Interviewer: A reporter of the Express English daily
Q: [What are the plans of your government?]
A: We will announce our plans in the first most appropriate opportunity. But the most prominent duty of the future government is to prepare the conditions for a free election as soon as possible. Also we will make arrangements for the freedom of the press in its real term, reveal all the truths and inform the people of all the issues and of the hidden crimes of the Pahlavi regime and all their accomplices and try and punish them so that they would never again deceive the people in disguise. During the same time other plans will include giving back the assets that have been transferred to foreign countries to their real owners, freeing the political prisoners, encouraging the people to devote themselves to renovating and reconstructing the country that has been destroyed by the former regime, and making sincere attempts to build a new society and government in Iran. Preventing the wastage of the natural resources of the country, particularly the oil, selling it at a fair price and spending the money to revitalize the economy and fulfill the urgent needs of the people and tens of other heavy and significant tasks that are upon the shoulders of the future government would not be possible to carry out except through sincere efforts, devotion and cooperation of the people. The most sensitive task of the future government, however, is to raise the standards of living of the disinherited classes of the society, particularly those who have suffered great losses in the course of the current struggle against the Shah's regime. Also other plans will include preparing all the scientific, cultural centers, including the schools and universities to start their academic and educational activities, purging the traitors from the army and restoring its independence, preventing the import of luxurious goods, and encouraging the development of agriculture and animal husbandry.
Q: [Which Islamic countries possesses the best form of government in your opinion and why?]
A: The form of the government is not that significant in the preservation of democracy and protection of the people's ideals, although some forms of the government have priority over the other forms. But what is important in this regard is the qualification of the people who are elected to take charge, and also the principles, the observance of which should be considered unavoidable for the governments. If these principles and norms, that are specified and stressed upon in Islam, are observed correctly, a progressive and developed society is seriously expected to emerge. This is the most important point that is ignored by the world today and we want to introduce an astonishing truth to the world through relying on Islam and by the assistance of the Almighty God.
Q: [Do you not fear that the people will get tired due to the daily problems?]
A: The brave and patient Iranian nation has showed during the years of struggle, particularly during the recent years, that its power and resistance against the difficulties are augmented as the problems increase, because the Iranian nation becomes more certain of the correctness and truthfulness of the way it has chosen, that is, the way of God.
Q: [Have you ordered your followers to shun violence and be tolerant?]
A: I have not thus far ordered the use of violence and our nation has fought against machine-guns and tanks with their bare hands and fists. But if the hellish colonizing powers in the world do not stop their support for the criminals in Iran, at the head of who is the Shah, we shall think of other ways to counter them.
Q: [Is it possible to make peace with the Shah?]
A: No, it is never possible.
Q: [What is your opinion about US behavior in this regard?]
A: The president and the government of the United States have treated the Iranian nation like an enemy so far, including years of plunder of Iran's resources by the US, the heavy expenses incurred by the US military advisors and their military sites, the heavy investments through which the US has abused Iran's facilities and the US current encouragement of, and support for, the Shah's merciless killing of the innocent people of Iran. It is now upon the American nation to urge their president to change his policy.
Q: [What do you think about France?]
A: According to the news reaching from some French nationals residing in Iran or those French nationals who have gone to Iran, the Iranians have a friendly behavior toward the French nationals. And no doubt such a behavior on the part of the Iranians is because of the stance and policy France has adopted toward them.«1»
Q: [The New York Times daily reported on January 2 that Libya has assisted you. If this story is right, what was the form and size of the assistance? Have other countries too helped you?]
A: We have not thus far received any help from any government and this is a sheer lie.