Statements in Meeting with Students and Scientific Elites

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

The session is as expected from a student and youth gathering. What has been said—of course, the precise and accurate words of these brothers and sisters who spoke—were correct analyses. When one looks at all of this collectively, the main characteristic of these words is the purity and sincerity, and the distance from flattery, which are the qualities expected from a young person, especially an educated and elite youth. Of course, you are not all the students of the country; you may not represent all the various thoughts and different student tastes; however, there is no doubt that a vast collection of students thinks in the way you have expressed here, despite the differences in opinions that may have been present in your statements.

I have much to say to you young people who are present here, as well as to the entire student body of the country, and I have said so before; as long as I have the ability to speak, I will continue to address you dear youth. I am confident that what secures the future of this country, indeed the future of Islam and the Islamic Ummah, is this vibrant spirit of inquiry and passionate devotion that one observes in the young student generation of our country. That is, even if you may not firmly believe in a particular issue now or may not have deep reasoning for it, the collective movement of the Muslim and faithful students—with the different names across our country—brings hope for the future of this country, this system, and the Islamic Ummah. You focus on important matters; you emphasize certain points; you pursue and insist on correct issues; these are positive aspects that, thanks be to God, exist.

Now, I would like to address some of the points that had the nature of questions directed at me or that I think I should clarify. I will speak about these for a few minutes, and then I have one or two other matters in mind that I will present if time permits and we do not reach the call to prayer.

A significant part of the statements made by some of our friends referred to the criminals who were behind the recent events and why they are not being tried, why they are not being punished, and why there is no action taken against them. Let me tell you; in matters of such importance, one cannot act based on conjecture and rumors. We consider this revolution and this great system to be the product of the struggles of a great nation and the immense sacrifices of youth who have sacrificed, whether during the revolution, during the Sacred Defense, or since then until today; just like you, who are present in various arenas and sometimes accomplish great tasks. We cannot base the continuity of this system and the overall movement of this system, at a level where the leadership's major decisions are required, on conjecture and such things. You should know that there will be no leniency regarding crime and wrongdoing; however, we—whether I or you, it does not matter; whether you, who are students and speak freely, or I, who carry a collection of experience and years of continuous work in the field—do not have the authority to dictate how the judiciary should judge; no, the judiciary must look at the evidence. If it finds evidence of someone's guilt, whether in political, economic, or various corruptions, it must rule accordingly. The rumors you have heard, I also hear many of these rumors; many of these rumors may indeed correspond to reality, and one may have evidence and indications for them; however, scattered indications cannot prove a crime against someone; pay attention to this point. Therefore, it is not the case that we assume there is a definite criminal behind the scenes that the system intends to overlook their crime for some reason. This is one point.

Another point alongside this is that the actions the system takes at a macro level, with the comprehensive aspect that some issues have, must consider all aspects; one cannot look at issues unidimensionally. I believe that if you look at things with these considerations, what has been done so far and what will be done in the future will convince any fair-minded person.

Another topic raised in the statements of friends was the violations or even crimes that were committed during these events by unknown forces. You referred to the issues of Khomeini University or similar matters—now, several dear students repeated the Khomeini University incident; similar issues have also occurred during this time—or for example, the case of Kahrizak was mentioned. These issues are truly one of the problems and dilemmas of the executive bodies. First of all, know for certain that actions will be taken against these. Now, we do not want to create a commotion by ordering that this order be broadcast in the media, or that a follow-up be attached, or that a sequel be made; I do not like to engage in propaganda; however, from the very first days, orders have been given, and people are following up; however, the work must proceed correctly, with precision and care.

In Khomeini University, on that specific night, certainly significant violations occurred, bad actions were taken. We have said that a special file should be prepared for this matter, and they should pursue it carefully and find the criminals, and when they find them, they should not consider their organizational affiliations, and they must be punished; I have stated this firmly.

I thank our security police, our law enforcement, and our Basij forces; they have done great work, good work; however, this is a separate discussion. If someone has committed a violation or a crime in connection with any of these organizations, they too must be investigated separately. We neither overlook their service due to their crime nor do we overlook their crime due to their service; it must certainly be pursued, and it will be pursued. Likewise, the Kahrizak case, which has now been announced and broadcast. The Khomeini University case is also being followed; even individuals whose relatives were killed in these incidents—there are a few— or suffered financial damage. It has been decided to create a separate file for each of these. We have ordered, we have stated, and we will pursue these matters; however, be aware that none of these issues should be conflated with the main issue after the elections. The main incident should not be overshadowed by these events.

Some people overlook what happened after the elections, the oppression that was inflicted on the people, the oppression that was inflicted on the Islamic system, the disgrace that was brought upon the reputation of the system in front of nations by some; they consider the issue of a certain incident, the Kahrizak prison, or the Khomeini University case to be the main issue of the period after the elections until today; this itself is another injustice. The main issue is another matter. The main issue is that the people participated in a massive movement, in a good and unprecedented enthusiastic election, and cast this high vote into the ballot boxes. Is eighty-five percent a joke? This election places the system, which has been continuously achieving economic, scientific, political, security, and international advancements over the past couple of years, in a high stage of merit and reputation, and then suddenly we observe a movement aimed at destroying this glorious event! The main issue is this.

Of course, what I am stating is an analysis; it is not news. In my opinion, based on my analysis, this issue did not start after the elections or around the election days; it started before, it was designed beforehand, it was planned. I do not accuse individuals who were involved of being agents of foreigners or of being British or American; I do not claim this, because this matter is not proven to me; something that is not proven, I cannot say. However, what I can say is that this movement, whether its pioneers were aware or unaware, was a designed movement; it was not coincidental. All signs indicate that this movement was planned, calculated. Of course, those who designed it were not certain that it would succeed.

After the elections, when movements began from some, a relative response also occurred from a group of people in Tehran, they became hopeful; they thought what they imagined had been accomplished and succeeded, and they became hopeful. Thus, you saw how these devices and media, audio, electronic, satellite, etc., intensified their presence in the scene; they entered the field explicitly. Previously, they were not hopeful that this would succeed; then they saw that it did succeed; therefore, they quickly entered the field; however, fortunately, as always, they misunderstand Iranian issues and do not know the Iranian nation, and this time too, they did not recognize it. They were slapped in the face, they received a blow, but they are still not hopeless. Let me tell you dear students! They are not hopeless; they are pursuing the issues; they will not give up easily. They have their stage managers, and they will find stage managers.

The university must be vigilant. A faithful and Muslim student who cares for his country and is devoted to the future of his country and his generation must be alert. Know that they are designing; of course, they will fail. I tell you now, they will ultimately fail; however, the degree of our awareness and vigilance can influence the extent of damage and loss they inflict. If we are vigilant, they cannot inflict damage and loss. If we become negligent, become emotional, act without prudence, or remain asleep and such consequences come upon us, the damage and cost will be high; even if they ultimately do not succeed.

Another topic that was raised is the leadership's support for the government or the president. Well, this matter is clear. In fact, one or two of the friends themselves mentioned it. The current government and the respected president, like all human beings, have strengths and weaknesses. I supported them based on their strengths. There are strengths, and I support them; I will support anyone who shows this inclination, this orientation, this movement, this seriousness, and I will support them within my responsibility. Do I not support you students who seek justice? Well, why not? If the leader supports a student who seeks justice, does that mean he supports the weaknesses that this student may have? Certainly not. This is the case. There are weaknesses, and I do not support those weaknesses.

Now, one of the questions was why you do not take a public stance? Because there is no need to take a public stance; what necessity is there? Taking a public stance regarding a weakness in an official, how much do you think it helps to solve that problem? Nothing. Sometimes, if one pursues a remedy without making it public, it will be better than making a fuss about it. Yes, there are times when there is no choice but to make it public; there, yes, one makes it public; however, it is not the case that it should be assumed that if there is a flaw or a problem in the executive officials of the country and the leader opposes them, he must express this through loudspeakers; no, sometimes there is a definite interest in not making something public.

Now, do not say here, 'Oh, truth and expediency.' This opposition of truth and expediency is not one of those solid arguments. Expediency itself is one of the truths. It is not the case that whatever is labeled expediency is a negative thing. Some think this way: 'Oh, are you being expedient?' Well, yes, sometimes one must be expedient. Expediency itself is one of the truths that must be considered; this is among the certainties and obvious principles of Islam. Of course, this matter is not the place for discussion and elaboration, but it is among the certainties. It is not appropriate sometimes for one to make something public. Suppose there is a small flaw; they magnify it tenfold, making it a source of despair and a source of blackening; what necessity is there? Well, one resolves it in another way. Therefore, not taking a public stance arises from these logical and reasonable causes.

Let me say one more thing, as time is passing. You see, dear ones! You know—because I saw in your statements today—that the Islamic Republic and the Islamic system are facing a massive war, but a soft war—which I saw the term 'soft war' in your speeches, and thanks be to God, you pay attention to these points; this is very gratifying for us—well, now in the soft war, who must come to the field? Certainly, the intellectual elites. That is, you are the young officers on the front lines of the confrontation against the soft war.

What you should do, how you should act, how you should explain, these are not things that I come to list and say, 'Oh, do this action, do not do that action'; these are matters that you must sit down in your main assemblies, in your minds, in your thought rooms, and find the solutions; however, the goal is clear: the goal is to defend the Islamic system and the Islamic Republic against a comprehensive movement based on force, deception, money, and advanced scientific media capabilities. This dangerous satanic movement must be confronted.

They have reasoning for attacking the Islamic Republic. In my opinion, their reasoning is complete from their perspective. In a very sensitive point of the world geographically, namely this point of the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, North Africa, part of the Mediterranean—this is a vast area— the entire Islamic Ummah is located. Now you see that out of the five or six vital water passages that exist in the world, three of them are in this region: the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and Bab el-Mandeb. These are important passages upon which global trade depends. You take the world map and look at it in front of you, and you will see how important these centers are for commercial and economic connections worldwide. Therefore, this region is a sensitive area. Now, in this very sensitive region, a power is rising and showing itself more and more each day. This power opposes all the arrogant demands and the corrupt international economic networks; it opposes the system of domination, it opposes tyranny; well, this is very important for the arrogant powers. The arrogant powers are not just the United States of America or a certain president and a certain American government or a certain European country; the arrogant powers are a much larger network that includes these; it includes the Zionist network, the major international traders, the vast monetary centers of the world; these are the ones who are designing the political issues of the world; they bring governments in and take them out. This collection, which includes the United States government, European governments, and many of the wealthy oil sheikhs in our region, is vehemently opposed to such a rising and flourishing power; therefore, they will do everything they can to counter it. For these thirty years, they have not remained idle, and as time goes on, they will not remain idle either; unless you young people strive to bring the country to a point scientifically, economically, and security-wise where its vulnerability is close to zero; then they will withdraw, and the conspiracies will end. This is why I have repeatedly emphasized in universities about issues of science, research, innovation, the software movement, and the connection between industry and university over these past few years, because it is a cornerstone of the long-term security of your country and nation.

And let me tell you here, be careful that in these small and trivial political matters, do not let the university be affected; do not let the scientific work of the university become unstable; do not let our laboratories, our classes, our research centers suffer damage; be vigilant. That is, one of the important issues before you is to maintain the scientific movement in universities. The enemies greatly desire that our university be at least for a while disrupted and in turmoil; this is a desirable point for them; both politically and in the long term; because your science is detrimental to them in the long run; therefore, it is desirable that you do not pursue science.

Now you young people, whom we said are the young officers confronting the soft war, do not ask me what our role is in demolishing the current mosque of Dhirar; well, you find the role yourselves. Or confronting the new hypocrisy, or defining justice. Should I come here and sit down and have a philosophical discussion about how many branches justice has, how it is? Now, the amusing thing is that they say, 'Express it in one sentence.' It is famous that someone during the time of Sheikh Ansari brought his son to Najaf. He saw that the students were studying and becoming scholars, and Sheikh Ansari was a great figure; he wanted to make his son a student. He came to Sheikh Ansari and said, 'Sheikh! I have brought this young man and I kindly ask you to make him a jurist by tomorrow when we want to leave!'

My dear ones! The main condition for your correct activity in this front of the soft war is to have an optimistic and hopeful outlook. Keep your outlook optimistic. You see, I am in some cases like your grandfather. My outlook towards the future is optimistic; not out of delusion, but out of insight. You are young—the center of optimism—be careful that your outlook towards the future is not pessimistic; it should be hopeful, not hopeless. If the outlook becomes hopeless, becomes pessimistic, becomes 'what benefit is there,' it will lead to inactivity, to lethargy, to isolation; there will absolutely be no movement; that is exactly what the enemy wants.

Another condition is that there should be no extremism in matters. The nature of youth is one of movement and intensity. We have also gone through this period of your life; it was also during the revolution and the early struggles. I know what intensity is. Many advised us not to be intense, and we said they do not understand how necessary it is to be intense. I know what your perception is, but now hear from us. Be careful that extremism will not advance a person. Decide with thought. Of course, today’s youth is more thoughtful than the youth of our time; let me tell you this. You are today’s youth who have experiences, knowledge, and awareness that are far greater than those of our youth fifty years ago; it is not comparable to today’s youth. Therefore, the expectation that you think wisely and thoughtfully and act without extremism, without excess or deficiency in matters is not too much to ask.

Of course, also know that what happened after the elections, with the same reasoning I mentioned, was not very contrary to our expectations; although the individuals who entered were, yes, contrary to our expectations. We hope that, God willing, the Almighty God will give us an opportunity to speak with you again at some time in the university; now that there was no opportunity.

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