Fellow countrymen,

Today marks the anniversary of the signing of the Constitutional Decree on 14 Mordad 1285, which brings to us one of the greatest movements in the contemporary history of Iran—a movement that rose from the thoughts and decades-long efforts of Iranians who were suffering from Iran’s backwardness and disorder during the Qajar era.

The ideals of the Constitutional Revolution were founded on three fundamental principles: Rule of law, National sovereignty and the will of the people, and progress and development for Iran.

Constitutionalists had understood well that without law, a modern judiciary, and economic order, the country’s independence and progress would not be possible. Perhaps one can regard what Abolhassan Khan Pirnia, Tehran’s representative in the session of 15 Shahrivar 1286 of the first National Consultative Assembly, said as the essence and embodiment of their demands:

"Iranians can no longer endure; we need two things: one is finance, and one is justice."

The book “One Word,” by Mirza Yousof Khan Mostashar-ol-Dowleh, also reminded us of this same truth: the secret of the country’s progress can be summed up in one word—law.

But this struggle faced resistance from the pro-‘Mashruteh’ (constitutional) clergy who favored the rule of sharia and the jurists over law and national sovereignty. That line of thought, decades later, took power in Iran in the form of the Islamic Republic and Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist). Sadly, today too, some political currents—despite their different appearances—continue to oppose the principle of the sovereignty of the people and the acceptance of people’s votes as the final authority for determining the political system of Iran’s future.

Although the turmoil of the final years of the Qajar rule, and the obstruction by opponents of the Constitutional Revolution, prevented the complete realization of the ideals of this movement, an important part of those ideals was achieved and put into practice during the reign of the two Pahlavi kings— including the establishment of a modern judiciary, construction of a nationwide railway, modernization of the army, securing the country’s security, founding the National Bank, organizing the country’s economic and financial affairs, and creating other foundational institutions for development.

Today, upholding the Constitutional Revolution means emphasizing rule of law, the vote and will of the people, the complete separation of religion from government, and returning Iran to the track of progress and civilization.

Accordingly, my program for guiding Iran during the transition period emphasizes holding free elections, sovereignty of the people’s vote, forming a constituent assembly to determine the future path of the country, and providing the grounds for the flourishing and well-being of all Iranians.

Happy anniversary of the issuance of the Constitutional Decree, and may the memory of all those who worked for freedom, law, and the progress of Iran remain forever.