Speech [Policy of the Islamic Consultative Majlis]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I already apologize for the inconvenience I caused to the gentlemen. However some issues prompted me to meet the gentlemen to notify them what I deem as my duty. Firstly, there is no concern in these issues. I confirm the Majlis and always recommend the people to affirm the Majlis. Majlis is among the organizations that is necessary for all to confirm it. No one has the right to offend the Majlis which is entitled to have pros and cons and votes in abstention. This is something that should always be the procedure in Majlis. There is no talk of this issue, which has already been taken up.

What brings inconvenience to the gentlemen is that we should talk about future. Let bygones be bygones. There is now a fact that Majlis has given vote of confidence to prime minister. This is a fact that has been accomplished. The three options of votes in abstention, favor and against in the Majlis have been devised to tell the difference. The question is if the dissident wants to work sabotage henceforth against the government in the Western style? To demonstrate that they were right, do they want to defeat Islam and the Islamic Republic? Or, as required by reason, now that they have been confronted by this situation and that they believe that the government has not acted competently and it could act more efficiently, they want to guide and help it act efficiently so that in the coming term all would vote for it and not doing sabotage and God forbid bring the government to defeat at this sensitive juncture. This is against Islam and the interests of the country and them. If you believe in Islam, as you do, and hold that the country should proceed powerfully and emerges victorious in the war in this position, the road would be blocked before the superpowers and our country would be strong, you should strive for approval, not criticism. You should make healthy criticism. This is effective in advancement of affairs. Healthy criticism and guiding the government in all the works it wants to carry out is necessary. However, in order to demonstrate your opinion regarding the government, you would, God forbid, work sabotage, drive the government towards defeat, weaken the nation and the government, defeat Islam. This is something that should necessarily be banned and I hope this is not the case.

Majlis today is not like the former ones in which deputies debated the bills among them in a closed-door place and publicized those which they wished and keeping secret those which they did not. Today, Majlis debates are aired openly. Even those who are working in their farms have radio and can listen to the debates. Our nation today is not like the past when people were indifferent to developments. Our people today are careful and vigilant and watch over all affairs. The gentlemen should know that if once God forbid some temptation emerges or there is one who wants to tempt from within our outside, weaken the government and hamper the progress of efforts favoring Islam, people are attentive and alert. They identify such elements and do not keep silent. Therefore, I seriously advise the gentlemen that you who see that the government has not been able to act as desired, you should henceforth pursue, confirm, cooperate and help so that the country would proceed towards health. Avoid things incongruous to God's gratification and people's satisfaction. On the other hand, I advise the gentlemen on the other side of the fence that you did this work because you deemed it advisable. Now if from now onward you observe some wrong in the government in order to say we deemed it advisable and did that work for expediency demonstrate verity of your words and want to confirm the government in irrelevant cases, this is also against the canon. As it has always been the case and been advised, the Majlis is an Islamic consultative assembly, not the one common in other places and not concerned with Islamic and religious matters. Our Majlis is Islamic and views should be benevolent and Islamic on both the government and the ministers. The ministers you select, as has been outlined, should have qualifications of being efficient. It should not be the case that a minister is found that cannot do anything or not be active. Help such ministers be selected and the works would be accomplished sooner.

Well, we are now engaged in problems. The government should not be closed down for long time. As it is advisable, he should be soon introduced and Mr. President should confirm as is his duty and as much as he distinguishes. And when he came to the Majlis, finish the job soon. Do not let it protract, in which case it will be to the detriment of Islam and the country. Today the country is not like calm days when no problem would arise if the government cannot work for 40 days, 50 days, one month, two months and three months. Today one-day delay is sensitive for government and they should work. Therefore, my point is that the gentlemen should make comments and criticism, constructive criticism, admonitory criticism and not hostile criticism.

In pre-sermon speeches and in time of introducing the ministers no one should revile. This is beneath the dignity of the gentlemen. One should not weaken the other nor should they weaken each other. Neither should those in majority, nor those in minority and not even those in abstention do so. Such an act runs counter to God's gratification and canon.

Criticism should also be made. Whatever view the gentlemen have should be expressed. If they withhold making comments, this is wrong. Therefore, one subject is that treatments should be healthy and Islamic whether in the Majlis or outside of it. Another subject is that the Majlis finishes the work and introduces the ministers sooner, yet carefully. Thing should be done quickly so that affairs would not be closed down. We are involved in unusual situation, in war, in troubles and in conspiracies and we should accomplish this work sooner so that this country would, God willing, be [exemplary].

Meanwhile, I advise the armed forces whether the military or local [forces] and pasdars not to interfere in political affairs. It should not be the case that a group stand against one who has said so and so and another group sides with them. It is none of their business. They should be engaged in war. Right, it is clear that they become aware of Majlis. I do not say they should not become aware; they should not interfere. The gentlemen should know that if some agitation emerges and an unfavorable situation comes about, this will produce its impact on warfronts, factories, farming and everywhere. You are responsible for it.

Now a big responsibility vests with you; that is, due to your deeds and rough treatments once dire consequences might emerge in the country or some agitation may overtake the country. Furthermore, there are plots underway in our country and might be fomented and tumult overtake everywhere. I advise the whole nation to preserve their calm and not do any move running counter to this peace, confirm the Majlis and deputies and not at all discuss what has happened. Watch for the future so that works would proceed efficiently and the jobs well done.

Another subject I would like to touch on is that we have always confirmed the army. When calls had been raised to disband the army and there were evil and corrupt opinions aimed to destroy the army and cried that we no longer want army, we objected and argued that we need the army. Thank God, the army has now been purged. The army is now a very good army and is serving and we confirm them as we do the pasdaran. They should be together so that they can preserve the country.

It should not be the case that the army presumes to be a special organization and Sepah thinks of being separate power, with others taking themselves as such. All of you are one power for preservation of peace and protection of your country and Islam. This is a duty for all of us. Majlis should do this work. The government should do this work. The clerics should do this work. The nation should do and the army and Sepah should do so that all can evenly stand against the plots and all can uniformly advance the country. Thank God our country is today a stable and independent and progressive country and is advancing. This depends on the fact that first Majlis should treat well-followed suit by others.

I wish you success and hope you will be sanctioned and confirm Islam and carry this burden to destination.

May God's peace and mercy be upon you!