Analyst: Imam Khomeini inspiration to Muslim nations, anti-imperialist forces

A Canadian author and journalist says the late founder of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini inspired Muslim nations and anti-imperialist forces across the world to stand firm against tyranny and arrogance.

Eric Walberg made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on Friday, while commenting on the 33rd anniversary of the passing of the iconic Iranian and Muslim leader.

“June 3, 2022 marks the 33rd anniversary of the demise of Ayatollah Khomeini. The Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 headed by Ayatollah Khomeini became one of the most important pillars of the fight against imperialism,” Walberg said.

The Canadian author underlined that Ayatollah Khomeini’s first order following the overthrow of the Shah was to break relations with Israel and handing the Israeli embassy to the Palestinians.

“For 43 years, Iran has been the backbone of the resistance to Israeli apartheid,” Walberg told Press TV. “This also means working with other forces to fight injustice. The Ayatollah worked to promote cooperation with progressive third world countries.”

The iconic leader, as the journalist said, told a Cuban delegation in the Iranian capital of Tehran in April 1979 that, “Governments should focus on being in the service of the nations. The nations will then support them.”

Walberg stressed that this type of practical Islam was at the heart of the Iranian revolution.

“Despite the war with Iraq, funded by the US, and the constant subversion and boycotting by the West, peasants were given land and the country became self-sufficient in cereal production, all Iranians can now read and write, health care clinics came to villages, and life expectancy went from less than 56 in the 1970s to 70 in 2000,” he noted.

How Imam Khomeini changed the course of history forever

On June 3, 33 years ago, millions of people streamed into the streets of Tehran to bid a tearful adieu to the charismatic leader of the Islamic revolution, the man who forever changed the course of history.

The United Nations, as the journalist told Press TV, praised Iran’s birth control program which began in the 1990s.

“This was perceived as a threat by the other major Islamic state, Saudi Arabia, grounded in its fear of Iran as an inspiration to the Muslim world, in light of its own pretensions to lead the Muslim world down its supposedly Islamic path,” Walberg said.

“Saudi perfidy in international relations contrasts with Iranian principled policies, grounded in Islam. Sadly, due to the Saudi control of the holy cities and its massive funding by the US, the Saudis continue to hoodwink Muslims, despite the open fact that it condones the activities of imperialists and Zionists, and leaves its own people in poverty,” he added.

Walberg said Iran continues to face subversion, open assassination of its scientists, constant threats of full-scale invasion by Israel, abetted by the US, but it seems “imperialism has bit off more than it can chew.”

Elsewhere in the interview, the Canadian journalist referred to Russia as a principled player facing imperialist schemes and embargo, like Iran, saying, “This rash and foolish policy has brought the world to the brink of mass starvation at the least, and nuclear war at the worst.”

Stressing that the administration of incumbent US President Joe Biden is threatening war on three fronts -- with Russia, China and Iran, Walberg said, “Apart from its NATO lackeys, the US has no friends, and as the reality of the world crisis sinks in, already voices are heard, republican mainly, but the peace movement is coming alive at this moment.”

He also noted that Saudi Arabia seems intent on renewing relations with Iran, even the US is eager to get access to Iran's oil, though unable to undo former US president Donald Trump's destructive policy to make Iran an outlaw. “It is farcical to expect Iran to establish relations if the IRGC, Iran's defense force, is labeled terrorist. Iran, and most of the world know who the real terrorist is.”

Walberg concluded, “So the anti-imperialist forces are growing, and the spirit of Ayatollah Khomeini lives on as an inspiration to fight the good fight.”

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