Speech at the Allegiance Ceremony of Mashhad's Guilds, 15 Khordad Foundation Officials, Literacy Movement, and Ministry of Energy

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

I am grateful and thankful to all the dear brothers and sisters. I sincerely offer my condolences to all of you who are deeply mourning.

Truly, the Islamic community felt orphaned everywhere in the world. If the Iranian nation continues to wear mourning clothes and constantly sheds tears and does not abandon the sacred shrine of that dear one, it is justified. Perhaps this great void will not be filled in our hearts, lives, and the Islamic world for many years to come. You have come here from distant places and various parts of the country; yet, you all share the same feeling, motivation, and duty, and this is a point of strength.

To accomplish great tasks, one must rely solely on divine assistance and the faith of the people. Money, modern weapons, material power, and political maneuvering are not reliable supports for accomplishing tasks. Of course, these two factors are not parallel; rather, they are sequential. That is, if our support is God and divine assistance, the hearts of the people will also turn to the Lord.

The Almighty God said to His noble Messenger — who had been given the greatest duties commensurate with his character and no duty in human history reached that level — "He it is Who supported you with His help and with the believers"; meaning these two supports — divine assistance and the help of the believers — advanced you. That is why we believe that when material powers confront the truth, they are hollow and empty, and when they are ignored and people do not confront them with their will, they will have no reaction, and whenever the powerful force of the people engages with false powers, it will automatically force those powers to retreat.

In the past and in the last half-century, when the colonial powers of Europe and America were at odds with nations, wherever nations confronted these powers, they were forced to retreat. America was America until the Vietnamese nation engaged with it; when it did, this seemingly powerful country turned into a defeated force that was forced to withdraw five hundred thousand of its military forces from the battlefield within a few months!

The colonial powers of France and England were also considered very strong; but when the oppressed peoples confronted them, it was as if a mountain of cotton and straw was destroyed. Despotic regimes also have this nature and retreat when they see the onslaught of nations; but if they feel that the people do not dare to confront them, they increase their pressure and threats day by day.

The nation's force must be consolidated, move with faith, rely on God, not fear hardships, and not retreat, so that the enemy never dares to penetrate. In the past, there were individuals who thought superficially and were short-sighted. Although they cannot be accused of malice, they could not believe that the nation had the ability to confront the enemy. But the one who knew the secret of the movement of history and divine traditions stood firm, consolidated, and strengthened the will.

Alongside all this, a pioneering and strong leadership was needed, which, thanks be to God, our nation was not deprived of. The fortune was with the people of Iran that the Almighty God bestowed His unique jewel and treasure upon them. Usually, the Almighty God reserves His pure jewels for the critical days of human history, and we had the honor that God placed one of His precious jewels among us. Many saw Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), but did not recognize him and likened him to ordinary people; but his bright and radiant essence was revealed with the help of the Lord and in the shadow of servitude to God.

He did not claim any title or benefit for himself. The hand that had been able to change and rearrange all the world's policies with its power, the eloquent tongue whose words exploded like a bomb in the world and had an effect, the strong will before which great mountains were small, whenever he spoke of the people, he considered himself smaller and bowed before the feelings, faith, courage, greatness, and sacrifice of the people, humbly saying: the people are better than us. Great people are like this. They see things that others cannot or do not want to see.

Sometimes, in the face of actions that seem ordinary to people, that great spirit and that strong mountain would tremble and shake. During the war, school children in Tehran's Friday prayers had broken their piggy banks and donated their money for the war. The next day, when I visited Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), I saw him with his God-seeing eyes filled with tears; he said to me: Did you see the action of these children? This action seemed so great to him that it moved him.

He understood well and judged correctly. He was a head and shoulders above all the people we have seen and heard of — except for the prophets, saints, and Imams (peace be upon them). None of the great figures we have studied in past and contemporary history were comparable in greatness to his immense personality; yet this same Imam would say before the people: I feel insignificant before you.

The Almighty God has placed so much greatness in the gathering of a believing nation that He has compared it with His help; "He it is Who supported you with His help and with the believers." Maintain this spirit. As long as you, the Iranian nation, have this unity and readiness to accomplish great tasks, all the aspirations of the prophets and saints (peace be upon them) are achievable by you. Their great aspirations were the establishment of global justice, the salvation of the oppressed, and the eradication of oppression worldwide. Of course, the divine promise is true, and the establishment of global justice will only occur during the appearance of Imam Mahdi (may our souls be sacrificed for him); but a believing and fighting nation can prepare the ground for the formation of that government, just as the Iranian nation has been able to do so far and has overcome many problems.

Today, we do not feel the slightest weakness in the face of global powers; our sense of power is high. We tell the global powers, if you want the affection of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic system, you must accept our conditions. The first condition is that you stop your bullying, arrogance, and greed. Another condition is that you cease defending terrorists, corrupters, and wrongdoers who are plotting against this revolution or other revolutions.

Why do great powers like America give themselves the right to interfere in the administration of countries whenever a nation rises, starts a revolution, and forms a people's government, immediately providing weapons, equipment, money, and radio to the opponents of those governments, and committing thousands of other wicked acts, hoping to overthrow that independent government — even relatively independent? America must repent for its support of counter-revolutionaries, hypocrites, and murderers of the people. As long as these political repentances do not occur, the enmity and anger of the Iranian nation towards the superpowers — especially the Great Satan, America — will not diminish in any way.

We feel, thanks be to God, that we are strong from within. Our strength is not due to reliance on anyone or any policy or method of the usual policies and methods of the world; rather, it is because we have a relationship with God and know that we are working for Him and His help is with us.

We have no motivation other than the pleasure of God and implementing divine laws. This is our goal and our entire life. We have spent our lives on this path, and the entire Iranian nation shares this feeling. Therefore, we have trust and confidence in divine assistance, and we rely on the awareness, faith, and strong motivation of the people. You must preserve these two strong forces.

Do not let the slightest weakness or disturbance occur in your motivations and faith. The enemy works hard to diminish the faith, enthusiasm, and motivation of the people by magnifying problems. Of course, it is natural for a nation that has been in revolution for ten years and has constantly been in conflict with the enemy during this time to endure some problems. A nation that has been engaged in war for eight years and has not indebted itself to other governments during all those years, while maintaining its combat capability, will inevitably face some constraints and difficulties.

When we did not extend our hand of need to other countries and preserved our dignity and independence, it is natural that it would be difficult for us internally. If our brave and powerful nation strives, these hardships and difficulties will be overcome. The enemy's hostile tactic is to magnify the problems and belittle the successes, to highlight the shortages and present them as the main problems of society. People must overcome these tactics and propaganda.

Another conspiracy and tactic of the enemy is to suggest that there is a severe hostile factionalism among the officials or the people! People should not take this propaganda seriously. Of course, there are political differences of opinion, which is natural and does not create a danger. Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) often said: I am not worried about these discussions; our concern is when we make them significant. We should not imagine that because of these debates, the individuals of the nation will separate from each other. If the officials or the people have political differences and different opinions, they still work shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand for the country and the system. Although the differences of opinion have faded at present, the officials and people should not allow grounds for division to arise in society.

I ask all individuals of the nation not to attack or insult anyone out of friendship and affection for me; this action has no justification. It makes no sense for someone to say I am more friendly with so-and-so, or I am closer to so-and-so in thought, and others are further away! We must all be on the path of Islam and the revolution and pursue Islamic goals, and with the same slogans and ideals that our dear Imam advanced us and stood against the enemies, we must continue the past path.

The wickedness and hostility of our enemies have not changed, and their nature has not altered; therefore, we must move in a united line with reliance on God and insistence on the same principles. Do not reject individuals, do not accuse others, and do not insult anyone. Everyone is a brother and is on the path of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and fully supports the decisions of the people's representatives. We have a heavy duty on our shoulders, and we must continue this path with strength and power.

I see the future as very bright and consider the problems solvable. I feel that the great popular and revolutionary force will be able to remove mountains from the path. We have overcome the greatest problems. Of course, I do not say there are no problems. There is no human or society that does not face problems in accomplishing great tasks. What is before us are problems that, in the face of the determination of the Iranian nation and their inner will and power, and above all the grace of the Lord, are insignificant.

God willing, may God grant all of you success and support; may the attentions and prayers of Imam Mahdi (may our souls be sacrificed for him) be upon us and grant you success so that you can earn the pleasure of that great one in the best way.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings