Imam Khamenei to American students: You are on the right side of history

Pars Today- Imam Khamenei, in a letter to the conscientious students supporting the Palestinian people in US universities, expressing sympathy and solidarity with their anti-Zionist protests, called them a part of the resistance front and, referring to the situation and fate of the sensitive West Asian region, stressed that this is a new page in world history.

Below is the full text of the Leader's letter:

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

I write this letter to the students whose wakeful conscience has aroused them to defend the oppressed children and women of Gaza.

Dear young students in the United States of America! This is the message of our sympathy and solidarity with you. You are now standing on the right side of history whose page is being turned over.

You have now shaped a part of the resistance front; and under the cruel pressure of your government-which is explicitly defending the usurper and ruthless Zionist regime- have started a noble struggle.

The great resistance front has been struggling in a distant region with the same perception and sentiments you have today. The aim of this struggle is to stop the obvious oppression that the terrorist and ruthless network called, "Zionists" has enforced on the Palestinian nation since years ago, and after seizing of their country, has put them under the harshest pressures and tortures. Today's genocide of the Apartheid Zionist regime is the continuation of the highly oppressive behavior of decades ago. Palestine is an independent territory with a nation composed of Muslims, Christians and Jews and a long historical record. The capitalists of the Zionist network, after the World War [II], with the help of the British government, brought thousands of terrorists gradually into this territory. They assaulted the cities and villages; killed scores of thousands of people or expelled them to the neighboring countries; seized their houses, markets and farms; and shaped a government called "Israel" in the usurped Palestinian territory.

The greatest supporter of this usurper regime, after the initial aids of Britain, is the government of the United States of America which has incessantly continued political, economic and arms support for this regime; and even with an unforgivable incaution, has opened the way to make nuclear weapons for it and helped it in this course.

The Zionist regime, since the first day, has used the policy of "iron fist" against the defenseless Palestinian people and, defiant of all conscientious, humane and religious values, has increased cruelty, terror and suppression on a daily basis.

The American government and its partners have spared even a frown against this state terrorism and continuous oppression. Today, also, some of the remarks of the US government vis-à-vis the horrible crimes of Gaza, are more hypocritical rather than real.

The "resistance front" rose up from the middle of this gloomy and desperate atmosphere and the formation of the "Islamic Republic" government expanded and empowered it.

The ringleaders of the international Zionism, which most of the media agencies in the US and Europe belong to them or work under their influence and bribery, have introduced this humane and brave resistance as terrorism! Is a nation, which defends its own territory against the crimes of Zionist occupiers, terrorist? And is humane assistance to this nation and strengthening its arms and hands considered as assisting terrorism?

The ringleaders of the forcible global dominance do not have mercy even on humane concepts. They demonstrate the terrorist and ruthless Israeli regime as defender of itself, and call the Palestinian resistance, which defends its freedom, security, and right to determine its fate, as "terrorist"!

I want to assure you that today the situation is changing. Another fate is on the horizon for the sensitive region of West Asia. Many consciences have woken up in the global scale and reality is being clarified. The resistance front, too, has both become powerful and will become more powerful. The page of history is turning over, too.

In addition to you, the students of scores of universities in the US, in other countries, too, both universities and people have risen up. Accompanying and support of university professors for you is an important and effective event. This can be somehow soothing in the face of the government's harsh police behavior and the pressures being wielded on you. I am also sympathizing with you and appreciate your steadfastness.

The Qur'anic lesson to us Muslims and to all world people is steadfastness in the way of truth: "Be steadfast just as you have been commanded". And the Qur'anic lesson about human relations is "neither wrong others nor accept being wronged". The resistance front, learning and practicing these and hundreds of similar orders, is advancing and will achieve victory, with God's permission.

I recommend you to get familiar with the Qur'an."

Seyyed Ali Khamenei

May 25, 2024

Key phrases: who is Imam Khamenei? American students, US and Palestine, US and Israel, Iran and resistance front, Palestine, Gaza

RM/UR