Khamenei.ir

Without the Mobilized Resistance Forces and the IRGC, Iran would have failed the war with Saddam

One of the great achievements of Basij [Mobilized Forces] is that through it, the IRGC was transformed from a small, limited organization to an effective and massive military force and managed to come out victoriously from the imposed war, in the view of the Iranian nation. If it was not for this fruitful and rich tree in this land, the outcome of the war would have surely been different than what came about. The war was imposed on us to humiliate the Iranian nation. But Basij proved them wrong with its strong presence, which was a sign of the dignity of the Iranian nation. The war was imposed on us to accuse the blessed Islamic Republic of Iran of being weak in defending the country’s borders. However, with a presence among the armed forces and through self-sacrifice, Basij made the foundations of the Islamic Republic evermore stronger. It was proven that defending the frontiers in the Islamic government is not simply a task relying on the regular forces—that may or may not be ready—rather, it relies on the will of the Iranian nation.

Reza Khan and Mohammed Reza were appointed to power by the UK

The British appointed Reza Khan as a puppet to obey their orders… but the moment when they felt Reza khan had started to disobey them and had developed an interest in independence—not real independence, rather obsession with the Nazi Germany under Hitler (as, when Reza Khan looked at Hitler, he was excited and pleased)—they put him aside and brought his son to power… For fifty-sixty years, those who ruled over us were not only not chosen by the people—because in Iran there was no such thing as the rule of the people previously—they had not even come to power due to their own grit. I wish that if they were a dictator, at least, they would have come to power with their own power, like Nader Shah, or with their own cunningness, like Agha-Mohammad-Khan, but it was not the case. Others came and put them in power to dominate the nation and looted all the material and spiritual resources of this nation.

Leader's Speech to Organizers of Intl. Conference on Environment

The following is the abridged text of a speech delivered by the Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic Of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, on June 19, 2001 in a meeting with the participants and organizers of the International Conference on Environment, Religion and Culture.

Photos

Imam Khamenei met with Fidel Castro

Imam Khamenei met with the president of Cuba, Mr. Fidel Castro, and his accompanying delegation on May 9, 2001.

News

It is possible to crush US dominance

Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khamenei met with Fidel Castro, the president of the Republic of Cuba on Wednesday, May 9, 2001.

Excerpts from statements made in meeting with the youth and the education experts in Rasht

The souvenir Reza Khan brought from the west to Iran

When Reza Khan, the domineering bully, wanted to introduce us to western traditions, the first thing he brought over was the style of clothing and the removal of the veil: that was accomplished by use of force through his style of bullying! Dresses needed to be short; hats needed to be a special model--they even changed the name, hats became chapeaux! If anyone dared to wear a hat different from the "Pahlavi hat," which was the name given to the style worn at the time, or wore a long dress, they were beaten and repelled. They adopted these traditions from western culture. Women were not allowed to keep their veils. Their chadors (the Iranian hijab) were already forbidden. If they covered their hair and neck, they were beaten! Why? Because, in the West women did not wear head scarves. These styles were adopted from the West. They didn’t bring what was really needed for our nation. No knowledge, no experience, assiduousness and hard-working or risk taking habits--which were the good aspects of the western culture--none, were ever introduced to us. On the other hand, the things that were brought to our nation were accepted systematically. They brought ideas, but they accepted them with no analysis. They said we had to follow them because it came from the West. The clothing, eating, speaking, and even their style of walking were like that of westerners, so they were supposed to be accepted. There was no way out of it. For a country, this is the worst kind of poison.

Imam Khamenei's commentary on a narration from Jesus Christ

The following is an excerpt from an analysis of a tradition as presented in the beginning of a Dars-Kharij-Fiqh (Higher Islamic Studies) Lecture on April 30, 2001, by Imam Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution. In this tradition, Jesus (pbuh) teaches important lessons to his apostles.

Leader's Speech at Intl. Conference in Support of Intifada

The following is the text of a speech delivered by Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, at the inaugural ceremony of the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Intifada, held in Tehran on April 24, 2001.

Excerpts of statements during a meeting with students and faculty of Amir-Kabir University of Technology

Leader's Statements in a Meeting with Archbishop of Austria

The following is an excerpt from the statements made by Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, in a meeting with the Archbishop of Austria on February 22, 2001.

Leader's Statements in a Meeting with Visiting Egyptian Delegation

The following is an excerpt from the statements made by Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, in a meeting with a visiting Egyptian delegation on January 10, 2001.

Muslims’ respect for Jesus Christ no less than that of Christians

Undoubtedly, Muslims’ respect for Jesus Christ is no less than that of faithful Christians for him. This great divine prophet always made efforts during his lifetime to fight oppression, transgression, corruption, and those who tried to dominate nations by relying on their wealth and power and caused them to suffer both in this world and the hereafter. The sufferings which this great prophet endured since his childhood – God appointed him to his prophetic mission during his childhood – were all aimed at achieving these goals…..Today many of those who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ are treading a path other than the one set by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ led humans to worshiping God and opposing pharaohs and transgression. Today there are people who claim to be the followers of that great prophet but have taken the place of the pharaohs and Taghuts whom Jesus Christ used to oppose during his time.

Leader's Speech in a Meeting with Officials and Ambassadors of Islamic Countries

Leader's Statements in a Meeting with Prime Minister of Spain

The following is an excerpt from the statements made by Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, in a meeting with Prime Minister of Spain on October 23, 2000.

The coming into power of Reza Khan in Iran is one of the most remarkable lessons of our history

The British proposed an agreement to the Qajar government, according to which all the financial and military matters of Iran would be accessible for the British. The late Seyyed Hassan Modarress, the prominent scholar, opposed the agreement and did not allow the bill to be approved by the National Consultative Assembly of that day. When the British were disappointed and recognized it was impossible to take similar initiatives, they had a new idea. They realized that they needed to appoint a dictator in Iran to eliminate individuals like Modarress; to treat the people with violence; and to comply with the demands of the British. So they brought Reza Khan to power. The story of the placement of Reza Khan as a king in Iran is one of the most thought-provoking lessons of our history. It's a story that every one of the youth in this country must know today. The chaos prior to the reign of Reza Khan ended due to the severe despotism of Reza Khan and with the help of the British government, and an authoritarian and imposed order was established in the country, which lasted for fifty-five years. British influence in our country's political and cultural institutions pressured the people.

What is the Islamic identity of a woman?

The Islamic identity is that, while retaining their womanly identity and features—which are natural and inherent to women, and for each gender, the particular characteristics are to be valued—and preserving the tender feelings, the flowing emotions, the love and compassion, and the feminine brilliance, a woman should advance in the field of spiritual values, such as science, worshiping God, getting closer to God, acquiring divine teachings and walking the oases of mysticism. She should advance in the field of social, political and resistance-related affairs; patience, resistance, political presence, political aspirations and political understanding and awareness; knowing their country; recognition of their future; recognition of national major goals and Islamic goals of Islamic countries and nations; identifying the enemies’ plots, identifying the enemy, diagnosing the enemy's methods day by day. She should also progress in the area of providing justice and fairness and a peaceful environment within the family. If rules are needed, if correction and reform is to be made on the issues that influence the role of women, educated and aware women should advance in all of these fields; to show a model for women; to say that a Muslim woman is a woman who maintains her religion, veil, femininity, delicacies; while at the same time she defends her own right; advances in the fields of spirituality, science, research, and getting closer to God, and she can become an outstanding figure, who is also present in the political arena. This will become a model for women.

The Muslim woman's duty is to revive her identity

For years, on the mainstream media across the world, those who attribute no value to the female gender, or humanity and human values, except with relation to gaining money—which unfortunately plays an important role in all arenas of today’s Western culture—have also rendered the matter of women to a capital and a means of producing profits in various arenas. They discuss it, they educate the public on it, and they promote it, manipulating the minds of men and women all over the world into a major temptation and deviation. In such a situation, a Muslim woman should ponder on Islamic teachings and values and observe the limits that the Islamic establishment has put in place for the progress of men and women, and revive her identity. So she can make the powerful reasoning win over the temptations and fallacy of the agents of Zionism, Capitalism and the rich of the world. Islam stood up to the Ignorance that oppressed women: at the level of spirituality, thinking and human values; and in the level of her political presence; and most importantly, at the level of the family. A man and a woman make a small society called a family: if in a society, the system of values is not appropriate, the first point where the woman is oppressed is within the family. In all the three areas, Islam provides a system of values.

Western civilization laid the foundation of women’s immorality and nudity

The west ought to answer for the situation brought about for the female gender, because they betrayed women. Western civilization has failed to offer anything to women. If any scientific, political or intellectual progress can be seen among women, it was women themselves who made those accomplishments them. In every country—also seen in Islamic Iran and other countries—these advances are achieved by women; women themselves are accountable for such achievements. What the West has spread and the Western civilization has laid the wrongful foundation for, is women’s immorality and nudity. They introduced women to immorality, and have not provided them with an appropriate family environment. The U.S. and European press frequently publish reports on the high rates of violence and brutality against women. With regard to the woman and spreading nudity and immorality among women of those parts of the world, Western culture has made the family institution unstable and weak. Even infidelity by a man or a woman in the family is not regarded as very serious. Is this not a shame? Is this not betrayal to the female gender? With such culture, they are actually boasting to the world, whereas, they are at loss. Western culture is the culture that should defend itself in the matter of women. They should defend themselves and provide explanations. However, the dominance of capitalism and Western repressive media have reversed the situation. So they claim they are the leaders of women’s rights! While this is by no means true. Of course, among the people of the West, there are thinkers, philosophers, truthful and righteous individuals who think and speak truthfully. What I mention is the general attitude of Western culture and civilization against women.

Why is there a growing interest in hijab around the world?

Muslim women in many parts of the world today take you as their role models and follow you. If you see that in some Western countries, or in some Muslim countries with a non-Muslim government, Islamic hijab is so much contested by the enemies of Islam, it is because the women are increasingly inclining to hijab. In some of our neighboring countries, where hijab was not practiced; in some Islamic countries where hijab was not even mentioned— as I have seen firsthand— during the past twenty years following the revolution, women, in particular, intellectuals and university students as well, have embraced hijab, showing interest in hijab, and have started practicing it; the examples of which can be seen even in western countries. You are their role models.

Reforms: Strategies, Challenges

What follows is the abridged text of a speech delivered by Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, to government executives on July 10, 2000.

Religious minorities supporting The Islamic Republic, a source of honor for it

Thankfully, the followers of many different faiths live together peacefully in the Islamic Republic. Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians live alongside Muslims in the Islamic Republic. They cooperate with the Islamic Republic and play a role in the country. Of course they shoulder certain duties. The Islamic Republic also shoulders certain duties towards them as Iranian citizens which it fulfills. The Islamic Republic has no complaints against its citizens who are among the religious minorities of the country. When the enemies launch propaganda against the Islamic Republic in a sly manner, Jewish citizens publish statements. In other cases, Armenians or other religious minorities issued statements and expressed their support for the Islamic Republic. This is a source of honor for the Islamic Republic.

A look at the life of the Islamic Prophet as narrated by Ayatollah Khamenei

Excerpts from Tehran Friday prayers sermon

Imam Hussain (a.s.) can be a role model for the world’s freedom seekers and justice seekers

Those who are not familiar with Islam but understand the concepts of freedom, justice, dignity, elevation and lofty human values, consider Imam Hussein (a.s.) as their Imam [leader] in seeking freedom, in seeking justice, in the fight against viciousness, and against ignorance and human degradation.

The biggest treason to Iran’s economy was committed by the Pahlavi regime

The Pahlavi regime committed the greatest treason to Iran's economy, not just the economy of their time, but also to our economic foundations as its implications lasted for years to come. They transformed Iran to a storage for worthless, useless imported western goods. They bought cheap instruments and unnecessary and disproportionate things at exorbitant prices. They completely destroyed the once self-sufficient agriculture of this country; to an extent that years later, even now, our agriculture has not found its previous status. Because the waves of immigration [from villages to the city] that they incited, was not something that could be easily stopped. They made the nation dependent on foreign countries in agriculture. They bought wheat from the US. The wheat storage facilities were built by the Soviets, too. That is, we were dependent for our wheat and for its storage. They ruined the rural areas. They stopped the industry which was to progress. The progress that was needed in the industry to stop imports was not made. Active industry was halted in this country and a dependent industry was encouraged that relied on imports as much as or more than it produced. They stopped science. They talked a lot about universities and students, but practically, the country's universities had minimum scientific activity. Any brilliant and active talent, if they wanted to flourish, if they were not suppressed in the country, had to leave to work abroad. It was impossible here. They gave foreign companies dominance over much of the country's economic resources and gave away much of oil reserves for free.

An excerpt of statements made in a meeting with the Air Force personnel at the Shahid Sattari University of Aeronautical Engineering

The Pahlavi regime was trying to make the Iranian nation numb, indifferent, and insensitive

When a nation is under cultural, political, economic and military influence of a foreign power, there will be no liberty to develop and move in the direction they desire. Any living entity wants to grow and develop. Even if you want to stop the growth of a plant, it will break free from its bounds, and even crack the stone to grow. A human being and a nation are the same. To diffuse this feeling and motivation in a nation, those in a position of power have found a way, and that is making nations numb, indifferent, and insensitive. The corrupt Pahlavi regime tried to do that in every possible way: making numb, indifferent, and insensitive, overwhelmed with a deluge of illusions, and of course sometimes putting on a desirable display, and a gleaming facade. They had made this happen to the army in those days ... making the army rot away from inside. They had set up a facade of an army enough for their goals and their image. But there was no scientific work, technology, research, or production. Higher education, was only up to a certain point, in a certain environment and pursued abroad. Commands, measures, and methods, not only in the military, but also in culture, and beliefs, were influenced and managed by foreigners. They were just given some tools. An army with a set of tools, but without the ability to function using this tool if it breaks or a piece is misplaced: what kind of an army is it and how independent can it be? It was like this. In those times, there was no talk of the Iranian army using its own products, and the results of its own research. Not at all. There was not even any talk of the army knowing and studying the aircrafts, the radars, or any modern electronic device it was given. They were not even allowed to do this. These are the stone, cover, and bounds that want to stop a living entity from growing. This entity, as long as it stays numb and indifferent, will be limited by those bounds, and when it becomes alert, it will break the bounds and overcome the obstacles.

An excerpt of statements made during a Friday prayer sermon

Reappearance of Imam Mahdi (aj) is near, because minds are ready

Presently the mind of humankind is ready to understand, to learn, and to know,undoubtedly, that a lofty human will come to save them from the burden of oppression and tyranny. The exact effort that all the prophets made, the exact promise the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) has made to people via the Quranic verse: "And relieves them of their burdens and the shackles that were upon them," [7:157] is expressed. The hand of divine power can make this dream of humankind come true through a heavenly human, a divine human, a human connected to worlds of mystery, spirituality, and worlds that are not understandable to shortsighted humans like us. Hence, the hearts, the enthusiasm, and love are attracted to that point; and, every day they grow more attracted than the day before. The Iranian nation, enjoys a great privilege today: the atmosphere of the country is an atmosphere of Imam Mahdi (aj). Not only Shias across the world, but all Muslims are awaiting the Promised Mahdi. The privilege of the Shia is that they know this divine and certain promise made to all Muslim nations as well as followers of all religions, by name, attributes, characteristics and birth date. Many of our great scholars have personally met with this beloved (Imam) of hearts of the admirers during his occultation; many have made a pledge to him in person; many have heard from him some heartwarming words; many have been caressed by him and many others have received his kindness, care, and love without having recognized him. On the battlefield, of the imposed war on Iran, there were many young men who felt a spiritual and bright presence at their most crucial moments: they sensed and received an assurance in their hearts without recognizing and knowing the source. The same is true today.