Speech [The need to expedite the approval of the Constitution; the Reconstruction Jihad project]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

It is the power of Islam that has brought together all the various peoples under one roof. Prior to this, no such event- bringing people here from Bijar, Duroud, Malayer, Khouzestan, and other places to meet us and discuss their problems, and allow us to mention certain matters as well- could have taken place. But the power of Islam, the power of faith, brought about this event in that we people from various regions have assembled in one place and are talking about our problems.

The issue is the same that I have repeatedly mentioned. I should point out emphatically that we had a specific aim which was to push back our enemies, expel them from the country and so eliminate the obstacles; and this was accomplished by the grace of God. If any of them remain, they constitute the rotten remnants. There is an issue that has the position of the reconstruction of the country. The matter of the Constitution is the foremost one mess up everything in the name of the" great civilization". But at first we have to lay down the basic principles of the issue before discussing its features and ramifications.

The issue at stake at present is that of your enemies and of Islam being engaged in plotting and mastering their forces. The plot that they want to carry out, and had also planned to do before, is to prevent Iran from attaining political and economic independence. Well, it is America that has everything and is exporting everywhere. We, too, must buy (what we need) from America! If our agricultural potential is realized, we can become self-sufficient; rather, we can have a surplus. Our country is an agricultural one and has more than it needs. Even if one province of Iran, such as Khorasan or Azerbaijan, is properly cultivated, it will suffice for our country; the rest we should sell. These «1» (groups) have come here and are not letting us (do our work). To whose benefit is it? It is to America's benefit. It, therefore, means that they are working for America. They are not allowing the factories to operate. To whose benefit? To the benefit of the foreigners. That is, they are working for the foreigners. They claim that they seek the nation's and our country's welfare. No; their actions speak otherwise.

We now want to frame the country' Constitution and bring it to the notice of the public. Well, they are now going around saying," No" to such an issue; such an important matter. They say that there must be a constituents' assembly. That vast assembly of the constituents, in which six hundred to seven hundred people should gather, will take about six months to be set up in case its essential purpose is to be fulfilled. Following that, various self-interested individuals will not allow the Constitution to materialize in the way it ought to. Their aim is to prolong the matter. They want to prolong a matter that can be finalized within two months, for two, three or four years. They want to plot and carry on with their work, and to hold meetings. And so a time will come when there will be no Islam, no country and no constitution; only the same old state of affairs.

All of you that have collected here: you from Bijar; the gentlemen from Duroud; those from Malayer and Ahwaz should now join hands to bring this essential stage to fruition. The subsequent stages are easy, really. The important thing is to pass this stage to enable our country to have a permanent government, a president and consultative assembly so that the basis of the government, which is the main thing, is realized. We can then deal with our difficulties. At present the government intends to have extensive purges carried out everywhere and to get on with its work. We will give its message to the whole nation today itself that the Crusade for Reconstruction is a matter that must be put into effect. All the people and the whole nation are duty-bound to participate in this task. Iran, after sometime, will become a prosperous Iran, God willing, if this task is begun with the cooperation of all the people.

I pray to God, the Blessed and Exalted, for the health and happiness of all the gentlemen that are here. I thank you for having come from far away to sit here perspiring in this small and dark room. May God assist all of you.