Imam Khamenei

U.S. President, President of France and British Prime Minister are war criminals

The following is the full text of Ayatollah Khamenei’s, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, speech made during a meeting with government officials and Muslim states’ ambassadors to Iran on the anniversary of the day of Muhammad's (PBUH) appointment to prophethood (Eid al-Mab’ath):


In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,[1]



All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and Prophet, Ab-al-Qassem Al-Mustafa Muhammad, upon his pure and immaculate household, upon his chosen companions, and upon those who follow them until the Judgment Day.

I would like to congratulate the dear audience, the dear guests who are present in the Islamic Republic, the honored Muslim states’ ambassadors to Iran, all Iranian people, all Muslims of the world, and all the world’s free men and women on the great, unique day of Eid al-Mab’ath (Muhammad's (PBUH) appointment to prophethood).



The appointment to prophethood (Bi’that) is a unique and unparalleled event; indeed, no other event in the history of humankind is as splendid and important than that of “Bi’that”. Bi’that of the prophet revealed the utmost of God’s mercy on mankind and humanity. Sending the prophet on a mission for guiding humankind, to lead humankind to their climax, is God’s biggest grace on humanity, it's the most important manifestation represented in the appointment of Muhammad as prophet.



Thanks to Bi’that, a path opened up for humanity, which has the power and capacity to advance humankind until the end of the world; just as, since that day until now, humanity has continuously progressed. Minds and thoughts have developed; and the many of facts, that religions had come to profess, have become part of the culture within human societies; and, thanks be to God, hearts of people from various groups have become inclined to spirituality.

The gist of Bi’that is monotheism (tawhid): monotheism means worshipping God exclusively. That is, desires, temptations, lust and anger do not reign over human life; dictatorships, autocracies, self-centeredness do not rule over human life. Instead, the guiding apparatus of human life should be divine knowledge, divine power, divine grace, divine blessings and divine guidance: this is the meaning of monotheism or tawhid.



Firstly, all those who, with their arrogance and selfishness, their oppression and autocracy, want to dominate the affairs of human life and human societies, are rejected by the meaning of tawhid; hence, they oppose it. ‘And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy - devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in delusion.’ Quran, 6: 112

All the prophets (P.B.U.T) faced, encountered, and fought against autocrats, tyrants, and bullies. Without the opposition from the front of the truth, falsehood cannot be forced to withdraw. The fact that humanity has continuously grown closer to divine teachings, since the beginning of humankinds’ history, until now, is due to combat—because, the truth must fight. ‘The believers fight for Allah’s cause; and the disbelievers fight for the devil’s cause’ (Quran, 59:8). Without combating tyrants, autocrats, and the malicious oppressors, truth cannot advance. Combat is necessary; and the prophets (P.B.U.T.) all put up a fight. Monotheism (tawhid) implies the main boundaries, principles, and layout of combat.

‘There is no god but God’ is not solely a religious and conceptual motto; ‘There is no god but God’ is a source of great impact, a source of action. The Islamic government, that president Rouhani mentioned was created in Medina, was a result of ‘There is no god but God’. That is, governance is nonsense in divine religions, except if it is led by the almighty God and His appointees.

As a result, just as the prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H.) said, “Declare, ‘There is no god but God’ and you will succeed”[2], the autocrats, in that limited, small area of Mecca, began to oppose him. Then, later, when the Islamic government was created in Medina, again, governments, empires and world powers opposed Islam. This opposition has existed since day one till now; ever since, withdrawal has always been the outcome for the front of falsehood and it advances the outcome for the front of truth.



The small population that lived in Mecca, under much pressure, is a vast human society, today, with great pride, great facilities, great hope and a bright future. This should be understood: the Islamic Ummah must refer to its core principal: tawhid (monotheism).



When we believe in monotheism we cannot accept coercion, we cannot accept oppression, we cannot but stand before oppressors: this is the nature of tawhid. The fact that the Islamic Republic declares that ‘wherever there is an oppressed populous in need of assistance, we will be present,’ is for the same reason. That we insist on helping Palestine, is for the same reason; because, tawhid bounds us to stand against the oppressor’s coercion waged on the oppressed. —This is the essence of tawhid: Bi’that reminds us of it; and it will certainly progress.

Even though pressure on the Palestinian people has been extreme in recent days—over the past 70 years—you view a small, tolerant population that you think the Zionists could easily dominate, or estrange this nation, from their country, by cutting off their hands from their own lands; but, that same “weak” nation, has, today, turned into the powerful Palestinian nation that threatens the “mighty” Zionist regime. Hence, the Zionist regime feels weak and incapable when up against the Palestinian people. Undoubtedly, Palestinians will win over Zionists; and Palestine will be returned to the Palestinians.

Our presence, besides groups of resistance in Western Asia, is for a good reason. Our presence in Syria, in opposition to US-supported terrorism, is not in vain. [Furthermore,] The claim that the Islamic Republic is seeking hegemony and wants to conquer a certain area is a nonsensical lie. We have no reason or desire for seeking hegemony over any part of the world. We do not need to, either. Thanks be to God, a big, flourishing, and affluent country is in the disposition of the Iranian nation. We got involved in the West-Asian region—in Syria—because there was, and there is, resistance against oppression. Thus, you witness, with God’s grace, thanks to the aid provided and thanks to the bravery of warriors, the Syrian forces have managed to defeat the US-supported terrorists—which were created by the West and their allies in our region, like the Saudis.



Those who once supported ISIS, discreetly or overtly, claim to oppose them [ISIS] today and somehow defeated them: that is an apparent lie. The U.S. played no role in defeating ISIS. In his speech, a few hours ago, the U.S. president [Donald Trump] said they managed to defeat ISIS in Syria: another blatant and obvious lie! They, where they thought it was necessary, entered and helped [ISIS]. When the main elements of ISIS were encircled, they saved them. Even before that, they were involved in creating ISIS. Using the Saudis’ and their allies’ money, they could create these vile creatures that would attack the nations of Iraq and Syria. However, the resistance against the US and its agents saved these two countries: the outcome will be the same in the future.



This morning’s military action on Syria was a crime[3]. I, unequivocally, declare the President of the United States, the French President [Emmanuel Macron], and the Prime Minister of Britain [Theresa May] as criminals; they have committed a crime. Of course, they will benefit from none of these attacks; just as it was while in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, where they were present over the past years committing the same criminal acts; they gained no advantage.



Just a few days ago, the U.S. President announced that they’ve spent seven trillion USD in Western Asia—or the "Middle-East" as he called it—and they [U.S.] made no profit. He is right: they didn’t gain a thing. The U.S. must know, from now on, too, no matter how much they spend or how much they endeavor, they will certainly gain nothing from this region!

In face of such events, we should be increasingly aware and vigilant: Muslim nations, countries, and governments should gain more experience. They should realize what the enemies are doing: they want to damage the Islamic Ummah. Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan are not their only targets: the main target is the presence of Islam in the region [the Middle-East]; they want to damage this. Islamic governments [and their nations] must understand: Islamic governments must not serve the goals of the US and other invasive Western countries.

It brings no honor to a Muslim country when the US president announces that they regard it as a "milking cow."--During the most recent of presidential election campaigns, last year, the current US president made this remark: He said that Saudi Arabia is just like ‘a milking cow’ for the U.S.A... Is there any label more humiliating than this for a government and a nation to be called? They use Saudi money, and they call it a milking cow. There is no possible type of humiliation worse than this: Islam is against such humiliation. “And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers,” (Quran, 63:8). If they [Saudi leaders] are true believers of Islam, they should be treated with respect: this level of accepted humiliation is a sign of their lack of faith. They [the Saudi government members] are not true believers; they are liars just like their masters [the US and Western forces].

The US president stated that the US struck at Syria to fight against the use of chemical weapons: this is a lie. They never oppose the use of chemical weapons--or any other crimes against humanity. Right now Yemen is bombarded daily: the US is supporting attacks [on Yemen.] In different regions of the world, Muslims are under intense pressure: they [USA] support and help the oppressors of Muslims. They [the U.S. government] are indifferent towards the troubles and pains inflicted upon Muslim nations.



For example, the USA also supported the cruel dictator Saddam [Hussain]. Thousands of people from Iran and Iraq were killed or injured by the chemical weapons used by Saddam. There are still, among our people, those who were injured at that time, and they suffer immensely. They [the US gov. members] are not always against chemical weapons [as they claim]; however, they get involved due to their own arrogant ambitions and accuse others of being dictators; whereas, they operate as one international dictator, themselves. Of course, dictators will never succeed anywhere in the world: they will certainly be defeated. The USA will surely be defeated in this region or any other region where they oppress others. The nations [that the USA targets] will certainly win: God willing, it is going to be so in the Western-Asian [Middle-East] regions, too.



Our nation is standing, thanks be to God. The Iranian nation, with forty years of experience, is steadfast in its resistance. We have been tested: retreating in face of the enemy only encourages the enemy. In confronting the enemy, resistance will repel the enemy. “And if those [Meccans] who disbelieve had fought you, they would have turned their backs [in flight]. Then they would not find a protector or a helper. [This is] the established way of Allah which has occurred before. And never will you find in the way of Allah any change." (Quran 48:22&23)

This is a divine tradition [on the path of Allah]: if you confront cruelty, oppression, bullying, malignancy, and world criminals, they would certainly have to retreat.--Quran Al-Karim reminds us of this definite path of history and God: this will come true, God willing. We hope that the Iranian nation, the Syrian nation, the Iraqi nation, the oppressed Palestinian nation, the Kashmiri nation, Myanmar, and the people of other places where Muslims are under pressure, God willing, will succeed in the near future, and they push back their enemies.

 

O' Lord! Please, for the sake of Muhammad and his progeny (p.b.u.t), bestow Your mercy and glory on the pure souls of the martyrs—the martyrs of the path of God and Truth—and upon the pure soul of our magnanimous Imam [Khomeini].

 

May peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.

 


[1] At the beginning of the meeting, President Rouhani delivered a speech.

[2] Bihar al-Anwar Vol.18, P.212

[3] U.S., Britain and France invasion of Syria