Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in an address to thousands of people from the central city of Qom, praised the history-making uprising of the people of this city on January 9, 1978 and elucidated the causes of and contributing factors to the “survival of the [1979 Islamic] Revolution”. Ayatollah Khamenei noted: “In the light of the voluntary presence of the public, the survival of the Revolution, calm and serenity of the nation and victory over the conspiracies of enemies will become possible.”   

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution heaped praise on the historic January 9, 1978 uprising of Qom’s people against the dictatorial Shah regime and in support of religious authorities and the clergy. Describing the people of Qom as the “harbingers and forerunners of the Revolution,” Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Years of struggle [against the Shah] and [the late revolutionary leader] Imam Khomeini’s guidelines and the standing of the clergy and religious authorities had prepared people to combat the oppressive monarchial regime and the Dey 19 uprising (the date on the Persian calendar corresponding with the January 9, 1978 revolt) started this vital struggle.”    

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlighted “people’s courage and insight and their sense of duty for jumping into the fray” as the main elements of the Dey 19 uprising and said: “That historic uprising took shape in support of the late Imam [Khomeini] and the ensuing events ended in the victory of the Islamic Revolution.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said the victory of the Islamic Revolution at a time when a dictatorial regime affiliated with and supported by hegemonic powers was at the helm, was impossible and out of the question in terms of material calculations, noting: “This victory was proof of the existence of divine traditions, i.e. there are laws in the world that material human beings are unable to understand.” 

“Also under the present circumstances, the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran is faced with an extended front of enemies, including the US and Zionist regime [of Israel], stooges and cronies of hegemonic powers, and Takfiri and Daesh operatives. If we meet the requirements of the divine tradition, i.e. ‘perseverance, insight and prompt action when need be,’ we can definitely overpower this extended front as [we did with regard to] the victory of the Islamic Revolution,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.  

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution went on to discuss the cause of the “survival of the Islamic Revolution” compared with other important events of contemporary history in Iran and the world. 

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the 1951 Oil Industry Nationalization Movement and the 1906 Constitutional Revolution, saying: “In the Nationalization Movement, people’s demand was the least [possible] demand consisting of Britain’s dispossession of [Iran’s] oil [as a] national asset, and in the Constitutional Revolution too, the people’s demand was the least [possible] and that was the authority and the absolute power of the [ruling] king be curtailed.”  

“ The objectives pursued during these two events failed to materialize although the objectives were the least  possible and people were present on the scene, but the Islamic Revolution of Iran, despite pursuing an utmost possible objective, i.e. all-out independence and the downfall of the monarchy and dictatorial regime, emerged victorious and survived,” said the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.   

Ayatollah Khamenei noted: “If the youth reach a correct analysis of this reality, attempts by certain [governments] to sow seeds of fear and intimidation and disappointment into people’s hearts will get nowhere and the right path for the future of the country will be found.” 

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlighted the diversion of the Revolutions of the former Soviet Union and France and their disappearance, noting: “The Islamic Revolution of Iran is the only revolution that has managed to survive in line with [its] primary principles and ideals.”

Noting that the main objective followed by the think-tanks of hegemonic powers is to destroy the elements of survival of the Islamic Revolution, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “All enemies’ efforts throughout the past years, including the [1980-1988 Iraqi] imposed war, the economic embargo and the recent extensive sanctions, have been aimed at destroying the survival of the Islamic Revolution and of course, in every period, they take new initiatives, too.” 

Ayatollah Khamenei said: “In the [calendar] year 1388 (2009), the Americans were seeking to implement their project, which had succeeded in several countries, in Iran under the pretext of [presidential] elections, and by highlighting a minority that had not won the vote and by providing financial and political support for them, they sought to alter the result of the elections, but their revolution and color coup d’état in Iran was defeated due to people’s presence.”    

Referring to the US president’s support for the opponents of the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolution during the 2009 post-election riots, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “The US government supported those [riotous] events as much as it could, but people’s timely presence on the scene foiled their plots.”  

Ayatollah Khamenei said: “The Americans are now saying that the period following the nuclear talks will be a period of getting tough on Iran. [They speak] as if they had not been getting tough on Iran before that , but the youth, people and officials stand against the enemies with awareness, vigilance, hopefulness, firmness and trust in God and reliance on the country’s strength, and that is very important.” 

In another part of his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the very essence of general elections is to breathe new life into the nation, adding: “The people’s sense of duty, which is manifested through presence in elections and which defeats the enemy, is one of the elements contributing to the ‘survival of the [Islamic] Revolution’.”

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the significance of two issues in the elections: First, “the very principle of participation in the elections” and second, “making the right choice and voting for qualified hopefuls.” 

Reiterating the necessity for the participation of all eligible voters in the elections, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “Like before, we insist that everyone, even all those who do not agree with the [Islamic] establishment and the Leadership, come to ballot boxes because the elections belong to the nation, Iran and the establishment of the Islamic Republic.” 

Ayatollah Khamenei said the participation of people in the elections would reinforce and strengthen the Islamic establishment, help ensure full security, boost the status and prestige of the nation in the eyes of the world countries and will give an imposing image of the Islamic Republic of Iran to enemies. 

Outlining the high significance of voting for qualified candidates, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “[The existence of] different views and opinions is no problem, the important thing is that we must step up efforts and be careful, so that our choice would be the right one.”  

“If such care is taken, even if some of those elected later on turn out to be not qualified enough, ‘the efforts and carefulness of voters to pick qualified candidates’ will satisfy the Lord,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

Highlighting the important position of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (the Iranian Parliament also known as Majlis) in domestic and international issues, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Majlis is specifically important from different aspects, including the adoption of laws, paving the way for the administrations’ initiatives and the manifestation of the nation’s perseverance.” 

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution gave a “good” assessment of stances taken by the current parliament on international affairs, saying: “A Majlis that stands against enemies on the nuclear and other issues and expresses the nation’s words and positions courageously, independently and freely is different as chalk and cheese from a Majlis that repeats the enemy’s words regarding different issues.” 

Ayatollah Khamenei said each and every one of MPs has contributed to the positions adopted by Majlis, adding: “For this same reason, people in all provinces and cities must be very careful in choosing their representatives and be assured of the rightness of their choice.” 

To that effect, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Of course, getting full knowledge of each and every one of the candidates is really difficult, but decisions could be adopted about the lists by reviewing the background and positions and those who present the electoral lists.”

 “If the proponents of the lists are pious and revolutionary and they really accept the line of Imam [Khomeini] we can trust their lists about the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts, but if they do not care much about the [Islamic] Revolution and religion and independence and their hearts are following the rhetoric of the US and other foreigners, they are not reliable,” said the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.  

Ayatollah Khamenei described the Assembly of Experts as very important and said: “Despite what some people think, the Assembly of Experts is not formed only for meetings and speeches once or twice a year, but it wants to choose the ‘Leader’, i.e. the guide of the movement of the [Islamic Revolution] the day when the current Leader is not be alive, and this issue is very important.”   

Reiterating the necessity of being completely careful in choosing from among the candidates for the Assembly of Experts, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “Depending on the makeup of the Experts, they may choose someone as Leader, if necessary, to stand against the enemies by trust in God and courageously and continue the Imam’s path, but it is also likely that they would choose someone with different characteristics for Leadership. Therefore, they must be elected after research, with carefulness, with knowledge and with certainty.” 

Ayatollah Khamenei said participation in the elections and being careful in choosing “qualified or most qualified candidates” would help realize two important objectives: survival of the Islamic Revolution and the calm and serenity of the nation. 

Outlining the effect of the right choice on the survival of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Since the very start of the Revolution, we have seen myriad cases of diversion and germination. Some revolutionary people non-righteously turned their back at the very principle of the Revolution because of ‘possible isolated [case of] injustice’ meted out against them and some others have adopted different positions due to their personal and family issues, but the important point is that the cases of germination of the Revolution in different sectors including the growth of ‘pious, revolutionary, specialist, educated, technology-developing and efficient’ forces have been much more than diversions.” 

“Under the present circumstances too, if people perform their duties with regard to choosing qualified candidates for the Majlis and the [Assembly of] Experts, there will be further ‘green and pleasant [cases of] germination of the Revolution’ and the survival of the Revolution will be guaranteed,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. 

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the second feature of conscientiousness with regard to the survival of the Revolution is the creation of serenity in the heart of the nation and citing verses from the holy Quran about the landing of calm and serenity upon the hearts of those pledging allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Ayatollah Khamenei added: “Today, anybody swearing allegiance to the Revolution and Imam Khomeini and the Imam’s path would be pledging allegiance to the Prophet and in response to this allegiance, Noble Lord will erase preoccupations, concerns and hopelessness off the heart of the nation and instead instill certainty and calm.”   

Concluding his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei noted: “The survival of the Revolution and hope-inspiring and clam resistance of people will definitely see the nation emerge triumph over the US and the enemies’ conspiracies.”