Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that the Iranian nation will turn the country into a model for the international community thanks to 25 years of successful experiences, national resolve, and reliance on wisdom.
In a meeting with several thousand members of the Basij (volunteer forces) in Hamedan, the Leader said that the Islamic Revolution worked a great miracle and helped Iran attain a dignified status and free itself from being a regional base for the United States through advocating Islam.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the great achievements of the nation over the past 25 years and said that the enemies are more angry now than they were during the first few years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution because they see the nation determined to proceed along the path of economic, social, and scientific development, so economic and military threats do not work anymore.
The Leader said that the Iranian nation ignores the U.S. and Zionist propaganda campaign against Iran and advised the youth to fight drug addiction and immorality.
"There is no doubt that the hands and brains of the enemies are behind the conspiracy of drug addiction and immoral behavior."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Islamic Revolution served to reinforce freedom and independence, adding, "We are still at the beginning of the road. We should revive the spirit of hard work and proceed with reconstruction efforts to administer social justice and safeguard public morality in order to prove that Islam is able to provide the moral and material needs of humanity."
On the Iraq issue, the Leader said that Iran does not have any reason to adopt a negative approach toward the Iraqi government, adding that although it is not democratically elected, it can pave the way for the establishment of a legitimate government.
"The Iraqi government should opt to distance itself from Washington, to hold a democratic election on schedule, and to put an end to the occupation. It is abhorrent for the Iraqi people if the occupation forces stay one more hour because of their common practices, an example of which being the Abu Ghraib prison scandal."
On the trial of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Ayatollah Khamenei said that Saddam's indictment should include his crime of imposing eight years of war on Iran.
"The U.S. has always been an accomplice of Saddam in the crimes he perpetrated against both the Iranian and Iraqi people. He always received a green light from Washington in perpetrating crimes against humanity."
On Monday the Leader emphasized that the correct teaching of religion promotes the intellectual growth of the people.
Addressing a gathering of ulema, scholars, and theology students of the western province of Hamedan, Ayatollah Khamenei said eliminating doubts and thwarting plots hatched by the global arrogance to negatively influence public opinion are among the important duties of scholars and clergymen.
He praised religious scholars for their great efforts to explain and teach Islamic ideology and principles and called on the ulema and clergymen to keep abreast of the latest developments in every field so they can answer different questions.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to investments made by the global arrogance in the fields of art and modern technology to instill doubt in the minds of nations, saying that religious and Islamic ideology, particularly of Shia Muslims, has been the target of such conspiracies.
The Leader said that religious scholars also face political challenges, adding that the global arrogance is trying to create a gloomy atmosphere in order to deceive people and promote deviation.
Every person who intends to enlighten the public in this gloomy atmosphere will be the target of their rage and wrath, and for this reason religious scholars in particular and the brave and independent Shia clergy have always been the target of the hostile attacks of the United States and other hegemonic powers, Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Despite all these hostilities, clergymen will continue their efforts to enlighten the people as their main duty, the Leader said in conclusion.