In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O Conqueror of hearts and sight,
O Planner of night and day,
O Transformer of power and circumstances,
Change our condition to the best of conditions.
I congratulate all my honorable countrymen who live across our dear and vast country, all Iranians who live in different parts of the world and have pinned their hopes on their beloved homeland, the self-sacrificing youth, men, and women who have made great sacrifices for the lofty goals of the Revolution and the country and who have laid down their lives and offered their youth to the Revolution and the glory of the country, the honorable families of our martyrs, our disabled war veterans and their self-sacrificing families, all those who made sacrifices during the war, and those who work and make efforts for the glory of the country on the auspicious occasion of Norouz and the beginning of the new year - which is the beginning of spring and revitalization of nature. And I offer my greetings to the immaculate soul of our magnanimous Imam who was the founder of this great public movement and the source of progress and improvement of great Islamic Iran.
Norouz is the beginning of growth. Just as this growth is tangible in nature, it can also be manifested in our hearts and souls and in our movement towards progress. Let us have a look at the year 1388 which has ended now. If the year 1388 were to be described in a sentence, I think the description would be, the year of the Iranian nation, the year of this great nation's glory and victory, the year of this nation's historic and significant presence in the arenas that determined the fate of our great Revolution and our country.
In the beginning of the year 1388, through their unprecedented presence the people gave rise to an election that was unprecedented in the history of our Revolution - and of course in the long history of our country -and was considered a prominent peak. During the months following the election, the people demonstrated their presence, determination, resistance, national determination, and insight in a great test and in a great and fateful movement.
A short analysis of the post-election events which lasted several months is that after the passage of 30 years the enemies of the country and the enemies of the Islamic Republic have focused all their efforts and power on defeating this Revolution from within. Faced with this great conspiracy and this hostile movement, the nation managed to bring the enemies to their knees through its unique awareness, insight, determination, and resistance. The eight-month experience - from the presidential election to the 22nd of Bahman - that the nation and the country went through was full of lessons and was indeed a source of honor for the Iranian nation.
In the year 1388, the nation had a brilliant performance. Government officials made valuable and great efforts. These efforts are comparatively valuable. They are praiseworthy. All fair observers have a religious obligation to appreciate the efforts which were made in different arenas for the reconstruction, prosperity, and progress of the country. In scientific arenas, in industrial arenas, in social activities, in foreign policy, and in many different areas, government officials have made great achievements. May God reward all of them and bestow on them the opportunity to progress.
Observing the current situation of the country and the great potentialities that lie in the heart of this great country and nation, one may conclude that what we have done and what government officials and the people have done are not a great achievement compared with the great potentials of this country for achieving progress and justice. Everyone should make more efforts than before, and they should consider themselves responsible.
This prayer, which we recite every New Year, contains a very interesting point. It says: "...transform our condition into the best condition." It does not say transform us to a better state or better condition. It asks the Almighty to transform our condition to the best of conditions. The sincere and dedicated effort of Muslim individuals is that which allows them to reach the best in all areas and affairs.
This year in order to attain that which this noble prayer teaches us and that which is our duty, in order to fulfill the needs and potentials of our nation, we need to multiply our efforts and increase our labor. I name this year "The Year of Intensified Effort and Labor" with the hope that government officials together with the dear people of our country will make great strides in all affairs - in economic affairs, in cultural matters, in politics, in infrastructure and social matters. I hope this will occur with concerted effort and intensified labor so that God willing new paths will be treaded upon and greater goals will be achieved. We all are in need of this intensified effort. The nation is in need of this intensified effort.
We should rely on Allah the Exalted. We should ask Allah the Exalted for assistance. We should know that there is a lot of work to be done in different areas. Our enemies are the enemies of knowledge and faith in our society. We should double our effort to strengthen our knowledge and faith. By Allah's favor, our path will become smooth. The obstacles will become insignificant, and divine assistance will be with our people, our country, and our officials.
Greetings be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings