The Iranian nation took part today in the ceremonies marking the 19th demise anniversary of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and displayed its national faith in the ideals set by the late Imam and the Revolution.
Addressing a large enthusiastic gathering at Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) shrine, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: "According to the late magnanimous Imam, the Islamic Revolution belongs to people of various social strata and to the present and future generations of our nation. And this great nation will safeguard this great divine blessing that has been left in its trust by practicing the effective comments that Imam Khomeini made in his testament, and adhering to the slogans, values, and principles of the Revolution, as well as promoting progress and innovation."
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the passage of 19 years since the demise of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and to love and reverence to the Imam Khomeini (r.a.) on the part of the Iranian nation, especially the youth who did not see him. He added: "This love and reverence is not peculiar to the Iranian nation. Rather, people living in various parts of the world, especially in Muslim countries all have the same feeling towards him. This reality is the result of two fundamental factors, namely the greatness of the personality of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and the greatness of the Islamic Revolution."
His Eminence also referred to the exceptional contribution of the unparalleled personality of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) to the victory and continuance of the Revolution. "Like Islam, the Islamic Revolution enjoys various political, economic, social, cultural, spiritual, and other aspects, and it is in conformity with natural human needs. And this is the secret behind the stability of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and its increasing spread in the region and the world," he said.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) testament as one of the best spiritual legacies of the magnanimous Imam that can help provide guidelines for the Iranian nation in all issues. He also advised the people from various social backgrounds, especially the youth as well as the government officials to further reflect upon the different parts of the testament. "This testament provides national guidelines for the progress, development, and grandeur of the Iranian nation," he said.
His Eminence reiterated that the fact that the Islamic Revolution belongs to the Iranian nation is one of the prominent points in Imam Khomeini's testament. He added: "No individual, movement, or social class except the nation has a right to the Revolution, and the nation will protect this divine blessing and this great possession by maintaining its identity and its revolutionary orientation."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to some attempts to change the revolutionary slogans and said: "Having various motives and under the pretext of changing global conditions, some people are trying to eliminate the religious, justice-seeking, anti-domination, and anti-autocratic aspects of the Revolution. But as the owner of the Revolution, the nation will not allow them to do so."
The Leader said that the youth of today like the youth of the early Revolution and the Sacred Defense era are the enthusiastic owners of the country. He added: "With its exceptional enthusiasm and wisdom and with its scientific and social endeavors, the present-day young generation guarantee the continuance and dynamism of the Revolution because all social classes and all generations living in this country have the same sense of belonging to the great Islamic Revolution, and they all share the responsibility for its protection and continuance."
His Eminence referred to steadfastness as the necessary cause of the continuance of the Revolution, further reiterating: "Lack of strong determination to move forward and a weak sense of belonging to the Revolution constitute an act of disloyalty and some people may suffer from it. As a result, the magnanimous Imam used to advise the youth to have a realistic outlook on the essence of the Revolution itself and not on the stance of individuals and movements."
Further on in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Imam Khomeini's correct prediction about the spread of the Revolution as another important point in the testament, adding: "The spread of the Revolution does not entail the generation of discord in other countries, deploying military forces, and spreading terrorism. Rather, by setting a model, the Islamic Republic attempts to promote Islamic teachings and resistance for the sake of revolutionary ideals, especially defending the oppressed. And by Allah's favor, Imam Khomeini's goal has been realized in this regard."
His Eminence referred to the slogans against domination and the Muslim defense of the oppressed, especially the Palestinian people, and the Muslim Ummah's fight against the chameleon-like Zionist network as some of the signs of the spread of Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) ideals and the ideals of the Islamic Revolution. He added: "Today, even our nation's slogans regarding the nuclear energy have turned into a public urge in Islamic and Arab countries, and this reality shows that the Muslim nations regard the ideas and goals of the Iranian nation as honorable."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that both friends and foes admit the fact that the ideal of defending the Palestinian nation is spreading throughout the world, further adding: "Like the great Iranian nation, other Muslim nations also consider Israel as an imposed and fake regime. But governments do not unfortunately want to conform to the wish of their people. Israel is not able to stand on its feet. But the unconditional and shameless support of the US for this regime and lack of support for the Palestinian nation on the part of the Muslim and Arab governments have prevented changes from being implemented in the region."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the fundamental impact of the Islamic Revolution on the progress and innovation of the Iranian nation as the third point in Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) testament that deserves emphasis.
His Eminence referred to the reliance of the Iranian nation on its internal potentialities and moving forward in line with innovation and independence as some of the reasons behind the enmity of the global domineering powers towards the Islamic Republic. "The reason behind the opposition of the arrogant powers against the Iranian nation's access to nuclear energy is that the Iranian youth have managed to gain access to nuclear technology by relying on their knowledge, innovation, and internal power and without depending on the bullying powers," he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei added: "Of course the bullying powers will not be opposed to the use of nuclear energy by other countries if this results in their dependence on those bullying powers, just as they have currently reached agreements to build nuclear plants with other countries that are far behind the Iranian nation in terms of their abilities and scientific progress."
His Eminence also referred to allegations by the US and some other countries concerning the Iranian nation's efforts to develop nuclear weapons and reiterated: "The Iranian nation is not after developing nuclear weapons as it has stated on several occasions previously, and the Americans are also aware of this fact. But they use these allegations to justify their claims to the countries throughout the world since they are unable to deny the obvious rights of the Iranian nation."
Ayatollah Khamenei further reiterated: "The Iranian nation and the officials are opposed to the development of nuclear weapons due to their wisdom, ideology, and Islamic principles but will continue to make peaceful use of nuclear energy. And to the disappointment of the enemies, they will reach this goal."
Ayatollah Khamenei described Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) attention to the psychological warfare of the arrogant powers to disappoint other nations as one of the important points of his testament and stated: "When unable to deal with other countries through their actions, the bullying powers resort to psychological warfare, and it is due to this reason that the enemies have used different methods of psychological warfare against the Iranian nation during the past thirty years."
His eminence also referred to the enemies' efforts to disappoint the youth and to deny the great achievements of the Iranian nation and stated that the enemies were trying to infuse the Iranian youth with the idea that they will not be able to succeed without depending on these powers. "And the enemies are trying to undermine the determination of the Iranian youth and nation to make progress in this way, but they will not succeed in doing so," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Ayatollah Khamenei also addressed the Iranian students in universities and Islamic seminaries as well as the youth who are active in such areas as industry, science, art, and agriculture and stressed: "Dear youth, you have managed to complete half of the process despite all the barriers and difficulties, and you should complete the other half of this process which is the main part with a firm determination. And as you have proven in the past, you are capable of doing so."
His Eminence also referred to Imam Khomeini's advice regarding the organized plots of the enemies to undermine the faith and determination of the youth and their spirit of enthusiasm and willingness to work and stated: "The enemies are trying to involve our youth in drug addiction and carnal desires through an organized plan and a very dangerous plot, and in this way they are trying to stop our nation from making progress. And it is upon the entire nation, especially the youth, to stay vigilant against this plot, and the officials should also make serious efforts to confront these organized plots."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described resistance against the bullying and expansionist powers as one of the basic points of Imam Khomeini's testament and said: "Giving in to the bullying powers will cause them to continue their blatant actions, and the nations of the world should fully resist against the bullying powers and the US if they are to save themselves from such bullying."
His Eminence also likened the unsteady and unwise actions and words of the American officials to the words and actions of insane people and stated: "The US president and his companions sometimes threaten others and some other times order assassinations. Sometimes they make allegations but some other times they plead for help due to their inability and helplessness. They also target nations' security and stability sometimes and these unstable words and actions are to a large extent the result of the American officials' failure in different regions of the world such as Iraq and Afghanistan."
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the emphasis of the different political groups across the country on following the path of Imam Khomeini (r.a.). He said: "The emphasis of the different political groups of the country on following the path of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) is a pleasant phenomenon, and one of the most prominent points of Imam Khomeini's path was the necessity for firm resistance against greedy and arrogant powers. Therefore, all the political groups of the country, the elites, and the entire nation who are loyal to the ideas of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) should maintain and increase their resistance against the bullying powers of the world."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also stated that Imam Khomeini (r.a.) never gave up his support for the innocent people due to being considerate towards the bullying powers. He added: "The obvious defense of the rights of innocent nations especially the Palestinian nation was a priority among Imam Khomeini's policies, and the Iranian nation and officials have fortunately followed this policy during the past thirty years. And they have always emerged victorious out of their battles with global arrogant powers."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also emphasized that the enemies are still continuing their psychological and political warfare as well as their allegations despite their failures and stated: "Today, the Americans and the Zionists who have the darkest records of violating human rights are accusing the Islamic Republic of violating human rights. And these allegations will no longer work and no one will believe them in the world any longer."
At the end of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei said that Imam Khomeini (r.a.) is reminiscent of the grandeur and vigilance of the Iranian nation and a source of hopefulness for Muslim and innocent nations and said: "Constant grandeur and security, progress and development, and the moral and ethical growth of the Iranian nation lies in the fact that the Iranian nation and officials implement the advice and points mentioned in Imam Khomeini's testament, and this reality should never be forgotten."