Speech [Need for relationship with governments and nations]

I thank the gentlemen for taking the trouble to come here. I hope God will help the gentlemen to serve Islam and the nations resisting under pressure of aliens and arrogant governments. We should notice the mischievous acts carried out by superpowers and their affiliates and not be impressed. Our nation should be vigilant, because Iran was a country that struggled to be independent and not be under domination of others, nor should invite foreign advisors.

When we were in Paris, one came from the US in the guise of a businessman and later became known he was not a businessman. He said it was not advisable for me to return to Iran. Another group some of whom were sincere and some officious said retain the monarchy and the Constitution; let the Shah remain as ceremonial king without the right to rule. They made such remarks, but were wrong. When the Shah left the country, they said similar things regarding Bakhtiyar and the regency council. They saw it did not work and began activity to defer my return to Iran, suggesting that it was not opportune to fly and such and such threats are underway. When I came back to Iran the situation aggravated. One of their plots was to suggest that the arrogant army should be dissolved and that a separate army should be formed. It was clear that they wanted to do some mischief, but this plot was also foiled. You see that the army has undergone development and excluding those who were corrupt or fled or were executed, others are serving. If, God forbid, the army had been disbanded, we would face defeat.

Now I have heard they are committing a different mischief, asking why we should have relations with governments. We are in contact with the people and have nothing to do with governments. This is also a scheme they are seeking to implement. The superpowers and the US presumed that Iran would be isolated on account of the revolution and its call for independence and freedom; demands that go against the procedure of all governments. When Iran was ostracized, it cannot continue living. However, they observed this was not the case. Iran developed relations with foreign countries. Now they have thought out a new plan by putting forward the idea that the governments are all oppressive and so and so and that we should develop relations with nations. This is a dangerous issue and precise mischief. We should act as the Prophet did in the early days of Islam and send ambassador to different countries to develop relations. We cannot sit and argue that we have nothing to do with governments. There are of course some exceptions and we do not have relations with them at present. But any intellect and human being does not admit the idea that we should not have relations with any government. This means suffering defeat and destruction. We should establish relations with nations and governments. We can guide some of them with this relationship. We should act in a way as not to receive slap on the face by those, which we cannot guide. Therefore, I recommend you to strengthen your relations in any country you are. Associate with other countries. When the president visits several countries and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Wilayati visit different countries, they come to realize that Iran has relationship with the world.

Obviously, we side with all oppressed people everywhere in the world and wish the downtrodden people would win over all oppressors. The gentlemen should notice lest the relationships in former time should be repeated, as during the former regime relationships were one-sided, like that of lord and servant, whether in time the of Qajar Dynasty or in the period of Rida Khan to the end. You experienced that when an ambassador from Britain or the US visited Iran no one dared to voice a single word against their interests. Today, however, Iran is not like this. We know no country like Iran receiving so much attention by the East and the West if not the entire world and being independent in a way that it can announce that it has nothing to do with either the US or the Soviet Union. We want to be ourselves. We welcome friendly relations with all governments, but as long as relations are in the form of lord and servant, we do not want such relations. We want to preserve our independence, the world and push forward Islam. These relations should be firmer each day passing. You should make them understand from the beginning that we do not want our relations to be like those in time of the Shah and that we have special Islamic relations that approves of neither doing oppression nor surrendering to oppression. We want to be like this, neither doing injustice nor yielding to injustice.

You should notice the point that the power helping you to achieve independence and freedom was the power of God Almighty. As long as this divine favor is there, no power can do anything, just as the war they have launched against us and are helping our enemy from everywhere. In spite of this, our nation, our youth and the entire country have stood and we will resist defending our country to the end. You are aware of the scope of propaganda against us. When they send the aircraft to Iraq from France, how much did they propagate that Iran is finished and that Saddam would level Khark Island to the ground. That story ended and another one has started. They have embarked on the propaganda that new helicopters and fighters have been manufactured that are capable of hitting everywhere. It is said that the distance between the Iraqi soil and Khark Island «1» is 300 kilometers and that the aircrafts' range is 500 kilometers. But we know that if Saddam has power only for one day to hit Iran's resources, he will not hesitate to do so. If he does not, it is because he cannot. By the way, radios constantly announce that they can hit everywhere. They want to raise hue and cry so that we would establish relations with the US and let go of Saddam. But we will stay to the end and will not resume relations with the US unless the US mends its way and stop doing oppression. The US should not come across the world to Lebanon nor should it extend its hands towards the Persian Gulf. As long as the US is like this and South Africa «2» acts that way and Israel is there, we cannot live with them. Israel cannot mend its way. Unfortunately, you see the evils say Iran has relations with Israel and the US despite the fact that we cautioned 20 years earlier in the time of the Shah against the Israeli threat! We should think that Iran is a country that wants to live without others interfering in its affairs. As long as our relation is strong with God Almighty, no one can harm us. You should preserve this state of affairs. The embassies should be Islamic in form and anyone visiting them should find that it is a unique embassy, not like those in the former times. Acquaint your hearts with God Almighty. God supports you." O ye who believe! If ye help Allah, He will help you and will make your foothold firm." «3» I wish God will succeed you in serving Islam and the revolution.

May God's peace and mercy be upon you!