TEHRAN (Iran News) – Rouhani, and his administration members, visited Imam Khomeini’s Mausoleum on Monday to renew allegiance with the ideals of the late founder of the Islamic Revolution. The visit was made on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the return of Imam Khomeini from exile, which marks the run-up to the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the toppling of the US-backed Pahlavi regime.

Delivering a speech during the visit, the president said, “Imam Khomeini was well aware that soft power would prevail over hard power; therefore, he chose soft power” to overcome the hegemonies of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979.

Rouhani referred to the return of Imam Khomeini to Iran after 14 years, saying, “February 1, 1979, was the day when Imam Khomeini showed the power of social capital to the world.”

Despite all the pressures of that time, it was the Iranian nation’s support and unity that overcame the hegemonic powers, the president added.

“February 1, in fact, is the charter of our [motto of being] Islamic and Republic.”

He added, “In most movements and revolutions, leaders usually rely on either political parties or military power. They form guerrilla military power or make some contact with foreign powers in order to succeed. But Imam Khomeini did not choose either of those ways; the Imam considered that main power to be that of people, and what he was trying to do was to convince the minds and thoughts of the people of the path he had chosen for the revolution.”

Rouhani also pointed to Imam Khomeini’s first speech after the exile, in an address to five million people, saying, “This speech is considered as the foundation of our establishment, and we will be in touch with the words of the Imam and his logic on our path toward victory.”

The president hailed the Iranian nation’s resistance and unity throughout all the past 42 years, even in the most recent events, including the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “Whenever the people came on the scene and we stood alongside with people, we were able to overcome any challenge.”

“Even today, we believe that as long as the people are on the side of this establishment and until the people accept that we are their servants, we can continue the path of the Imam for years and decades and for centuries.”