In the course of his tour of Kerman Province, the Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei addressed thousands of university students and instructors in the provincial capital, Kerman, on Monday, May 9.
The Leader talked to the students and academics about various issues such as the main features of the political ideal of the Iranian nation and students, the upcoming presidential elections and the enemy's attempts to create a rift and duality in the Islamic government in Iran. He also mentioned some important points about fundamentalism and reformism.
In his address, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the university students and instructors as members of an elite class and the pivot of hopes and aspirations of the nation.
"Students are the future managers, decision-makers and executives of our country. By expressing real and practical appreciation for the divine gift bestowed on our nation, i.e. the Islamic system, they will be able to lead the Iranian nation and their country to the peak of progress and development," he told the gathering.
The Leader further described the creation of a political ideal to guide the course of action of young people and ensure a bright future for the country as absolutely necessary.
"The young Iranian people are seeking to fulfill their material needs, but they are also trying to realize some great aspirations and ideals such as the administration of social justice and the elimination of corruption, poverty and retardation from society. These ideals and objectives, which have emerged from Islamic teachings and precepts, will pave the way for opening a new chapter in the history of the Iranian nation," the Leader pointed out.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei noted that although the majority of the Iranian youngsters are characterized by their pursuit of great ideals and lofty objectives, a number of youngsters seek to achieve progress and development by merely imitating Western political, social and intellectual models.
"It is quite clear that these youngsters with this kind of mentality will never be able to attain real progress and development, since the experience of the past two centuries of the West indicates that the Western schools of thought and ideology have yielded products such as Fascism, Communism and Liberalism, each of which has prepared the ground for numerous crimes against humanity," he told the audience.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to the waging of the two world wars, the bloody aggression of the United States and Britain against Iraq, the torture of innocent human beings at AbuGhuraib, Guantanamo and tens of other secret U.S. prisons in the world, the disgraceful domination of other nations, the production of nuclear and chemical weapons, the collapse of families in the West and the spread of moral corruption as some of the manifestations of the failure of Western paradigms in running human societies and ensuring prosperity for mankind.
Ayatollah Khamenei cited the sway held by capitalists over Western electronic and print media and the lack of real democracy and freedom in Western countries as among other factors contributing to the inefficiency of European and American models.
"Imitating and following a failed model is a big mistake, as it will lead nowhere and promise no bright prospects," he stated.
Touching on the considerable achievements of the Iranian nation after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the great talent of the Iranian youth, the Leader noted, "The talented young Iranian people have made considerable progress in various scientific, economic, industrial, social and political areas, proving that the Iranian people are able to attain a bright future through self-reliance and by following the model that they have chosen, namely the Islamic Republic, not by copying the abortive Western paradigms."
Further in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei hinted at the different political views and factions in the country.
"There is nothing wrong with the existence of different political views and attitudes, as far as they do not exceed the norms. But by intensifying the political differences, the enemies are trying to achieve the goal of creating a rift and duality in our government."
Elaborating on the plots of the enemies, the Leader stated, "What the enemies are seeking to achieve is to bring the two opposing views into a confrontation with each other at the top of the Islamic system. There were also certain individuals in our country that moved in this direction. They exerted immense pressure on President Khatami to compel him into this confrontation, but he did not submit to their pressure, thanks to his wisdom and religious commitment."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the opposition expressed by some members of the Sixth Majlis to the campaign against corruption as just a sign of the efforts that were made by the enemies to give rise to a rift and duality in the Islamic government and create obstacles in the way of the performance of important tasks in the Islamic Republic. He stressed that the Iranian people should remain watchful of the plots being hatched by the enemies.
Hinting at the negative propaganda accusing the Islamic system of trying to homogenize the government, the Leader noted, "If the accusation means that the Islamic system is going to entrust the government to one political faction only, it is absolutely wrong because we believe that the presence in the government of the two political factions, which are loyal to the Constitution, makes it possible for the Islamic system to achieve progress."
He further stated, "But if what the enemies mean by the homogenization of our government is that we would not allow a rift and division to appear in the country and in the foundations of our Islamic system, that is our intention. Like all other countries in the world, we would not allow those who do not believe in the Constitution and in the foundations of the system to take up top positions in our Islamic system."
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the views suggesting a conflict between fundamentalism and reformism, and he described such views as misguided and erroneous.
"Reformism does not clash with fundamentalism, but what is in opposition to fundamentalism is lack of adherence to any principles. Also, it is sedition not fundamentalism that runs counter to reformism. In general, what is the most appropriate approach is reformist fundamentalism," he told the gathering.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic went on to expound the concept of 'reformist fundamentalism'.
"While adhering to and preserving our basic principles, we should try to constantly rectify and improve our methods. This is the meaning of real reformism. But U.S. officials define reformism as opposition to Islam and the Islamic system."
As regards the upcoming presidential elections in Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei called participation in elections a right and a duty of the Iranian people.
"The enemies are opposed to a massive voter turnout in the upcoming presidential elections in Iran. But the Iranian people are capable of making a proper choice. By the favor and assistance of the Almighty, the June-17 presidential elections will be recorded as among the best elections held in the Islamic Republic," the Leader told the university students and professors.