Speech [Necessity to maintain composure and avoid tension]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I see conspiracies at work on the threshold of reviewing the constitution, on the threshold of appointing the experts for reviewing the constitution, on the threshold of determining the destiny of our nation and the destiny of Islam and on the threshold of the destiny of the independence of Iran. This moment is more sensitive than all other moments and the destiny of our nation must be determined at this moment and the basis of our country must be ascertained. There are conspiracies at work. O people, beware!

Direct assaults on some of the tenets of Islam; attacks on me; insults directed at me are meant to create anarchy.

I warn the people of Iran and stress that should any person in any position insult me at this critical juncture and wants to sow discord; you must not show any reaction. In the past two days, they came to me and told me to react on some magazines for having insulted me; but I do not think it is permissible at this sensitive moment. The ill-wishers should not presume that they can break the tightly-held ranks of our nation by means of these conspiracies. The nation of Iran must sagaciously traverse these stages that we are going through. If for example, they insult me or burn my photograph or attack me at this sensitive moment, no one has the right to show a reaction. The enemy is waiting in ambush and hatching plots. They want to divert your minds from the mindset that you have and the path of liberation of Islam that you are traversing. They want to divert the movement from its own path; they want to keep you busy with other issues that are secondary to the fundamental issue. In these past few days, I observe that various groups come here and air various complaints; I do not regard these as accidental. Insulting some of the tenets of Islam and insulting me and airing numerous grievances about the state of affairs are not accidental; they are plots; they are conspiracies. They hatch plots in order to dissuade you from the straight path that you are traversing; to divert you from this movement that you have undertaken and to keep you busy with matters other than this important one. The people of Iran must sagaciously neutralize the conspiracies. They want to sow discord; to create commotion. With total composure, the people must neutralize these conspiracies and these evil designs. If you get preoccupied with other tasks; if you focus on minor issues and think about divisive issues then you shall leave behind the main issues.

Our main issue is traversing this path; it is appointing the experts; it is reviewing the constitution and after these steps others follow suite. At every step we must concentrate on that same subject even if the wicked ones want to divert your attention- through the feelings that you have for certain affairs- to other issues and to sow discord among you. Pay no attention to these matters. All your attention should be focused on reviewing the constitution. Refer any shortcoming in the constitution to the Senate. Later, appoint your own representatives; appoint the experts so that they could study the constitution.

I suggest that your experts be appointed from among the pious individuals; from the learned individuals; from the prominent theologians of the land; individuals who lean neither to the right nor to the left; individuals who follow the straight path of humanity; who follow the straight path of Islam; individuals who are trustworthy; individuals who are patriots; individuals who have affection for Islam- these are the individuals that you should appoint for determining your own destiny. Today, your destiny is in your own hands.

Today every kind of tension and every divergence of opinion on anything is against the objective of the movement and the Revolution; you should avoid it. It is not without reason that at such a sensitive moment, the wicked ones have joined hands to create differences; it is not without reason that in some magazines they insult Islam.

At this moment, you must not lose your composure. Be calm. Do not take notice of the words of the wicked ones. God willing, at the right moment, the nation will determine the fate of these conspirators. The wicked ones should know that at this moment, our people are sober; whatever foul language they use, this nation shall maintain its sobriety; and it must maintain so. However much you insult Islam, this nation shall maintain its composure at this critical moment and shall not show any reaction.

I thank all the various strata of people who have gathered here in this hot climate, in this cramped place and with this toil and trouble; and I beseech God, the Exalted, to grant all of you health and happiness. May God admit all of you to eternal bliss. May God sever the hands of the wicked ones from this country. May God neutralize all the conspiracies.