In the past, many of the government officials and members of the National Consultative Assembly (Majlis) in the first 2 or 3 terms-- when the members were truly elected by the people, that is before Reza Shah interfered with the Majlis--were opposed to favoring and granting privileges to the foreigners.
Genuinely nationalist and patriotic figures would not allow privileges to foreigners. Meanwhile, they did not dare oppose it openly. Why? Because they were not backed by the people and were not popular figures.
As soon as a Prime Minister made remarks that contradicted foreigners’ interests, he was dismissed. Once a statesman started to take a position against the foreigners’ privileges, his power would be immediately taken from him, so he could not proceed!
If someone was persistent, like late Modarres (May God grant him paradise), they would beat him, imprison him, exile him, and finally martyr him, while he was fasting in Ramadan, by a thug like Reza-khan.
When statesmen who were not as brave and believing as Modarres started to utter a word [of opposition], they faced a scolding on the part of the foreigner lords and would immediately adopt silence. As a result, favors to foreigners increased in Iran day after day.
Statements from a Friday prayer sermon February 3, 1995
About twenty years prior to the fifty-year era(Pahlavi monarchy), a Constitutional Revolution existed in this country, the National Consultative Assembly (Majlis) formed at the beginning of the Constitutional Revolution, that—taking into account the times of closures, blockades, bombardments and so forth—nearly operated for about four terms.
The history of that Majlis is very thought-provoking and informative. Every person of the Iranian nation should study the history of that period to understand what the Islamic Republic and the Islamic revolution have offered to this country and nation. As long as we do not know what we used to be, we won’t understand the value of what we have today.
During the early years, while the Majlis was not yet under the control of the king, the sultanate, and the foreigners’ embassies, it was a Majlis that despite being primitive, it influenced the situation of the country. Wherever there were signs of foreign domination that Majlis stood strongly: in the face of the Russian ultimatum, the Majlis resisted; on the case of borrowing from foreigners, the majlis resisted. So did it in the matter of the Anglo-Persian Agreement. Some individuals like Modarres were present, more or less, in the Majlis. Even those who by the passing of time proved they couldn’t always act like Modarres, gave a real popular image to the Majlis, by the guidance of independent and great believers like Modarres, Khiabani, and others.
Statements among a group of members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) June 1, 1994
The Majlis must be a parliamentary body that can stand against the bullying, excessive demands and intimidations of the domineering powers, investigate and pursue the interests of the nation and the country.
Imam Khomeini (God bless him) repeatedly referred to Modarres. What characteristics did Modarres have? We had figures who were more knowledgeable than Modarres. The main characteristic of Modarres was that no act of intimidation, threats, and deception could affect him.
When, in appearance, the atmosphere was made so tense against him, to the point that some chanted slogans against him, he stood up and made his remarks. This is the feature of a good representative in the Majlis.
Some are easily intimidated! I have repeatedly stated that the arrogant powers--i.e. the domineering powers of the world—who regularly attack this country and that country, and exploit governments and nations—largely rely on intimidating others for achieving their goals. Their real power is not as much as they claim.
Regarding the degree of animosity the domineering powers show toward Iran and the Iranian nation, obviously, if they had the power [to stop the revolution], this revolution would not have grown like this so far.
Statements in a meeting with Hajj organizers February 15, 2000
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