Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met today with a group of students, scholars, and teachers of Islamic seminaries. Speaking at the meeting, the Leader said that some people violated the law and created uproar after the presidential election. "As a result of these acts, the enemy was emboldened to the extent that it insulted Imam Khomeini (r.a.) in front of many students who are committed to our magnanimous Imam, the Revolution, and the Islamic Republic."
He further reiterated: "This great insult was the result of post-election violations of the law and dependence on the encouragement of foreign media. And now that these mistakes have already been made, they have resorted to sophistry and faulty reasoning in order to cover up their mistakes."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that such sophistry is the main cause of fitna and public confusion. He added: "Although some people shout slogans in support of the law, they violate the law. They shout slogans in support of Imam Khomeini (r.a.), but their actions caused this great sin against Imam Khomeini (r.a.)."
His Eminence added that those who promote the principles of Islam, the Revolution, and Imam Khomeini (r.a.) will immediately change their path and rectify their ways as soon as they realize that their movement and statements work against these principles. "But why are these gentlemen not chastened yet?"
He reiterated: "When Islam is deleted from the central slogan of the Islamic Republic - that is, 'independence, freedom, Islamic Republic' - these gentlemen should wake up to reality and realize that they are treading the wrong path. When slogans are shouted against Palestine and in support of the usurping Zionist regime on Quds Day, these gentlemen should be chastened, and they should distance themselves from this movement."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added: "Why do they not realize that they have been wrong when they are supported by the leaders of oppression and arrogance - embodied by America, France, and England. Why do they not realize that they have been treading the wrong path when exiled monarchists and corrupt people support them?"
"Open your eyes and distance yourselves from this movement. Is it possible to ignore these clear realities under the pretext of rationality? Ignoring these realities is the opposite of rationality," the Leader noted.
"Logically, you should condemn the insult to Imam Khomeini (r.a.) instead of denying the occurrence of this act. More importantly, you should realize the significance of this act and understand what the enemy is targeting."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the defeated presidential candidates as his "former brothers" and said that they owe their fame to the Islamic Revolution. He asked: "Why do they not wake up to the realities? Why do they not notice how the enemies of the Revolution and Imam Khomeini (r.a.) are thrilled by their statements and actions?"
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that the election is over and that it was held according to the law. He said that no election fraud was proven. "Adherence to the law requires that we observe the law even if we do not recognize the elected president," he said.
His Eminence said that some followers of the path of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and the Revolution deviated from the path of the late Imam (r.a.) during his lifetime and caused him to renounce them.
He added: "We should learn lessons from such events. Of course, as I said in my Friday prayer sermons, I believe in maximum inclusion and minimum purging of opponents. But some people insist on distancing themselves from the system."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the few people who have been encouraged, by the words and actions of a particular group of people, to oppose the Islamic Republic are nothing compared to the greatness of the Iranian nation and reiterated: "The Islamic Republic is a divine system, and Allah the Exalted has bestowed His support and blessings on the Islamic Republic on numerous occasions during the past thirty years. Therefore, if we follow the path of God, He will undoubtedly help us."
Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed that the enemies of the Islamic Republic and the global domineering powers that are trying to use faulty reasoning to dominate the world will be defeated by the Iranian nation as well as other independent nations of the world.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to the wrath of different groups of people following the recent insult to Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and described the reaction of the people as appropriate. He further stressed: "Everyone should stay calm and know that those who are opposed to the nation have no roots and will be wiped out by the grandeur of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Revolution."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the law enforcement officials of the country will fulfill their duties when necessary and added: "Of course students have to identify the sources of corruption and introduce them to others. But everything has to be done in a peaceful atmosphere."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the enemies of the Iranian nation are like "bubbles on water" which will finally fade away. "And what will remain at the end is the Islamic Republic," he noted.
Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon the recent remarks by the American President who had claimed that governments which break international laws have to be held responsible. He stated the US government has broken the law by occupying Iraq and causing numerous hardships to the Iraqi people.
He added: "On the basis of which law is the US government continuing its occupation of Iraq and increasing the number of its troops in Afghanistan every day?"
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the US government is the embodiment of lawlessness in the world, but that it acts in a hypocritical manner to hide the truth.
He said that such actions are the manifestation of fitna and added: "The only way to confront such actions is to clarify the realties and reveal the truth to everyone. And this is a heavy duty."