Statement by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Peace be upon you, O Avenger of God and the son of His Avenger, and the uniquely wronged one. Peace be upon you, and upon your grandfather, your father, your mother, your brother, and the Infallible Imams from among your progeny.

Peace be upon the Imam whose life-giving call to uprising extended as a magnificent, resounding echo of the Prophetic Mission into the deep recesses of history, giving rise to the Islamic Revolution in Iran. That Revolution was Husseini from its very inception, built and elevated upon the slogan and path of Hussain (PBUH). The martyr of Iran was also raised on this path; he was Husseini in nature, thought, action, jihad, resistance, and life. He shed his blood in the Husseini way for the school of Hussain, thereby attaining martyrdom.

Among the Husseinis are men whose blood, when shed oppressively for the sake of Hussain and his school and path (PBUH), awakens the Islamic Ummah, linking that moment to Ashura and that place to Karbala. Today, that same Husseini epic has revived our nation, imparting a new manifestation to the school of the great Imam Khomeini and the martyred Imam Khamenei. This is the life-giving epic, the echo of the cry of Hussain's oppression (PBUH), and the call: "Is there any helper to help me?" in Iran, then in Iraq and other countries, shaking the foundations of falsehood.

On this occasion, I extend my profound gratitude and appreciation to the tens of millions of people who recorded a stunning, enemy-crushing, and historic presence across the cities and villages of Iran and Iraq, particularly in Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala, and Mashhad. Our nation calls for vengeance for the blood of Hussain (PBUH). Over the years, this great nation has offered its sons as sacrifices for the sake of Hussain (PBUH) and in the war against the enemies of Hussain and Husseini zeal. Today, it demands vengeance for his blood and the blood of the Husseinis of this era.

Now, I address our martyred Imam and say:**

O oppressed victim, O proud and oppressed one, O righteous servant of God, as we bid farewell to your body with tearful eyes and broken hearts, we pledge to safeguard your school, to walk steadfastly along the straight path you drew, to fear none of the hardships of this path, and to anchor our hearts, as you did, in divine tidings and promises.

We pledge to avenge your pure blood and the blood of all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal, disgraced murderers. This vengeance is the demand of our nation, and it must inevitably be achieved. These criminals, whose names are fully documented from first to last, will carry to their graves the wish of dying peacefully in their beds. They must know that this matter does not depend on my presence or the presence of other officials; whether we are here or not, this will be achieved, and soon, free individuals of the world will each execute a part of this divine mission.

O martyred father of the nation, congratulations on drinking the nectar of martyrdom for which you longed for a lifetime. Blessed are you for wearing the shroud of martyrdom with a body bearing the marks of your mother, the pure Zahra, your grandfather Abu Abdillah Al-Hussain, and Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas (peace and blessings be upon them). To your oppressed companions who faced a sudden attack by the enemy and attained martyrdom: blessed are you, for you are now guests of the Master whose compassion and kindness you likely felt time and again. That Master, who represents the gate of divine mercy for everyone, particularly for the people of these lands, is your host now, and his secure sanctuary has become your home.

O high-ranking Master, O grand one, O compassionate Imam,

O Abu Al-Hassan Al-Rida Al-Murtadha, upon you be the finest blessings of God.