Interviewer: A British reporter of the Economist newspaper
Question: [Which person or which party will be acceptable to you to be at the top of the Iranian government?]
Answer: What is important is that the head of the government and those who take the helm must be accepted by the nation and should be deeply committed to Islam and enforcement of its law and like any individual; I will cast my vote for the trusted persons.
Q: [Do you expect the holding of a general election after the collapse or exit of the Shah?]
A: One of the most significant duties of the first group who assume power after the collapse of the Shah is to prepare the grounds for free elections so that no group or class can influence the elections.
Q: [What will you do about the Land Reforms and the Shah's personal assets? Will you continue the policy of distribution of lands? Are you an advocate of private property?]
A: As it was clear from the very beginning and became clearer later, the Shah's Land Reforms Plan did not have any objective other than destroying the country's agriculture, as a result of which a considerable chunk of Iran's oil income was spent to import foodstuff from abroad, particularly from the United States. But we will never return the lands to the landlords, for they have neither observed the Islamic law in owning the lands nor have they observed the law with regard to their income. We will not keep these lands uncultivated either. Through the best of agricultural means and with arranging other necessary funds, we will support the agriculture. With regard to the private property, it is sure that it is confirmed by Islam, but the entire Islamic laws in the field of economy, when seen as an integrated school in the entire body of Islam, and implemented comprehensively, will be the best possible form. It will eradicate the problem of poverty and will prevent the corruption of a group through accumulating wealth. As a result, it will sustain the society against corruption and will not prevent the growth of the talents and blossoming of man's power of invention and creation. The comprehensiveness and integrity of the Islamic law is such that if someone recognized it, he would confess that it is beyond the limit and ability of man's thought and that it is not the creation of the scientific, intellectual power of man.
Q: [Will you insure or preserve the treaties signed with foreign countries- the defense agreements and the agreements regarding the power plants, roads and railways?]
A: First of all, we do not have any information about the contents of these agreements. That is, the Shah's regime never informed the people about the content of these agreements and concealed them from the Iranian nation, but the future government will study them again and those found against the interests of the nation will be abrogated. But for the modernization of the country, we will use all the facilities the foreign governments will be willing to supply to us, while preserving our freedom and the independence of the country on the basis of mutual respect; we will sign some agreements to this effect.
Q: [Do you want to see the technicians and advisors stay in Iran- the American advisors (45,000), the West German (13,000), British (1,000) French (7,500) and Japanese advisors (7,000) ?]
A: The future government will study and decide about each of these groups, their role and the degree of the country's need for them. The future government will have no commitment to anybody except to the nation and the preservation of their interests and exigencies.
Q: [You have said recently( early December 1978 )that all the agreements that are against the interests of the nation will be rejected. What agreements do you mean? How do you define the" national interests"?]
A: I think that there isn't any ambiguity when it is said the interests of the nation. For example, no Iranian ever doubts that the billion-dollars-wort agreements for the purchase of armaments and construction of military bases for the United States by the Iranian oil income and the presence of thousands of American military advisors in Iran, who are paid mind-boggling salaries, are not in the interest of the Iranian nation and such agreements, that have been signed by the Shah or his agents, are not few.
Q: [Will you continue the arrangements or trade and commercial agreements and current transactions with the West? What will be your trade policy?]
A: As we will sell and export our domestic products to any country that is a customer, we will purchase whatever we need inside the country from abroad. But we will act in all these transactions on the basis of equal footing of the two sides and will not allow any government to impose economic trade as a leverage to exert political influence and impose its colonial objectives.
Q: [Why do you criticize the Shah's relations with the United States and the West?]
A: We are opposed to the mission delegated to the Shah by the colonial powers to preserve their interests and destroy the country in order to preserve his crown, his shaky throne and his government, which does not rely on the nation. We oppose the Shah's foreign policy, for it has been at the cost of the independence of our country and the freedom of the nation.
Q: [How do you foresee the role of the Army in the Islamic Republic?]
A: The country is not needless of the military force and the army, but the army must be the protector of the independence and security of the country not the supporter of a despotic dictator who has been rejected by the entire nation and is an agent to massacre the sons of the country.
Q: [What is your opinion about the leadership of the army at present?]
A: Today the army has no independence. The leadership of the army today is in the hands of a few top officials and agents of the Shah under the supervision of foreign advisors.
Q: [What is your opinion about Mr. Shapour Bakhtiyar?]
A: His cabinet, like the earlier Shah's governments, is illegal and has been condemned by the nation.
Q: [Do you intend to legalize the Toudeh Party before or after the establishment of the Islamic Republic?]
A: Today, no group is as hated as the Toudeh Party, due to its very bad record in Iran.
Q: [How do you intend to establish the republic through referendum?]
A: The principle of the establishment of the Islamic Republic has been announced by the nation during the referendum of Tasou`a and `Ashoura across the country. After the collapse of the Shah, the representatives of the nation will take the legal measures for its implementation and also will prepare and complete the constitution of this republic.
Q: [Do you intend to ensure the freedoms of speech, assembly, press and rituals?]
A: God willing, we will announce our plans in the earliest possible time. But it does not mean that I will take the helm and like the Shah's dictatorship announce a principle every day and impose it on the people contrary to their will. It will be the duty of the government and the representatives of the nation to decide in these affairs, but I will always perform my duty of guiding and directing.
Q: [Are you prepared to see a communist or a minister with communist leanings in one of the national or defense positions or in the domestic or foreign offices?]
A: If the people vote for the Islamic Republic, they will not accept a non-Muslim minister.
Q: [Do you intend to slap oil sanctions against the United States and its allies If this is the case, where will you export your oil to?]
A: We will stop the export of oil until the Shah has gone. After his departure, we will sell oil to any country we will decide to sell and will receive money, not arms, for the sale of our oil.
Q: [How do you see the role of the clergy and the religious leaders in the future government? What will be the nature of your relations with non-military powers?]
A: The clerics will perform the role of guidance and direction of the government in the future political system.
Q: [Is there anybody among your associates who are sympathizers of and interested in communism and Marxian socialism?]
A: No, not at all; never.
Q: [What is your opinion about the Soviet Union and the Muslim minorities in Central Asia?]
A: The Soviet Union too is among the countries that plunder the resources of our country; it takes away the Iranian gas, and has always supported the Shah. We respect all the religious minorities wherever they are.
Q: [What are your feelings about the establishment of a revolutionary government in Afghanistan, as well as its relations with Iran?]
A: Afghanistan is a country situated in our neighborhood and is a Muslim country. We have friendly relations with the Afghan nation. They are our brothers.
Q: [Do you find Islam and atheist Marxism compatible with each other?]
A: No, Not at all.
Q: [Are you interested in a position for yourself in the future government?]
A: No.