The Pahlavi regime’s treachery with respect to the national capital
In the final years of the frail Qajar reign, the British wanted someone to eliminate those who rebelled in different corners of Iran. In order to prevent the threatening of their interests, they needed a thug, a bully who would at the same time comply with them. They came up with Reza Khan; they trained him and prepared him for what they wanted. First, he was a commander of the army and the prime minister, and then he was appointed as the king and the head of Iran! Only a few years after Reza Khan had come to power by the British, he started thinking he could ask them for more money in return for oil. Of course, his submission to the British did not cease; however, every servant might, at times, consider asking his master for more money! His hounding temperament incited him to adopt a bullying manner towards the D'Arcy Concession, which still had thirty years to end. He entered a meeting of regime officials and put the D'Arcy Concession in the fireplace and burned it! When he was told that "thirty years remained of the validity of the contract”, he said: "What sort of a contract is this? They must give us more money for oil." And, who was the other party of the contract? A British company! Once Reza Khan did this to the D'Arcy Concession, the British government reacted and made a lot of fuss. Eventually, the British defeated Reza Khan and made the contract last for another sixty years, which originally had only thirty years left of its validity. That is, he signed another agreement with the British. This was what the British did with respect to Iran's oil, from Qajar to the end of Reza Khan's rule. Feb 3, 1995
The nationalization of the oil industry, a small example of the achievements of democracy
One of the most important features of the Islamic system is religious democracy, a democracy that is based on Islam and which honors Muslims. This country had never tasted the embodiment of popular will throughout its history, except for a brief period during the nationalization of the oil industry with all its limitations and which is a long story. It lasted for a very short period, but they couldn't tolerate it and destroyed it. They couldn’t stop themselves from destroying it. (Now,) we have been able to see democracy, the participation of people in elections, their participation in the selection of the president, their participation in the selection of the members of parliament, and their presence in the political and decision-making areas of our country. This is the great significance of the Islamic system. August 6, 2003
The role of religious faith in the historical victories of the Iranian nation
What should we do in return? Our responsibility is to strengthen the country and make it resistant. We should increase the country’s power and make it resistant. How can the country’s power increase? These are issues on which we should think and for which we should plan. This planning falls on everyone. It falls on officials, politicians, Islamic seminaries, universities, and active cultural and political personalities. They should plan for these matters. We should make the country resistant and powerful.
How can we make it powerful? What are the elements of power for the country? I will mention a few ones: one is Islamic and religious faith. Religious faith is among the most important elements of resistance and dynamism in our country. This is not particular to the present time. Since 130, 140 years ago onwards, religious faith has been the first important element in every influential and efficient movement that has been launched in this country.
Let us begin with the Tobacco Movement. The Tobacco Movement, which was a great popular movement in the country, involved religious elements. It was a Marja taqlid that issued an edict during that event. The people acted according to his edict due to their religious faith and they eliminated a grave act of treachery which would have ruined the people for many years. This is one example.
Another example is the Constitutional Movement. The Constitutional Movement was a movement that managed to move forward with the leadership of ulama, who were the embodiment of the people’s piety. Of course, certain intellectuals, writers and secret societies in the country were involved as well. I am not saying that there was not any other element, but they would not have been able to move forward and do anything because they did not have any influence among the people.
What brought the people to the arena during the Constitutional Movement was the presence of first-tier ulama such as the late Sheikh Fazlollah Noori, the late Sayyid Mohammad Tabatabai, and the late Sayyid Abdullah Behbahani. These were great ulama. There were great ulama in Tehran, Tabriz and Isfahan. The same is true of other cities. The same is true of Fars. Great ulama stepped forward and the people followed them. However, the English were cleverer than us in this regard. They created discord both among ulama and among the people.
In Tehran, they created discord between those great personalities and the great Shahid Sheikh Fazlollah Noori. Sheikh Fazlollah Noori, who was the first scholar trying to establish the Constitutional Movement, was hanged with the accusation that he was opposed to the Constitutional Movement! This was what they did. They drew the people towards the [English] embassy and some people offered the Constitutional Movement to the English in the easiest way possible! And the Constitutional Movement resulted in the emergence of Reza Khan and 50, 60 years of backwardness in our country. However, it was the beginning of religious movement in our country anyway.
Another example is the nationalization of the oil industry. Notice that these events form history. The reason why I constantly say that you should read and deliberate on history is this. If it had not been for ulama and religious motivation, the nationalization of the oil industry would certainly not have moved forward. Everyone should know this. Ayatollah Kashani provided the introduction to this movement. And his supporter was a Marja taqlid like the late Sayyid Mohammad Taqi Khansari in Qom.
The promoters of this thought were a group of people in Qom and a religious scholar, and an outstanding religious, eloquent and intellectual activist in Mashhad. These were the promoters of that national movement. And the people entered the arena because of religion. Later on, when they separated Ayatollah Kashani from the movement, isolated ulama and put religious personalities aside, Mosaddeq was defeated. As long as religion and religious faith were in the arena, the movement was progressing. However, when this element was taken away from it, the movement stopped, it was defeated and the opposite happened. An American with a suitcase full of money came to Tehran and disrupted everything.
The element of religious faith can be clearly seen in all movements. It is clear in the 15th of Khordad, it is clear in the Islamic Revolution and it is clear in the Sacred Defense Era. In different events, it was religion and religious motivation that drew the people to the arena. A person whose three, four sons have been martyred in the way of God is happy because of this. Religious motivation and faith is an element of power.
Therefore, this should be preserved. They are showing enmity towards this element. Today, the religious motivation of the people is being confronted from all sides. Their goal is to destroy faith – first youth’s faith and then the faith of people from various social backgrounds – under different names and in different ways. This is what is being done by the enemy today. Jan 8, 2017
Historical examples of the clergy acting as vanguards in the great social developments in Iran
This characteristic - being with the people - has helped our clergy to play a leading role in the great social developments of our country which is the most important Shia country in the world. You should take a look and see if there has been any great and major political development in the country in which the clergy have not stood in the front.
One example is their resistance against the economic transgression of foreigners. The most important example in this regard is the event of tobacco and Regie concession during the time of Mirza Shirazi. Another example was the Reuter concession during which the clergy mounted another opposition.
Another example was the beginning of the Constitutional Movement when the clergy - ranging from Najaf to other cities and countries - played a leading role. If it had not been for the clergy, it would not have been possible to destroy the oppressive and monarchic Qajar regime. Another case is the events after the Constitutional Movement when there were many protests. When Russian agents and other political transgressors created some problems in cities, it was the clergy who played a leading, protective and monitory role.
Even if there was a division among the people on a political issue, the clergy were the leaders of both groups. That is to say, the people trusted the clergy. On the issue of the Constitutional Movement, when there was a division among the people and some individuals were against the Constitutional Movement, the people took affairs in their hands and followed the Constitutional Movement because of the trust that they had in the leading clergy. They followed it in Mashhad, Zanjan, Tehran and other cities in different ways. Of course, you should know that no cleric was against the Constitutional movement. Rather, opposition to it began when the English showed their presence and their hidden role became clear to everyone. Otherwise, no one from among the clergy was opposed to the Constitutional Movement. Even in Najaf - where there was some evidence - no one was opposed to it.
On the issue of the nationalization of the oil industry, it was again the clergy who played a leading role. You should be sure that if it had not been for Ayatollah Kashani, the issue of the nationalization of the oil industry would not have been developed at all. Of course, as they say, "Some people use the salt, but they break the salt shaker" [they are ungrateful]. They are benefitting from the oil movement, but they insult the late Ayatollah Kashani. This was while he played a leading role in it. If it had not been for him, the issue of the nationalization of the oil industry would have definitely not reached anywhere in this country.
And it is completely clear how influential the clergy were during the Islamic Revolution. Notice that this is the meaning of being with the people. When the clergy move forward, the people follow them. As the poem says, "Wherever Abu-Dolf goes, the world goes as well". This is the characteristic of Shia clergy. Nov 8, 2006
Ayatollah Kashani's prominent role in the nationalization of Iran's oil industry
On the issue of the nationalization of oil industry, it was again the clergy who played a leading role. You should be sure that if it had not been for Ayatollah Kashani, the issue of the nationalization of the oil industry would not have been developed at all. Of course, as they say, "Some people use the salt, but they break the salt shaker," [they are ungrateful]. They are benefitting from the oil movement, but they insult the late Ayatollah Kashani.--This was while he played a leading role in it. If it had not been for him, the issue of the nationalization of the oil industry would have definitely not reached any place in this country. Nov 8, 2006
If it had not been for ulama and religious motivation, the nationalization of the oil industry would certainly not have moved forward. Everyone should come to realize this. Ayatollah Kashani provided the introduction to this movement; and his supporter was a Marja taqlid, the late Sayyid Mohammad Taqi Khansari, in Qom.
The promoters of this thought were a group of people in Qom and a religious scholar, a first-tier Minbari, and an outstanding religious, eloquent and intellectual activist in our Mashhad. These were the promoters of that national movement. And the people entered the arena because of religion. Later on, when they separated Ayatollah Kashani from the movement, isolated ulama and put religious personalities aside, Mosaddeq was defeated. As long as religion and religious faith were in the arena, the movement was progressing. However, when this element was taken away from it, the movement stopped, it was defeated and the opposite happened. An American with a suitcase full of money came to Tehran and disrupted everything. Jan 8, 2017
Our oil was in the hands of the English. The demand of the movement for nationalization of the oil industry was to take away the privilege of the English. We wanted to have control over our own oil resources.--This was not an extravagant demand. Of course, it was important, but it would not lead to the total independence of the country.
During that movement, the people stepped into the arena just like they did during the Revolution and certain events took place, but the movement did not last more than two or three years. The movement was alive for only two, three years. The enemy managed to suppress the movement and put an end to it. After the movement had been suppressed, the terms of the contract with the English were made even worse for Iran. That is to say, the agreement that was reached after the events of the 28th of Mordad was much worse than the agreement that had been reached earlier. If the oil industry was in the hands of the English before the movement, afterwards it passed into the hands of the English as well as the Americans. Our oil resources were in the hands of our enemies, and these conditions did not change until the victory of the Revolution. The goal of the Islamic Revolution was not just to nationalize the oil industry. The Islamic Revolution was after total independence: political independence, economic independence, cultural independence. The Islamic Revolution started with these slogans; it was not comparable with the movement for nationalization of the oil industry. The nationalization movement did not last long. In contrast, the Islamic Revolution achieved victory and permanence. Jan 9, 2016
A comparison of the Islamic Revolution with the Oil Nationalization Movement and the Constitutional Movement
I would compare the Revolution with other events that have taken place in the history of our country. If we compare the Revolution with other historic events that have happened in our country and in other parts of world, we will realize that the Revolution is unparalleled. It will take too long to compare the Islamic Revolution with other great revolutions. I have made a few comments in this regard in other speeches. But we can compare the Revolution with other historic events that have taken place in our country.
For example, one may compare the Islamic Revolution to the movement for nationalization of oil, which was a historic event in our country: the people stepped into the arena, the people were present, which is why it is known as a national movement among political activists. What were the demands of the movement for nationalization of oil? The demands were minimal. They were not after economic independence. They were not after political independence. They were not after total independence. Our oil was in the hands of the English. The demand of the movement for nationalization of the oil industry was to take away the privilege from the English. We wanted to have control over our own oil resources. This was not an extravagant demand. Of course, it was important, but it would not lead to total independence of the country.
During that movement, the people stepped into the arena just like they did during the Revolution and certain events took place, but the movement did not last more than two, three years. The movement was alive for only two, three years. The enemy managed to suppress the movement and put an end to it. After the movement had been suppressed, the terms of the contract with the English were made even worse for Iran. That is to say, the agreement that was reached after the events of the 28th of Mordad was much worse than the agreement that had been reached earlier. If the oil industry was in the hands of the English before the movement, afterwards it passed into the hands of the English as well as the Americans. Our oil resources were in the hands of our enemies and these conditions did not change until the victory of the Revolution. The goal of the Islamic Revolution was not just to nationalize the oil industry. The Islamic Revolution was after total independence: political independence, economic independence, cultural independence. The Islamic Revolution started with these slogans and it was not comparable with the movement for nationalization of the oil industry. The nationalization movement did not last long. In contrast, the Islamic Revolution achieved victory and permanence.
Now let us compare the Islamic Revolution with the Constitutional Movement. The Constitutional Movement was a very important event in our country, but what were the demands of that movement? The demand was to limit the absolute power of the tyrannical monarchs. The monarch was to stay in power and rule, but his absolute power would be limited in certain ways. For example, a parliament was to be established. This was the demand of the Constitutional Movement. Many people stepped into the arena. People from various backgrounds stepped in. Some people were martyred, but the enemy suppressed the movement and controlled it. The movement was essentially stomped out. After the Constitutional Movement was suppressed, tyranny was strengthened. That is to say, fifteen years after the signing of the constitution, Reza Khan came to power, a man whose tyranny was not comparable to anybody who ruled before him. He was oppressive and abusive and a servant of foreigners. Other dictators were tyrannical too, but at least they did not surrender to foreigners like he did. He was appointed by foreigners and he was removed by foreigners. The English were in control of everything. At one point when he decided to use a little initiative, the English brought him down and that was the end of it. The Constitutional Movement did not survive despite its minimal demands. It did not last. It was suppressed.
What about the Islamic Revolution? The Islamic Revolution was not after limiting the power of monarchs. It demanded an end to the monarchy. It challenged the concept of monarchy. It is the people who own their country. Why would a monarch be allowed to dominate the people of a country? Why would the people have to carry out his orders? Basically, the Revolution put an end to the monarchy. It destroyed the concept of absolute monarchy. The Revolution managed to survive. There are good reasons why the Revolution survived. Despite the fact that the people were present on the scene during the movement for nationalization of the oil industry, despite the fact that the movement had minimal demands, it failed to survive, but the Islamic Revolution managed to survive despite its demand for maximal independence. Why did the Constitutional Movement not last despite its minimal demand of limiting the power of absolute monarchy but the Islamic Revolution achieved victory and permanence despite demanding an end to monarchy in the country?
It is necessary for you dear youth to analyze these things and find out the factors. The factors are clear to me. It is our youth who should identify the factors that played a role. They should identify the factors that prevented those movements from achieving permanence and reaching their goals. They should identify the factors that made it possible for the Islamic Revolution to stand firm. What were the factors? Our youth should analyze these things. If we manage to analyze these events in an appropriate way, then the seeds of fear and despair that some people try to sow in the hearts of our people will be eliminated completely. If we achieve an appropriate understanding, the future path of our country will be completely clear. Persistence and permanence are very important for a social phenomenon. Jan 9, 2016