The popularity of the Islamic Revolution is a significant characteristic, manifested in its "republican" aspect. The popularity of the Islamic Revolution is different from that of other revolutions: firstly, popularity is with the essence of Islam, not something coming from without. Islam has been revealed by the Almighty God for the guidance of human beings. Therefore, it always keeps their salvation and redemption in mind. Such a religion considers people's participation in the execution of rules and defense of its sanctities a basic principle. Of course it is the disinherited, oppressed masses, who are the main supporters and protectors of the religion. This fact was proven in the early years of the development of Islam as well as during the course of the Islamic Revolution. One of the main reasons for this state of affairs is the very real and actual attention genuine Islam pays to the people through its various characteristics, including its endeavor to spread justice. Secondly, Islam keeps the people in the scene in a real and true manner. There is no place for falsehood and distortion of fact with regard to the presence of the people in the revolutionary scenes. The longstanding years of people's true presence in the revolutionary scenes and their participation in the elections of all officials as well as their contribution to the preservation of the achievements of the Islamic Revolution are all manifestations of truthful popularity of the Islamic system.
"Other revolutions, those that were really revolutions, after their victory, often neglected the people In most parts of the world revolutions were created by the people, but after their victory or when they were on the threshold of victory, a party or a group of parties replaced the revolution and the people and set the people aside. Just like the socialist or communist countries of the world where many of their systems were created by a revolution and people played their roles in assisting the revolutionary and combatant groups to come to power, but in all of these countries as soon as the revolution got close to victory or achieved victory, people were not given any role and the party took charge of every affairs The people even did not have any right to elect a single representative to the parliament. In none of these countries where they have the so-called national congress, which is in effect their legislative, the people's representatives are not there. In our country, the revolution delegated every affairs to the people, that is, the parliament which is the legislature, was formed to which the people's representatives are freely elected and no one is entitled to impose a single representative on the people. Not a single deputy, out of 270 members of parliament, comes to the parliament without people's votes. The president, who is the executive head of government and in charge of the country's executive affairs, is elected by the people's votes. They elect whosoever they like; the choice is that of the people. Even the presidential election in the Western democratic countries is not like that of Iran, for in those countries the parties array against each other and every party nominates a candidate. The people by casting their votes for a candidate, indeed vote for the nominating party and many of them basically do not know the candidate in person In Iran it is not so. In Iran those who cast their votes know the candidate personally and cast their votes for him as president. Even with regard to the election of the leader, despite the fact that leadership is a divine position and depends on divine, spiritual criteria, the people play their part. As you have observed, the members of the Leadership Experts Assembly who are representatives of the people, hold a session and elect a specific person. If the elected person is not accepted by the people, his leadership will not be established. Therefore, besides indirectly electing the leader through the Leadership Experts Assembly, the people have their direct role and decision in the election of the leader and it is their viewpoints, decision, will and demands that in effect make the leader the guide and grant him the power of commandment and inhibition as well restriction and expansion.
In our country, people's support exists in the political, economic and military activities. If today, the government or one of the officials decides to launch a move, which is not approved of by the people, they can stop it. The people are present everywhere. This is s feature of our revolution.
No revolution is similar to ours in the world. As a result, the system is a firm one, for it is popular. What can be destroyed by the superpowers is a government, which does not rely on the people. What can be instated and overthrown by the US intelligence services is a government or a cabinet that does not have any relation with the people or does not enjoy great popular support. A government against which the foreign enemy can engineer a coup by few people or can provoke them against it, is a government where [the ruler] sits on the throne, but is not connected to the people. The people go their own ways and he goes his own. The system in which the ruler whether the leader, the president, the judiciary chief, or the parliament speaker relies on and is connect to the people's votes and is liked and supported by the people, is the Islamic Republic system and neither the US nor its allies, nor the East nor the West when there were two great powers in the world and no other power can destroy or even shake this system and government."[56]