The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei led the Friday prayers in Tehran held on the campus of Tehran University on August 19, 2005.
Addressing a large congregation of ardent and devoted worshippers, the Leader felicitated the gathering on the auspicious birth anniversary of the Commander of the Faithful and Master of the Pious, Imam Ali-ibn-Abitaleb (peace and greetings be upon him).
In the first sermon of the Friday prayers, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the Commander of the Faithful as the peak of human dignity and a model for virtuous and pious individuals to follow at all times. He stated that piety was the eternal lesson taught by His Holiness Ali-ibn-Abitaleb (peace and greetings be upon him) to all human generations.
As regards the definition of piety, the Leader noted that piety means incessant watchfulness of one's words, deeds, thoughts and intentions. He emphasized that today, the Iranian nation and great Muslim Ummah are in need of this revitalizing and invigorating principle more than any other time.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the creation of a totally Islamic country as the main objective of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Revolution.
"The revolution and the formation of a ruling system based on Islam were the two basic steps taken by the Iranian nation toward the creation of an Islamic country. But despite all the achievements, our country is in need of an Islamic government so that the main objective of the Iranian nation may be accomplished, namely that an enlivening, motivating and invigorating Islam with no reactionary or deviationist tendencies may prevail in our country, and the material and spiritual needs of the Iranian people may be fulfilled," Ayatollah Khamenei told the congregation.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic added that the creation of an Islamic country will evoke divine grace and blessings on the Iranian nation.
"When an Islamic country is established, Islamic civilization will lead human societies and Islamic culture will enlighten all human communities. But the accomplishment of these noble objectives requires piety and individual as well as social watchfulness on the part of all Muslims and also the Islamic Ummah," the Leader pointed out.
In the second sermon of the prayers, Ayatollah Khamenei expounded on several important domestic issues such as the formation of a new Cabinet and Iran's nuclear activities for peaceful purposes. He also referred to some significant international issues, including the issues of Iraq and Palestine.
Hinting at the glorious and spectacular 9th presidential election in the Islamic Republic, the Leader pointed out that the election brought further honor and dignity to the country and increased the national strength of the Iranian people.
"Now that the new Cabinet is about to be formed, it is hoped that by divine grace and assistance, the president and the Majlis will perform their legal duties in an atmosphere of cooperation and harmony, so that the new Cabinet will be formed as soon as possible," he noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that after the new Cabinet is formed, the president and his colleagues in the government should make every effort to fulfill their promises to the public and meet the people's demands, so that they will be able to solve the existing problems to the greatest possible extent in a reasonable span of time. He pointed out that the president and his Cabinet will benefit from the Leader's support in performing their duties.
The Leader, however, called on the new president to avoid rashness and premature decisions in his government's performance.
"What is expected of the new government is to try to fulfill its promises and meet public expectations at a reasonable pace and based on prudence and tactfulness. The sensible and discerning Iranian people do not expect the new government to resolve existing problems and remove present shortcomings in a very short time," he noted.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic described the country's future as bright and promising. He expressed hopes that, in view of the president's vast power and authority and also considering the cooperation between the Majlis and the Judiciary, the new government will be able to take great strides toward the solving of existing problems and the accomplishment of long-term objectives with strong motivation and unshakable commitment.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Iran's nuclear issue and pointed out that the policy adopted by the Islamic Republic on this issue is characterized by moderation, logic, understanding, negotiation and confidence-building.
"However, the measures aimed at confidence-building should be taken by both sides. Thus if the Westerners, particularly the Europeans, expect Iran to take such measures, they should also reciprocate by taking similar measures aimed at evoking the Islamic Republic's confidence," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
The Leader also hinted at the negative Western propaganda claiming that the Islamic Republic is seeking nuclear weapons.
"The Islamic Republic considers its nuclear issue to be, first of all, of a scientific nature aimed at producing nuclear fuel for its nuclear power plants and, second, of an economic nature. As the Iranian officials have often announced, the Islamic Republic has no intention whatsoever of seeking nuclear weapons," the Leader emphasized.
Ayatollah Khamenei described as a coercive demand the Europeans' insisting that Iran should stop its scientific efforts to produce nuclear fuel.
"The Iranian nation will not accept imposition, extortion and blackmail from anyone. The Europeans should realize that the 19th-century colonial era is over, and they should change their arrogant tone of voice," he advised the Europeans.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic further pointed out that the U.S. is behind this coercive demand.
"Our recommendation to the Europeans is to ponder over the issue and try not to be influenced by the United States and Zionists, since the U.S. and Zionists are seeking to promote their own interests and would not care about the interests of Europe or those of the Iranian nation," he added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the issue of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is a national issue, and that all the political groups and factions in the Islamic Republic hold a similar stance on this issue.
"Today, the Islamic Republic system relies on a seventy million-strong population. The Iranian nation and government feel as firm and strong as a mountain and would not forego their rights, and nobody is entitled to compromise the rights of the Iranian nation," he further stated.
The Leader described as propaganda tricks the claims made by Western media to the effect that there is a world consensus against Iran.
"These claims are false, since many of the world's countries, including even some European countries, are opposed to bullying and blackmailing the Islamic Republic. In fact, the only world consensus that exists in reality is the one against nuclear weapons. The hotbed of this evil phenomenon is the United States, and the Zionist regime is the most dangerous regime possessing nuclear arms," he observed.
Pointing to the fact that many countries in the world are aspiring to possess nuclear technology, Ayatollah Khamenei further noted, "Even if there was a world consensus against the Islamic Republic, the Iranian nation would not forego its right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. But the reality on the ground indicates that many nations and governments support the Iranian nation on the nuclear issue."
The Leader of the Islamic Republic also stated, "By divine favor and assistance, in a not too far future, Iranian youngsters and specialists will also build nuclear power plants in this country with their dexterous hands."
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the issue of Iraq and referred to the new Iraqi government as a government arising from the Iraqi people's vote and a result of the appropriate performance of progressive clergymen, senior ulema and political elites in Iraq.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is desirous of the prosperity, security and progress of the Iraqi people and is deeply upset by the present insecurity and daily massacres in that country," he pointed out.
The Leader emphasized that the main culprit with regard to the recent incidents in Iraq is the United States.
"Thousands of American military, intelligence and security forces are present all over Iraq, and the terrorists are under the eyes of U.S. forces. Thus, if U.S. forces wanted to deal with and put an end to insecurity in that country, they would be able to do so," the Leader stressed.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated, "Even some believe that the insecurity in Iraq is fomented by U.S. and Zionist intelligence services, since insecurity provides a pretext for the continued occupation of Iraq."
The Leader of the Islamic Republic underlined the fact that the United States has faced defeat in Iraq and failed to achieve its objectives in that country.
"By interfering in Iraq's internal affairs, the United States is trying to secure its own interests, and U.S. officials are currently meddling with the drawing up of the Iraqi constitution. But despite all the expenses that the U.S. has incurred, public hatred toward the United States has greatly increased in Iraq. Today, there is nobody more hated than George W. Bush in that country," the Leader remarked.
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the rising opposition in the international arena and also inside the United States itself to U.S. policies toward Iraq.
"In order to cover up their failure and defeat in Iraq and avoid the realities, U.S. officials are leveling baseless accusations against Iran and Syria. But it is quite clear that these allegations are absurd and nonsensical, because the terrorist groups operating in Iraq are either nourished by the United States, or they are under U.S. influence," Ayatollah Khamenei told the congregation.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader referred to the Zionist forces retreating from the Gaza Strip and described the retreat as an important event and another defeat for the Zionist regime.
"This victory was a result of the pressure exerted on the Zionist regime by the resistance of the Palestinian nation. Contrary to what certain media have claimed, the retreat was not a result of negotiations," the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed that the issue of Palestine will not be resolved through the Zionist regime's retreating from a small part of the occupied territories.
"The only solution to the issue of Palestine is to hold a general election with the participation of all native Palestinians, including Muslims, Jews and Christians, who live both inside and outside the occupied territories. Any government that takes power as a result of this election and based on the Palestinian people's vote will be an acceptable government," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.