The Imam's 1989 Nowruz statement was broadcasted on both TV and radio and is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O the Transformer of the hearts and insights! O the Interchanger of the nights and days! O the Changer of the states and conditions! Change our condition to a better one.
Changing condition for the better signifies that in this New Year, we would undergo a spiritual transformation. That is, there is really a transformation on faith meaning that, as it has been the case of the conduct of prophets from the beginning to the end, war and peace have been for the sake of God. No prophet waged a war except for the sake of God; they have made peace only for His sake.
This New Year has come between two festivities: one is the auspicious feast of the birth anniversary of Imam Hussein) may God's peace be upon him who was a reviver of the religion of Islam from the beginning till the end of time; the other is the Sha`ban 15, feast for the Imam of the Time may our souls be his ransom who will revive the religion of God, the Blessed and Exalted till eternity. I hope that in this New Year our nation would put into practice what has been the conduct of the prophets and he would put in to practice what has been the conduct of the awliya, the friends and devotees of God. The essence is that carnal desires would be eliminated. Throughout his life, man is afflicted with this carnal desire that needs to be satisfied. I myself, who am the speaker, did not succeed in this endeavor. I hope that the Iranian nation and all Muslims of the world would undergo a transformation in this New Year such that they would work for the sake of God. It would not be for their dominance; it would not be for their victory; it would not be for carnal desires. May God, by his grace, grant us opportunity to strive in the way of God, the Blessed and Exalted. May this day be blessed for all, God willing. May God unify all Muslims against the global disbelief.
May God's peace and mercy be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini
(Source: Sahifeh, vol. 21, p. 325)