Iranian foreign minister and his deputies and advisors and also Iranian ambassadors and charges d'affaires and officials in charge of diplomatic representative offices abroad met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Tuesday, March 14.
In an address to the audience, the Leader referred to the field of diplomacy as the arena of interaction and rivalry for securing national interests. He stated that in the field of foreign policy, the country's assets and strength should be rightly recognized and used in an optimal manner to promote national interests.
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the Iranian diplomats are mostly characterized by deep faith and self-confidence, cleverness and bravery, dynamism and honesty and also initiative and innovation within the framework of defined principles and objectives.
"While the Iranian diplomats who represent the Islamic Republic in other countries try to protect their national interests, they should also try to appropriately represent the honor, perseverance and prudence of the Iranian nation," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic made it clear that national interests should be defined in the framework of principles, objectives and values of the Islamic system.
As regards the components of the Iranian nation's power, the Leader stated, "The sense of Islamic identity and honor that has been evoked in the Islamic world because of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran is one of the major components of the Iranian nation's power, and this component should receive due attention in international relations."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the Islamic paradigm presented by Iran as another component of the Iranian nation's power.
"The Islamic paradigm presented by Iran, contrary to what was promoted by the Taleban in the name of Islam or the kind of Islamic belief that is deeply influenced by Western culture and fostered by the United States, is a religious faith characterized by broad-mindedness, adherence to Islamic precepts, innovation and dynamism, based on which a political system and government relying on the people has been established, and which has not deviated from its genuine path despite all the pressures that have existed over the past 27 years," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
He further stated, "This is the reason why the Islamic paradigm introduced by the Islamic Republic is so attractive to Muslim nations throughout the world. This reality runs counter to the interests of the world's hegemonic powers, especially the United States."
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader elaborated on the material components of the country's strength. He cited the large territorial extent, population variety, abundant natural resources, including some major energy resources of the world, the Iranians' high intelligence, the strong bonds between the government and the general public, the people's high turnout in elections and participation in decision-making process and Iran's very important geographical position as among the material components of the country's strength.
"Besides, the Islamic faith and spiritual tendency of the Iranian people and their presence in various momentous arenas over the past years motivated by their religious belief constitute the cultural components of our country's strength. The Iranian people's spirit of self-sacrifice and seeking martyrdom, which arrogant powers are afraid of, also stems from their Islamic faith, which should always be preserved," the Leader noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei told the Iranian diplomats that they should carry out their responsibilities in the field of foreign policy with such realities in mind, so that arrogant and hegemonic powers may not be able to impose their demands.
"In their relations and interaction with other countries, our diplomats are expected to act in such a manner that other countries may realize any positive or negative move on their part will elicit a proportional response and similar reaction from us," Ayatollah Khamenei advised the audience.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to the nuclear issue as one of the important issues of Iran's foreign policy. He stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers forgoing the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, which is a great public demand and the undeniable right of the Iranian nation, a violation of its independence, which will inflict a great cost on the Iranian nation.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated that the peaceful utilization of nuclear technology is an indispensable necessity for the country's future and for advancement in various scientific areas.
"Any withdrawal from our position on the nuclear issue at the present stage will be followed by a chain of pressures and other withdrawals. Therefore, the present path is irreversible, and the country's foreign policy apparatus should bravely defend the Iranian nation's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
The Leader pointed out that the main reason for the attempts made by the United States and certain other Western countries following the U.S. to prevent Iran from securing its legitimate right is that they fear the Iranian nation may reach the summit of great scientific capabilities.
"In their negative propaganda, they accuse the Islamic Republic of concealment. But this is an illogical remark, since no country will announce that it is engaged in scientific research, but it is the scientific breakthroughs and results of scientific research that will be publicly announced. The Islamic Republic of Iran also officially and publicly announced the launching of its nuclear installations at different stages," the Leader noted.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei described the ruling clique in the United States as a group with a reactionary and colonial mentality characteristic of the 19th century.
"These individuals assume that they can achieve their goals and control the world through military force or by spending money. But they will never succeed, and they have already suffered defeat in the Middle East, especially in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine," he told the audience.
Concerning the reasons for the repeated defeats suffered by the reactionary ruling clique in the United States, the Leader cited their wrong calculations and disregard of the firm will and determination and identity of nations as the main reasons in this respect.
"They are also disseminating many lies about Iran through their propaganda machinery; if these lies form the basis of their calculations, they are doomed to failure," he added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the U.S. president's recent remarks to the effect that there is no democracy in Iran.
"It is the United States in which there is no democracy, since the strings of elections in that country are pulled by a coterie of capitalists who are mostly Zionists. The votes of the American people are of no effect, and the majority of Americans do not take part in elections. Besides, the incumbent U.S. president George W. Bush himself has taken office through fraud and deception," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
He further stated, "However, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the people massively and wholeheartedly take part in various elections and freely vote for their favorite candidates with different political tastes and leanings, as was the case in our recent presidential election."
The Leader of the Islamic Republic pointed out that the illegal acts committed by U.S. president, including eavesdropping on the American people's telephone conversations, his low popularity and news censorship are among the factors that have tarnished the image of the so-called U.S. democracy.
"If U.S. politicians allow their media to fully inform the American public of these realities, certainly the reactions that such realities will elicit from Americans will scare White House officials," the Leader noted.
Turning to the issue of Iraq, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the Iraqi people's demand, which is the establishment of a popular government in that country.
"But the occupiers of Iraq are opposed to the Iraqi people's demand, and they are unduly preventing its realization, since it runs counter to their interests," he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that if the occupiers pull their forces out of Iraq, security will be restored to that country. He stated that there is evidence and certain information indicating that the intelligence agencies of the United States and the Zionist regime are behind the wave of assassinations and explosions in Iraq.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to the issue of Palestine as among the important issues on Iran's foreign policy agenda.
"The issue of Palestine is the issue of a nation's victory in a difficult struggle to regain its rights. Therefore, this victory should be heeded while taking into consideration past developments and holding a farsighted outlook on future developments in Palestine," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the silence of Western countries claiming to advocate democracy in the face of the Zionist regime's outrageous threats to assassinate the elected representatives of the Palestinian people as a cause of shame and disgrace.
The Leader stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran extends moral and political support to the Islamic resistance of the Palestinian people and advocates the restoration of their rights.
In conclusion, Ayatollah Khamenei called on the Iranian diplomats and officials in charge of diplomatic missions abroad to rely on Almighty Allah while performing their duties, boost their ties with the Almighty and try to attain divine favor and satisfaction.
At the meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki expounded on the new approaches adopted by his ministry. He said that a wise and prudent review of interaction in the international arena, redefinition of relations in cultural and economic spheres and greater attention to Iranians living abroad, who are considered to be national assets, are among these new approaches.