In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
All praise is due to God, Lord of the Worlds, and may peace and greetings be upon our Master and our Prophet, Abul Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and his untainted, pure, chosen Progeny, particularly the Remnant of God on earth.
I would like to welcome all our dear brothers and sisters who have come here from Qom and illuminated and perfumed the atmosphere here in our Hussainiyah with their warm breaths, their radiant hearts, and the memory of their beloved martyrs. In addition to the incident that took place on the 19th of Dey (9th of January), which is an important event and which I will discuss shortly, I also value this opportunity to meet with the pious, courageous, active people of Qom. I pray Almighty God will continually bestow His blessings and favor upon these dear people, protect them, and grant them success in all their endeavors.
Commemorating the incident that took place on January 9, 1978 is necessary and imperative for two reasons. First, because January 9, 1978 is one of the peaks in the history of our country. That is, anyone who looks at the history of the country in the future will see this day - you have gathered here on this anniversary – as being one of the most prominent points in our history. It was on this day that a massive movement was set in motion in the country, and this massive movement culminated in a monumental revolution that shook the world and altered the global political map. This is a peak. The second reason for the need to honor January 9th is that we must learn from it. These events, these “Days of God” (Ayamollah), are for us to draw lessons from them. We must both learn from and take note of those events. So your annual gathering, whether it is held here or in Qom itself, is a necessary, honorable, effective action, God willing.
I have noted a few points for this second section pertaining to the lessons and insights to be drawn from the incident that took place on the 19th of Dey, which I would like to share with you.
One issue is about what kind of Iran was preferred by the US regime and Global Arrogance. Today, when you see everyone is speaking out from all the corners of the world, both inside and outside [the country], we should understand how the US prefers Iran to be, what it desires, and how it wants things to be. This can be understood from the issues related to the incident in Qom. Several days before the 19th of Dey, Carter, then President of the US, was in Tehran. During an official meeting, he began praising Mohammad Reza Shah excessively, saying, “Today, thanks to this gentleman, Iran is an island of stability.” In other words, Iran was considered to be an ideal Iran in the eyes of the American president in 1977. What was Iran like in 1977? I will share three or four of those characteristics with you now.
In terms of foreign policy, Iran was completely subservient to the United States. At that time, more than 50,000 US military advisors were present in Iran, both within the army and outside of it. They were also in intelligence agencies and other organizations and were paid by Iran, receiving their salaries from the Iranian treasury. According to research, the money that those advisors were receiving was more than the total budget allocated for the Ministry of Education at that time. This is one example. The foreign policy that the US preferred for Iran was one that was completely obedient and served the interests of the US as well as the interests of the Zionist regime. By God’s will, the Revolution took place. If it hadn’t taken place, several years later all the fertile plains of the country, like the plain of Qazvin – which was in the control of the Zionists – would have been given to them. The Qazvin plain was put in the control of the Zionists. This was how foreign policy was. This was how foreign policy was.
As to the domestic policy, the [Pahlavi] regime’s domestic policy was characterized by the absolute suppression of any movement within the country and by severe dictatorship. All groups whose cause was to fight the monarchy had been isolated by the pressure and repression brought by the regime. This included the National Front, which was a political group engaged in political activities, the Freedom Movement [of Iran], and various factions such as the Fedayeen, who were armed communist guerrillas operating in the forests. All of these groups had been suppressed. I tell you that apart from the movement led by the revered Imam [Khomeini], which was a religious movement active throughout the country from around 1974 or 1975 until 1978 and up until the victory of the Revolution, there was no organization or establishment in the country capable of voicing opinions or protesting. They had suppressed everyone. This was how the [Pahlavi] regime’s domestic policy was.
As to the country’s economy, the country’s population was about 35 million at that time. They sold nearly six million barrels of oil a day. Pay attention to these figures! Today, when we sell 1.5 million barrels of oil, our administration is proud. At that time, nearly six million barrels of oil were sold and exported. The money came into the country and went into the pockets of a certain class. The gap between classes in the country was appalling. This Gini coefficient, which economists are familiar with and is an index showing the gap between classes, was 51 percent during that time. That is, it was a very high figure. There was such a gap between the classes. The poor classes had been abandoned. The country’s money wasn’t spent on the country, it wasn’t spent for the people, it wasn’t spent for development, it wasn’t spent on the right things, and so forth. The people’s standard of living was low. This is how the economy was.
As to science and technology, the country was behind most of the countries in the world in science and technology and was among the countries of the lowest ranks that had fallen behind. This was how our science and technology was.
In terms of culture, the spread of corruption and vulgarity, people’s increasing distance from moral and religious values, the promotion of Western culture, and the increasing promotion of immodesty in the country were even more than in European countries. This was something reported by some of them in our press that immodesty among women here in this country was worse than in European countries regarding the situation of clothing, the modest dress, modesty, and so on. This is how the culture was!
Well, this was how Iran was. Its political situation, its situation internally and externally, its economy, its science, and its culture were liked and praised by the US president. He exalted Mohammad Reza for creating such an Iran that even they themselves - those around him - said that his speech was an exaggeration. But he stated such an exaggeration. They liked this for Iran, they wished for this, and they still wish for this for the country today. Carter took this wish with him to the grave, and they will take this wish to the grave as well.
The second lesson to be taken from the 19th of Dey uprising was regarding the miscalculation of the US system. Those who are enamored with the superficial allure of the US, forget the spiritual richness of their own nation and God, and see the US as something glorious should take heed of “the miscalculation of the US.” On the 10th of Dey in the year 1356 (December 31, 1977), Carter came here, delivered a speech, praised this, gave some advice, stated this country is an "island of stability," and other such things. Then, on the 19th of Dey, just nine days later, the incident in Qom took place. This was a miscalculation on their part. That was their understanding of the situation and how they made miscalculations. The people of Qom rose up on behalf of the Iranian nation and entered the field with a motivation that resonated across the country. Later, it showed itself and everyone saw it. That day, it was the people of Qom who were able to take the lead in this movement and show this. The Islamic Revolution emerged from the heart of imperialism’s most important stronghold. This was the miscalculation of the US. They didn’t think correctly, “And they thought their fortresses would protect them from Allah. But Allah came at them from whence they did not suppose” (Quran 59:2). This is much like the story of Prophet Moses (pbuh). Moses’ movement began right inside Pharaoh's house and palace, which ultimately led to the destruction of Pharaoh's palace and the Pharaohs. During the Pahlavi era, Iran was a strong fortress for US interests. It was from the heart of this fortress that the Revolution emerged and surged forth. The Americans didn’t understand what was happening and were deceived. They remained asleep and they became neglectful. This is what is meant by America's miscalculation. Since then, up until today, over the past several decades, the Americans have often made mistakes and errors regarding issues related to Iran. The target of my words is primarily those who are intimidated by US policies. They should not be intimidated.
Over the past 40 years, or 40-some years, the US has been mistaken in most of the policies they’ve adopted against the Islamic Republic. For example, they imposed sanctions. Why did they impose sanctions? To bring Iran’s economy to its knees. But during the time of these sanctions, we’ve achieved the greatest advancements in science and technology. The greatest achievements. We’ve achieved the most extensive regional influence during this exact same period. We’ve witnessed the largest number of young people ready to work in various fields during this time of the sanctions. The US’s calculations turned out to be wrong. They sought to paralyze Iran. [But] Iran was not paralyzed. Yes, of course, the sanctions harmed the country. It’s not as if they didn’t cause harm. They caused harm. God willing, the Iranian nation will one day take them to account for these injuries. To summarize my point regarding this second lesson about the movement of the people of Qom, the concrete wall of Western arrogance cracked in the very place where they had placed their greatest hope, in Iran! Truly, it destabilized the West’s fortress. This concrete wall, which was constructed using propaganda, money, bribery, and all sorts of crimes and which still exists, must be torn down. The Islamic Revolution caused the first crack in this wall. This is the second lesson of your Qom’s event.
Lesson three. The third lesson is that when we reflect on the events of Qom, we realize that we must immunize ourselves, our thoughts, and public opinion against the enemy’s propaganda. This is one of the lessons of the January 9 event. Just as the people of Qom had gained mental immunity on that day. Why? Because an article was published accusing the Imam and slandering him. What was their aim? These people had control over everything. Thousands of the Imam’s supporters were being tortured, imprisoned, and exiled. Then why publish the article? Well, they had grasped a certain truth, which remains relevant today: defeating a nation cannot be achieved solely through hardware means. Software means are also necessary. And what are they? Propagation, persuasion, and clarification. This is why I place so much emphasis on clarification. They wanted to dishearten people toward the honorable Imam. Thousands of the Imam’s supporters were in prisons, under exile, and subjected to pressure and beatings. Yet this was not enough. They had to eliminate the Zulfiqar that stirred hearts from near the grave of the Commander of the Faithful’s (Imam Ali) and brought about this massive movement—that is, the powerful voice of our honorable Imam. They exercised strict control. A single message or declaration from the Imam would rekindle hope in despondent hearts, reinvigorate the weary, and heat up the battlefield of struggle. The uprising of the people of Qom foiled this scheme. Had you the people of Qom not acted on January 9, this campaign of article-writing and insult would have continued—first in one form, then in more complex forms. It would have progressed from targeting the honorable Imam to targeting the clergy, and from the clergy to the essence of religion itself and onward. The people of Qom stopped this process; they did not let it happen. The same is the case today. Today, the Americans have understood well that their objectives cannot be achieved through hardware means alone. Look at how many people they killed in Gaza. Tanks came, cannons came, bombs came, machine guns came, UAVs came—they martyred many prominent figures. But they could not extinguish the school of thought. In Lebanon, they martyred someone like Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah and killed many other prominent figures. These are hardware actions. Yet they could not, cannot, and will not eliminate Hezbollah. Therefore, they must resort to software actions. They must use propaganda. This is an important indicator for me, for you, and for the people of Iran today.
Soft warfare tactics include: lies, deception, creating a distance between reality and the public's thoughts and perceptions. When you are growing stronger, it propagates that you are getting weaker. When the enemy itself is weakening, it propagates that it is growing stronger. When you become invulnerable, it says, “I will destroy you with threats.” This is how [the enemy’s] propagation works. And some people get affected by this. Today, the fundamental, important task for our propagation apparatus, our cultural and propagational institutions, our Ministry of Culture and Guidance, our broadcasting organization, and our social media activists, is to tear down and shatter the veil of the enemy's illusion of power, and to prevent the enemy's propaganda from influencing public opinion. This is exactly what the people of Qom did on that day (the uprising of January 9, 1978). They took this tool from the enemy on that day and shattered it. They did something so that the enemy would no longer be able to continue. That’s the third lesson.
So now, regarding the use of the lessons from the 19th of Dey, I would like to mention one more thing related to this issue, which is that the essence of the Arrogant Powers hasn’t changed. No one should think the US today is any different from the US was in those days, or that the Zionist regime today is different from what the Zionist regime was at that time. No, it’s the same. Their methods have changed; their tools have changed. Back then, they operated using written articles. Today, their means and tools have become a thousand times more diverse, extensive, and effective. We must be a thousand times more vigilant than we were back then. We must pay attention, be cautious, ensure security, and create immunity. We mustn’t believe what the enemy says. This is the key. We mustn’t believe what the enemy says. If you see anything in the enemy's propaganda that seems like it was designed to influence you, reject it. Know that they’re lying. Know that they are lying! If you see any signs of deception in a statement, dismiss it immediately. Whenever Nowruz (the Iranian New Year) comes, the US president congratulates the people of Iran. But is that a sincere message? It’s obvious that it’s a tool of deception. It’s a big lie. They’re willing to eliminate millions of Iranians. Look at what they've done to Gaza. They give money and weapons to the enemy on the one hand, and on the other hand, they occasionally say, “Yes, it would be good if such things don’t happen.” We mustn’t believe the enemy's words.
So that was about the lessons [we’ve learned] from the 19th of Dey.
I would like to share a couple of more points with you. Firstly, you see, my dear brothers and sisters, Iran, your country, is a strategic peak in terms of both its natural and human resources, as well as in terms of its geopolitical position. It’s a country with many resources in these areas and this is a gift from God. Its people, its human resources, are above the world average. Its natural resources exceed the world average. Its geographical position is more sensitive than that of many countries in the world. The same is true about its geopolitical position since it’s located in the middle and in the heart of the Islamic world. This country, this vast place that’s a strategic resource, has been in the hands of the US for decades since the mid-1940s. That is, from about 80 years ago. This source of wealth, which is your Iran, belonged to the US for many years. Your Revolution took place and pulled it out of the hands of the US. The United States will never forget the bitterness of this event.
Some say, “You’re neither willing to negotiate with the US nor establish relations with them. What’s the difference between them and European countries that are like the US? Why do you have relations with them? The US could have an embassy here like them. You have relations with them [the European countries]. No! There’s a difference. The difference is that the US had claimed ownership here, and that was pulled away from its grip and clutches. Thus, their resentment toward the country and the Revolution is like that of a camel [that holds a grudge]! They won't give up that easily. This is quite different from certain European countries. Yes, that certain European country isn’t a dear friend of the Iranian nation either. We know this and understand this. But this is a completely different matter. That is the first point. The US lost a tremendous amount of wealth and a significant political, economic opportunity due to the Islamic Revolution. In addition, over the past 40 some years, it has spent a large amount trying to pull Iran out of the Islamic Revolution’s authority and take control of it. But it’s been unable to do so. It’s resentment toward the Islamic Republic is different from the resentment of some other country. It’s very different. This is why we say there’s a difference between the US and other Western countries. The US has been defeated in Iran and is seeking to retaliate for that defeat. That’s why it shows its hostility in any way it can.
The second point is that one of the Arrogant Powers’ demands in general, particularly the US at the lead, is that when officials of all other countries – including those of the Islamic Republic – think about the various issues of their country, when they design policies, and when they make plans, they should also consider the interests of the US and take into consideration the United States. This is what they want. Well, we aren’t in direct contact with them of course, but they communicate this to our officials through different channels. We’ve seen numerous examples of this throughout the years. They come to act as intermediaries regarding a certain economic issue, a certain cultural issue, or a certain foreign policy matter. They say, "If you want to do this, change it and do it like this so that the US will also benefit from it.” I say this is a threat to democracy. If the officials of our country in any period heed this unreasonable expectation of the US, they will threaten the nature of the country’s democracy and it being a republic. Why? Because the people have elected us. They’ve elected us to work in their interest, not for us to work in the interest of the US.
Those who make decisions in cultural matters, economics, inflation, production, currency, cultural issues, on hijab, and so on need to bear in mind that they mustn’t take into account the desires of the US, the stances of the US, or the stances of the Zionists. They must consider the interests of our country and the interests of the Islamic Republic. Fortunately, the clear, brave stance of our honorable President regarding the Zionist regime has gladdened the hearts of the people and made people happy. He’s been clear and decisive, both regarding the Zionist regime and also the actions of the US, taking a firm stance against US backing [of the Zionist regime]. This is very good. They need to be vigilant. Our country's officials must be vigilant in this regard. They mustn’t succumb to the demands of those who have an ingrained enmity toward the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic as well as those who desire Iran’s ruin.
The next issue is the issue of hope. Hope! We must be hopeful about receiving divine guidance, God’s assistance, and the strength that God has given to nations. This stands in stark contrast to what the enemy seeks to do, which is to strip hope from the hearts of our youth and cause them to become despondent. Everyone who has an audience in the media, who can speak, and who can express matters well must consider this to be one of their greatest, most important objectives to keep hope alive in hearts. They mustn’t utter words that bring despair. This was something that the great Imam paid a great deal of attention to. Consider the event that took place on January 9. The following is what happened on January 9. The people of Qom rose up, and their uprising was crushed. Martyrs ascended, people were injured, and the streets were stained with blood. This was on January 9. On January 22, just 12 days later, the Imam’s message arrived from Najaf. The Imam included this statement in his message, which I have made a note of, “I give the Iranian nation, who possess such awareness, vigilance, strong spirit, and unparalleled courage, glad tidings of victory.” The people in the streets of Qom had been suppressed. Who could have imagined victory? Yet the Imam said, “I give you glad tidings of victory.” The people were suppressed in the streets of Qom. who would have thought that victory was possible? Imam Khomeini said, “I give you glad tidings of victory!” He gave the good tidings that through your actions, through your movement, you have turned Iran upside down and changed world politics. This is Imam Khomeini’s promise of victory. Who would have believed back then that this movement would reach a point where a groundbreaking major power like the Islamic Republic would rise in this region, capable of creating disruptions and obstacles for all the nefarious goals of the West, preventing numerous transgressions and policies? Who would have believed it? Who would have thought back then that a day would come when the American flag would be burned in Western countries, even in Washington itself? Who would have imagined? On that day, Imam Khomeini said, " I give you glad tidings of victory." This means that we must never allow the light of hope be extinguished. Even now, amid our economic challenges – now we do have economic problems – those who are knowledgeable, well-informed, and experts, see a hopeful future. For example, when it is stated in our policies that we aim for an eight percent growth in the country's economy, some individuals make certain assertions implying that such a thing is impossible. At the economic exhibition which the President attended, economic experts stated and presented evidence showing that we can achieve an eight percent growth without needing assistance from abroad, and the President repeated their words. Therefore, we must be hopeful in all areas. However, hope without effort is meaningless. We need to be hopeful and work hard [at the same time]. We must be hopeful and implement the requirements for progress. We should be hopeful and know what we want, what we are seeking, and how we should pursue it. This is what hope means.
The final point I want to make is that various events – either our own events or regional events like those in Syria – should not diminish the Palestinian issue in our minds. The fundamental essence of Resistance, is resistance against the Zionist regime's evil actions. That is what Resistance is. The Resistance is alive and must be kept alive. It must become stronger every day. We support the Resistance. We support the Resistance in Gaza, the Resistance in the West Bank, the Resistance in Lebanon, the Resistance in Yemen, and wherever they stand firmly and resist in confronting the malicious actions of the Zionist regime.
May God’s greetings, mercy, and blessings be upon you.
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