In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Praise God, the Almighty God once again gave me the opportunity this year as in previous years to perform my duty to the best of my ability during this season for planting trees. This year, our officials have introduced this slogan, “Every Iranian should plant three saplings.” I too planted three saplings today, like other Iranians. If, God willing, each Iranian plants three saplings, according to the number of people in the nation, what this will mean is that the government’s program to plant one billion saplings will be achieved within four years. So 250 million [saplings] a year will be planted for four years, starting from 1402 AHS, God willing. This is an important program.
The matter of planting trees, the issue of environmental protection, and the many benefits that arise from an increase in planting saplings and trees in our society and in the country are among the country’s most important issues. And this is not limited to us. Some of the neighboring countries have made plans to plant trees up to a certain number – some four billion, others ten billion. Now, how successful they will be in doing this is a whole different topic for discussion. But we can do it. God willing, we can plant one billion saplings in four years with the people’s help starting from 1402 AHS. God willing, we will be able to plant one billion saplings in four years’ time. God willing, the people will work hard in this field with the help of God. Organizations should also help. Every organization has a duty which they need to perform.
One point is that planting saplings is important. It is important for both the environment and the country's economy. A few years ago, a number of people wrote a letter recommending that fruit trees should be planted. So we planted fruit trees. This year, some experts and experienced individuals pointed out that non-bearing trees, forest trees, and various other trees that have wood as their fruit, these are also important for the country. What they said is absolutely correct. My advice to everyone is that in addition to fruit trees, [they should also plant] forest trees, the trees that have important wood, both for using the wood inside the country and also for trading wood products, which is also an important issue.
We need to make use of all the economic possibilities that are available to us in our country. When an economy is dependent on just one product, this will result in what you see today. We have a problem today. We have a problem in the value of our national currency and also with inflation and high prices.
Our officials should use every economic opportunity at their disposal. Of course, they are working hard. I can see that they are putting in effort. God willing, they will continue these endeavors with strength, and they will find and implement the right solution to solve people’s economic problems.
We are one of the few countries that have included environmental protection in our constitution. In our constitution, preservation of the environment has been stipulated. This is an important matter. No one should violate this law. This is one of the outstanding features of our constitution. I hope that God willing, the people will be successful and our officials will be successful with God’s grace, in carrying out the necessary work that we all have a responsibility to do.
I would also like to briefly talk about an issue that has been taking place recently, and that is the issue of – some are saying - the poisoning of students. I am well aware that our officials have sat together and discussed this issue. They are working hard, and they have specified duties. I want to emphasize that they must earnestly investigate this matter. This is an important issue. If there truly are people involved in this, if there are individuals or groups involved in this matter, the crime they have committed is a huge, unforgivable crime. If there are people involved in this – and undoubtedly there are certain people involved somehow – the responsible organizations, the intelligence and law enforcement agencies, they must investigate this matter and find the source of this crime, both the perpetrators and all those who are involved.
These [perpetrators] must be sentenced to the maximum punishment and they must receive the maximum punishment, because this is not a petty crime. It is a crime against the most innocent members of society, that is, children. And it causes fear, it causes insecurity, it creates mental insecurity in society, and it worries families. It causes these things. These are not small things. These must be earnestly investigated, and if people are convicted, there will be no pardon for them. Everyone should know this. They must be punished, and their punishment should serve as a lesson to others.
I hope that the Almighty God will bless our nation, our country, our people, and the members of our society, and that God’s mercy will be bestowed upon us as it has always been up until today, praise God. [And I hope that] God willing, the country’s officials will be able to earnestly pursue and do the things that they have in mind and move forward.
May God’s greetings, mercy, and blessings be upon you.
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