Interviewers: Reporters of the Associated Press News Agency, Le Figaro, Miami Herald, and the Greek ATE newspaper
Q: [Your Eminence! When do you think that a free election will be held after the Shah's departure and after the announcement of a new government in Iran? And, will the Islamic government put any kind of limitations on the leftist political parties and the communists?]
A: The elections will be held when the future government is established. But the election of the constituent assembly will be held immediately. All, except the saboteurs, enjoy the right to vote.have supported the Shah will not be friendly any longer and that Iran will cut off its relations with these countries as far as their supporting governments hold power. Does it mean that you will be hostile to the US as long as Carter is in power in the US?]
A: We are against him as long as he supports the Shah and so long as he is against the Iranian nation, but we are not against the American nation.
Q: [The US administration has so far supported the Shah. Will your relations with the US become friendly after the Shah's departure?]
A: We will decide about it after the Shah's departure and the establishment of the new government.
Q: [In case the Shah leaves Iran, will the future government of Iran consider him the enemy of the Iranian nation forever, or will allow him and his family to come back to Iran and live there like ordinary citizens?]
A: Shah is a criminal and should be tried according to the Islamic principles. They are criminals and should be tried.
Q: [So, what you want is his trial, not his departure?]
A: Yes, whether he leaves or stays in Iran, he should be tried.
Q: [Do you recognize the Royal Council?]
A: No, the Iranian nation does not recognize it.
Q: [Will you and the new government change the policy toward Israel and South Africa? However, will the sale of Iran's oil in the past or present, be based on the political stance of the purchasing country toward Iran?]
A: Israel is a usurper and there will be no relations between Iran and a bunch of usurpers. Who is ready to sell oil to a racist criminal country?
Q: [What would be the Shah's punishment in the Islamic government?]
A: The Iranian nation knows exactly what the crime of the Shah is and what his punishment should be.
Q: [You have said earlier that the Shah must leave Iran and now you say that he should be tried; which one?]
A: I have always said that the Shah should be tried and his departure from the country or his stay in Iran will not change anything.
Q: [After the great demonstrations in Iran, «1» the Army is still loyal to the Shah. There are also some figures in the Army who are very violent; there is even the danger or possibility of a coup. Don't you feel any kind of danger for your religious solution? Don't you feel the danger of a coup against the Islamic movement?]
A: Even if a coup takes place, the Iranian nation is against it. The military coup will be defeated thereafter as the martial government was.
Q: [For several months the people have been taking into the streets in a way that the country has been paralyzed. Isn't there the danger of the tiredness of the majority of the people? Isn't there the possibility of their uprising against you and creating a new revolutionary wave against you?]
A: That is very implausible.
Q: [Such slogans as" God is the greatest" and" Long live Khomeini" are heard in the streets. But these are not your political program. You have always talked about an Islamic Republic, that is, a very general issue. Would you please outline the main points of this system and elaborate on the fate of the world's third great oil exporting country?]
A: Our law is Islam, which has been codified and there is nothing to be determined by us.