Speech [The Pahlavi dynasty was the lackey of the foreign powers; the nation's resistance against the superpowers; unity of expression]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

He mentioned fifteen years, «1» but I say fifty-seven years or so. Our nation's affliction started from the time of Rida Shah. Anyone who lived during that black period (of history) remembers and knows what Rida Shah had done to this nation. According to Delhi Radio, Rida Shah was installed by the British in order to subjugate our nation! Succeeding him was Muhammad Rida, who was imposed on us by the power triad namely America, Britain and the USSR. As he himself had mentioned in his book, the powers thought it expedient for him to be (the ruler). However, certainly, they were envisioning their own interests! Because they had no better servant than him who laid the nation's treasury at their disposal and who rendered backward the country from the agricultural and commercial aspects and everything else to serve foreign interests. Of course, he was given a mission, as he himself had said," a mission for my country!" This so-called mission was that mission and nothing else.

Subsequent to the years of sufferings and frustrations that the nation had undergone, you know that when the nation decided on a particular issue, it stood up and defeated with its clenched fist that great satanic power and all the most diabolical powers which were all backing him, namely the powers of America, the USSR, China and Britain. And I know that the Tehran Bazaar has always been the center of political and Islamic activities. It was the Tehran bazaar, backed by Tehran merchants, which would always pave the way for the execution of any proposals put forth by the `ulama' and any citizens with heartfelt concern for this country. I would like to thank all guilds and individuals of the bazaar, working in any capacity for the lion's share they had contributed to this movement. Had it not been for the bazaars of Iran, it would not have been certain whether we could reach our destination. It was the support of the Iranian bazaars and the rest of the guilds that made it possible for this movement to achieve this great progress up to now. Nevertheless we are still at a fledgling stage; whatever remnants have remained of these (corrupt elements) must be buried in the graveyards and then we can proceed to establish an Islamic government which springs from the nation, determined by the nation and which relies upon the nation.

Throughout the entire history of Iran, we have never had any government that relied upon the nation. During the time of the previous rulers, the nation had never been considered because coercion was the order of the day! The same was true, as we had witnessed and as far as our knowledge takes us, from the time of Rida Shah up until the present. Therefore, there has never been a national government, a national rule, or a national election in this country; in the elections and parliaments have not been national ones. The governments arising from these parliaments, not being based upon the people's vote, are also illegitimate. And this person who has taken the place of and has been assigned to his ministry by Muhammad Rida and who claims to be a nationalist and a legitimate one is neither legitimate nor national. He is not national in the sense that he does not respect this nation; he does not respect the nation's cries now reverberating in the streets; and finally yet importantly, he is illegitimate because he has originated from parliaments, which were illegal. And before he was posted to this ministry he himself confirmed the illegitimacy of these parliaments, and now that he is at the helm of his ministry, the parliaments have suddenly gained legitimacy?!! Of course, people of this kind are of the belief that whatever serves their interest is legitimate and whatever is against it is another matter. If it is to their benefit, it is legal, but if it is to our benefit, then it is not.

It is in such things that the bazaar has always shared in the (nation's) afflictions as well as in its advancement. What I want to say is that the secret of this advancement has been the unity of expression without which we would have never gained victory. Today, you are witnessing throughout the whole country that the nation has one thing to say; is shouting one slogan, that is the Islamic slogan; the slogan that they do not want this regime, or the rule of this dynasty, and that they want an Islamic rule, a just Islamic rule. This unity of expression, which has been forged among the nation, has made us understand that the great powers cannot do anything in the face of it. We have seen it materialize (with our own eyes) I hope that this unity of expression be preserved up to the end (of this movement).

I must say that the country is presently going through the most sensitive period in history: that is the transition from the taghout to the divine rule, a transition from oppression to justice and from betrayal to trust. We are right in the middle of a most sensitive period. Thus, it is incumbent upon me, a theology student, on you gentlemen who are merchants, on the `ulama', on the students of the religious sciences, on the academicians and workers, office employees, farmers and everyone to support this movement. If we neglect to support it, God forbid, instability will set in and then we will be subjected to their iniquity forever. Now they realize that the true power that can stand against superpowers is the unity of expression of the nation and Islam, which has been forged under the banner of Islam. They have understood it and are now intending to crush this power (of unity). Hence, they are seeking to separate the `ulama' from you and vice-versa, the academicians from the `ulama' and the university from the bazaar, and sow the seeds of discord among them in order to nullify this unity of expression after which they will perpetrate whatever (evil designs) they have. It is likely that they are purporting to preserve the same monarchial regime. Although it is beyond human understanding, they would want a decaying thing! Thus, you saw how Muhammad Rida had been denied entry (by the superpower country) which was supporting him when he sought refuge in it! «2» They are like this, supporting any individual whom they feel will serve their interests.

All of us should now be vigilant (to ensure) that, God willing, the support of the powerful (strata) for one another- the bazaar's people for the workers and vice-versa, all for the `ulama and vice-versa- and their unity and unified cry that they want these matters of religion, of Islam and of human beings, which existed in the past, henceforth continue, God willing, until the culmination of the movement, so that we can have an Iran that truly belongs to us and not one whose treasury is gratuitously being given away to this and that (foreign power), an Iran whose agriculture we ourselves cultivate; not Israel, which wants to grab our agriculture from us and exhaust everything.

I implore God the Almighty to grant you all success.

May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.

Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini