Speech [The role of virtuous people in the country's reconstruction]

[In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful]

Until now, you have been at the service of the taghout. It is most unfortunate that this group, which should serve Iran and build a safe Iran for us, is at the service of someone that was endeavoring to destroy the country. For fifty years, we suffered from the rule of Rida Khan and Muhammad Rida Khan, whose treacheries during the first fifty years have escalated in the second fifty years of their rule. During these second thirty-eight years, which was the period of his rule, his treacheries have been much more than the previous rule (Rida Khan's). This person has bled us dry. They escaped; they carted off the nation's wealth and left. Somebody has written to me, or has informed me through a magazine, or maybe it has been sent to me from somewhere saying that one of his (Shah's) sisters, I do not know which one, has bought a mansion at a certain price, the amount of which I also do not remember; what I remember is that six million dollars was spent on its garden flowers! Do you understand? Can it ever occur in your imagination? Can we understand what it means? Six million dollars, equal to thirty-seven million tumans, has been spent merely for the garden flowers of this lady's mansion! From whose wealth did she take the money? What did her father who came to power in a coup d'etat have? Nothing but a bunch of starving soldiers! It was taken from this nation's and our wealth. They impoverished and looted this nation. His and his family's wealth, which was in banks and was around thirty billion dollars or tumans; I'm not sure which. Three billion and some hundreds [of thousands] of dollars of those who were his followers- those field marshals and lieutenant generals, and so and so, also plundered our wealth and ran away. You, who had been serving the country, have been deprived! Those who were in top positions and were betraying (the country), those top people indulged in plundering, stealing and then ran away.

From now on, you should be at the service of the nation. Serve your own nation. This land is yours. This country should be yours. The foreigners' hands should be severed. How much more must America, Britain or others plunder this country? We, at some time should become alert, vigilant, observant, and regain freedom. We have to gain our right through bayonets and machine guns. They (the regime) will not grant it to us. Stand against them. You have witnessed how this nation, the barefooted ones, stood against tanks, cannons and machine guns and advanced their cause. All these superpowers were supporters of the Shah, but these barefooted masses stood up to the tanks with their bare fists, sacrificed themselves, and pushed them back, so the Shah was not able to stay here any longer; they all ran away.

From now on, you must be more heedful and you must make your friends and comrades aware. Tell them that you want their welfare. We are crying out that the army must be independent; that is it must not be subservient (to another). This is for your own good. Or, do you like our army to be under the supervision of America, and worse than that, of Israel? The army must be reformed. You should all join hands and together correct these matters, set the country right and reconstruct it from the beginning. They (the regime) destroyed the country and then ran away, now, we must build it. What they have accomplished is that they have expanded the cemeteries! They buried all our youth and ran away. Now, we should all join hands, collaborate and build the country. Those in the army who are blameless should reconstruct it; those untainted civilians who are working in offices should rebuild the offices. The people should rebuild the bazaar; they should rebuild the agriculture. The regime had completely destroyed the agriculture. You all know that Iran was a country that exported goods. Now, people stretch their hands toward America and other places. May God protect you all. May you be successful and may God help you.

[A person from the audience: Excuse me. We, of course, know that you are tired and we do not want to inconvenience you, but we want to bring up an issue regarding the military. We would like tell you about what you have said about our being at the service of the taghout; if God accepts us, although I have spent twenty-five years in the military and have worn the taghouti uniform, if it is acceptable to God, then I have not been a traitor].

Imam: By" at the service of," we mean that you( the navy personnel )were in a place where the taghout had business in and, of course, I know that in the military, the people are respectable, committed, decent and pure. We have pinned our hopes on the military, trusting that there are many who are upright. God willing, our country will be reformed by these people. When I said that all of you were at the service of the taghout I meant that you were working in a place where the taghout was present, not that you were their servants. God willing, you will be successful.

[The same military person addressing the Imam: If you allow me, there is another issue I want to bring up and that is the fact that many people are awaiting your arrival in Qum very eagerly and they are expecting you to go there. They believe that they will find relief if your honor goes to Qum. They will be free from all the hassle.]

Imam: No, tell them that I will not go until I have removed all your inconveniences. No, God willing. No!

[One of the army personnel: Qum can easily be surrounded and communications be cut off.]

Imam: No, be assured. I am neither from Qum nor from Tehran or any other place. I am from Iran. I am in Iran and a friend of all Iranians.

[One of the army personnel: May God grant you long life so that you can rescue us from the claws of these bloodthirsty elements.]

Imam: We need everybody's assistance. Everybody should lend a hand. God willing, you will be successful. May God protect you.