Prelude
Imam Khamenei embodied the philosophical identity of the Islamic Revolution. Imam Khamenei embodied its future.
Contending with military-economic war
Imam Khamenei served as the President of Iran for two terms from 1981 to 1989. His Presidency spanned the USA/Iraq war on Iran (1980-1988) when the invaders placed Iran under war conditions and imposed illegal sanctions.
Thus began the exclusion of the new Iran from world economy.
War as punishment
The war was punishment for Iran renationalising its oil industry, over which USA had monopolistic control for twenty-six years (1953-1979).
(As recently as 7 August 2026 the USA Senate extended the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to 2031)
Economic policies
Imam Khamenei’s democratic economic policies aimed to serve, primarily, the working and poor classes both in rural and urban areas. He made it possible for new talents to enter government sectors in different fields from industry to the arts to provide professional services to the people. He ensured social, bureaucratic, and judiciary security, as well as the freedom of all the people.
Program of action
His program of action included: elimination of extreme poverty; distribution of agricultural lands to the people; entrusting the cooperatives with the responsibility of managing state-owned industries; distribution of shares to workers in factories; development of non-oil exports; reduction in the dependence of Iran on the oil industry; assistance to people to participate in economic and cultural issues under the supervision of the government; and working towards cultural independence.
Creating new foreign policy
He based his foreign policy on the Quranic principle of turning neither to the east nor west. It was determined in the interests of the country. It was separate and distinct from each and every other country. It was applied with decisiveness and courage in maintaining the independence of Iran. It attached importance to the unity of the world Muslim community and asserting their rights. It resisted any move and measure of the domination of the superpowers in West Asia. It focused attention on the issue of Al-Quds and occupied Palestinian lands. It prepared the ground for fighting Zionism. It asserted the rich and original Islamic culture against enemies and transgressors.
Energising foreign policy and diplomacy
Energetically, he travelled to many countries in spite of the USA/Iraq war. The countries included Syria, Libya, Algeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Yugoslavia, Romania, China, and North Korea.
In Zimbabwe he attended the 8th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement where he met with a number of heads of state.
Imam Khomeini’s acknowledgement of Imam Khamenei’s competence
Imam Khomeini acknowledged the competent leadership of Imam Khamenei after his trips to China and North Korea as well as his religious, scholarly, and political competence.
Imam Khomeini also acknowledged Imam Khamenei’s long efforts at realising the new Islamic government; his firm and clear belief in the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic; his religious broadmindedness; his scholarly mastery of religious principles; his individual and social behaviour, and his ascetic lifestyle.
Imam Khomeini acknowledged that Imam Khamenei’s words found echo in the worldwide ear of Muslims – free of perceptual and juristic biases.
Imam Khamenei’s participation in UNGA
He participated in the 42nd meeting of UNGA, which was the first one by the new Islamic Republic. He explained the world outlook and positions of his country, which was novel to the world.
Outside of his UNGA duties he met with Iranians and Muslims resident in New York City (NYC). He held an international media conference. He explained the abject conditions created by the USA/Iraq war and the fight against USA hegemony. He also led the Friday prayers in NYC where his sermon was noteworthy.
He supported Islamic resistance in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan he played a role in uniting eight parties under the new Islamic Unity Party that transcended juristic interpretations.
Internal travels to build unity
He travelled to many parts of the country with the objective of uniting people and organisations. It included inauguration ceremonies and congresses. He innovated the concept of visiting the homes of martyrs (Christian, Jewish, and Muslim). He also innovated the concept of visiting people of different social backgrounds, especially, workers, peasants, and the poor. He familiarised himself with their problems. He helped resolve differences between local officials. He followed up on war issues. He facilitated cooperation between IRGC and the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. He met with the leading personalities of cities and villages and analysed their economic problems.
Towards a new model of Islamic economics
Revolutionary Islamic scholars (not ‘pure economists’ or ‘financial experts’) had the courageous foresight to create the basic assumptions and superstructure of a new model of economics.
Scholars philosophically contend that justice is central to Islamic conscience, which is central to Islamic redistributive justice, which is central to social justice.
All other forms of justice cohere around redistributive justice, as the essence of taxation. Anti-racist, -colour, -class, -caste, and women’s unpaid reproductive labour struggles revolve around redistributive justice.
Therefore, social justice is central to Islam.
Constitutive elements of modern Islamic economics
Some of the constitutive elements are: nationalisation of natural resources; public ownership of land, water, air; outlawing of monopoly capitalism, colonialism, imperialism; widespread circulation of money; poverty eradication; job creation; abolition of slavery and sex-trade; outlawing alcohol consumption and gambling; social security for the disabled, sick, elderly; ample provision of food, water, housing, health services, education; and guaranteed minimum wages.
New economics as continuation of revolution
In 1981-1989 President Imam Khamenei found himself at the confluence of historical time and space in Iran with the full authority of state power to implement the new model of Islamic economics, which USA tried to choke at birth.
For Imam Khamenei, there was no right time for revolution, which needs to happen in the present and not in the future. The right time never arrives in history. It is brought to history by the masses through struggle.
As the State President he realised that political power ought to be accompanied by the authority of knowledge, expertise, wisdom, practical experience, the spirit of self-sacrifice, and support of the masses.
From theory to practice
What scholars have been theorising on modern Islamic economics for decades, it fell upon the state responsibility of Imam Khamenei to implement in practice under a hostile imperial order. From then onwards it began unfolding as a seminal science-cum-art.
Human and national dignity
Imam Khamenei like his venerable mentor, Imam Khomeini, was low in voice but high in distinction; long in silence but forceful in reasoning; eloquent in speech; and dignified in action. These character traits brought out his mental courage to think and physical bravery to act even during raging wars.
These qualities gave him honour and predisposed him to truth. They formed the heart of his human dignity, which personified Iranian national dignity.
A biographer’s enigmatic question
From where did Imam Khamenei derive the physical, mental, and spiritual energy to live the life of eternal youth?
(Part 2 deals with local government as the foundation of democracy)
________________________________________________
The purpose of the series of articles on Imam Khamenei is to explain the development of his character as being immersed in the development of the history of Iran. The aim is simple truth from complex facts. It is the intersection of literary biography and scientific history.
