In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Muharram 11,1399 AH
My sincere greetings to the courageous, devoted Iranian nation; You, the honorable nation, with your steel-like determination and live slogans proved to the world that you do not want the Shah and hence he must be dismissed from his usurping power. Through this great referendum, you announced once more that he has no base among the nation. You also once more exposed those who made nonsensical statements, saying that they [the opponents] are merely a handful of saboteurs, but the nation wants the Shah- even when the public slogan of" death to the Shah" permeated the entire country. This time too by crying" death to the Shah," you bounced your fist on their month. The Almighty God is satisfied with you and the Imam of Time- May God expedite his advent- lauds you. Islam too admires you for your support and hoisting the flag of monotheism through devotion and sacrificing the blood of your youth.
Pinning hopes on you and with a heart full of compassion of the support of you, dear nation, I am proud of the great goals you pursue, that is, the overthrow of the Shah's regime, elimination of the monarchical system, and establishment of the Islamic republican system. You renewed your allegiance to the Imam (`a) of the devotees through your great demonstrations across Iran on the Tasou`a and `Ashoura.
Simultaneous with your great demonstrations, in a message to the heads of states, I announced that the referendum of these two days has left no ambiguity that the people do not want the Shah and have announced his illegality with an absolute majority. Therefore, I warned that any head of government that henceforth supports the Shah will be deprived of the Iranian oil and Iran's contracts with them will be declared unofficial; and so long as those heads of state who support the Shah are in power, the supply of oil to them will be stopped and the contracts nullified. It is the duty of the nations to question their governments, and the duty of the US Congress to impeach the Carter Administration.
I also sent a message to the young army officers to join the nation, for we emancipate them from the yoke of the military advisors and embrace them wholeheartedly. The respected young army officers should seriously avoid hostile confrontation with their brothers and sisters and join their united rank, which is an Islamic goal. I request the honorable nation to protect and assist the soldiers and officers who join them in the best possible manner and take the security issue into consideration.
The Iranian nation must bear in mind that we are passing through a very crucial juncture. Many a persons may unknowingly or treacherously keep silent or remain negligent. They should not be heeded and protests against the Shah must be expanded more than ever. Since the media are on strike, contacts with the cities must be established through any possible means and the daily news and reports of the street demonstrations should be exchanged.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dear nation and beseech the Almighty Allah to assist them, which is assistance to the Holy Qur'an and Islam. May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini