Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met today with thousands of enthusiastic people from the city of Tabriz. Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence referred to the spreading of Islamic Awakening in the world of Islam and said that it is the outcome of the resistance and steadfastness of the great Iranian nation during the past 33 years. He stressed: "Thanks to religious faith and Islam, today the glory, dignity, progress and influence of Islamic Iran is shining more brightly than ever before, and the Iranian nation is more determined to reach the peak of glory."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution praised the exemplary faith, sincerity, steadfastness and insight of the people of East Azerbaijan throughout history, especially at different stages of the Islamic movement and the Islamic Revolution in Iran. He added: "The most important characteristic of the movement of the people of Tabriz on the 29th of Bahman in 1356 was that it became a model for the next movements by the Iranian nation, and if that uprising had not happened, the uprising of the people of Qom on the 19th of Dey would have been forgotten, and the Iranian nation would have been prevented from moving on the path of the Islamic movement."
Ayatollah Khamenei added that the most important characteristic of the Islamic Revolution of Iran was that it became a model for other nations. He reiterated: "The main purpose behind the different kinds of pressure - which has been exerted on the Islamic Republic of Iran since after the victory of the Islamic Revolution - is to prevent the impressive movement of the Iranian nation from becoming a model."
His Eminence referred to the economic sanctions, the assassination of prominent scientists and the leveling of different kinds of accusations regarding human rights, further stressing: "The purpose of all the pressure and propaganda is to stop the movement of the Iranian nation and to turn regional and global public opinion against the Islamic Republic of Iran, but Islamic Iran has grown more powerful and advanced on a daily basis against the will of the hegemons."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added: "The eight-year Sacred Defense Era caused the young and brave soldiers of the Iranian nation to be revealed, and the economic and scientific sanctions caused the talents and capacities of the youth to blossom."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the most important characteristic of the people of Azerbaijan and Tabriz is their enthusiasm, wisdom and strong determination. "These characteristics, especially insight that is accompanied by critical thinking, should be strengthened in the young generation as well as future generations just like the past 33 years."
His Eminence reiterated: "Although today's youth did not see the Imam (r.a.) and people like Shahid Bakeri and did not experience the difficult eight-year Sacred Defense Era, their thought, judgment and path are the same as the thought and path during the early years of the Islamic Revolution."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that insight that is based on religious faith revives hearts and thoughts. He added: "This insight that is based on faith should be maintained, just as it has been maintained so far and has affected the world."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the current wave of Islamic Awakening in the region is affected by the religious movement and the strong determination of the Iranian nation. He stressed: "The critical events in Egypt are caused by Islamic Awakening and the humiliation of the wise and ancient people of Egypt for many years."
His Eminence said that it takes many years for great social movements to be formed, but that they happen suddenly. He added: "The Egyptian people and youth were frustrated at the humiliation that was imposed on them by their government over the past years due to its dependence on America and the Zionist regime, and this frustration was suddenly manifested in this way."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated that the Egyptian youth and their faith and strong determination played a key role in the impressive movement of the Egyptian people. He reiterated: "The movement of the people of Egypt - which was initially started by their youth - started from mosques and Friday prayer venues, and it finally turned into a public movement."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the presence of the people on the scene makes political, military and economic tools of the bullying powers ineffective. "The Americans can easily bully the governments that do not enjoy public support, and whenever they do not need the heads of those governments, they turn their back on them, just as they did in the case of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Ben Ali. But they cannot do anything when they are faced with the strong determination of the people who are present on the scene."
His Eminence stressed: "Today this important event has taken place in Egypt. Of course America is trying to make the Egyptian people return to their homes by diverting their movement and making them feel satisfied with certain trivial achievements. But it is unlikely for such machinations to work in the case of a nation that has been awakened and has realized its power and influence."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to religious faith and Islam as the essential factor behind the glory and progress of the Iranian nation. He reiterated: "Strengthening the faith and determination of the youth and making efforts to further practice Islamic orders in society will prepare the ground for increasing glory and progress and for reforming material and spiritual life."