Interviewer: A reporter of the German magazine, Stern (?)
Question: [Honorable Ayatullah, you have announced the establishment of an Islamic government in Iran which you will head. Will this Islamic government be based on a parliamentary regime similar to the parliamentary regimes of the Western world or will it be a theocratic government? And are you intending to approve your own role through election or referendum? Will the political parties, newspapers and those who do not believe in religion be allowed to- probably- freely announce their opposition to the Ayatullah and your policies?]
Answer: I do not want to head the government. The form of the government will be a republican one, based on the people's votes, law, and the Islamic principles. The parties will be allowed to oppose us or other things so long as their measures are not harmful for the country.
Q: [What organization or political forces will constitute your base? Will you rely, for instance, on the National Front or on the clerics? Earlier you had announced that the jurisprudents and other people would be taking charge of the government affairs. Will this principle be implemented as you had earlier announced?]
A: I have not said that the clerics should take charge of the government. The clerics have another occupation. Of course, the supervision over the law is the responsibility of the clerics and the clerics rely on the people not on a political party. I too rely on the people and I am not affiliated to any political party.
Q: [Therefore, the remarks attributed to you in the American newspaper, Herald Tribune, are not your remarks and message?]
A: Many newspapers write matters which are contrary to the reality. I am surprised how the newspapers allow themselves to write what is contrary to the reality and what I have not said or done.
Q: [When, and under which circumstances, did you feel the responsibility for this political mission? Why did you not mobilize the Iranian masses right after the 1963 events, when you were a popular leader?]
A: From the very beginning we were determined to oppose the regime because we did not consider it legal, but the nation woke up gradually. It was not possible to accomplish this task in the beginning. During this period the nation gradually woke up and this awareness reached its peak during the past one-and-a-half years, leading to the current developments.