Statements in Meeting with Thousands of Students

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

Thanks be to God, 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 infallible progeny, especially the Awaited One on the earth.

This is a very blessed, enthusiastic, and meaningful session with you dear ones, the youth and adolescents. I thank those who organized the program, gave speeches, sang songs, recited the Quran, and the honorable host of the program.

Among the three events that occurred on the thirteenth of Aban, in two events the Americans struck a blow to the Iranian nation, and in one event the Iranian nation struck a blow to the Americans. The two events in which the Americans struck a blow to the Iranian nation were the exile of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) on the thirteenth of Aban in 1963; the reason for the Imam's exile was his opposition to capitulation. "Capitulation" is a political term; it means that the employees of one country have immunity in another country; that is, what was approved in Iran by the treacherous Pahlavi government was that American employees in Iran had immunity, meaning that if they committed any crime, they should not be tried in Iranian courts; this was the law of capitulation. This is one of the most humiliating laws; that is, if you assume an American, while drunk, runs over ten people in the street, Iranian courts have no right to try this person; they must send him to America to be tried there. This law was approved by the Pahlavi government, and a loud voice rose in opposition to this law — a resonant voice — and that voice was Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified); the Imam stood up, gave a speech, and said we will not submit to this law; the result was that the Imam was arrested on the thirteenth of Aban and exiled from Iran. So the act was that of the Americans; that is, the blow was struck by the Americans against us.

The second blow was the massacre of students. During the peak of the revolutionary movement of the Iranian nation — which was not only against the Pahlavi regime but also against America — the tyrannical police, the Shah's police, massacred students in front of this university [Tehran]; they opened fire, and a number of students were killed; this also occurred on the thirteenth of Aban. Well, these two incidents were blows that the Americans struck against us, against the Iranian nation.

Ten months after the victory of the revolution, on the thirteenth of Aban in 1979, students entered the American embassy and seized it, exposing the secrets and hidden documents of that embassy, and America's reputation was tarnished; this was our blow, the blow of the Iranian nation against America. These are the three incidents.

Well, my point is this: I say you, the youth of today, must have an analysis of various events; mere emotions are not enough. Now I will explain my intention with this statement. You must analyze the essence of the Islamic Revolution; you must analyze the issue of the Sacred Defense, the eight-year war; you must analyze the various events that occurred in the 60s; you must analyze the divergences that occurred in the 70s; you must analyze the various events that occurred in the 80s and 90s; that is, you must know and discern what this incident was, where it started, who was behind this incident, what the result of this incident was; these are analyses.

Now I want to raise an issue, and that is our confrontation with America. Well, it has been an hour that you have been chanting slogans against America — there is no doubt about that — but what is the issue? What is our problem with America? The Americans themselves attribute their enmity with the Iranian nation to the issue of the embassy — see, this [point] that I am presenting is based on attention and awareness of the actions that are being taken and that they want to take; I want you dear youths to pay attention — some also repeat this following them; what does this mean? It means they say, "Sir! The reason that America sanctions Iran, does bad things to Iran, creates chaos in Iran, causes problems, the reason for this enmity of America with Iran is that your students seized our embassy"; this is what both the Americans say and those who follow them inside the country say. During my presidency, a well-known American journalist and interviewer in New York interviewed me, and his first statement was the same: that our disagreement with you stems from your entry into our embassy and the seizure of our embassy. They want to establish this narrative, [while] this is a great lie; the issue is not like that. Twenty-six years before the embassy incident, the coup of the 28th of Mordad occurred; at that time, no one had entered the embassy. In 1953, the Americans overthrew an independent national government in Iran that was not dependent on America through a criminal coup; this is the enmity of the Americans. Therefore, the issue of American enmity with the Islamic Republic, with the Iranian nation, with Islamic Iran, has nothing to do with the embassy issue.

The documents obtained from the embassy — you know, the students went and brought the documents, a large amount of these documents were shredded by the Americans, and the students patiently sat down and reassembled these papers, which now amount to seventy or eighty volumes of books — showed that from the very first days after the victory of the revolution, the American embassy was a center of conspiracy and espionage against Iran; even at the American embassy, plans were being devised for a coup against the revolution; plans were being made for civil war; they were trying to instigate civil war in the border provinces of the country; they were devising how to infiltrate the new revolutionary government; they were managing and directing the anti-revolutionary media that were inside, saying: write this, say that, fabricate this, create this rumor; they were also planning for sanctions; that is, the embassy, from the very first days of the revolution, was a center of conspiracy against the country and against the revolution. [Thus, American enmity] has nothing to do with the seizure of the den of espionage; long before that, they had started their activities against the revolution.

So the issue is not as the Americans pretend, and it is not as some, either naively or for various reasons and motivations, promote inside that "Sir! The reason you see a power like America is so active against the Islamic Republic is that at a certain time you seized their embassy"; no, the issue is not like that. So what is the issue? In order to understand the matter more fundamentally, let us go back a bit. I would like you youths and adolescents to work on these issues with precision and thought; because tomorrow belongs to you, you are the arms of the country's progress, the country belongs to you, and you must move forward. Let us delve a little deeper into the issues.

The issue of Western infiltration in Iran began with the British; they were the first to come to Iran. Of course, from [the year] 1800 AD, they infiltrated during the Qajar dynasty and gradually expanded their influence. The goal of the British was to do in Iran what they did in India. You know, India was under British control for about 150 years, and the British drained the vitality of India; the major wealth of the British came from the colonization of India, which has its own detailed story. They wanted to do the same with Iran; that is, they wanted to start from a small place, gradually expand, take control of the country's economic resources, and then when the economy of the country was in their hands, political takeover would become easy for them; exactly like what they did in India. In India, they first established the East India Company, and then as they progressed, they took over the government of India, and India became part of the British Empire; this was the situation for about 150 years. Well, they wanted to do the same in Iran. One of the first things they did was the tobacco monopoly issue — you have probably heard of the "Tobacco Movement" — so that the monopoly of the cultivation, sale, and purchase of tobacco in the country would be in the hands of the British. The government officials of that time — during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah — did not understand what this meant and accepted it. Mirza Shirazi, the Shia religious authority, understood what was behind this issue in Samarra, and with a fatwa, he annulled and abolished this contract. This was their first act; well, this did not work. Subsequently, various contracts of this kind were made, one of the most important of which was the contract known as the "Votuq al-Dawlah Contract" in 1919, when the British bribed the then Prime Minister of Iran and concluded this contract. The "Votuq al-Dawlah Contract" placed the economy, politics, army, and everything of Iran in the hands of the British. This contract was also concluded, but martyr Modarres stood alone in the National Assembly of that time against this contract, exposed it, and did not allow it to come to fruition; this contract was also annulled. There were other contracts — [such as] the Reuter Contract and others — that were mostly annulled by the religious scholars, were abolished, and were prevented.

Of course, later the British took their revenge on the religious scholars. The British government saw that this way would not work and that the plan they implemented in India could not be realized in Iran; they came up with a solution — pay close attention — that solution was: they thought they needed to bring a completely dependent, harsh, dictatorial government to power in Iran so that they would no longer have any concerns and could carry out any actions they wanted through that government. They found Reza Khan the Cossack; they recognized him, identified him. Reza Khan was the very person the British needed; he was a very ruthless, very harsh, very audacious, ignorant, uneducated person, unaware of knowledge and such things, a thug, irreligious, and without faith; they found such a person. They took advantage of the weakness of the Qajar king, Ahmad Shah, and through Reza Shah and another person — Seyyed Zia Tabatabai, who was later sidelined — they staged a coup in Iran; they first made Reza Khan the commander-in-chief, then made him the prime minister, and then made him the king of Iran; exactly what the British wanted to realize in Iran.

Well, the first thing they did through Reza Shah was to suppress the clergy, intimidate the nation. They severely intimidated the nation; as our parents and elders narrated to us, during Reza Shah's time, no one dared to breathe; even in a private room, no one dared to criticize Reza Shah; even in a private room, among two or three family members, no one dared! He intimidated the nation to such an extent. They confined the scholars to their homes, removed their turbans, closed the seminaries, and openly opposed religious rulings such as hijab, and did everything that the British wanted to be done in Iran, that is, the appropriation of financial and economic resources, they did everything they wanted. Of course, here I should point out that a number of Westernized intellectuals or those dependent on the West — not all were dependent; some were not dependent, but were Westernized, mesmerized by the West — played a role in beautifying Reza Shah's government; they too will be held accountable before God; those intellectuals whom I do not want to name are complicit in the crimes against the Iranian nation with Reza Shah; this is also true.

Well, Reza Shah became the agent of the British in Iran. In the meantime, World War II occurred. During World War II, Reza Shah, according to his nature, developed a tendency towards Germany; he liked Hitler's actions, and he developed a tendency towards the Germans; the British realized this, saw that he was no longer useful; [thus, in] 1941, they deposed Reza Shah; they brought him in and also deposed him. [They] deposed him, placed his son in his place under certain conditions that he had to do this, behave this way, and he said yes; they even told him not to listen to a certain radio, and he said yes; to that extent! Well, up to this point, British rule was in place.

The 1920s were the years of the gradual decline of British power; [the people] fought, India was freed, some other African countries were freed, Britain weakened, and Britain's weakness allowed America to step into the arena. In the mid-1920s, America set foot in Iran; at first, it was with a friendly demeanor and gently, with "Truman's Fourth Point" and things that now have many details. They even aligned with some of the opponents of the British; they cooperated to attract opinions to themselves; and unfortunately, they managed to make some non-dependent politicians interested in them. America's behavior in Iran was like this; at first, they entered with softness and showed that they had no colonial claims in Iran. This continued until a national government came to power; the Mosaddegh government. Incidentally, Mosaddegh, due to naivety, negligence, or simplicity — whatever you want to call it — was optimistic about America. Mosaddegh was against the British and hoped for American assistance! Relying on foreign assistance is like this. When this government came to power and it became clear that this government was not dependent on America and could not be, the Americans staged the coup of the 28th of Mordad, overthrew the government, and caused many atrocities in Iran.

After the mask was removed from the Americans and it became clear that they were not a kind and friendly government with Iran, they did everything they could; the Americans took the country's fate into their own hands, completely made the country politically and economically dependent on themselves, opened the door for the Zionist regime to enter Iran — the Americans did this; the Americans opened the door for the Zionist regime to enter Iran — they formed SAVAK; SAVAK became the center of extreme violence and ruthlessness against the people, against the protesters, against the opponents, and brutally suppressed the slightest dissent. All of this occurred during the period of American dominance; it belongs to the 30s and 40s and so on. They brought tens of thousands of military advisors into Iran and placed the heavy burden of their maintenance on the Iranian nation; they controlled the purchase of weapons, from whom to buy, at what price to buy, how to pay for them, how to receive the weapons, all was under the control of the Americans. The spread of corruption, in a planned manner; that is, in the 30s and 40s — which reached its peak at the end of the 40s and early 50s — moral corruption was carried out in Iran through precise American planning to lead the youth to corruption. Well, it is clear that a youth who is led to corruption has no power to resist; they wanted to render the Iranian youth ineffective. Backwardness in science, backwardness in technologies, progress in moral corruption, and severe class discrimination in a horrific manner; all of this occurred during the period of American dominance and influence in Iran.

This enmity continued, and when the revolutionary movement peaked, they felt threatened and intensified their actions; even about a week before the victory of the revolution, a prominent American general named "Hauser" came to Tehran to stage a coup if possible and kill hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people; their intention was this; Hauser wanted to do this. Of course, the revolution had reached a point where their measures were futile. A firm resolve like that of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) stood against them. They wanted to stage a coup, declared martial law, and the Imam told the people to go to the streets, nullified the martial law, thwarted their plan, and thus they failed. Hauser also saw that it was futile, left Iran, and of course, if he had stayed in Iran for four or five more days, he would probably have been among the first executed after the revolution; he was lucky to leave early.

Well, the issue of America and Iran is like this. When you say "Death to America," this is not merely a slogan; this is a policy. The reason is the same as I mentioned; the Americans for many years, from the mid-20s to the victory of the revolution — that is, the late 50s — for 30 years did everything they could against the Iranian nation, struck blows in every way they could; financially, economically, politically, scientifically, morally. The revolution triumphed in such a situation; the revolution faced such a corrupt regime and destructive influence and, by God's grace, through the efforts of the Iranian nation and the leadership of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), it triumphed.

Now what Hauser wanted to do in Iran, the Americans are doing in Gaza; the issue is the same; in Palestine, the same actions are taking place. The Zionists who dominate occupied Palestine and the oppressed Palestine are supported by America. If it were not for American support, if it were not for American military backing, the fraudulent, corrupt regime of the Zionist regime would have collapsed in the very first week. The Americans are behind them. Today in Gaza, the same events are occurring that if they could, they would have done in Iran. The catastrophe that is occurring in Gaza by the Zionists and with the help of the Americans and, in fact, at the hands of the Americans is an unparalleled catastrophe. In three weeks, nearly four thousand children have been killed by them! Where in history do you find such a thing? The Islamic Ummah must understand what the issue is, must discern the battlefield. The battlefield is not Gaza and Israel; the battlefield is one of truth and falsehood. The battlefield is one of global arrogance and faith; on one side is the power of faith, on the other side is the power of global arrogance. Of course, the power of global arrogance comes with military pressure, bombardment, and catastrophe, but the power of faith will ultimately prevail over all of this by God's grace.

Our hearts bleed for the sufferings of the Palestinian people, especially the people of Gaza; we are saddened, but when we look closely, we see that those who are victorious in the battlefield are the people of Gaza, the people of Palestine; they have been able to achieve great things. First of all, the people of Gaza, with their patience, their steadfastness, and their refusal to submit, have removed the false mask of human rights from the face of America, France, England, and the likes; they have exposed them. The people of Gaza, with their patience, have been able to awaken human conscience. Now you see what is happening in the world. In these Western countries — in England, in France, in Italy, in various states of America — people are coming out in large numbers into the streets, chanting against Israel and in many cases against America; their reputation has been tarnished. They truly have no remedy, they cannot justify themselves, hence you see a fool appears and says, "The gathering of people in England is the work of Iran"; surely the London mobilization did this, the Paris mobilization did this! Among the real shamelessness that today's Western politicians and media show is that they call the Palestinian fighters "terrorists." Is someone who defends their home a terrorist? Is someone who defends their homeland a terrorist? On the day when the Germans came and took Paris during World War II, were the French fighters against the Germans terrorists? How come they are fighters, the pride of France, while a young man from Hamas and Islamic Jihad is a terrorist? Shameless! The people of Gaza and the Palestinian fighters have exposed the liars of the world.

One of the important things that the "Al-Aqsa Storm" operation accomplished was to show how a small group — they are fewer than them; their numbers are smaller — with very limited supplies and resources, but with faith and determination, can turn the fruits of years of the enemy's criminal efforts into smoke in a few hours; they can humiliate the arrogant and global powers; the Palestinians have humiliated both the usurping regime and its supporters with their actions, their courage, and today with their patience. This is a great lesson. Of course, these atrocities have shaken humanity, shaken everyone.

I said this a few days ago, and now I repeat it: the Islamic world expects more. Muslim governments must know that if today they do not help Palestine — each in whatever way they can — they have strengthened the enemy of Palestine, who is the enemy of Islam and humanity, and tomorrow this same danger will threaten them. What the Islamic governments must insist on is the immediate cessation of these atrocities being committed in Gaza; this bombardment must be stopped immediately; they must close the routes for oil and supplies to the Zionist regime; Islamic governments must not cooperate economically with the Zionist regime; they must loudly condemn this atrocity, this catastrophe in all global forums without hesitation and without stuttering. It should not be that in an Islamic or Arab gathering, even those few who speak either speak ambiguously or stutter; they must speak clearly. It is clear what is happening; the Zionist regime must be condemned; the entire Islamic world must mobilize against the Zionist regime.

Of course, the blow that has been dealt to the Zionist regime is irreparable; I said this at the beginning, and I now emphasize and repeat it. Gradually, in their statements, the agents of the Zionist regime have also shown that the blow they received is one that cannot be compensated; they cannot compensate for it. The Zionist regime is now helpless, bewildered, and lies to its own people. The fact that they express concern about their captives in the hands of the Palestinians is also a lie; these bombardments may also destroy their own captives; the fact that they express concern for their captives means they are lying to their own people. And this lying is out of necessity; now the Zionist regime is in a state of bewilderment, in a state of necessity, does not know what to do, and everything they do is out of compulsion; that is, they do not understand what to do. If it were not for American assistance, the Zionist regime would certainly be paralyzed within a few days.

And the Islamic world must not forget that in this important and decisive issue, those who stood against Islam, against a Muslim nation, against the oppressed Palestine, were America, France, and England; the Islamic world must not forget this, must understand this; in their dealings, in their equations, in their analyses, they must not forget who is standing against these oppressed people and putting pressure on them; it is not just the Zionist regime.

Of course, we have no doubt that "Indeed, the promise of God is true"; the divine promise is true. And let not those who do not believe in it make you feel weak or insecure. And God willing, the ultimate victory will be with the people of Palestine and Palestine.

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