Imam's interview with BBC:
Date: January 9, 1979 [Dey 19, 1357AHS/ Safar 01, 1399AH]
Place: Neauphle-le-Chateau, Paris, France
Subject: Method of returning to Iran; type of future government; uprising of the Islamic nations
Interviewer: A reporter of the BBC Television
Question: [If the Shah leaves Iran, do you think that it will be an appropriate time for your return to Iran?]
Answer: We should undertake some studies. Whenever the time is appropriate, we will return.
Q:[What type of government or system does the Ayatullah expect to come to power up to the end of the current Gregorian year (December 1979)?]
A: We hope that the very government that we have suggested, that is, the Islamic Republic, comes to power in the current year.
Q: [And this will be the government that you will personally appoint?]
A: As we have already said, we will refer to the people's vote; but in reality the people through their frequent referendums have approved this system of government.
Q: [The British government is still continuing to send its weapons, such as tanks, rockets and other military weaponry, to the Shah. What is the meaning of the dispatch of these weapons in the Ayatullah's viewpoint?]
A: For several years we have been entangled in such issues; the British government has been assisting our tyrannical government. From the very beginning, the British government imposed the father of this Shah on us, and later when he betrayed them, they forced him to abdicate. The Allied Forces- one of which was Britain- imposed Muhammad Rida Shah on us. The oppressions and impositions of the British government against the weak nations- one of which is our nation- have a long history. And the reason that they now continue to send arms and support the Shah is that they want to prolong his reign and this will be the continuation of the offenses and crimes that he has committed and is committing. They want to keep the Shah's government in power for a longer time and everyday that he remains in power is the day of calamity of our nation.
Q:[It has been said that the Ayatullah is receiving some help from Libya and the Palestinians; also it has been said that some of your close relatives) those who assist you here (are connected to the former Toudeh Party or have communist ideas. Are these accusations correct?]
A: No. These are the propaganda of the Shah's clique. We have not sought the assistance of any government and we will not seek it; we rely on the people's power and do not need the governments. And those who are my close associates or are remotely connected are pure Muslims without any attachment to any party. These are the propaganda launched by the Shah and his clique in order to tarnish our movement.
Q: [We observe today that a new Islamic movement is growing among such Muslim nations as Turkey and Pakistan; and these are Islamic uprisings. What is the reason of these uprisings in your opinion?]
A: The widespread propaganda of the Western and Eastern governments over the years has deceived these Muslim nations and they think that the progress of the weak governments lies in their inclination towards one of the two superpowers. But when they tilted towards any one of them, they realized after some time that they do no do anything other than captivating them, taking their reserves and plundering their resources. In our time, our nation has realized that the Shah, due to his ties with the West, particularly the United States, as well as with the Soviet Union, has squandered our resources; he has also wasted our human resources. The Iranian nation has also realized that the widespread crimes the Shah commits are due to his ties with the superpowers. Hence our nation rose up and other countries, including the Islamic countries, have realized this bitter truth and by studying their history, they have discerned that all the problems the nations face have been created by the superpowers. Hence, they have inevitably turned their back to the superpowers. But Islam fulfils all the aspirations of man in a suitable manner and the Islamic rules- economic, political, cultural and spiritual rules- are profound and anybody who pays attention to them becomes inclined towards them. After years of ignorance, the Muslims have now awakened to some extent and pay some attention to Islam. It is hoped that their attention to Islam is enhanced and they recognize Islam as it is. If they know Islam properly, they will absolutely give up their inclinations towards the East and the West and would sacrifice their lives for the implementation of the Islamic laws.
[Sahifeh, vol5, P.394]