Khamenei’s January 26th Speech Translated

The following is a speech that Iranian dictator '' Khamenei'' gave in the province of Mazandaran on January 26, 2010 in
commemoration of the “counter-revolutionary” operation in Amol on January 26, 1982

I don’t know how much planning has gone into making trouble in Tehran. God knows that they have planned this from a long time ago. What has been the result? The result is that people have become more aware. If before they thought that people would not come to the streets to defend the Islamic Republic, now they see that people are always ready to defend the Islamic Republic. Sometimes our foreign enemies instigate chaos to make the Islamic Republic susceptible to blackmail.

Just like many governments who upon feeling danger turn to a higher power and are susceptible to blackmail, our Imam [Khomeini] never gave in to blackmail. Everyone should know that we on behalf of Iran will not give in to blackmail.

If we want to live as Muslims, we need to be powerful so we can defend ourselves, our goals, and our ideas in the face of the enemy. We need to be powerful so we can defend the rights of our people and our nation. Is this a crime for a nation? What we are saying is just and we will defend this right.

We also believe that when justice meets injustice, and when the promoters of justice stand firm, injustice will definitely be defeated.

The people, officials, those who are not officials, and especially youngsters whose words make an impact, should not lose the feeling of responsibility to show their presence. No one should say that they have no responsibilities. Everyone is responsible. Responsibility does not mean that we should carry weapons and walk the streets. Whatever we are doing, we should feel responsible. We are responsible for defending the revolution. We are responsible for defending the Islamic Republic regime. This means that we must defend Islam and the rights of the people in order to maintain the integrity of the country.

A clear example [of defending the nation] was on December 29th. Also, Febuary 11th (Revolution Day) is approaching. The Islamic Fajr Festival is coming up. People have demonstrated their presence and they will do so again. The officials should fix the country’s problems with wit, persistence, tireless work, enthusiasm, and with reliance on God. We must ask God for help. I am not just talking about political and security problems, that is only part of it. I am talking about problems like the country’s progress and the country’s economic, science, and social problems. The responsibility falls on the shoulders of the officials: the three branches of government and all the other officials. They should feel the responsibility to continuously work for the nation. It is also the responsibility of the people to trust the officials and to cooperate with them. To trust the officials and to cooperate with them also means to make suggestions, and when necessary, to criticize them. We should not hold back. We need to be together.