A large group of ulama and scholars and congregational prayer leaders as well as the instructors and theology students of the Islamic seminaries in the holy city of Mashhad called on the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Wednesday, May 16.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader referred to the momentous responsibilities of the clergy toward society. He stated that Muslim clergymen have spearheaded all anti-colonial movements and those against foreign domination for the past 200 years.
"Today also the most significant duty of the clergy and Islamic seminaries is to identify the necessities of the time, become equipped with modern science and strong logic and reasoning, preserve one's independence, consolidate one's ties with the public, acquire proper political knowledge, identify threats and counter deviations and religious innovations and superstitions," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei hinted at the strong wave of enmities against revolutionary values for the past 28 years. He added that despite all these enmities, revolutionary values are today predominant in the Iranian society, and that the incumbent government also openly takes pride in these values.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic touched on the issue of the upcoming talks between Iranian and American delegations about the situation in Iraq. He stressed that those who are assuming that the Islamic Republic of Iran is going to change its firm and logical and completely defensible policy of refusing to have negotiations or relations with the United States are quite mistaken.
"How is it possible to have negotiations with the arrogant and oppressive and expansionist and exploitational government of the United States, especially at the time of the impudent and rude and pretentious American government officials that are presently in office?" the Leader asked.
As regards the upcoming talks between Iranian and American delegations about the situation in Iraq, Ayatollah Khamenei stated, "Considering that the United States, as an occupier country, is not carrying out its duties concerning security in Iraq and has curtailed the power of the Iraqi government and is making attempts to overthrow it and is also supporting the terrorists, the Iranian Foreign Ministry, in response to a request made by the Iraqi government, has decided to remind American officials through direct negotiations of their duties and responsibilities toward security in Iraq."
The Leader added that negotiations were expected to be held early last year, but at that time American officials pulled a wry face. He pointed out that this time, however, American officials have submitted a written request for these negotiations.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated, "American officials are saying that they will not negotiate about any issues expect the issue of Iraq. But we are telling them that even the issue of Iraq is none of their business, and that the upcoming negotiations are going to focus only on the duties of occupiers toward Iraq's security."
The Leader stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran's policy of refusing to have negotiations or relations with the United States will remain unchanged as long as there is no change in the policies of this arrogant government.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the momentous responsibilities of Muslim clergymen. He stated that ulama and clergymen, like prophets, are entrusted with the task of promoting justice and equity in society.
"An important phenomenon of the past two centuries is that Muslim clergymen have been in the vanguard of all anti-colonial movements and those against foreign domination. Some instances of the great role played by Muslim clergymen over the past 200 years include the edict issued by Mirza-ye Shirazi on forbidding the use of tobacco, the resistance of the committed ulama against the pro-British elements in the Constitutional Movement, the opposition expressed by Sayyid Hassan Modarres to the agreements imposed by the colonial powers and to Reza Khan's despotic rule, the role played by Ayatollah Kashani in the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry and the role played by Imam Khomeini in the leadership of the Islamic Revolution," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic further stated that the victory of the Islamic Revolution was in fact the outcome of the great endeavors and perseverance on the part of Muslim clergymen and their performance of their heavy responsibilities in the course of the Iranian history.
"Benefiting from this precious asset and enjoying great popular support, Imam Khomeini managed to bring about the most significant historical change in Iran," the Leader added.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that Islamic seminaries are expected to become equipped with the weapon of modern science and strong logic and reasoning.
"Through strong logic and reasoning, the wrongness of experimental rationalism in modern world should be displayed. Besides, religious and jurisprudential issues should also be explained to the audience, especially to youngsters, through proper argumentation and reasoning," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.