Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution delivered a speech on the 1st day of Norouz to the people of Mashhad and pilgrims to Imam Reza's (a.s.) holy shrine. In his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei described the prerequisites for making progress, administering justice, and reforming the norms of consumption. His Eminence also referred to the forthcoming presidential elections in Iran and Iran-US relations and reiterated that the great Iranian nation will make great strides in the process of making progress and administering justice in the 4th decade of the Islamic Revolution.
Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that progress must be accompanied by justice and said that reducing the gap between different groups of people, providing equal opportunities for all people, and the equal distribution of resources in different parts of the country are the main criteria for the administration of justice.
He further added that fulfilling these great goals is difficult but practical, and said that everyone should make efforts in a determined manner to achieve these goals.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also referred to his New Year message and the necessity for reforming the norms of consumption and added that reforming the norms of consumption is an important step towards making progress and administering justice. He further said that being extravagant has caused different economic, social, and cultural problems and has endangered the future of the country.
Ayatollah Khamenei said being frugal means making efficient use of available resources and added: "We should admit that wrong consumption habits and methods have resulted in excessive consumption, and the average amount of energy used in the country is twice the current amounts in the world. The proportion of the energy used for production to the amount of products that are produced is eight times the amount used by developed countries."
Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the issue of the upcoming presidential elections in Iran.
His Eminence referred to elections as one of the foundations of the Islamic Republic and added that religious democracy cannot be achieved through words only. He further said that rational and emotional engagement of the people in the different developments occurring in the country is one of the prerequisites of promoting religious democracy.
He also stated that this goal can be fulfilled through staging free elections and the strong presence of the people in the elections.
Ayatollah Khamenei also criticized those who make vain efforts to undermine the upcoming presidential elections in the country and added: "Thirty elections have so far been staged in the Islamic Republic and according to the officials of the time, all those elections have been freely and accurately held. Therefore, the people will not be influenced by those who try to undermine the upcoming presidential elections in the country."
Referring to his position on the upcoming presidential elections in the country, Ayatollah Khamenei said: "Rumors have always been spread in this regard, but I will cast my own vote and will not advise anyone to vote for a particular candidate, because this is a matter of personal choice."
His Eminence added: "I sometimes say things to defend or support the current administration, and there are some people who misinterpret what I say. However, as a duty, I always support different administrations and those who render services to the people, especially when I see that a particular administration provides greater support for the underprivileged, shows greater resistance against the oppressive and arrogant powers, or is treated unfairly by some critics."
He further added that such support is by no means indicative of his support for a particular presidential candidate in the upcoming elections.
Elsewhere in his speech, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution discussed Iran-America relations. He said freezing several billion US dollars worth of Iranian assets, giving Saddam the green light to attack Iran, eight years of unconditional support for the Iraqi regime during the war imposed on the Iranian nation, and the tragic downing of the Iranian passenger plane, killing all the passengers on board, are the examples of the American animosity towards the Iranian nation.
He further added: "Is it possible for the Iranian nation to forget these events? During the last thirty years, American officials have repeatedly insulted the Iranian nation and government officials. Some of them have even demanded that our great and honorable nation be wiped out."
His Eminence touched upon the inauguration of the new US President and added: "They say they have extended their hands towards Iran. We believe if their iron hand is covered with a velvet glove, extending a hand toward us is insignificant and worthless."
The Leader also added: "We don't know who is making decisions in America - is it the President, the congress, or some unknown people who pull the strings? In any case, I would emphasize that the Iranian nation will not be influenced by its emotions and that it will make rational and calculated decisions about the issues it faces."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Obama's attempts at negotiation and his slogans of change, further adding: "If there is really any change, apart from a change in a small portion of your rhetoric, show it. Did you end your animosity against the Iranian nation? Did you release Iran's frozen assets? Did you lift the sanctions against us? Did you give up slandering and broadcasting negative propaganda against our nation? Did you give up your unconditional support for the Zionist regime?"
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also stressed: "Change must not be accompanied by ulterior motives and verbiage. If you try to pursue the same goals and only change the policies, that constitutes a machination, not a change. If you intend to bring about genuine change, you must show something in action. In any case, all the American officials as well as other people must know that the Iranian nation will not be deceived or intimidated."
Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated: "All I want to say is that our nation will act the way it has during the past thirty years as long as the US government continues its usual aggressive methods, policies, measures, and attitudes. Our nation hates to be intimidated. Of course we do not have a record of the new US President and administration and, therefore, will judge them by their performance."