Members of the Experts Assembly called on the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Thursday, March 9.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader elaborated on the realities concerning Iran's nuclear issue. He also made it clear why the United States is constantly raising an outcry about Iran and cited the two major reasons for this U.S. behavior toward the Islamic Republic.
Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience that similar issues have been raised about Iran by the United States at various stages over the past 27 years.
"Today, the Iranian people and officials of the Islamic Republic are resisting all kinds of plots and pressures more firmly than before. Relying on Almighty Allah, exercising wisdom and prudence and preserving their unity and solidarity, they are determined to continue treading the path to advanced technologies, including the utilization of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," Ayatollah Khamenei stressed.
The Leader stated that the United States is always seeking pretexts for continuing its psychological war against the Islamic Republic and preventing Iran's progress in various fields of science and technology. He noted that these are the two major reasons why the United States is expressing opposition to the Iranian nation's peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.
"U.S. officials know very well that because of the strategic depth of the spiritual influence of Imam Khomeini and the attractive system of the Islamic Republic in the Islamic world, if today free elections are held in any Islamic country, the people will vote for Islamic groups, as the Iraqi and Egyptian people did. Such realities have made it impossible for them to tolerate our Islam system," the Leader observed.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the power of the Islamic system stems from the faithful, vigilant and experienced Iranian nation and also from its increasing progress, firm internal structure and strong spiritual influence on the Islamic world.
"U.S. confrontation with the Islamic Republic of Iran is manifesting itself in U.S. psychological war against the Iranian nation and government. Considering that any psychological war needs a certain pretext, U.S. officials are presently using the issue of nuclear technology as a pretext for this purpose," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
Referring to various pretexts used by the United States over the past 27 years for its psychological war against Iran, the Leader of the Islamic Republic further stated, "At different stages in the past whenever a pretext lost its applicability for whatever reason, domineering U.S. officials immediately came up with another pretext, since they consider the continuation of their psychological war against the Iranian nation to be the most effective way of countering our Islamic system."
The Leader stressed that even if today the Iranian nation and government forgo their right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, U.S. attitude toward Iran will not change, and U.S. officials will resort to another pretext.
Touching on Iran's constant cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with regard to the nuclear issue, Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the Iranian government tried every possible means to settle the issue in the past two and a half years. "But ultimately European countries said that in order for them to trust us, we should stop all our nuclear activities," he added.
The Leader stated that the second reason why the United States is raising an outcry about Iran is that it is trying to hinder Iran's scientific and technological progress.
"In today's world scientific advancement lays the basis and foundation for economic and political power. Knowing this, U.S. officials are trying to create obstacles in the way of Iran's turning into a scientific power," the Leader pointed out.
Hinting at the efforts made by various countries in the world to produce nuclear energy, Ayatollah Khamenei stated, "If a country does not generate electricity by using nuclear energy, it will face serious problems. For this reason, producing nuclear energy is a genuine requirement, and Iranian officials are expected to facilitate Iran's headway toward attaining advanced technologies, including nuclear technology, without submitting to pressures."
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic pointed out that careful attention to the general course of action adopted by the enemies is necessary for obtaining a clear understanding of the goals that are being pursued by them.
"The Iranian nation's previous experience and the conclusion reached through pondering over the goals being pursued by the United Sates indicate that if we forgo our right to the peaceful use of unclear energy, tomorrow U.S. officials will raise the issue of research carried out by our academic circles. This means that nuclear energy is not the only issue, but the enemy is seeking excuses and making every effort in order to prevent Iran's progress and development," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that all countries, based on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), enjoy the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Also referring to the remarks of certain Western officials to the effect that they recognize Iran's right to use nuclear energy, the Leader stated, "The recognition of this legal and undeniable right is something superficial, meaningless and nonsensical, since the right to use nuclear energy has been recognized by international treaties, and we do not need the European officials' recognition in order to enjoy our right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
Further in his statements, the Leader noted that boosting national unity is the only way to counter the enemies' plots. He also hinted at the fact that the United States has left no stone unturned in its attempts to destroy the Islamic system over the past 27 years.
"In the face of this enemy, we should try to bolster our firm internal foundations. As the first step in this direction, we should try to preserve our unity, solidarity and concord by adhering to the fundamentals emphasized by Imam Khomeini and the Islamic Republic's Constitution, namely the Islamic nature of the system, the principles of the constitution and the structure of the Islamic Republic with all its pillars," the Leader remarked.
Ayatollah Khamenei also praised the existing harmony, congruity and convergence of views in society.
"Relying on Almighty Allah and counting on the great Iranian nation, we will continue treading the path of progress and honor with greater strength and perseverance, and we are sure that divine grace and assistance will be bestowed on our nation and the Islamic system as before," Ayatollah Khamenei told the gathering.
Elsewhere in remarks, the Leader described the Experts Assembly as an epitome of religious democracy. Referring to the fact that a group of scholars and erudite personalities have been elected to the Experts Assembly by the Iranian people, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the negative propaganda spread by the Western media against the Experts Assembly indicates its great significance.
Before the Leader's statements, the chairman of the Experts Assembly Ayatollah Ali Meshkini said that the Iranian nation has after several centuries established a government based on Islamic principles and the teachings of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his infallible household). He said that it is necessary to make every effort to boost this government in all aspects.
Ayatollah Meshkini also referred to piety, religious faith and trust in Almighty Allah as the major factors evoking divine favor and assistance and causing victory over the enemies of Islam.
Furthermore, the vice-chairman of the Experts Assembly Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini presented a report at the meeting on some issued discussed at the recently held two-day session of the Experts Assembly. He described the vigilance of government officials and national unity as the main factors contributing to the remarkable achievements of the Islamic system.