaken in this province is to further harness the surface waters. This province has fertile lands, rich soil, and cultivable areas. In this province, there are over eight hundred thousand hectares of cultivable land. This province has diverse climate conditions, industrial and mineral capabilities. Due to its geographical location, it has transportation and trade capabilities in relation to the outside and various parts of the country. Several important economic centers of the country are located at equal and close distances from this city and province. Additionally, due to the beautiful nature and unique historical sites in this province, it has tourism potential. These are the natural, geographical, and human characteristics of this province.

Given these positive and prominent points, the youth of this province should be filled with hope, vitality, and a desire to work. The youth of the province should pay attention and know in what sensitive and advantageous region they live. Of course, there are problems, which, God willing, the officials must exert their efforts to completely resolve; at the forefront of the problems in this province is the issue of employment. The employment issue here is more sensitive than the national average and requires special attention.

Well, our trip today, which will last several days, and I have various programs with you, our dear people, both in this city and in some other cities, is taking place at a sensitive time. Every day, fresh news comes from the region and the world. The issues that exist today in our region and are emerging throughout the world are unprecedented; whether regional issues or those occurring in the West, whether in Europe or America. The world conditions are sensitive; and of course, in our favor. In such conditions, it is very good for the Iranian nation to have a comprehensive view of its situation and a discerning perspective on the world situation.

I take this opportunity today to address some important issues that are relevant to our dear nation and country at this juncture and need to be reminded. Our main issue is the issue of the people; the presence of the people, the will of the people, the resolute determination of the people. This must be stated; in all major social movements and transformations, the role of the people is the criterion. That is, the expansion of a transformation, the spread of an idea, the influence of a social reformer depends on how much they connect with the people. The more their connection with the people and that movement is, the greater the chance of success; if they become disconnected from the people, it will not be long before they will not achieve anything. Of course, in the history of our country, the transfers of power, the coming and going of dynasties, have not been related to the people; however, those governmental and royal dynasties that have existed throughout our history, each of them that has managed to establish a strong, warm, and friendly relationship with the people has had greater stability and success in governing the country and in national dignity; each of them that became disconnected from the people lost everything; the most evident example of this is the Qajar dynasty and the infamous Pahlavi dynasty in recent times. We have the experience of constitutionalism in our recent history and the experience of the nationalization of the oil industry. In both, the people were present and participated; the success of both movements was due to the people; but they became disconnected from the people. In the constitutional movement, the British, with their cunning and deceit, rode the waves of constitutionalism, sidelined the people and their leaders; constitutionalism ended up in the tyranny of Reza Khan.

In the case of the oil industry and its nationalization, in the early 1950s in our country, the people were the driving force, their presence was successful; however, it was not long before they became disconnected from the people, turned their backs on the people; the American coup seized control and led the country back to despotism.

Throughout our history, there has been no event like the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the events that followed it in which the people had a direct role. In the Islamic Revolution, the people came; all the people, all classes of people, from urban and rural, from men and women, from old and young, from educated and uneducated, all came together. Although they did not rely on power and force, nor did they have weapons, if they did, they did not use them, yet they managed to completely topple a heavily armed regime backed by arrogant powers and achieve victory in the revolution. However, the fundamental point in our revolution was that the role of the people did not end with the victory of the revolution; this was the wisdom of our great Imam and the profound insight of that wise, spiritual, and divine man. He truly understood the Iranian nation, believed in the integrity, sincerity, resolute determination, and capabilities of the Iranian nation. At that time, some said, very well, the revolution has succeeded, the people should return to their homes. The Imam stood firm and entrusted the affairs to the people. That is, fifty days after the victory of the revolution, the political system of the country was determined by a referendum of the people. Look at various revolutions to see how significant this statement is. Fifty days after the victory of the revolution, the people understood what system they wanted. They themselves came to the ballot boxes and with that remarkable and historic vote determined that they wanted the Islamic Republic system. In the last two hundred years - which are the years of great revolutions - in no revolution has such an event occurred where, with such a short interval, the new system was determined by the people themselves, not by some other agent. Then immediately, the great Imam sought the constitution. I will never forget; in the months of Ordibehesht or Khordad 1979 - that is, three or four months after the victory of the revolution - the Imam summoned the Revolutionary Council, of which we were members, for an important task in Qom. We went to see the Imam. I do not forget the angry face of the Imam, which I rarely saw in him. His words were, why are you not thinking about the constitution? This was while only three months had passed since the victory of the revolution. In that meeting, it was decided to hold elections for the Assembly of Experts. The country’s officials - who were the provisional government - came and held the elections. The people participated in a nationwide election and determined their representatives - who were the experts of the constitution. The experts drafted the constitution within a few months. Then the Imam again stated that this constitution that has been drafted must be put to a vote by the people. Although the representatives of the people had drafted it, the Imam said it still had to be approved by the people. Thus, they held a referendum on the constitution, and the people approved it with a high vote. Therefore, the role of the people did not end after the victory of the revolution. In the characteristics of governing the country, this role continued. Not even a year had passed since the victory of the revolution when the president was elected according to the constitution. A few months later, the Islamic Consultative Assembly was elected. From that date until today, throughout these thirty-two years, the Assembly of Experts, the president, the representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and the representatives of the councils have been elected by the people. It is the people themselves who decide, participate, and elect; the work is in the hands of the people. The presence of the people is such a prominent presence.

Throughout these years, various governments and different political tastes have come to power - both in the parliament with various political inclinations and in the executive branch - some even had a divergence from the principles of the system; however, the immense capacity of the system, without showing impatience, has been able to overcome all these issues; it has been able to resolve and absorb all these problems; thanks to the presence of the people, the faith of the people, and the commitment of the people to the Islamic system; that is, they consider themselves the owners of the country. In the past, it was always said that the country has an owner; they meant that such and such prince, such and such ruler, and such and such king owns the country! The people had no role, they were nothing. Today, thanks to the Islamic Revolution, the people know that the country has an owner; and the owner of the country is the people themselves.

When we review the thirty-two-year experience of the revolution, we understand the profound wisdom and strategy of the Imam; why? Because any system like the Islamic Republic, with its lofty ideals, with its opposition and resistance to global arrogance and international injustice, with its steadfastness against the powers of evil throughout the world, has formidable enemies. They create challenges and problems. If such a system wants to survive, it must have a tremendous force and capacity to guard it, so that it can stand firm, progress, and not remain stagnant. In the Islamic Revolution, with the Imam's strategy - which was derived from the essence of Islam - this guardian force is the will of the people, the determination of the people, the presence of the people. Therefore, the Islamic system has overcome challenges and triumphed over them. It can be said with complete confidence that the Islamic Republic has triumphed over all the hard and soft challenges it has faced until today, and with God's assistance, God's grace, and God's guidance, it will also triumph over any other challenges in the future.

One of the major challenges that confronted the country right at the beginning of the revolution was the eight-year imposed war. This is no joke; eight years! A war was imposed on this country. Any system, with the unpreparedness that naturally exists at the beginning of a revolution, would fail in such a challenge; however, our dear country, the sacred Islamic Republic did not fail; it triumphed. The war was managed by the people. Both the army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and various forces relied on the people; on the faith of the people, on the love of the people, on the sincerity of the people. From the front lines to all operational ranks, to the rear and support, the people, with an exemplary and unforgettable sincerity, were ready for sacrifice. Those who are of the younger generation after that period, unfortunately, do not remember. It is so good that those outstanding, prominent, and beautiful events are revisited.

In this city of Kermanshah, I was told that Ja'farabad had been bombed, and a family was trapped under the rubble. The children of the governorate went to help and rescued them from under the rubble. The elderly father of this family later came to the governorate to express his gratitude. He thanked them for helping him. The officials of the governorate told him to provide a list of his damages so that we could help you and compensate for your losses. In this account, this elderly man said: "It is a shame to ask from a fellow townsman! Did I come here for the worldly gains?" You see, he is from Kermanshah! This expression is the expression of a noble and forgiving person. Such examples are abundant in your city and province. In all operational areas of the west, southwest, and northwest, such examples can be found. These are things that cannot be found in other nations. Such outstanding examples, with this abundance, cannot be found. The war was managed by the people; the people were at work.

Another major challenge is the economic pressures and sanctions. Today, they speak of sanctions; sanctions are not new to us. From the first year of the victory of the revolution, unilateral sanctions from the United States and European countries began, and during the war, these sanctions and restrictions peaked. I once said; we wanted to procure barbed wire from outside the country. The country from which this barbed wire had to pass - the former Soviet Union - did not allow this commodity to pass through its territory to come to Iran! Now, the commodity is neither military nor offensive; it is barbed wire! They created such restrictions against our country. In all economic areas, they sought to impose sanctions; their aim was to bring the Iranian nation to its knees, to bring the system to its knees; however, the Islamic Republic, with the patience and insight of you people, brought all those policies and policymakers to their knees.

We were able to use these limitations as an opportunity. These prohibitions, sanctions, and restrictions led us to achieve advancements in innovation and initiative in all areas that the countries of the region could not achieve over many years. Our nation, our people, our youth understood. I have examples from revolutions, which now is not the time to present; perhaps I have mentioned some of them in other meetings. The revolutions that occurred in the 1970s - that is, a few years before our revolution - had a deplorable situation; they were not comparable. Our great revolution was able to advance in this way.

Another challenge - which was indeed a more complex challenge - was the challenges of incitement that occurred in events like the 18th of Tir 1999 and the events of 2009, with a ten-year gap, which were instigated in Tehran. They hoped to defeat the system with this incitement; to inflict a blow; but it turned out the opposite. In the 18th of Tir incident, five days after the instigators began their incitement, the people launched the massive movement of the 23rd of Tir, not only in Tehran but also in other cities. In the 2009 events, two days after the Ashura incidents, the great event of the 9th of Dey occurred. At that time, some foreign observers who had seen it up close wrote in Western newspapers, and we saw it, that what happened on the 9th of Dey in Iran was unprecedented in terms of the gathering and fervor, except for the funeral of the Imam. This was done by the people. This is the presence of the people.

The nuclear issue is another challenge. The solid barrier that was able to give courage to the officials, empower them, and enable them to stand against the arrogance and imposition of the enemies regarding the nuclear issue was the will of the people, the support of the people; the base of popular authority that enabled this great success for the country.

One of the very important scenes in which our dear people played a role, and no one imagined that this scene would have such capacity for role-playing, is the field of science and technology. Who would have thought that our youth would enter this field so vigorously? As soon as the movement for knowledge production and the software movement was raised with the elites and distinguished university students, such a massive movement emerged that became a public discourse, a collective movement. Today, throughout the country, in various provinces, in small and large cities, especially in sensitive and scientific centers, our youth are undertaking significant scientific and technological tasks; some of these have reached results, and some are in progress. The Iranian nation will witness these scientific achievements. These scientific endeavors are a source of self-confidence for the Iranian nation and a catalyst for economic prosperity. Profitable businesses stem from scientific advancements. Our youth have entered this field. Global statistics confirm this. Of course, officials are also making valuable efforts.

Well, I want to draw two conclusions from this part of my remarks: First, the whole world should know, our Western enemies should know that this system, due to the presence of the people, is a system of strength and authority. Western policymakers should not confuse this with some countries that have revolted and then changed their paths as the West wished. Here, there are people. Here, the general fabric of the country - that is, the people in various parts of the country and from different classes - are stakeholders in this revolution, they are concerned, their will and determination have an impact. If any official tries to deviate, tries to initiate a different movement against the revolutionary movement, the people will eliminate him. This is what all the people of the world and policymakers of various countries must know; and of course, they know, they have felt this. The presence of the people today, like yours, has strengthened and empowered the system; for which I truly need to express my gratitude for your warm and sincere presence in these streets, and I also need to apologize. I am truly not satisfied with the hardships that the people endure and the suffering that they experience in these receptions. ...(1) Thank you very much, thank you very much, thank you very much. So the first conclusion we draw from this discussion of the presence of the people is that others should know, the world should know, the policymakers of arrogance and non-arrogance should know that this is Iran; here are the people, the nation, the public determination, the national determination.

But the second conclusion I want to draw is actually addressed to all the esteemed officials of the country. Wherever the officials of the country recognized and utilized the capabilities of the people, we succeeded. Wherever there is failure, it is because we could not secure the presence of the people in that area. We have many unresolved issues. In all various matters of the country, officials must be able to skillfully, carefully, and innovatively find ways for the presence of the people - just as this happened in the very difficult area of war, the way was opened; those who were able to open the way - so that every young person, every elder, every man, every woman who wants to participate in this great work can find a way open for them. This can be done in various fields, it can be done in the economy as well. The economy of the country, the production of the country can flourish several times over through the efforts of the people, with the money of the people, with the innovations of the people, with the motivations of the people. The policies of Article 44 that we formulated were based on this point. Specific goals have been set for the future of the country. We named this decade the "Decade of Progress and Justice"; we formulated the policies of Article 44; we drafted the twenty-year outlook; we formulated and are formulating the five-year program policies. All these policies are based on realism. It is not that a group of people sit down and write a five-year policy or a twenty-year outlook based on their illusions; no, this aligns with the realities; it is based on the realities of the country.

Well, these are the set goals. If the presence of the people is secured in these paths and for these goals, these goals will be achieved even sooner than the time frame considered. How is the presence of the people? This is the main point. Here, officials must provide the grounds, models, practical and comprehensible formulas for the public, and trust-building formulas for the participation of the people. This can be done in every sector. Both the executive branch, the judiciary, and the legislative branch can secure this in their own specific ways; they can utilize the innovations of the people, the thoughts of the people, the energy and motivation of our youth - who are a large and vast segment - this is among the tasks that must, God willing, be carried out by the officials with transparent mechanisms. Of course, work has been done in various fields, pathways have been opened; but more can be done to secure the presence of all the people, so that a young person, an elder, an industrialist, an innovator knows where they stand in this public movement. Everything will be organized with such a mechanism; like in the past.

Of course, the people have expectations; these expectations are justified. Officials must appreciate the people. The presence of the people, the readiness of the people, is a very great blessing that we all must appreciate. Officials should have a sincere intention of service. What the people expect from officials - especially higher ranks - is that they interact with each other, have unity, and cooperate; both at high levels and at intermediate levels; they should focus on the priorities of the country, advance the main issues, and not get distracted by secondary and marginal issues, and work tirelessly. The people expect honesty, fulfillment of promises, avoidance of disputes, avoidance of getting caught up in marginal and secondary issues, integrity and honesty, and dealing with offenders and traitors; these are at the forefront of the people's demands. If we, the officials of the country, at any time cannot accomplish something - a road, a dam, an economic task - let us tell the people that we cannot do it, the people will have no issue. If the officials of the country say, "Sir, there are no resources, we cannot accomplish this task," the people will have no issue; but the people’s issue is when we fall short in dealing with offenders, when we fall short in pursuing justice; the people do not accept these things, the people become angry about these matters. Wise action, resolute determination, justice-seeking, the issue of fighting against administrative and financial corruption is important. In this recent banking corruption that arose and drew everyone's attention, I see and witness that fortunately, the three branches are cooperating very well; both from the parliament, the government, and the judiciary, they are working together to follow this up. They must pursue this issue, reach a conclusion, and punish the offender - whoever they are - so that this serves as a lesson for others. Of course, in the fight against corruption, prevention is the primary issue; but if prevention is neglected, and some corruption occurs, then treatment and follow-up must not be neglected, which, God willing, will not be neglected, and God willing, care will be taken to ensure it does not happen.

The issue of Islamic culture and the values of the revolution is also an important matter, which is also the people's expectation. Throughout the country, wherever I have gone, not only the families of martyrs but many people expect and request that Islamic appearances and Islamic culture be observed in society; especially by the officials.

The issue of employment is also an important matter, which we have mentioned. Of course, in this province and some other provinces, employment is of greater importance. In some places, better work has been done, which, God willing, must be followed up. The strengthening of domestic production, the issue of agriculture, the issue of industry, these are tasks that must be undertaken.

What I am discussing in this section is the upcoming elections. The manifestation of the presence of the people, among other things, is the elections. Of course, we have three or four months until the elections. If I have life, I will have opportunities to present my thoughts to the people, and God willing, I will do so. What I need to say today is that with every election, fresh blood is injected into the veins of the country; a new spirit is breathed into the body of the country - know this - and that is why, throughout these years, the enemy has always wanted either there to be no elections or for them to be weak. In no election do we find that before the elections, the propaganda horns of the enemy have not been activated to do something to make the elections in Iran weak. In all elections, this has been done in various forms. You are intelligent, you are perceptive; you can discern what is said and done to diminish the elections, to make the people less enthusiastic about participating in the elections. You will see this in the next three or four months as well. Know that elections are a great achievement for the country, for the system, for the people, in all periods. The status of the parliament affects the general situation of the country. The parliament is the main decision-making center in the country. All of this demonstrates the importance of elections.

In elections, two issues are more important than all: the first issue is the presence of the people, the participation of the people - which must be broad and extensive - the second issue is lawfulness in elections, loyalty to the law, respect for the people's vote. It should not be that if the elections are conducted according to our views and desires, we accept it; if it is contrary to our views, "And if they have the right, they should come to it submissively."(2) If they give us the right, what we want comes to power, we accept the law; if what we want does not come to power, we disregard the law; we neither accept the law nor the people's vote; this cannot be. The sedition of 2009 was just like this. They claimed to be law-abiding, but when the people did not vote for them, the majority of the people voted for someone else; they began to create disputes about why! They disturbed the country and the nation for a while, pleased the enemy; of course, in the end, they could not withstand the people and retreated.

The sin of the fire-stirrers of the sedition of 2009 was precisely that they did not comply with the law, did not comply with the people's vote. It is possible for someone to have an objection after the elections; very well, this objection is not an issue; but there is a legal way to express and pursue this objection. If we accept the law, we must follow that path. This is also the main point.

One point is, of course, the selection of a caring, faithful, and interested representative, which is also a very important issue, but we will have enough time later. The people must choose those who are not connected to the centers of wealth and power; those who are truly wanted by the people; who act according to their conscience, their religion, and their revolutionary duties; now there is much discussion on this matter.

However, regarding regional issues. You have heard a lot of news about the events in the Islamic countries - Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, and other countries - and many analyses as well; I have also spoken several times on this matter. Today, I will mention two points in this regard. One is that the main manifestation of these movements and events in Egypt, Tunisia, and other countries is the failure of the policies of global arrogance; this is the essence of the matter. For years, the United States has been ruling in this region. The government of Egypt, the government of Tunisia, in recent years, Gaddafi, who appeared revolutionary and had a revolutionary background, and also the rulers of some other countries, were at the command of the United States. The United States was the sole ruler in this region. This situation has changed, a new page has been opened. Of course, the Americans are trying to exert their power to regain control; however, it is of no use, the nations have awakened, the nations have gained courage. No one can fight against the will of the nations. This is the first and main point.

The second point is that our dear people everywhere in the country should know that the events in our country have a significant impact on these countries. They look to our country; if we have progress, if we have security, if we have public participation, if we have national self-confidence, if we have national unity, they will choose this path; but if, God forbid, we have insecurity, weakness, stagnation, division - the very things that the enemy wants us to have - this will discourage them and destroy their enthusiasm. Therefore, we have a significant responsibility in this regard, to present ourselves - as the Iranian nation is recognized as a model - in a way that is valuable for these nations; to create enthusiasm, to give them hope for their future.

The last point is regarding Western issues. The issue of America is an important matter. What is known as the "Occupy Wall Street" movement has excited the American people, is significant. They tried to downplay it, and they are still trying to downplay it. The same individuals who claim that freedom of expression is necessary and advocate for freedom of expression, for two or three weeks after the start of this movement, only one major newspaper in America reported on this movement; the rest remained silent! Those who, if something small happens in a corner of the world - where their policies are opposed - blow it up a hundredfold, completely ignored such a massive movement; they kept it silent. However, they eventually saw that they had no choice. The very people who are gathered there - those several thousand people in New York at Wall Street - and their counterparts in other cities and states in America, forced them; thus, now they acknowledge this incident. Of course, they want to surf the wave; but the matter is significant.

One issue is that the corruption of the capitalist regime has become tangible and evident for those people. They may suppress this movement, but they cannot eliminate the roots of this movement; eventually, one day this movement will grow to such an extent that it will completely bring down the capitalist system of America and the West.

The corrupt capitalist regime does not only show mercy to the people of Afghanistan and Iraq and other places, but it does not show mercy to its own people either. In these gatherings and demonstrations of several thousand people in New York, the people held up a sign that read: "We are the 99 percent." That is, 99 percent of the American people - the majority of the American people - are oppressed by one percent. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan is initiated by that one percent, but the casualties and costs are borne by that 99 percent. This is what has awakened the people and compelled them to protest. Of course, the propaganda methods and psychological warfare of the American officials and the CIA and others are very fierce and tyrannical; they may overcome these; but eventually, the truth of the matter has become clear and will become clearer. With all these claims, this is the capitalist regime; this is Western liberal democracy.

Support for Israel is done by that one percent. The American people have no motivation or interest in supporting Israel, to pay money, to pay taxes, to spend to keep the cancerous tumor of Israel, the illegitimate government of Israel, alive in a region. Then their type of response; both in terms of concealment and silence, and then severity; both there and in some European countries. In England, they exerted such severity that one would not observe even a tenth of it in countries with backward dictatorships that deal with their people. These are the ones who then claim to support human rights, claim freedom of expression, claim freedom of assembly, claim to represent all the people of the world. Those who recommended that we follow the methods of the capitalist system, learn from them, and implement them, should look at these realities and see what the capitalist system is; a complete deadlock. Today, the capitalist system is in a complete deadlock. The results of this deadlock may take years to reach final outcomes, but the crisis in the West has completely begun.

The world is at a historical turning point. Our dear nation, the Muslim nations, the great Islamic Ummah can play a role. Here, Islam, the teachings of Islam, the methods of Islam are needed by the people of the world; and here, the Islamic Republic can prove its model status for all the people of the world.

O Lord! By Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, bestow Your blessings upon the Iranian nation and the officials of the country. O Lord! As You have promised Your pure servants that You will grant them victory, grant complete victory to the Iranian nation. O Lord! Bestow Your mercy, grace, and favor upon the people of this city, upon the people of this province, upon these pure and sincere hearts. O Lord! Assist our youth. O Lord! Make us among those whom You have mentioned in the Quran: "He loves them and they love Him."(3) O Lord! Make the heart of the holy Imam of the Age pleased and satisfied with us.

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