TEHRAN (Iran News) –When in February 1979 the Islamic Revolution in Iran led by the late Imam Ruhollah Khomeini could celebrate the victory, nobody but Imam Khomeini believed in the future and prosperity of this revolution and now after more than four decades, the Islamic Republic has strengthened its footstep in the world and among the freedom-seeking nation and among Iranians.

On Sunday, Iranians as well as many people worldwide marked the 34th demise anniversary of late Imam Khomeini in style by holding ceremonies and once again they showed what the late Imam has laid its foundation has not lost its steam and it moves ahead strongly by attracting souls and minds of people in any part of the world.

It is safe to say that without Imam Khomeini, it would have been a different story today. The ideological tremors triggered by this charismatic leader of the Islamic Revolution during his lifetime went beyond the borders of Iran and the Persian Gulf region.

At that time when Imam Khomeini talked about the Islamic ruling and government many people mostly enemies and Westerners laughed at Imam’s remarks but now everyone is seeing this point that what Imam Khomeini said has come true and now the Islamic Republic of Iran has turned into a mighty country and a source of hope for the oppressed and also freedom-seeking people in Iran and the world.

Of course, his demise did not lead to the failure and defeat of the Islamic Revolution because someone like Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei took the helm of the ship of the Islamic Revolution and steered the ship safely out of all turbulences and waves and now nobody dares to threaten Iran and use language of force or bully against it.

On Sunday and addressing the multitude of people at the impressive ceremony to mark the 34th anniversary of the passing of Imam Khomeini, the architect of the Islamic Revolution, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei touched on many significant and pressing issues.

From the inspiring leadership demonstrated by the late Imam during his life in confronting the local dictatorship and foreign imperialism, to the evil role many Western countries and their media empires played during recent riots, to the importance of staying strong and vigilant against diabolic plots by Iran’s enemies, Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech on Sunday was one for the ages.

Stressing that the only “hardware” Imam Khomeini possessed while leading the widely popular movement aimed at Islamic revival was “paper and cassette tapes” — used to raise public awareness — the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the key to Imam’s successful movement was the “software” of pure conviction to and trust in God and the divine pledges.

Tens of thousands had gathered in the majestic mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic to pay tribute to him and to reaffirm their pledge to the revolution and principles he held dear.

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that such unflinching faith and trust in God must remain “alive” in the nation, insisting that the preservation and protection of Iran’s independence depends on it.

He called on Iranian officials and people to reinforce their faith and trust in God, noting that such values must be complemented with action and hard work, rather than passivism.

The Leader also urged people to display a “can do” attitude and self-confidence in all fields of work in line with the teachings of the late Imam, who believed in action and positivity.

Ayatollah Khamenei further pointed to what he described as three most significant and unique things made possible by Imam Khomeini – toppling a US-installed brutal dictatorship and replacing it with an independent, people-centered system of governance in Iran, bringing an end to a period of passivism across the Muslim world and fostering Islamic awakening and lastly, reviving the sense of spiritualism.

Ayatollah Khamenei was referring to the wave of Islamic resurgence in many Muslim countries, as well as the emergence of resistance groups that challenged the occupation of Palestine by Zionist forces.

In Latin America, the rise of the so-called “liberation theology” as a faith-based movement to combat massive suppression of freedoms by US-backed dictators in the region also owes to Imam Khomeini and the revolutionary movement he spearheaded, according to experts.

“Imam Khomeini is alive,” the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said in his address, prompting vociferous ‘Long Live Revolution’ chants from the crowd. “He has a word with us. He is speaking to us.”

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that “there’s a long road ahead of us and improving the state of affairs of the Iranian nation will depend on following up” on the prescription proposed by the visionary Imam.

He noted, however, that such endeavors have opponents and enemies across the globe who are bent on carrying out all sorts of activities to block further changes to the existing world order.

The Leader stressed that among the strategies employed by the enemy is to spread pessimism and hopelessness among the Iranian youth by highlighting problems and undermining the nation’s progress.

He then reiterated the need to rely on faith and trust in God to overcome existing hardships that commonly arise everywhere and can be dealt with and eventually overcome.

So we see the trace and influence of the Islamic Revolution in any part of the world because of the late Imam Khomeini and his successor Ayatollah Khamenei who turned the Islamic Revolution into one of the most influential and respectable revolutions in the world.

Now it is our task and duty to safeguard the Islamic Revolution against its ill-wishers and in February 2024 we can once again celebrate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution which is sweet for all freedom-loving people in the world and also painful for the enemies of the revolution, and Iranians and oppressed people in the world will never forget what the late Imam Khomeini has done for the humanity and the nations, and we believe late Imam Khomeini was a great man with a great job done in the history.