Interview [The state of monarchy]

 Interviewer: Elizabeth Targood, reporter of the British newspaper, Guardian
Question: [Does Your Eminence Ayatullah believe that the Shah, as the commander-in-chief, can survive the current struggle against his regime [and stay] ? If not, then why ?]
Answer: No; the rule of the Shah and the Pahlavi dynasty has been imposed on our people. The Shah has also been imposed on the army as the Commander-in-Chief. The Shah does not, by any means, represent the army. During the past fifty years, the regime has used the army and the disciplinary forces to suppress the nation. We hope that the army will awaken and will join the national movement. I am certain that the rule of the Shah and his dynasty will not escape this movement.
Q: [Under what conditions will Ayatullah consider returning to Iran? Will you consent to the Shah's remaining as" the king and not the ruler," as written in the constitutional law? Could His Eminence Ayatullah give more explanations?]
A: Based on our nation's previous bitter experiences with this dynasty, no solution will be accepted within the framework of" the Shah only reigning and not ruling". We are entirely against monarchy. And my return to Iran will depend on the progress of the movement's targets. For the time being, I'm not intending to go to Iran. «3»
Q: [Has the Shah himself or any member of his government- such as Ardeshir Zahedi - ever tried to approach and meet with His Eminence, Ayatullah? Has anything been suggested to His Eminence Ayatullah as a possible ground for negotiations?]
A: No.
Q: [Has any of the opponents of the regime, such as Mr. Bazargan or Dr. Karim Sanjabi tried to mediate between His Eminence Ayatullah and the Shah? If yes, what has been the outcome?]
A: No, never.
Q: [Will His Eminence Ayatullah consider anybody inside Iran, as the admissible prime minister? If yes, who?]
A: I will not confirm anyone in the monarchial system as the prime minister.
Q: [His Eminence Ayatullah has stated that there is no solution for Iran but to overthrow the Pahlavi dynasty. Is His Eminence Ayatullah now working on the overthrowing of the Shah? If yes, what have you considered as the grounds of your work? For example, are there any plans and strategies prepared?]
A: Our nation's current great movement is against the Shah and the monarchial system. Therefore, the struggles are in the course of the fall of the regime. Our instruction is unanimity among all sectors of the society. People themselves have always found and will still find the methods of fighting. Our main guidance will be given in due time. In the case of observing insufficiency in the ongoing process, applying new methods will be considered.
Q: [What long term measures have you taken for the disposal of the Shah? Perhaps the young are considered for filling top positions, or will His Eminence Ayatullah be able to count on the support of today's government officials? In a situation like this, which will have the priority: loyalty or capability?]
A: Iranians inside the country or abroad have many talents, which the Shah's regime wouldn't allow to surface. These talents will be invited to work according to their capabilities and loyalty to Islam and people.
Q: [His Eminence Ayatullah has been criticizing the Shah's policies for a long time. In what criteria do his policies differ from the Shah's on the following issues?]
A- Social: Will the Islamic laws be put into effect? And what difference will they make in daily life, compared to the current laws? May Ayatullah precisely explain whether women could choose between Islamic and Western dress freely, under the banner of Islam? Will the cinemas remain open? If yes, how would the movies be selected? Will the consumption of alcoholic beverages be prohibited? In the end, will Iran turn into another Saudi Arabia or Libya?
B- Defense, foreign policy and oil: His Eminence has always been criticizing the role of foreigners, particularly the Americans. Precisely, what sort of changes do you wish to see in Iran, regarding the influence of foreigners on the oil exports and the arms imports?
C- Internal security: SAVAK has in fact been established to guarantee the internal security against local instigations. Will Ayatullah dissolve SAVAK? If so, what forces do you have in mind to replace the security forces with?]
A: A- Enforcing Islamic laws depends on the fulfillment of many conditions and preliminaries, and in order to assure justice and to see that Islam is carried out within its general boundaries, many different aspects must be examined. If such procedures are followed, you will see that Islamic laws are less harsh than other laws. Women are free to choose their own activities and destiny as well as their mode of dress within Islamic standards. And the ongoing anti-Shah activities have proved that women, more than ever, have found their freedom in the dress that Islam has suggested. We are against the cinemas whose programs corrupt the youth's morals and destroy the Islamic culture. However, we agree with the programs that are educational and useful for the morals and scientific growth of the society. Alcoholic beverages, alcoholism and narcotics will be prohibited. Our desirable Islamic republic shall not comply with any such regimes (Saudi Arabia and Libya).
B- Our relations with all foreigners will be set upon the concept of mutual respect. On this issue, we will neither give in to any oppression nor will we oppress anyone. And on the issue of entering agreements, we will take our own political, economic, social and cultural interests into consideration.
C- Yes, we will dissolve SAVAK and every anti-people organization. People's awareness and their participation, supervision, and accompaniment with their own selected government will itself be the best guarantee for maintaining peace in the society.
Q: [Your Eminence has stated that you are not seeking power. Suppose the Shah has left the country and His Eminence Ayatullah has returned to Iran. In that case, how would you fill the political vacuum? What will be your opinion about the possibility of a military coup-d'etat?]
A: Departure of the Shah will not create a political power vacuum. It is rather the continuation of the Shah's rule that has created this vacuum. The time to reach a solution by pulling off a coup-d'etat has already expired. If foreigners pull off this coup-d'etat, the Iranian army will become a more dependant and occupying army, and this will intensify the political vacuum there is in Iran.
Q: [Your Eminence Ayatullah are longing for the overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of a republic. What kind of republic do you have in mind? American or French?]
A: We want an Islamic republic and that is a government that relies on the people's votes. The final configuration will be determined by the people themselves, based on the current conditions and circumstances of the society.
Q: [Does His Eminence Ayatullah agree that Ayatullah's fame and popularity among Iranian youth is because you offer all the things that the Shah lacks?]
A: The issue is not the comparison between two persons. It is rather our people's political awareness and alertness, and their Islamic identity and standards. Anyone observing these Islamic standards will be accepted and loved by the people.
Q: [About the communists: Ayatullah is famous for being against communism. He doesn't trust the communists. But these days, the young communists in Tehran, not necessarily those seeking specific targets, are willing to have a national government running the country, because they do not agree with only one person ruling, whether that person is the Shah or Ayatullah. Does Ayatullah think that he can concede to their wish? Or better said: Does Khomeini considers the Communist Party as permanently illegal?]
A: In Islam, the pleasure of God, and not the personalities, is the principle. We measure the personalities with truth, not truth with the personalities. Righteousness and truth are the standards. Contrary to Islam, communists make idols out of personalities and concentrate power in them. Our Islamic government will rely on people's votes. And all those parties working for the interests of our nation will be free.
Q: [What made Ayatullah leave Najaf? Did you think Iraqis and Iranians had made a deal? If so, could you explain?]
A: Apparently, the Shah of Iran had forced the government of Iraq to prevent my political activities and entrusted responsibilities. That's why I left Iraq.
Q: [Under what terms is Ayatullah residing in Paris? Is he planning to stay in Paris? If not, where will he go? Have other countries, Algeria and Syria in particular, extended invitations to Ayatullah? Can Ayatullah anticipate how his presence in Paris could effect Iranian-French agreements especially on the atomic power plant and Tehran's underground? And what could the West learn from this change in the development programs?]
A: My stay in France is temporary. My only term for staying in any place is to be able to do my duties. Considering this explanation, for the time being, there is no relation between my presence in France and the issues of Iran-France ties.
Q: [How soon will the Shah fall?]
A: This is not a matter we can predict. But it can't be too far from now, according to the signs.
Q: [Will Ayatullah consider holy armed struggle as a means of fighting?]
A: I hope there won't be a need for a holy armed struggle, and that the crisis will dissipate as people proceed, and their goal, which is the overthrow of the regime and the establishment of the Islamic republic will be achieved. However, if matters persist and become complicated, we may consider the case.
Q: [Therefore, you'd prefer the ongoing peaceful methods with no bloodshed?]
A: Yes.
Q: [when you return to Iran, after the departure of the Shah, will you not yourself become the leader of the Islamic republic?]
A: I do not want to run the government myself. But I will guide the people in choosing government, and I will announce its terms to people.