Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met today with the officials of the Islamic Republic and people from various social backgrounds on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (s.w.a.) and Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a.s.).
The meeting was attended by the heads of the three government branches, the head of the Expediency Council, the ambassadors of Islamic countries, and the participants in the International Conference on Islamic Unity.
Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence said that promoting Islamic principles and following the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) are among the essential needs of the Islamic Ummah and said that unity among different Islamic denominations can help the Islamic Ummah solve its problems and achieve progress.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Islamic Ummah is in urgent need of following the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.).
He referred to the vast population, prominent geographical position, and vast natural as well as human resources of the Islamic world and called attention to the reasons behind the current problems of the Muslim world including poverty, discrimination, cultural and scientific backwardness, and failing to defend the rights of Muslims against the arrogant powers of the world.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution touched on the issue of Palestine and reiterated that the occupation of Palestine and the endless oppression by the criminal Zionist regime against the innocent people of Palestine have inflicted a severe wound on the body of the Islamic Ummah. "However, Muslim countries act as if the issue of Palestine is not related to them."
Ayatollah Khamenei described the fake Zionist regime as a dangerous tumor and reiterated that following the teachings of Islam and acting on the basis of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) are the only ways to defend the Muslim world against the Zionist regime and its supporters.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution further referred to the continuous efforts of the US, Britain, and other enemies of Islam to cause discord among the Islamic Ummah as the reasons behind the inability of the Islamic world to defend its rights and stated that these countries are well aware that discord can divert the attention of the Islamic Ummah from the issue of Palestine. "It is due to this reason that they try to cause ethnic, religious, and geographical disputes among Shia and Sunni Muslims as well as followers of other Islamic faiths by all possible means."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that unity and unanimity are the most important needs of the Muslim Ummah and called on Islamic governments, intellectuals, ulama, and social as well as political activists of Islamic countries to fulfill their duties in regard to maintaining unity in the Islamic world.
He said that increasing vigilance and unity among Islamic countries will bring about progress and cooperation among Islamic countries and will help solve many of the problems of the Muslim world, including the issue of Palestine.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that promoting unity among Muslims and supporting the Palestinian nation are among the priorities of the Islamic Republic and stated: "All the officials of the Islamic Republic and the great Iranian nation consider these issues as a religious duty and will always maintain their position."