Interviewer: A reporter of the Singapore's Strait Times newspaper
Question: [Would you please explain your ideas and feelings about the recent political developments in Iran? What is your opinion about the newly-appointed Bakhtiyar government?]
Answer: The resistance of the Iranian nation is matchless in the world. In order to remove the hellish dictatorship, the Iranian nation has struggled so courageously that it has astonished the East and the West- the bloody struggles will definitely lead to independence and freedom. The Iranian nation wants the elimination of the Pahlavi dynasty and the monarchical system and the establishment of an Islamic republic. The recent government is not legitimate at all, for it has been approved by the votes of a parliament in which the Iranian nation has no representative. I have said several times that any government with the existence of the Shah is condemned.
Q: [There are reports that the Bakhtiyar government has kept its distance with you and has not sought your backing for his government. His statements have thus far promised the religious leaders that Iran will not sell oil to Israel anymore. How do you assess his situation or that of his government in relation to yourself and to those religious leaders who may take your opinion into consideration?]
A: I and the entire Iranian nation condemn the Bakhtiyar government. Superficial freedoms and stoppage of oil supply to Israel are measures to divert the public opinion from the core of corruption, that is, the Shah and the monarchical system. This government[ Bakhtiyar's government ]cannot last long because the people do not support it.
Q: [If I have understood correctly, you and your followers want the ouster of the Shah and see the future of Iran only under a complete divine government, which means an Islamic government which is run by a religious leader. Do you say that ideally you should replace the Shah at the apex of the power structure, that Iran be run in a more humanistic manner and directed by the Islamic principles?]
A: I and the other clerics will not occupy any position in the government. The duty of the clerics is to guide the governments. But we want the ouster of the Shah and want to replace this corrupt regime with the judicious Islamic government and victory will be ours.
Q: [Even if you have accepted the principles of such a government, it cannot be said that no problem will surface with the present opposition who do not agree with such an approach to the government. It is an established fact that, contrary to you, Ayatullah Shari`atmadari follows the idea that the Shah must conditionally remain in power in accordance to the Constitution and the Constitutional monarchy, and has said several times that the Shah must remain in power and reign. It shows that you do not want the Shah, but he supports him.]
A: In order to retain his position, the Shah has launched a campaign in the East and West, but it is futile. The courageous Iranian nation will defeat him and his clique. The people do not want the Shah and consider him a criminal and a traitor and no one can oppose this demand. The future history will show that the demand of the nation and the will of God shall prevail over all other wills.
Q: [Suppose that you succeed to defeat the Shah and also unite the current opposition forces, what will be your immediate principal economic and political plans and policies?]
A: We want a healthy and non-dependent economy. The Shah has paralyzed the Iranian economy and put our resources in the service of the East and the West- particularly the United States. We will struggle against this policy and will not allow others to plunder our assets. We will launch a real revolution in all economic fields. The issue of agriculture has a special priority in our government, for through his American-led land reforms the Shah has destroyed our agriculture. In the field of industry, through the establishment of mother industries, the assemblage industries will be prevented. Iran is an independent country with an independent policy. We will cut off the hands of the East and the West from our country. We will eliminate all political dependencies and will make the people rule over their fate and will liberate the people who have been deprived of all their rights in Iran over the past fifty years so that they attain all their legitimate demands in full freedom. But we cannot deny the fact that after victory we will face serious economic crises. But God willing, we will compensate for the economic failures of the Pahlavi era.
Q: [Will you make major changes in the direction of recent economic growth of Iran? Will you make any change in the position of the big foreign oil companies?]
A: The changes regarding the oil companies must be undertaken by the experts. What I can say is that all the contracts that are to the detriment of the nation will be rejected by us because they have been signed by the defunct Shah and the usurping, illegal government.
Q: [Will there be more inclination toward the market economy? One of the current crises in Iran is the rejection of the present dependent economy- dependent on the Western capitalism- which is opposed to the Iranian traditional merchants.]
A: Our economy will be an independent, healthy and national economy, based on the fulfillment of the most basic needs of the deprived, oppressed people, not a merely consumer economy.
Q: [Do you envisage an immediate economic chaos in the country? What do you think now that the oil pumps have been shut down and there is scarcity of bread- because of the shortage of fuel for the bakeries? What should be the first measure in Iran?]
A: So long as the Shah is there, no oil will be exported. I have sent a delegation to take care of the oil supply for the domestic consumption. «1» But the strike of the oil industry will continue until the Shah has gone. The problem of the oil shortage for the domestic consumption will be solved shortly.
Q: [Do you offer an opposition which will be like a socialist government for Iran or a government based on humanity and religious principles?]
A: Our government will be an Islamic one, which will implement the Islamic laws. The Islamic laws are constructive for man and uplift man in his human position and also fulfill his material demands.
Q: [Suppose you are placed at the apex of the government. How do you foresee your relations with the West?]
A: I will have a conducting role in the future government. The East and the West would not make any difference to us. The interests of the nation will be the tally that should be protected in the best possible manner. If the East and the West respect our nation, we too will treat them in the similar manner.
Q: [Will there be any change in your alliance with the United States?]
A: We have friendly relations with the American nation and will establish relations with the US government in a manner that would be in the interests of our nation.
Q: [Will there be any change in the military policies? Will Iran stop the purchase of sophisticated weapons? What it has been thus far buying by the petrodollars?]
A: Never! The Iranian army will never need such weapons as the present ones. The US army advisors have full control over the Iranian army. We will form an independent army and will eliminate the redundant parts, which are not useful for the army, for our country and for our nation. We will sell oil to any country we deem it exigent and in turn will receive money, not weapons- which is not at all useful for the army and puts the army totally in the service of the aliens.
Q: [Do you think that these changes will have their effects on your relations with the OPEC member states?]
A: The competent experts will study the issues related to the OPEC and will take the necessary decision in this regard. We will not be deceived by the names and titles; whatever will be in the interests of the nation will be followed.
Q: [Is there any possibility that Iran under your leadership would look at the Soviet Union in order to counterbalance the Untied States?]
A: Never! We will establish an independent Iran to liberate it from the yoke of the United States and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union is now taking away the gas of Iran and the United States takes away our oil. We will never allow these two superpowers to dominate over Iran.
Q: [Do you have any idea about the US's unconditional support for the Shah? Will you reject US interference in Iran altogether? Will you succeed to change the Shah as the head of the state?]
A: The United States has thus far supported the Shah and this is why it is the number one enemy of the Iranian nation. We condemn US interference in Iran. The US does not have any person other than the Shah to maintain its base in Iran and plunder our resources and do whatever it wants. This is why it supports the Shah. God willing, we will make Iran independent. Through their selfless struggle and numerous sacrifices, the Iranian nation will finally expel the Shah from Iran, eliminate the monarchical system and establish an Islamic government in its place.
Q: [How will your government deal with the army officers who have always supported the Shah?]
A: Those army personnel who have supported the Shah and killed the defenseless Iranian people will be tried and punished for their misdeeds.
Q: [Suppose your government or a government with your support comes to power, will there be any political repression? What will happen to the SAVAK?]
A: Freedom will never be granted to anybody if it is to the detriment of the nation, but there will not be any repression of the nation. We will dissolve the SAVAK.
Q: [What do you and your followers want to do; a military coup in Iran? Do you think that people such as colonel Khosrowdad can engineer a military coup, as rumors have been spread about it?]
A: I have said and written several times that after the ouster of the Shah- if he is caught by the people, he will be tried in an open court and punished for his misdeeds- we will hold a referendum for the establishment of an Islamic Republic. Through this government, Iran will be liberated and will gain its true independence- political, military, economic, social and cultural independence. Everybody will be free to express his or her opinion in this government. The Iranian people are fed up with the dependence on foreign powers and domestic tyranny and in order to attain true independence, they courageously throw themselves before the bullets. Where in the world can you find a people like that of Iran who empty-handedly fight against the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain and other supporters of the Shah in order to restore their rights? Now you have realized well what I want to say. Of course it is difficult for the entire peoples of the world and for the Iranian politicians to understand how we can attain victory without relying on the East or West. All of them used to say and tell me that if we oust the Shah we cannot oppose the regime and all of them without any exception tell me that I should firstly stop opposition to the monarchical regime, for opposition to the regime is impossible. I tell them what I am telling you, that is, by the grace of God, victory is close; I will oust the Shah, will uproot the monarchical regime, and replace it with the Islamic Republic. As for the military coup against this nation, my answer is no. This issue does not come to the fore at all. If a military coup is engineered in favor of the Shah, it will not solve any problem, for the people are already living under such a coup, but are resisting is such a way. Once again I would repeat that there is no other way than the ouster of the Shah and the elimination of the monarchical regime.