In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
All praise is due to God, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and our Prophet, Abul Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his untainted, pure, chosen Progeny, particularly the Remnant of God on earth.
The day of endorsement [of the new president] and the endorsement ceremony is the last page of the thick, content-rich book compiled by the dear Iranian nation and all those involved in this inspiring election, and they have caused it to be preserved on the shelf of Iran’s achievements. We are thankful to God that the 14th presidential election was conducted in the best possible way, despite the prevailing atmosphere of sorrow caused by the loss of our martyred President, the late Mr. Raisi (may God be pleased with him). It was a calm, healthy, competitive election, and rivals showed a moral behavior toward the respected president-elect after the election, which was highly commendable. This was an important test for our country. Praise God, this test was passed successfully, and God willing, our dear nation will reap the fruitful outcome of it.
I find it necessary to remind everyone of the role played by the respected interim president, Mr. Mokhber, and the cabinet members in the management of the country's affairs over the past two months and to express my gratitude to them. They’ve played a significant role, and by the grace of God, they’ve been able to lead the country in a state of tranquility and with a good public spirit to the elections and successfully carry out the elections in the best possible way.
Praise God, we have a democracy in our country that is both competitive and healthy. My dear friends, the democracy we enjoy in our country today was not achieved at a cheap price or easily. It’s the result of the people rising up in the face of the chaotic, tragic situation that existed in this country in the past. From the very first day after the victory of the Revolution, our magnanimous Imam [Khomeini] firmly established an unprecedented situation in the country, and that was the involvement, presence, and influence of the people in the administration of the country. This great achievement was brought out by our esteemed Imam, which was one of the most important events in our country’s history.
Before the nation of Iran was able to establish democracy under the leadership of the magnanimous Imam, we had only experienced constitutionalism. This experience was a failure. During the period of constitutionalism, the people struggled, put in effort, some were martyred, and engaged in numerous battles. However, due to the absence of a powerful, influential, people-oriented leadership, the country fell into chaos from almost the very first days. Foreign powers intervened, internal troublemakers entered the scene, and the country remained in turmoil for about 15 years. Subsequently, the harsh dictator Reza Shah came to power. In other words, there was only about a 15-year gap between the signing of the decree for constitutionalism and the coming to power of a brutal, ruthless, foreign-backed dictator like Reza Khan. All of the nation's hard work was wasted with Reza Pahlavi's ascent to power.
The defining characteristic and feature of the first Pahlavi regime — of which [Reza Shah spent] approximately four years as Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, etc. and the rest as king — was the existence of a brutal dictatorship, oppression, and suppression of the people on the one hand. And on the other hand, there was humiliation, obedience, and passivity in the face of foreign powers.
The British brought Reza Shah to power and did whatever they wanted in the fields of politics, culture, and the administration of the country. Everything took place according to what they wanted. National resources were plundered, the unjust oil concession that was about to expire was extended for an additional 30 years, the people were treated harshly and were suppressed, and there was an overt, open battle waged against religion, religiosity, and the clergy, which was a significant factor in the people's movement.
Later toward the end of Reza Shah’s reign when they felt that he had developed a tendency toward Hitler's Germany — with the onset of World War II and Germany's movements that were indicative of their progress, he had developed such an inclination — the same British who had brought him to power, grabbed his hand and kicked him out. They sent him into exile, placed his incompetent son in his place, and continued their same policies.
Mohammad Reza [Pahlavi] followed in his father's footsteps. In other words, he was harsh with the people, there was severe internal repression, he aided foreigners to seize Iran's national resources — primarily oil — and he was subservient to foreign policies. These were things we often used to say. Later, when the memoirs of the Pahlavi family, their associates, and those in their inner circle were published, we saw that they were admitting to the very things we knew and had spoken of. The appointment of the Prime Minister was dictated by foreigners according to their wishes. Decisions regarding weapons purchases, the specifics of oil sales, the pricing of these two, and other significant issues in the administration of the country were all subject to the will of foreigners. And there was relentless pressure on the people. This was the nature of their politics. These points are important. Paying attention to these matters is important.
The situation deteriorated to the point where Mohammad Reza Pahlavi had to appeal to the US and the British to orchestrate a coup d'état in Iran in order to overthrow a national government that had come to power through the people’s vote in an exceptional move. And they did stage a coup and overthrew that government. It is hard to imagine a treacherous act worse and more blatant than that!
The democracy you see in Iran today is the result of the Iranian people's uprising against such a situation. The Iranian people had never experienced or experimented with being involved in the governance of their country. The Islamic Revolution gifted this to the Iranian people through the hands of our magnanimous, distinguished Imam. We must appreciate this democracy and the participation of the people.
Over the past four decades in the Islamic Republic, we have had tens of elections including parliamentary, presidential, and council elections, as well as those for the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution and the Assembly of Experts of the Leadership. In each of these electoral processes, there has been competition, integrity, and the motivated participation of the public, sometimes more and sometimes less. This isn’t of primary importance. What is of primary importance is the “motivation of the people.” People come to the ballot boxes with motivation and cast their votes. This has always been the case and what has taken place.
Praise God, the recent elections were well conducted, and the people chose a deserving president. The statements he made here today were well-founded, profound, and indicative of adherence to the true principles of Islamic democracy. We hope, God willing, that God will assist him in his endeavors. We all need to help as much as we can so that he and his administration can accomplish these great tasks. So these were the things I wanted to say regarding the main topic [of elections].
I would like to offer a few recommendations. These recommendations are addressed to both our government and our officials who, God willing, will assume important positions of responsibility, and also to the general public. These recommendations are applicable to all of us, including myself.
My first recommendation is the following. Our country is a great country comprised of great people. Among our people, there are countless individuals who are intelligent, innovative, experienced, and have fresh ideas. When one listens to the opinions of various people from different walks of life, one is amazed by the abundance of new ideas, new thoughts, and the new innovations they offer.
The written proposals, the things said in person, the objections raised, and the suggestions offered — each of these serves as a beacon of hope for us because they reflect new ideas, new innovations, good experiences, and solutions for the future. This is the potential our nation possesses. This is a tremendous national asset that we must make use of.
[I hope that,] God willing, the esteemed administration and the respected President will make use of this “vast capacity of the people” for the people, with the people, and among the people, to achieve the goals he mentioned and to benefit from this in the path they intend to pursue.
Of course, alongside these human resources, we also possess abundant natural and material wealth. Our country's natural resources are far greater than what we have used and benefited from up to now. They are much more than this. We can achieve great things by relying on these human resources, human capital, and natural assets. To do this, we must have high aspirations, pursue our work with diligence, and select competent colleagues, God willing. This is my first recommendation.
My next recommendation is about “jihadi work.” A jihadi spirit can overcome a mountain of challenges. What does jihadi work entail? It involves working tirelessly, working without expecting rewards or anything in return, setting one’s goal to be the fulfilling of human and divine responsibilities, and moving forward. This is the essence of jihadi work. Of course, there are legal and administrative frameworks that must be adhered to, but the true measure of jihadi work lies in its quality. One can definitely get work done while adhering to the law, both in a jihadi manner and in a non-jihadi manner. Many people comply with the outward appearance of the law, but the work doesn’t move forward and they fail to get things done.
A few days ago, our respected President spoke to me about how there are individuals in some of our administrative posts who are assigned duties and responsibilities, but their daily output is neither substantial nor valuable. This is a valid point. A jihadi approach is the exact opposite of this.
We have achieved great things in the country through jihadi work. The eight-year Sacred Defense moved forward with jihadi work. The various complex schemes of the enemy over the past 30 or 40 years have been thwarted with jihadi work. Martyr Raisi (may God be pleased with him) engaged in jihadi work, and he truly worked tirelessly. He was genuinely not seeking any praise or honors for all the work he was doing. I saw this in person, and I felt it.
He truly made every effort, worked hard, and did everything that he could even though many people didn’t realize this. His work and efforts were not seen by the eyes of the public, but he was working hard nonetheless. Therefore, my next recommendation is about jihadi work, actively entering the field, and avoiding remote management. Managers cannot be successful by controlling the work from a distance. They must immerse themselves in the work.
My next recommendation involves interaction between the branches of government. Work cannot progress without this. The Majlis should assist the administration. The administration must take the concerns of the Majlis seriously. The judiciary must be actively present wherever it’s necessary. The Armed Forces should be present in accordance with their duties wherever the administration and the people need them. Everyone must play a role.
The meetings held by the heads of the government branches are an excellent opportunity for collaboration. I have previously recommended this to the officials of these branches, and I now give this recommendation to the gentlemen present here to take these sessions of the three branches and the exchange of ideas seriously. This is a very productive practice as shown by our many years of experience in benefiting from these meetings.
My next recommendation is to adhere to priorities. Of course, everyone knows that cultural issues are highly important to me. Cultural and social issues are very important matters, perhaps more important than anything else. But at the present, the priority is with economic issues in terms of time. A strong, well-planned, continuous economic movement is needed. Of course, valuable work has been done in the previous administration and that work needs to be continued. But further initiatives should also be added.
In economic matters, one must address the issue from both a macroeconomic perspective — considering the value of the national currency, production, investment, and improving the business environment, which are fundamental general concerns — as well as from the perspective of enhancing people's livelihood, which is an urgent, short-term task. There are actions that can be taken, and God willing, they will be done. Of course, work has been done in both areas, and this should continue.
My next recommendation pertains to the overall atmosphere and the public sentiment following the election. This recommendation is directed at all people, as well as those active in politics and social issues. Challenges inevitably arise in elections. People take opposing sides during the elections, which creates challenges. [However,] we must not give in to and take action on the temptation of polarization. I strongly insist on this recommendation. We must not allow the emotions that drive people to argue with each other during the elections to linger. Don’t let this continue.
That is the nature of elections. One person wins, another loses. That’s what comes from an election and the meaning of an election. For example, someone that you like wins, while someone else that another person prefers loses. This is natural. This should not lead to discord. It should not lead to disputes, divisions, and separation. In the Islamic Republic, a variety of preferences and perspectives have come up and gone down since the Revolution. Some of them win today, others win tomorrow, and vice versa. This is what is meant by "We alternate these days between the people" (Quran 3:140). This is a test.
I want to say that in all these elections that have taken place, the Iranian people have been victorious. No one has been defeated. Those people who entered the field and supported a candidate who didn’t win weren’t defeated. They too are victorious. They are part of the Iranian nation, and the Iranian nation has won. Therefore, feelings of discord, disappointment, and sadness that may sometimes come about during electoral debates and arguments should not continue.
Neither the one whose candidate won should feel superior, nor the one whose candidate lost should feel defeated. Neither side should feel superior or defeated. This is my next recommendation, which is addressed to all those who are active in political, social, and electoral fields, and the like.
My next recommendation is about appreciating the country's domestic capabilities and relying on them. This recommendation is addressed to our esteemed officials who will be responsible for leading the country, for the progress of the country, and for the administration of the country. It is essential to focus on our internal strengths. The motto "We can" should be a constant motto, and it is indeed true. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t use foreign capabilities. No wise person would say that.
We must use all available resources — whether domestic, foreign, or those from our friends. Sometimes even our enemies take actions that are to our benefit, and we must use those [opportunities] as well. We must make use of these things, but we shouldn’t overlook domestic capabilities. No internal issue should be halted or made contingent upon a foreign matter. This is the point I want to make. Do whatever you can on the global stage. Do positive work and actions that bring dignity and honor, but don’t neglect internal capabilities, internal strengths, and internal new ideas. This is what I emphasize, and of course, there are many examples of this.
My next recommendation pertains to issues related to foreign policy. The first point I want to make about foreign policy is this that our country must take an active, influential approach with regard to global and especially regional waves and events instead of being passive. A wide range of issues arise in the world, from political matters to scientific advancements and extraordinary groundbreaking innovations like, for example, artificial intelligence. We must be active on these issues, not passive. Have an impact. Negligence and indifference with regard to what happens in the world and in the region is not permissible. Whenever an event takes place, we have a position regarding it. We should express this position clearly, explicitly, and with strength and dignity so that the world understands what Islamic Iran has to say on the issue.
The 13th administration made a good effort in this regard. May God’s mercy be on the Martyr of Service, the late [Iranian Foreign Minister] Amir-Abdollahian. He was an outstanding diplomat and negotiator, and his work and efforts were very good. I witnessed what he was doing firsthand. He was moving forward and working well. This work and effort, God willing, should continue.
One of the points regarding our foreign policy is that we have priorities in our foreign relations. One of these priorities is our neighbors. We are among the countries that have multiple neighbors, and this is an advantage for a country. We are surrounded by approximately 14 neighbors, which is an advantage for us. We must work on our relations with our neighbors. This is one of our priorities.
Another priority is to establish relations with countries that expand our diplomatic sphere, such as African and Asian countries. These countries can broaden the sphere of our diplomacy. Building relations with these countries is among our priorities.
We must give priority to strengthening relations with countries that have stood by us and supported us in the face of pressures over the years. Those countries have either supported us in the United Nations, outside of the UN, in action in other areas, through economic cooperation, and so on. We must show our appreciation and fortify our ties with these countries. This is our high-priority policy, and there are several other such top-priority tasks in this area as well.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that we have a wish to show opposition or enmity toward certain countries, such as those in Europe. The reason I don’t say European countries are a priority is that they haven’t treated us well in recent years. They haven’t dealt in a good way with us.
They have treated us badly in matters such as sanctions, oil, and various other issues under false pretenses such as human rights and similar topics. If they set aside their bad conduct, they too will be among our priorities of course, and relations with them will be a priority for us. Of course, there are a few countries whose harassment and hostile conduct we won't forget. This was about that matter. These were the recommendations that I wanted to share with you.
The issue of Gaza is the final point I would like to address. Today, this is a global issue. There was a time when the subject of Palestine was solely a concern for Islamic countries. [But] today, the issue of Palestine and Gaza have become a global public concern. From inside the US Congress to the United Nations, the Paris Olympics, and everywhere else, this issue is currently gaining attention and spreading [worldwide].
The Zionist regime is presenting and showing itself in the most grotesque image of a criminal gang. They’re not a government. They're a gang of criminals. They’re a gang of murderers. They’re a gang of terrorists. In their acts of terrorism, cruelty, and crime, they’ve reached a new level in their shocking crimes in the history of human criminality in the world. They've reached a new level.
Today, the Zionists are dropping heavy bombs on civilians who hadn’t even fired a single bullet. These include babies in cradles, five and six-year-old children, women, and hospital patients. They hadn’t even fired a single bullet at anyone. Why are bombs being dropped on their heads? Their [Zionist regime’s] crimes are unprecedented. The power of the Resistance is becoming more apparent every day.
Despite all the support it’s receiving from the United States and a number of treacherous governments, the Zionist enemy has been unable to cripple or defeat the Resistance Forces. The goal they had announced was to eliminate Hamas. [But] today, Hamas along with [Palestinian Islamic] Jihad and the Resistance as a whole in Palestine stand strong with full power. They [the Zionist regime] cannot do anything against them. Instead, they drop bombs on the heads of innocent civilians in Gaza.
The world must make a more serious decision in response to this tragedy. Governments, nations, intellectuals, and political figures in various fields must truly come to a decision. When you look at it in this way, you realize what a great disgrace the US Congress brought upon itself the day before yesterday by convening to listen to this criminal [Benjamin Netanyahu]. It was a huge disgrace.
I hope Almighty God will grant victory to the oppressed people of Palestine. I also hope Almighty God takes the dear, great, motivated nation of Islamic Iran to its lofty goals. I sincerely ask Almighty God to grant success to our dear new President and the administration that will be formed. May God help them to do the work they want to do, they want to pursue, and they have announced. God willing, they will achieve these excellent goals and bring honor to the Iranian nation. I ask Almighty God to exalt the level of the pure spirit of the magnanimous Imam [Khomeini], the pure spirits of the martyrs, the spirit of Martyr Soleimani, and the spirits of Martyr Raisi and his companions. I hope God will unite us too with the caravan of martyrs.
May God’s greetings, mercy, and blessings be upon you.
Comment