Interview [Iran's general condition before and after the Revolution]

Interviewer: A reporter of the German The Third World magazine
Question: [Mr. Khomeini, considering the increased pressure on the Shah's regime, do you think his reign is about to end?]
Answer: The Shah's regime has disrupted the country so much, by using force, and unprecedented massacre of the people last year, and by unlimited corruption, for which no solution can be accepted by the people, unless the Shah leaves.
Q: [What kind of rule will you suggest after the fall of the Shah's regime? Do you intend to save the monarchy within the framework of the constitutional law as well as the Pahlavi monarchy? What kind of government do you prefer?]
A: The nation of Iran desires an Islamic government, and I have suggested an Islamic republic that relies on the votes of the nation. And the Pahlavi rule or the monarchial system is something that the Iranian nation has generally been rejecting within last year, and anyone who approves them is a traitor to the nation.
Q: [The people's demands for higher income and a better socio-economic condition, play a basic role in Iran's present political circumstances. How can these justified interests of the people be achieved and fulfilled?]
A: Repairing the destructions will be possible once the Shah leaves. Agriculture which has totally been destroyed will be revived. The oil income that has so far been wasted on unnecessary and damaging expenses would be spent on the welfare of our own needy people. Distribution of wealth based on Islamic justice would improve the condition of the masses.
Q: [What importance do you lend to the Shah's proposed reform programs called as `The White Revolution' or `The Revolution of Shah and the People'? Today, what do you think of the land reform and its effects on the rural population and their constant migration?]
A: The Shah's land reform was nothing but a program to destroy agriculture and to impose single-product economy on our society to the point that today most of our needed foodstuff is imported. After the destruction of agriculture, farmers left their villages and lands, and rushed to the cities. The Shah's wrong policy in assembly industry, not only didn't solve the problem and didn't secure the lives of the immigrant villagers even at an acceptable level, but it made the country dependent on foreigners more than ever, to such an extent that the damaging effects to the economy are uncountable.
Q: [Along with land reform, capitalization of industries was developed in Iran, in the form of temporary industrial projects. Establishment of these industries would lead into changes in production and distribution of commodities. Traders have not requested a reduction on production of industrial goods, rather they have asked for a return to traditional conditions of production. Considering the interests of the traders and consumers, how do you think the development of manufactured consumer goods should be organized?]
A: The industrial policy of the Shah's regime is to expand the assembly and consumer industries, and to affiliate the industries to the foreign ones. The industrial policy of the Islamic republic of the future would be based on creating fundamental and mother industries, to the point that every type of dependency would come to an end. By creating fundamental and mother industries, the development of manufactured consumer goods will also improve in such a way that the interests of Iranian consumers will be held priority over everything else.
Q: [On what basis that the Shah has said," Iran will become a one hundred percent Westernized country by the next twenty years"? This issue is indicative of a Western democracy without communist parties, as well as the production conditions and living standards of the West. Do you think this will be a desirable future for Iran? And what solution do you suggest?]
A: The Shah has said and continues to say many things of this nature to mislead the people. And today, there's no one in Iran or many other countries that would doubt the fact that the Shah has resorted to such fabrications merely to cover for his crimes and also his continuous failures. Besides, there's no reason for the Iranian nation to imitate the patterns of Western or communist countries in order to progress and become modern, when they have such an advanced school of thought as Islam.
Q: [Do you have any specific idea about reducing the huge gap between the life standards of the people of cities and villages, the bourgeoisies, workers, and farmers?]
A: Yes, God willing, our Islamic programs which would be announced and enforced in the future, could administer this important task in the best way possible, and become a role model for the people of the whole world.
Q: [What do you plan to remove the present financial corruption and the accompanying inflation?]
A: If the hands of the thieves and local and foreign looters are withdrawn from the country, and the economic programs become adjusted and are carried out according to the society's reasonable and logical needs, and the ungodly laws, which are used as instruments by the profit-seekers, are cancelled, then there will no longer exist a problem such as inflation in the country.
Q: [What role will Shi`ism play in a government without the Shah?]
A: Basically, the Shah and the monarchial position is an outgrowth in the governmental organizations, such that if he interferes in the affairs- which he shouldn't- then there won't be a reason for him to stay. And when he interferes in government affairswhich the Shah has always done, he violates the rights of the whole nation, and when the people want to take their rights from him, he shows stubbornness and massacres them. This is where Shi`ism becomes involved and sets up such a great movement by resorting to Islam's rich culture, and will not quit until forming an alternative system conforming to Islam's approved standards.
Q: [In the opinion of Western countries, Shi`ism is being considered as a conservative element in progress. We have also heard the Shi`ah desire to withdraw women from the scene of social life, as well as their wish to return to Shi`ah laws, which would call for setting religious traditions as the basis of governing laws, as referred to in the constitutional laws, which has become illegally obsolete. We have also heard that Shi`ism rejects Western life style because it doesn't agree with religious traditions. Will it be possible for you to give your opinion on this matter based on Shi`ah belief?]
A: Shi`ism, which is a revolutionary school of thought, and the continuation of the Prophet's (s) true Islam, has always been under the dastardly attacks of the dictators and expansionists. Not only does Shi`ism not drive away women from the scene of social life, but it places them in their own elevated humane position within the society. We will accept the West's advancements, but not the West's corruptions that they themselves are whimpering about.
Q: [Being Iranian has created such a stable national situation that there has been no dispute among religious minorities like the Jews, Christians or the clergies of the minorities in Iran. How will these relations among the minorities be in your desired type of government?]
A: Being a Muslim has created more stability among Iranians than being an Iranian. Not only are the religious minorities free, but the Islamic government is obligated to protect their rights. Besides, every Iranian has the right to benefit from social rights, like all other Iranians. There's no difference between Muslims, Christians, Jews, or[ followers of ]other religions.
Q: [The influence of the West in Iran is of crucial importance. For example, there are forty thousand American advisers permanently living in Iran, who are mostly in the army. What will be your foreign policy?]
A: The presence of the American military advisers in Iran is due to the anti-Islamic and anti-nationalistic policies of the regime in Iran. In addition to creating tremendous costs which are a burden to the nation, it has given them such a supremacy over the army and the affairs of the country that the dignity and reputation of the military officials and officers have been stigmatized and destroyed, and in such situations, we will act according to an independent and free policy without the interference of the superpowers.
Q: [The rate of Iranian oil is very low as compared to the rate of that of OPEC countries. In comparison with the investing goods purchased from the West, do you think the price of oil is adequate, or should there be some adjustments to be made?]
A: The West's capitalist class extremely overuses the oil, in order to earn the highest profit as well as to aggravate the economic crisis, without thinking about the world's major dilemma and dangerous future, once this vital substance has finished- a dilemma which would take away purchasing power from the oil-producing countries after the termination of these huge resources, on the one hand, and force other countries to pay unbearable prices for the needed energy, on the other. Therefore, the problem with oil is not just the problem of its price, which is unjust now anyway. The problem is that in the economy of countries oil-rich countries in particular, the proper and appropriate role should be given to oil, and there should be real potentials available for the growth of the economy of the countries, not false potential. This is how we will adjust our oil policy. It is then that we as an equal party can act fairly as relates to the price of oil and its products and to the price of the goods that we purchase.
Q: [How do you think your future relations would be with Soviet Russia, the member countries of the Warsaw Pact, and the Communist China? The current relations of these countries with Iran may be described as cold.]
A: For the time being, the Soviet Russia and China have both joined the list of the opponents of the nation by supporting the Shah. In the future, our foreign policy would be built upon the principle of protecting the freedom and independence of the country and mutual respect. They would have to make their decisions by considering this principle.
Q: [What significance do you think Iran has in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean?]
A: The region's strategic importance is other than the importance it holds to those who have set their greedy eyes on the region. We, along with other people of the region, without accepting anyone as gendarme would preserve its security, and would block the influence of the superpowers, on the basis of maintaining freedom and independence.
Q: [How will be your relations with Arab Muslim brothers? These relations are currently limited to some extent.]
A: Our relations are brotherly, which have origins in our religion. We also share a common history and culture. We always understand each other's problems, and our enemies are common also.
Q: [At the present time, Iran may be considered as a supporter of Israel in the Middle East conflicts. What reforms do you suggest?]
A: Under the present circumstances, the Shah's regime is a supporter of Israel, and it has been almost twenty years now that I have been opposing this in my announcements and speeches, and I have already announced my partisanship to the legitimate struggles of the Arab nation and Palestine.
Q: [Why did you have to leave Iraq? Why do you spend the rest of your period of exile in Paris? Why do you like Paris regardless of the fact that you've been given the chance to return to Iran?]
A: Iraq, being forced by the Shah, put me under pressure, and I considered it my divine and religious duty to leave it in order to carry out my struggles. I am temporarily in France now, and the location is of no importance to me.