Khamenei.ir

You should develop proper Islamic ethics in yourselves

What I recommend is that... we should build and develop Islamic virtues in our hearts and souls. A number of these virtues are patience, forgiveness, fortitude, self-control and humility. We should strengthen these characteristics in ourselves... Imam Sadiq (peace and greetings be upon him) used to say to his companions, "You should act in a way that whenever people see you, they say, ‘These people are the companions of Imam Sadiq. God's mercy be upon Imam Sadiq. You should make us be proud of you'" [al-Kafi, Volume 2, page 233]. Each and every one of you dear basijis, you dear youth with your pure and enlightened hearts and souls should behave towards all the people... in a way that they say, "These people are students of the Islamic government. They are a source of respect for the Islamic government and the Islamic Republic".

We do not interfere in the details of the nuclear negotiations

I would like to raise a point about the recent contentions over the arena of foreign policies, our nuclear issues, the current negotiations and other such things. First of all, I insist on supporting the officials who are in charge of this. I support all administrations and all officials - whether officials in charge of domestic affairs or officials in charge of foreign affairs - and this is our responsibility. I myself have been an executive official. I have been in the middle of the arena and I felt with all my heart the difficulty of the work. I know that the responsibility of managing the country is difficult. Therefore, these officials need help and I help and support them. This is one part of the issue which is clear. On the other hand, I also insist on establishing the rights of the Iranian nation including the issue of our nuclear rights. We insist that these officials should not even take one step back on the rights of the Iranian nation. Of course, we do not interfere in the details of these negotiations. There are certain red lines and limits in this regard. These limits should be observed. We have said this to officials in charge and it is their responsibility to observe these limits. They should not be afraid of the fuss that the enemies and opponents make. They should show no fear in the face of such fuss and uproar.

Briton’s entertainment, hunting indigenous people

This is one of the greatest disasters of arrogance in modern times. Modern times means the era of scientific progress and the era of the emergence of dangerous weapons. When these weapons became available to arrogant powers, they created a disaster for all nations. They do not attach any value on the lives of individuals - those individuals who do not follow, obey and surrender to them. There are many examples in this regard. One example is the behavior of arrogant powers towards Native Americans - those people whose financial and natural resources, whose geography and whose entire properties are in the hands of non-natives now. Well, there were native people in America. Their behavior towards these Native Americans was so violent and so disgusting that it is one of the darkest points in the history of modern America. The Americans themselves have written many things about the massacres that took place and the pressures that they exerted. The same thing was done by the English in Australia. The English hunted people, for pleasure, like animals and like kangaroos. They did not attach any value on the lives of human beings. This is only one example. There are hundreds of examples which have been recorded in their own history books.

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Members of the Soldiers of Islam Mourning Committee

Leader's Condolence Message on Demise of Habibollah Asgar-Oladi

The economic problems won't be solved if we surrender

They want to instill the idea into the minds of the people that if we surrender to the other side on the nuclear issue, all economic, financial and other such problems will be solved. This is one of the methods which they use and one of the lies which they spread. They are promoting this idea. Of course, foreign promoters promote such ideas with very efficient methods. Inside the country too, some people promote the idea that if we back down and surrender to the other side on this issue, all economic and other such problems will be solved. Some of these people do it out of naivety without any bad intention and some people promote this idea intentionally. However, this idea is wrong. Why is it wrong? There are a few reasons why it is wrong. I would like you - including the people who are present in this meeting, our wise, well-informed and highly motivated youth and our university and school students throughout the country - to think about such issues. As I once said, you are the officers of the soft war.

Iran won't suffer a loss from ongoing negotiations

Today, the condition of the Islamic Republic has dramatically changed compared to its condition in the year 2003. In those days, we used to bargain for two, three centrifuges, but today several thousand centrifuges are working. Our youth, our scientists, our researchers and our officials made great efforts and moved things forward. Therefore, we will not suffer a loss as a result of today's ongoing negotiations. Of course, as I said, I am not optimistic and I do not think that these negotiations will produce the results which the Iranian nation expects. However, it is an experience. This will broaden and strengthen the experience of the Iranian nation. It is alright to hold these negotiations, but it is necessary for the Iranian nation to be vigilant. We strongly support our officials, who are active in the camp of diplomacy, but our people should be vigilant. They should know what is happening so that some mercenary promoters of the enemy and some promoters who receive no rewards and who further the goals of the enemy out of naivety cannot mislead public opinion.

Lesson learned from the experience of suspension

You should pay attention to the fact that the current negotiations with these six countries - including America - are only about the nuclear issue and nothing else. In the beginning of this year, I said in Holy Mashhad that there is nothing wrong with negotiations on particular issues. But I said that I do not trust these negotiations and I am not optimistic about them. However, if they want to negotiate, they can do it and, by Allah's favor, we will not suffer a loss in these negotiations. The Iranian nation benefits from a certain experience which I will refer to in brief. This experience will increase the intellectual capability of our nation, like the experience that we gained in the year 2003 and 2004 in the area of suspending our enrichment activities. At that time, during negotiations with the Europeans, the Islamic Republic agreed to suspend its enrichment activities for a while. But this turned out to be to our benefit. Why? It is because we found out there is no hope at all that our western partners will cooperate with us if we suspend our enrichment activities. If we had not accepted that optional suspension - of course, it was imposed in a way, but we and our officials accepted it anyway - some people would have said, "If you had retreated a little bit, all problems would have been solved and Iran's nuclear file would have become normal". That act of suspending our enrichment activities brought us this advantage: it became clear that problems will not be solved by retreating, suspending enrichment activities, postponing our work and cancelling many of our plans and programs. It became clear that the other side is after something else. We noticed this and therefore we started our enrichment activities again.

America's hostilities will never be over

One reason is that the enmity of America towards the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic is not at all about the nuclear issue. It is wrong to think that America's hostility towards us is based on the nuclear issue. This is not the case. The nuclear issue is an excuse. Even long before the nuclear issue - that is to say, since the beginning of the Revolution - these hostilities and oppositions existed. Even if one day the nuclear issue is resolved - imagine that the Islamic Republic retreats, which is the thing they want - you should not think that these hostilities will be over. No, they will gradually make tens of other excuses. For example, they will say, "why do you have missiles?", "why do you have drones?", "why are you on unfriendly terms with the Zionist regime?", "why do you not officially recognize the Zionist regime?", "why do you support resistance groups?" in, as they call it, the Middle East region and why and why and why... The issue is not that they have disagreements with the Islamic Republic about its nuclear program. This is not the case. America's sanctions began since the beginning of the Revolution and these sanctions increased on a daily basis so much so that today, it has reached a high level.

Leader Meets with Students on "National Day of Fighting Against Global Arrogance"

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Participants of National Conference on Population Change

The issue of population, which is discussed seriously in society and which is a point of contention, is a very important issue. Without a doubt, as a general policy the country should move towards an increase in population. Of course, this should be done in a reasonable and moderate way. All the criticisms and problems that are expressed in this regard - we have witnessed some of these criticisms and problems - can be answered and resolved.

Identifying enemy attacks from a distance is crucial

It is necessary to identify enemy attacks from a distance. Before the imposed war, certain people should have realized that a war was about to break out. In Tehran, there were constant reports that the enemy forces were being deployed in Kermanshah and Ilam and those activities were mostly in Kermanshah. Our politicians used to dismiss those reports, saying that there were no such military activities in the country. This continued until the enemy dropped bombs on Tehran. In fact, the war did not break out on Shahrivar 31, 1359: that was the time when Tehran was bombarded and the war had already started. If the officials who were in charge of the affairs of our country at that time - the same people who proved later on that they were not competent enough to run the country - had identified the threat and prepared the country for the war, those things would not have happened to Khorramshahr, Qasr-e Shirin and certain other border cities.

Leader's Hajj Message

Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, delivered a message to this year's hajj pilgrims. The following is the full text of this message issued on October 11, 2013.

Leader’s Speech in Meeting with Participants of 7th Elite Youth Conference

The real progress must be inborn

A number of countries may offer their natural resources and oil barrels to leading countries in terms of wealth and knowledge and they may buy their products in return. In such countries, a kind of superficial progress may be achieved, but this is not real progress. The real progress is inborn and it is made when a nation depends on its own domestic capabilities. The value of countries, governments and nations depends on this inborn power. If a country makes a leap on its own and if it achieves growth from the inside, this will make this country and this nation valuable, important and respected. But if such growth is not achieved from the inside and if it is achieved with the help of others, then this country will not earn respect. Well, during the time of Taghut, it was foreigners and westerners who were prepared to do part of the work related to the nuclear technology in our country and they used to sign certain contracts with Iran. The Bushehr nuclear power plant, which we built with great difficulty after the passage of many years, was supposed to be built by the Germans. Of course, the Germans took the money and did nothing in return and after the Revolution, they did not give us any answer. Now, imagine that such and such a western country builds and manages a nuclear power plant for us and then we benefit from the electricity that such a power plant can generate. This has no dignity and value for a nation. Respect and dignity are achieved when a nation shows its own capabilities. When you develop such a capability, then you can benefit - on an equal footing - from the capabilities of other people, as they benefit from your capabilities.

Each and every event during the Sacred Defense Era is outstanding

Each and every event during the Sacred Defense Era is outstanding. The more deeply and carefully one looks at such events and the more one obtains information about them, the clearer the greatness of this astonishing phenomenon and this important eight-year event becomes. At that time, when commanders reported to us about different events and when we were informed about different issues, we thought that we knew everything. However, when we read such books, it becomes clear that we knew very little about the great ocean of activities, and jihadi efforts during the Sacred Defense Era. These phenomena are really excellent.

Leader's Speech in a Meeting with Narrator and Author of 'The Army of the Good'

Leader’s Speech in Meeting with Army Cadets

The following is the full text of the speech delivered on October 5, 2013 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, at the graduation ceremony of army cadets held at Shahid Sattari University.

Detailed biography of Ayatollah Khamenei, Leader of Islamic Revolution

Leader’s Speech in Meeting with Commanders of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps

We are against nuclear weapons because of our belief

They raise the issue of nuclear weapons. Well, we do not believe in nuclear weapons, not because of such and such people and not because of America and other countries. Rather, we are against nuclear weapons because of our belief. No one should have nuclear weapons. When we say that other countries should not have nuclear weapons, it means that we ourselves should not and will not have them. But, their problem is something else. If certain countries emerge which put an end to their exclusive right, they will have no problems with that. Of course, they do not want to give up their self-proclaimed right, but if this happens, they will not create uproar about it. But when it comes to Islamic Iran and the Islamic Republic, they create uproar. Why do they do this? It is because having such a capability and power is a source of support for the Islamic Republic which is based on "[Deal] not unjustly, nor shall you be dealt with unjustly." This is the main challenge. We should know and see this. With such an outlook, we should analyze and interpret the behavior of America, the west and such and such a country and orientation which is dependent on and attached to these powers. This is the Islamic Revolution.

IRGC’s art is training talented and devout human forces

The performance of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps over the past years has been brilliant. I am not saying this as a ceremonial gesture, like the words of praise which are uttered in many places. This is a fact. The performance of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps represents the experience of our nation. That is to say, the depth of the personality and identity of the Iranian nation can be seen in this performance because the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps enters the arena with faith and belief. What kind of arena? The arena of jihad and resistance. It has built the strongest and the most intelligent military commanders. During the war, those who became designers- and as foreigners say "strategists"- while they were young and below thirty years old and had not received any military education. It was the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps who built them. It was this organization which created such a spiritual environment. It was the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps which founded such an organization on the basis of faith and belief. It has built a number of outstanding personalities whom our nation and our history will never forget. This is the art of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. These are the things which this organization has done in the area of war. Besides these, we can see that it has built and introduced the wisest, the strongest and the best managers in non-military areas. The list of people that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has introduced to the ruling organizations of the Islamic Republic is very long and glorious. This is the performance of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Why does global arrogance fight the Islamic Revolution?

Well, global arrogance promotes war, poverty and decadence and it does this by dividing the world into the oppressed and the oppressor. Islam - that is to say, the Islamic Revolution which is based on Islamic concepts - says, "Deal not unjustly, nor shall you be dealt with unjustly." It rejects all these negative elements. This is the main challenge. This is the root of their enmity. This is why they fight the Islamic Revolution. Other issues are all excuses. We should adopt such an outlook on sanctions, domestic wars, coups d'etat and other events which have taken place during the recent years such as the nuclear issue. Contrary to what everyone thought, our Revolution achieved victory. Then it formed a government which managed to prevail. This was while everyone in the world thought that the Islamic Republic would be destroyed in six months or in one or two years.

Deal not unjustly, nor shall you be dealt with unjustly

Well, global arrogance promotes war, poverty and decadence and it does this by dividing the world into the oppressed and the oppressor. Islam - that is to say, the Islamic Revolution which is based on Islamic concepts - says, "Deal not unjustly, nor shall you be dealt with unjustly." It rejects all these negative elements. This is the main challenge. This is the root of their enmity. This is why they fight the Islamic Revolution. Other issues are all excuses. We should adopt such an outlook on sanctions, domestic wars, coups d'état and other events which have taken place during the recent years such as the nuclear issue.

Leader Appoints Admiral Shamkhani as His Representative in National Security Council

Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed Admiral Ali Shamkhani as his representative in the National Security Council. The following is the full text of this edict issued on September 12, 2013.

Leader Appoints Dr. Jalili as Member of Expediency Council

Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed Dr. Saeed Jalili as member of the Expediency Council. The following is the full text of this edict issued on September 12, 2013.

Leader Appoints Admiral Shamkhani as His Representative in National Security Council

Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed Admiral Ali Shamkhani as his representative in the National Security Council. The following is the full text of this edict issued on September 12, 2013.

The kind of Shia Islam promoted from London and America is useless

The existence of differences between Islamic denominations and between Shia and Sunni Muslims will not create any problem as long as these differences are confined to ideological differences. One person may believe in something and another person may believe in something else. Problems arise when these ideological differences lead to behavioral differences, confrontation, hostility and enmity. The enemies of the world of Islam are after creating such a situation and hatching such a plot. They have properly understood that the Zionist regime can breathe easily if Islamic denominations in the world of Islam start confronting and fighting with one another. They have understood this truth perfectly and properly. On the one hand, they form groups which engage in takfirism - not only do these groups anathematize and curse Shia Muslims, but they also anathematize Sunni denominations - and on the other hand, they hire a number of mercenaries to add fuel to the fire of discord. You know and have heard about this plot. They provide these groups and mercenaries with different means of mass communication. Where do they do this? They do this in America and London. The kind of Shia Islam which is promoted from London and America is useless for Shia Muslims. Shia leaders - particularly the leaders who emerged after the victory of the Islamic Revolution - our Imam and other leaders placed great emphasis on preserving the unity of the Islamic Ummah and behaving in a brotherly way towards Muslims. This is while a number of people - who interfere in the affairs of Muslims for no reason - are after fueling the fire of discord. This is the thing which the enemy wants. This is the thing which the enemies of Islam - who are neither Shia nor Sunni - like to pursue.

An opportunity to exchange experiences and truths with other Muslims

Another important point is that Muslims should share and exchange their original Islamic cultures and their Islamic experiences with one another. This is another strong point of hajj and another source of power for it. We may have heard different things about such and such an Islamic country. But, hearing is different from sitting and talking directly to an individual from an Islamic country. This individual can also compare what he has heard about our dear Islamic Iran with what he sees in you and hears from you. This way, he can discover the truth about Iran ]…[ Your presence in hajj and in this international arena gives you the opportunity to reveal the truth not only in words but also in action. It helps you to speak the truth about Shia Islam, the Islamic Revolution and the events which are happening today.

The spiritual power of the Hajj improves human beings from within

The power of hajj is far beyond this. As well as showing the political and cultural power of the Islamic government, hajj provides a source of spiritual power. That is to say, it builds human beings from the inside, prepares them to overcome difficult obstacles and opens their eyes to realities which cannot be seen and felt without being present in the arena of hajj. By performing hajj rituals, one can understand a number of spiritual and educational realities of Islam. Hajj plays such a role.