Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei addresses the nation in Tehran on June 3, 2020 on the 31st anniversary of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini’s passing.

Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has commemorated the founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini on the 31st anniversary of his passing, saying the late leader shattered the presumed invincibility of superpowers.

In a televised address to the Iranian nation, Ayatollah Khamenei paid homage to the late revolutionary leader and recounted his legacy.

Decades after his departure, Imam Khomeini is still alive among us, and should remain alive among us.

The Leader recalled how Imam Khomeini also transformed the people’s attitude towards the so-called superpowers and their presumed invincibility to the point that the then US rulers acknowledged that the Imam had humiliated them.

Imam and the youths, who would mobilize at a wave of his hand, humiliated the superpowers in the true sense of the word, broke down their will, and ousted them from the stage, the Leader stated.

At that time, no one assumed that anything could be done contrary to what the US willed. Imam Khomeini proved that superpowers are not invincible. We witnessed what happened to the Soviet Union. And today we are watching the US and see what is transpiring there, Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding Imam Khomeini taught the masses how these big powers can be overcome.

Commenting on the massive public protests that have swept the United States in recent days, the Leader said the cold-blooded murder of an African American by a white police officer in Minneapolis exemplified the US’s overall behavior and essence that has manifested itself in Washington’s atrocities throughout the Middle East and elsewhere in the world.

The Leader underlined the Imam’s spirit of seeking and encouraging change, calling him a true leader.

From a young age, Imam Khomeini would advise in favor of rising up in the path of God, Ayatollah Khamenei noted, and reminisced how the late leader would invoke spiritual revolution among people through his speeches.

Imam Khomeini thus managed to eventually bring about change across the whole Iranian nation, and prompted the people to abandon the spirit of lethargy and capitulation in the face of oppression, the Leader stated.

Imam Khomeini also caused the nation to abandon its feelings of self-deprecation and consider itself entitled to self-esteem, and extended the nation’s attitude towards religion beyond a simply personal matter, Ayatollah Khamenei remarked.

The revolutionary leader kept up his efforts at inducing change even after the Islamic Revolution, the Leader said.

The revolutionary attitude is still alive today, said the Leader, citing the country’s scientific and defensive achievements and noting that Iran has attained the deterrent status thanks to its defense power.

The Leader then underlined the importance of continued pursuance of change as a means of betterment, and proceeded to name some instances of desired change in various arenas.

As one desired prospect in the field of economy, the Leader cited potential severance of dependence on oil revenues.

Across the social sphere, the Leader sternly warned against allowing the population’s median age to rise.

Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Rouhollah Mousavi Khomeini passed away on June 3, 1989 at the age of 87. Hailed as one of the Twentieth Century’s true revolutionary leaders, he spearheaded the Islamic Revolution -- the Iranian nation’s struggle against the tyrannical United States-backed Pahlavi monarchy -- towards eventual victory in 1979.

SOURCE: PRESS TV