Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks at Imam Khomeini’s Mausoleum in southern Tehran on Sunday while addressing tens of thousands of Iranians who came to mark the 34th anniversary of the late leader's passing.
Ayatollah Khamenei praised Imam Khomeini as "one of the preeminent figures in our history and not just in our time." Such figures, maintained the leader, "cannot be erased from the history's memory ... and cannot be removed or distorted."
He hailed Imam Khomeini's preeminence in various fields, such as religious knowledge, jurisprudence, philosophy, theoretical mysticism, faith, and piety, noting that none of the prominent figures in Iran's history had all these features at the same time.
Imam Khomeini passed away in 1989 at the age of 86, almost a decade after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, which saw the overthrow of the US-backed Pahlavi regime in Iran, headed by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, known as the Shah.
Imam Khomeini spent many years in exile in Iraq, Turkey and France, from where he led a growing grassroots movement, which ultimately ousted the Shah and led to the formation of the Islamic Republic. He established the Islamic Republic following a referendum held in 1979 when more than 98 percent of eligible Iranians voted ‘yes’ to the Islamic Republic.
The leader also said that the arrogant powers will not stop their enmity toward the Iranian nation if the country retreats from its stances, noting that they want a subservient Iran.
"The enmity of Arrogance against Iran's nation will not be eliminated with our retreats. Many times, our retreats made them come forward and become more aggressive. The enemies are not satisfied with our retreats, they want to take Iran back to the way it was before the Revolution," he said
They want an Iran that is "subservient" and has "no identity", stressed the leader.
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the enemies seek to "disappoint" Iranian youths by focusing on problems in the country.
'Imam Khomeini a preeminent figure in Iran's history'
The Leader praised Imam Khomeini as "one of the preeminent figures in our history and not just in our time." Such figures, maintained the leader, "cannot be erased from the history's memory ... and cannot be removed or distorted."
He hailed Imam Khomeini's preeminence in various fields, such as religious knowledge, jurisprudence, philosophy, theoretical mysticism, faith, and piety, noting that none of the prominent figures in Iran's history had all these features at the same time.
Imam Khomeini died at 86 years old in 1989, nearly ten years after the Islamic Revolution triumphed and toppled the Pahlavi regime in Iran, which was supported by the US and led by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, known as the Shah.
Imam Khomeini lived in exile for many years in Iraq, Turkey and France, where he guided a growing movement of people, who finally removed the Shah and created the Islamic Republic.
He founded the Islamic Republic after a referendum in 1979 when more than 98 percent of Iranians who could vote said 'yes' to the Islamic Republic.
Ayatollah Khamenei also said that the late founder of the Islamic Republic brought about three "unprecedented" changes in Iran, the Islamic Ummah and the world.
He said Imam Khomeini transformed Iran from a monarchy that was subservient to powers into a democracy that was independent and proud, ignited the Islamic awakening movement among the Islamic Ummah and made the Palestinian cause the foremost issue of Islam.
The Leader added that Imam Khomeini revived spirituality even in non-Muslim countries against the materialist trends.