Freedom as a natural desire has always been at human request. And human beings are always in search of it based on the thought of elites, and through social movements and it is in this regard that the Non-Aligned Movement has been established.
Imam Khomeini's foreign policy through his movement was not only aligned with the rightful request of independence of the NAM members but was even more seriously seeking for a global unity.
The inaugural speeches of the Iranian Supreme Leader regarding the foreign policy according to Imam Khomeini's strategies shed the light on the path at the 16th NAM summit as we try to analyze its dimensions in this article.
Ayatollah Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader started his speech by saying: "Islam has taught us that inspite of their racial, linguistic and cultural differences, human beings share the same nature, which calls them to purity, justice, benevolence, compassion and cooperation… And it is this common and universal truth that can form the foundations of brotherly cooperation among the nations."
Through these words we could understand that interfering in the affairs of different countries and making decisions instead of them is not accepted by the global logic and especially the NAM members; as Imam Khomeini in a part of his sayings regarding the Iran-US relations has mentioned: "Our relations with the United States and other countries of the world will be based on mutual respect. We will not allow the US to decide about our right to self-determination. What the past US governments have done and what Mr. Carter is doing right now, indicate that they resort to any means to protect this monarchy in order to preserve their interests, and this is why they have still a hostile attitude toward the Islamic movement." (Sahifeh, vol. 5, Page: 156, Interview with a reporter of the Italian national TV)
Ayatollah Khamenei in another part of his speech criticized the illegal structure of the UN Security Council and said: "The UN Security Council has an illogical, unjust and completely undemocratic structure and mechanism. This is a flagrant form of dictatorship, which is antiquated and obsolete and whose expiry date has passed. It is through abusing this improper mechanism that America and its accomplices have managed to disguise their bullying as noble concepts and impose it on the world."
Regarding this issue, Imam Khomeini has said: "They, the big powers, have created the organizations and institutions in the world and they hold a veto power in their grip. It is a chicanery to deceive us or to overrun our rights. This is to fool us."(Sahifeh, vol. 12, Page: 303)
He also mentions: "The truth is that whatever institution with which the superpowers are involved, is for the purpose of serving their own interests. The United Nations, the very sessions which are held abroad, and the Security Council are there to serve their interests and to mislead all the other countries. That is why they have given the right of veto for themselves in order to set aside whatever issue they oppose, and in reality, they themselves are basically in the service of the superpowers."(Sahifeh, vol. 13, Page: 165)
"The comprehensive developments made by our country in the last two decades are facts for all to see, as repeatedly attested by official international observers. All this has happened under sanctions, economic pressures and propaganda campaigns by networks affiliated with America and Zionism. The sanctions, not only did not and will not paralyze us, but have made our steps steadier, elevated our resolve and strengthened our confidence in the correctness of our analyses and the inborn capacities of our nation." said the Iranian Supreme Leader at the 16th NAM summit.
Imam Khomeini has also mentioned: "If they carried out military assaults or economic sanctions against us. If they do so, we will work harder." (Sahifeh, vol. 11, Page: 372)
In the viewpoint of Ayatollah Khamenei the Palestine issue which is a horrible Western plot and under the direction of England, is one of the most important issues of the human society: "Our standpoint is that Palestine belongs to the Palestinians and that continuing its occupation is a great and intolerable injustice and a major threat to global peace and security. All solutions suggested and followed up by the Westerners and their affiliates for “resolving the problem of Palestine” have been wrong and unsuccessful, and it will remain so in the future. We have put forth a just and entirely democratic solution. All the Palestinians – both the current citizens of Palestine and those who have been forced to immigrate to other countries who have preserved their Palestinian identity, including Muslims, Christians and Jews – should take part in a carefully supervised and confidence-building referendum and chose the political system of their country, and all the Palestinians who have suffered from years of exile should return to their country and take part in this referendum and then help draft a Constitution and hold elections. Peace will then be established."
Regarding this issue Imam Khomeini has said: "These countries should push this idea out of their mind just as they did before. They should do it now. That is to say, they should value their nations. What right does a Shaykh, a president, a king to govern a country and sacrifice a country for the interests of Israel?! Governments should wake up! By passing this plan, they are burying themselves alive. From now on, the idea should not cross their mind that" we are government and nation has nothing to do with state affairs. You are nothing in the face of people. It is the people who should get things approved." (Sahifeh, vol. 15, Page: 319)
Cooperation of the nations for freeing the world from oppression has been emphasized at the last parts of the Supreme Leader's speech: "We need to strengthen our determination. We need to remain faithful to our goals. We should not fear the bullying powers when they frown at us, nor should we become happy when they smile at us."
Indeed the ultimate goal of all religions is to clean the world from injustice, oppression and insecurity, and these are what all human beings desire, and are seeking for it. It's obvious that for such a goal there must be unity and cooperation between those who desire it. This is how we can reach to an independent and free life, a life that within it nations have the right to decide for themselves. Regarding this issue we could point out the "Denying the Path Principle" which was one the foreign policy basics to the late founder of the Islamic Revolution. He did not give value for a life under the dominance of others, but he considered the value of life by being free and independent and regarding the holy verse of "And never will Allah grant to the unbelievers a way (to triumphs) over the believers." (The Holy Quran, 4:141) he announces: "Ours is the logic of Islam, a logic which says that Muslims should not be ruled by foreigners, they should not be dominated by others.We do not want to be subservient to others." (Sahifeh, vol. 4, Page: 85)