For example, when the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps was formed, he placed twenty-plus-year-old youths at the top of this organization. They were youth who were at most thirty years old.
They were at the top of the Guards Corps and they were commanders and generals. Those youths were entrusted with big tasks. The same was true of other areas.
He had astonishing trust in the youth whom he believed in and he gave them responsibilities in the judiciary and other areas. He assigned them different roles and he trusted their thoughts and their actions.
Transforming people’s viewpoint about world powers and believing in the possibility of their defeat
At that time [before the Islamic Revolution], no one believed that one could say something different from what the US said and do something different from what the US did. However, Imam acted in a way that US presidents admitted that ‘Khomeini humiliated us’. And that was the truth of the matter.
Imam, his followers and the youth who were obedient to him humiliated superpowers in the true sense of the word.
They broke their willpower and made them leave the arena. Imam showed that superpowers were vulnerable and the future proved him right. You witnessed what happened to the former Soviet Union.
In the present time, America is in a bad condition as well. You are witness to what is happening there [the nationwide protests following the police murder of George Floyd].
No one would have believed that these things could happen. Imam planted the idea in the people’s hearts that superpowers were vulnerable and could be defeated.
(Extracted from Leader speech delivered on 31st anniversary of Imam Khomeini)