Interviewer: A reporter of the French Le Monde newspaper
Question: [Our country is the country of freedom, and we are very delighted that Your Eminence has come to France. What does Your Eminence Ayatullah think of Iran's conditions after the arrest of Dr. Sanjabi?]
Answer: The arrest of the doctor will bring about no change. This is another one of the Shah's efforts, thinking that he will make the doctor surrender. And it is not clear whether anyone or some respectable people would surrender to the Shah. «1»
Q: [What is Your Eminence's opinion of possible armed struggle? Two or three days ago, Mr. Shari`atmadari said that no decision has yet been made in this regard.]
A: We hope that everything turns out to the nation's advantage before it gets to armed confrontation. If the need arises, we will then reconsider it.
Q: [Your Eminence declares that an Islamic republic must be established in Iran, and this doesn't make much sense for us French because a republic can be established without religious grounds. What do you think? Is your republic based on socialism, constitutionalism, elections, democracy, or what?]
A: As to the republic, it means as it is elsewhere although, this republic is based on a constitutional law, which is the law of Islam. We say `Islamic republic' because the terms of the elected, as well as the commands enforced in Iran, would all based on Islam. However, the choice is the nation's, and the method of the republic is the same way as elsewhere.