Interviewer: A French reporter
Question: [Your return to Iran has been postponed. Yesterday's demonstrations were violently crushed and it seems that the Shah's departure is not a determining factor. Have you developed any doubt regarding the establishment of the Islamic law?]
Answer: As we envisage the Shah, the monarchical regime and the government appointed by the Shah should all go and with the establishment of the Islamic government the situation will be stabilized. What destabilizes the situation is the government and some of its lackey army officers. I have said several times that the army is with us. The violence is all caused by a few commanders who have helplessly faced defeat.
Q: [What will happen to the army in an Islamic Republic? Will it continue to procure the most sophisticated equipment?]
A: Of course we will need the army. And with the establishment of the Islamic Republic, the army must be strong, but for the sake of the people's interests. The army should be at the service of the people not the aliens and not for the suppression of the people. Thus far the army had been established in a manner that its mission was to suppress the people. A few number of the commanders were rendering services to the aliens; when they are removed, the army will be at the service of the nation and will enjoy the most sophisticated equipment. Of course the modern equipment that are useful for the army not the present ones which are merely good for the American advisors.
Q: [How will you treat the French investments and the treaties signed with France?]
A: These issues shall be decided by the future government. Of course the treaties which are in the interest of the nation will be respected and those to the detriment of the nation will be nullified. Do not think that since I am in France, I will take a single step in the interests of France if it is to the detriment of the nation. France is like other countries. I will continue my struggle wherever possible; France or any other place does not make any difference. Of course, for the time being I am personally grateful to France.
Q: [Can Mr. Tehrani 1 who has resigned from the Royal Council play a useful mediation role between you, the army and Bakhtiyar?]
A: The Bakhtiyar government is illegal; hence mediation with him does not make any sense and the army is not in a position to enter negotiations and reach an understanding with it.
Q: [Why don't you accept Bakhtiyar's proposal for providing an opportunity for the people to choose between the Islamic Republic and another regime?]
A: Bakhtiyar is illegal and the people are opposed to him. In my opinion he is a traitor.
Q: [You are opposed to Israel and support Yasir `Arafat. What will be your stance regarding the Middle East crisis?]
A: These issues are the concerns of the future government and I cannot opine on them now. Of course as soon as a popular government is established, we will cut our relations with Israel, for it is a usurper.
Q: [Have you considered the option of personally assuming the responsibility of the Islamic Republic? What will be the limits and under what circumstances?]
A: No, I will not become the president. My task will be their guidance.
Q: [Last Thursday, you foresaw the probability of bloody events at the time of your arrival in Iran. Do the events of the past few hours acknowledge this fear?]
A: So long as this regime and this government are in power, such probabilities are there. When this government has gone, there will be peace. My person is not the issue. I beseech God to be martyred in front of my nation and be killed on their side. I have said several times that I am equal with an ordinary citizen.
Q: [How many parties will constitute the foundations of the Islamic Republic as you envisage it? Will other religious leanings and non-Muslims be respected?]
A: All the parties will be free in Iran, unless they are against the exigencies of the nation. In that case their activities will be banned. But the expression of ideas will be allowed. The religious minorities too will be respected and their rights will be preserved in the Islamic Republic.
Q: [No one denies the role of the CIA in the establishment of the Shah's regime, its maintenance and the preservation of the Bakhtiyar government. Under the circumstances, how can a violent military action under the leadership of the United States be prevented?]
A: In the same way that the Shah was destroyed, the will of the nation shall overcome all the difficulties. The army, except for a few commanders, is with the people and with us.
Q: [Do you enjoy foreign support?]
A: No support has been extended to us. Sometimes verbal support has been expressed, but practically there has been no support; and we do not need any support. The Iranian nation has decided to achieve victory; it will definitely achieve it.
Q: [What immediate economic measures should be taken after the Bakhtiyar government has gone?]
A: We have certain economists who will be engaged to set the priorities in order to rescue the country's economy. We know that the economy of the country is in shambles and we will face great economic crises after the victory, for the Shah has left no money in the banks and the traitors have sent gigantic amounts of money abroad. But we have certain experts who can find the solutions. Since the nation unanimously supports the Islamic Republic, we hope that we will be able to overcome the problems and set our home spiritually and materially in order and God willing construct Iran anew. Once again I have to confess that great economic problems are ahead.
Q: [Will you go tonight? If the airport is closed, what will you do? It has been said that you will go through another route. What route?]
A: I will not go so long as the airport is closed; as soon as it is open, I will join my compatriots in order to either achieve victory or be killed on their side.
Q: [Some people say that you have shaken the West. Do we, the Westerners, have the right to be afraid of you?]
A: As for the shaking of the West, if this shaking is due to the fact that we have announced a truth and due to this truth the hearts of the Western people have been shaken, it is not a cause of fear; it is a source of hope for the West. The West must be hopeful that a nation has risen up in such a manner to vindicate its rights. Yes, the Western governments that think their interests might be in danger might have been frightened, but if they treat [us] justly, their fear is baseless. Iran too will treat them justly.
Q: [Some of the Islamic customs, such as the Islamic dress code [hijab], have been given up. Will it become compulsory in the Islamic Republic again?]
A: Islamic dress code [hijab] in its general sense which prevails among us and is known as Islamic hijab has no contradiction with freedom. Islam opposes what is opposed to chastity. We will invite them to observe the Islamic dress code. Our courageous women are fed up with the calamities inflicted upon them by the West in the name of civilization and have taken refuge in Islam.
Q: [What is meant by a fair price for oil? On what criteria is it determined? Is it the same price as determined by the OPEC?]
A: It is a price which is set on the basis of mutual understanding between our government and another government so that there will be no inequity against them or against us. We will never allow our interests to be plundered under the title of OPEC.
Q: [What are the reasons for considering the Bakhtiyar government illegal?]
A: Due to the opposition of the entire nation. Bakhtiyar has been appointed by the Shah and the entire nation is opposed to the Shah and has dismissed him. They have demonstrated this issue in frequent rallies and demonstrations. The legal government should be from the people and for the people, not opposed to them.
Q: [We, the Westerners, are materialistic; finally how will you treat us on this basis?]
A: I am sorry that you Westerners have sacrificed spirituality for the material issues and prefer material gains to spirituality. This very issue is the cause of these misfortunes. What promotes man is spirituality. Spirituality can grant salvation to man and create tranquility for him. It is materialism that has pitted man against man. I advise you the Westerners to pay attention to spirituality. You claim to be a Christian; just see what the precept of the Holy Christ had been. Follow the precept of the Holy Christ to attain salvation. We want to establish a system in which attention has been paid to the precept of the Holy Christ.