Speaking in an interview with Hawzah News Agency on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the National Conference on the Pioneers of the Islamic Movement: Ayatollah Yazdi (RA), held in Qom, Ayatollah Khatami highlighted the late cleric’s unwavering commitment to the fusion of religion and politics, a foundational principle of the Islamic Republic.
“Ayatollah Yazdi firmly believed in the practical presence of religion in the political arena,” Ayatollah Khatami said, adding that he viewed governance as inseparable from Islamic principles. “From his perspective, managing society and formulating public policy must be rooted in correct religious interpretation and aimed at safeguarding Islamic values.”
Deep belief in the Guardianship of the Jurist
Ayatollah Khatami emphasized that Ayatollah Yazdi held a profound and uncompromising belief in the doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist), considering it the cornerstone of the Islamic political system.
“He repeatedly stressed in his scholarly and religious gatherings that the guardianship of the jurist, in its true and comprehensive sense, must be applied across executive and managerial spheres of governance,” Ayatollah Khatami said. “He regarded loyalty to this principle as essential to preserving the Islamic character of the state.”
Unwavering support for the Supreme Leader and the Islamic system
Referring to Ayatollah Yazdi’s longstanding association with Iran’s religious and political institutions, Ayatollah Khatami noted that the late cleric consistently underscored the necessity of preserving the Islamic system as his foremost religious and political priority.
“In numerous meetings, particularly after the leadership of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, he made it clear that all his activities were directed toward safeguarding the Islamic Republic and ensuring its continuity,” Ayatollah Khatami said. “His respect for the Leader was not merely political; it was deeply rooted in recognition of his scholarly and jurisprudential standing.”
Call for continued scholarly engagement
The interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran stressed the importance of institutional efforts to introduce Ayatollah Yazdi’s multifaceted legacy to younger generations.
“This conference should mark the beginning of a sustained academic and cultural process,” he said. “Through specialized seminars and research-oriented gatherings, the scientific, jurisprudential, and political dimensions of Ayatollah Yazdi’s personality must be properly conveyed to students and researchers.”
Defender of the Islamic Republic until the end
Highlighting Ayatollah Yazdi’s appointment as a jurist member of the Guardian Council by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khatami described the move as a clear sign of the Leader’s full confidence in his religious authority and revolutionary commitment.
“Ayatollah Yazdi remained a resolute defender of the Islamic Republic not only during his tenure at the Guardian Council, but throughout his entire life,” he said. “He spared no effort in upholding the principles and ideals of the Islamic Revolution.”
Influential role at historic turning points
Ayatollah Khatami concluded by pointing to the late cleric’s decisive presence during sensitive and defining moments in the history of the Islamic Republic.
“He played an influential role in key decision-making processes at critical stages of the Revolution,” Khatami said. “Ayatollah Yazdi was widely regarded as one of the main pillars of the Islamic system, whose legacy continues to shape Iran’s religious and political landscape.”
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