Speech [Interference and conspiracies of foreign-connected groups and the need for national awareness and perseverance]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I thank you honorable brothers for taking the trouble of coming here from distant places and I pray to God Almighty for your health and success. I am hopeful that the noble nation of Iran and especially the honorable people of Azerbaijan keep in mind the problems that this country has faced and stay alert toward the conspiracies that are being hatched throughout the country and in Azerbaijan in particular and rebuff them with awareness, wakefulness, and commitment to Islam.

The groups that were connected with the previous regime tried everything they could to cause damage to the Revolution. After the Revolution, too, not only have they refrained from making any positive contribution but they have instead been busy with their evil plans. Even today, seizing the opportunity of the war and its prolongation, they are under the illusion that they can cause differences and hypocrisy within the country. Some of these elements that have been identified have gathered in certain cities and academic centers and are hoping to destroy this Islamic Republic that has been established through immense effort, unity of expression, and great sacrifice and strife. I am warning these people who have gathered in some of the seminaries to withdraw from mischief because most of your members have already been identified. If we have not taken any severe action against you, it is only to serve the interests of national peace. However, if you persist in your mischief-making- whether in Tehran, or in Qum or Mashhad, or in any other part of Iran- you will be legally summoned and we will soon reveal all your evil activities in Azerbaijan and the other places, throughout this period in which the rest of the nation has been making sacrifices of life and property. I advise you to withdraw from these conspiracies and mischief-making because the noble Iranian nation and especially the chivalrous people of Azerbaijan, are never going to permit the greed of a small group of people to threaten the interests of the Islamic Republic.

I advise the entire nation to maintain peace and harmony wherever you are and not to pay heed to all the conspiracies that are being hatched. Evil elements that have absolutely no commitment toward Islam sometimes cause dissension in the name of" Sunnism" and sometimes in the name of" Shi`ism". And they wish to cause differences within the nation in the name of" Turk" and" Fars" only to reap personal benefits and to strike the Islamic Republic in the name of Islam. I humbly advise the Iranian nation to remain aware about these conspiracies while maintaining peace and order and if you find any corrupt people, who refuse to pay heed to your good counsel, introduce them to the authorities so that legal action can be taken against them. I pray to God Almighty for this nation that has stood up for its rights after suffering years of historical exploitation. This nation is not going to rest until it establishes precious Islam in this country as per divine commands. This nation will never allow the conspiracies of a handful of corrupt elements to succeed after it has strived for more than two years and after spending decades in the clutches of the world-devourers and after suffering immensely at the hands of the detestable Pahlavi regime as well as other despotic kings; and now that it has taken the affairs of the country into its own hands and has severed the roots of corruption and the hands of the enemies of Islam and humanity one after the other, this nation will itself neutralize all these conspiracies peacefully and judiciously.

I am hopeful that these groups that intend to destroy Islam in the name of helping Islam- intentionally or unintentionally- will realize that fostering differences will never work in their favor. And, God forbid, even if they do succeed in creating differences in Iran, they will be the first ones to fall prey to their own plots and will never reach their evil objectives.

My request to the entire Iranian nation is to persevere in defending this Islamic movement in the same way that they did at the onset of their battle against kufr because it is incumbent upon all of us to do everything we can and to strive to our utmost for Islam. We should take our lessons and should follow in the footsteps of the Noble Prophet (s) and the Divinely-Guided Imams (`a) who, throughout their lives, either fought the unbelievers or faced imprisonment at the hands of people who captivated them in the name of Islam. Islam has been precious enough for the Prophet (s), his companions, and the Divinely-Guided Imams to make sacrifices for it and we, too, should follow their example. We should not get worried if this war has prolonged because it shall end with the victory of Islam. We are with the truth and truth always prevails over falsehood. The end of the opponents of Islam and the Islamic Republic is near. The armed forces of Iran are busy battling courageously at the warfronts and the entire Iranian nation supports them. All the men and women of this nation are backing them actively. Such a nation in which all its people are actively on the scenes and are striving for the progress of Islam and its objectives will never face any harm. I am hopeful that these foreign slaves and these roots of corruption will soon face destruction and that this precious nation will emerge more honorably than ever before! Let the world see your power! May God grant success, prosperity, and honor to all of you and to all our dear ones and to all our beloved peoples of Azerbaijan!

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