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Leader's Speech during Meeting with Pilgrims of Rahian-e Noor Caravans in Abadan

The following is the full text of a speech delivered on March 26, 2014, by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with the pilgrims of Rahian-e Noor caravans to one of the operational areas in Abadan. --This was an area where the Iranian Armed Forces managed to lift the siege off of this city in east Karun during the 8-year Sacred Defense against Saddam’s invasion of the country. The meeting was held to commemorate the Martyrs of East Karun.

Leader Meets with Pilgrims of Rahian-e Noor Caravans in Abadan

video: I ask Allah to...

Leader Meets with Pilgrims at Imam Ridha's (a.s.) Shrine 1393

Democracy in Iran has turned into a standard process

A country that witnessed different oppressive and dictatorial rulers over the course of many centuries has gained such a familiarity and has formed such a strong bond with democracy and participation in electing the owners of power that 72 percent of the people participate in the elections even after the passage of 35 years from the excitements of the early revolutionary era. This should be appreciated... Democracy in the country has turned into a standard process. This is why the people throughout the country -in villages and cities - consider themselves to be responsible towards ballot boxes. This is why they go to ballot boxes and this is why 72 percent of the people vote. This is a very important issue. This is a high figure in the elections that are held throughout the world

Election turnout has not declined, from the beginning of the Revolution till now

The first point is about elections. You dear brothers and sisters should pay attention that the people's turnout in the elections has not decreased from the beginning of the Revolution until today. This is very important. In the last elections -that is to say, the eleventh presidential elections -72 percent of the people went to the ballot boxes. This is a high figure among the elections which are held throughout the world and this is an outstanding turnout. This is one of the highest figures in the elections which have been held from the beginning of the Revolution until today. What does this mean? The meaning of this great participation of the people in the elections is that religious democracy has been firmly established in the country. It means that the Islamic Republic has managed to establish democracy in the country. This is not a minor achievement.

Despite the sanctions we have managed to make progress

Well, someone may say, "If sanctions did not exist, you could utilize these capacities in the right way. But you cannot utilize them because of sanctions". This is wrong. This is an inaccurate statement. Despite sanctions, we have managed to make outstanding and lofty achievements in many areas. One example is production of knowledge. Another example is our achievements in the area of industry and technology. We were and still are under sanctions in these areas. In the present time too, the doors of important and up-to-date scientific centers - which work on advanced and modern sciences - are closed to Iranian scientists and students. But we have managed to make progress in the nuclear area and in the area of nanotechnology, stem cells, defense industries, airplanes and missiles- to the despair of the enemy. Why should we not be able to make progress in the area of economy? We - who have made so many achievements on these scenes and in different arenas - can make the economy blossom if we show determination and join hands. We should not pin our hopes on the enemy to see when he lifts sanctions and when he agrees to something. Damn the enemy! We should see what we ourselves can do.

Leader’s Speech at the Shrine of Imam Ridha (a.s.)

Leader’s Norouz Message 1393

Leader Meets with Officials of Rahian-e Noor Camps

The main reason behind the sanctions

Sanctions have been there since a long time ago. However, they have turned into an economic war since the winter of the year 1390. They are not called "targeted sanctions" anymore. In fact, this is an all-out war which has been waged against our people. The reason why these sanctions are imposed is not the nuclear issue, human rights and other such issues. They themselves know the reason. We too know why they impose these sanctions. The reason is the desire of the people of Iran for achieving independence. The reason is that the Islamic Republic has new ideas on the basis of Islamic principles. They know that these ideas will be a model for other countries and other Muslim peoples. They know that if the Islamic Republic achieves victory in these arenas, this movement cannot be prevented from growing all over the world. They know that this is an important movement. This is the main issue. One day, their excuse is the nuclear issue and another day, it is the issue of the enrichment. One day, it is human rights and another day, it is other such issues. Sanctions existed against us even before the nuclear issue was brought up and they will continue to exist. Even if the nuclear issue and these negotiations are resolved, you will see that these pressures will continue to exist. We should build up immunity against these pressures and we should strengthen domestic structures. We should strengthen our economy so that the enemy becomes disappointed at influencing this area. When the enemy is disappointed, the people and the officials of the country will feel at ease.

Leader's Speech on the Economy of Resistance in Meeting with Officials and Business Communit

They openly support terrorism, one that is very violent, wild and savage

As you can see in regional events, there are some individuals who tear people's liver out of their body and who begin to bite it in front of cameras. This is while European powers sit and watch. Of course, they try to be careful and they do not say that they will help such individuals. Rather, they say, "We will help this opposition force". This is the way they behave. They openly support terrorism, one that is very violent, wild and savage.

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Members of Assembly of Experts

Insulting the holy prophets is not acceptable

They insult everything that is sacred. They easily insult holy and enlightened personalities and stain their honor in the name of freedom. They insult prophets and great personalities, not only our Holy Prophet (s.w.a.), but also all prophets. In another meeting, I said to officials in charge of cultural affairs that many of our officials in this area are not aware of cultural issues. For example, they do not read different books and most of them are not in the middle of the arena. I said to them that these arrogant powers insult Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus and other great prophets (peace be upon them all). This exists today. So, this arrogant camp, which used to control global affairs, has been defeated and severely criticized in moral fronts as well

Protect the trees, care for the greeneries

I ask the people to respect trees and attach great significance to the environment. The slogan, "Each Iranian Should Plant a Tree" --which is common among the people-- is a good slogan. The people should do their best to plant more trees on such days. Both the people and officials in particular should prevent the hands which try to destroy the environment. They should not allow our forests, grasslands and the environment in cities and suburban areas to be destroyed. If you do not act in a powerful and decisive way, the Alborz mountain range will turn into iron and cement all the way up to the peaks. That is to say, if you do not act decisively, some people will continue to take advantage of the situation. Of course, you mentioned that you are working on this. This is very good, but this should be visibly seen in practice so that people know fundamental measures are being adopted.

Leader's Speech on Occasion of Tree-Planting Day

Leader's Inaugural Address in Meeting with Participants of Gaza Conference

Leader Meets with Heads of Three Branches of Government

Ayatollah Khamenei Announces General Policies on the Economy of Resistance

Leader's Speech in Meeting with People of East Azerbaijan

If anyone claims to support human rights, American officials should not

At the present time, the spokesmen of the American government bring up the issue of human rights, missiles, weapons and other such issues. I wonder why the Americans do not feel ashamed of speaking about human rights. If anyone in the world claims to support human rights, American officials should not make this claim considering all the shameful acts which exist in their performance sheet on the issue of human rights. Perhaps, people throughout the world do not know about 80, 90 acts out of the 100 acts that the Americans have committed on the issue of human rights. Nonetheless, the 10, 20 acts that they are aware of can form a voluminous and gloomy book. Everyone knows about the Guantanamo prison. Everyone saw the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Everyone saw the Blackwater organization. Everyone knows about their attack on wedding caravans in Afghanistan. Everyone saw their support of those well-known terrorists who are proud of being terrorists. Everyone saw that the Americans broke their promises and that they lied. The entire world saw these things. Nevertheless, they continue to speak about human rights and they do not feel ashamed. Such extent of shamelessness in their behavior is really a strange phenomenon

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Air Force Commanders and Personnel

The following is the full text of the speech delivered on February 8, 2014 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with commanders and personnel of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The meeting was held on the occasion of the historic pledge of allegiance of Air Force officers to Imam Khomeini (r.a.) on the 19th of Bahman of 1357.

Leader Meets with Turkish Prime Minister

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Officials and Participants of Conference on Islamic Unity

I would like to congratulate all of you dear audience who are present in this meeting, the dear guests of Unity Week, the ambassadors of Islamic countries and all the honorable officials who have accepted heavy responsibilities in the country, on the occasion of the auspicious birthday anniversaries of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) and his outstanding grandson - Imam Sadiq (a.s.). I would like to extend my congratulations to all the people of Iran, all Muslims and all liberated people throughout the world.

Sowing discord and conflict among Muslims is enemy’s trick to make Palestine ignored

It is in such conditions that the enemy is focusing all its efforts on making the Islamic Ummah forget about Palestine. How do they want to do this? They want to do this by creating discord, waging domestic wars, promoting deviant extremism in the name of Islam, religion and Islamic sharia. They want a group of people to say takfiri things against Muslims. The existence of these takfiri orientations which have emerged in the world of Islam is good news for arrogance and the enemies of the world of Islam. It is these takfiri orientations that attract the attention of Muslims towards insignificant issues instead of letting them pay attention to the truth about the existence of the malevolent Zionist regime. This is the exact opposite of what Islam wants. Islam has asked Muslims to be "strong against unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other" [The Holy Quran, 48, 29]. Muslims should be strong against the enemies of religion. They should stand firm and they should not be influenced by the enemies. Being "strong against unbelievers" is the clear message of this ayah. Muslims should be compassionate towards one another, they should stay together and join hands and they should hold fast to the rope which Allah stretches out for them. This is the command of Islam. Now what happens if an orientation emerges which divides Muslims into believers and unbelievers, which targets a group of people as unbelievers and which pits Muslims against one another? Who can doubt the role of arrogance and the security services of arrogant and malevolent governments in creating, supporting and enriching these orientations and in equipping them with weapons? These arrogant powers sit and plan for this. The world of Islam should attend to this issue because it is a grave danger. Unfortunately, a number of Muslim governments unwittingly add fuel to the fire of this discord. They do not understand that fueling this discord will kindle a fire which will burn them as well. This is what arrogance wants: they want a group of Muslims to wage a war against another group of Muslims.

Islam invites people to freedom, dignity and honor

What do people think of Islam when media networks show a person who is devouring the liver of another person in the name of Islam? The enemies of Islam have planned this. These are not things that happen all of a sudden and out of the blue. These are things for which many plans have been devised over a long period of time. There are different policies and spy rings behind these moves. There is big money behind these moves. Muslims should confront any phenomenon which is against their unity. This is a great responsibility for all of us. Both Shia and Sunni Muslims, and different groups which exist among Shia and Sunni Muslims should shoulder this responsibility. Unity means reliance on common points. We have many common points. Muslims' common points are more than their disagreements and therefore, they should rely on them. The main responsibility in this regard falls on the shoulders of outstanding personalities - whether political, scientific or religious personalities. Religious scholars in the world of Islam should prevent Muslims from creating sectarian and religious discord. Academic scholars should help students understand that today, unity is the most important issue in the world of Islam. The most important issue is unity for the sake of reaching goals. These goals are achieving political independence, establishing religious democracy and observing divine rules in Islamic societies. Islam invites people to freedom, dignity and honor. This is an obligation and responsibility today. Political personalities too should know that their dignity and honor lies in their reliance on Muslim peoples, not on foreigners and those who are arch enemies of Islamic societies

Muslims should be strong against the enemies, compassionate towards one another

Islam has asked Muslims to be "strong against unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other" [The Holy Quran, 48, 29]. Muslims should be strong against the enemies of religion. They should stand firm and they should not be influenced by the enemies. Being "strong against unbelievers" is the clear message of this ayah. Muslims should be compassionate towards one another, they should stay together and join hands and they should hold fast to the rope which Allah stretches out for them. This is the command of Islam. Now what happens if an orientation emerges which divides Muslims into believers and unbelievers, which targets a group of people as unbelievers and which pits Muslims against one another? Who can doubt the role of arrogance and the security services of arrogant and malevolent governments in creating, supporting and enriching these orientations and in equipping them with weapons? These arrogant powers sit and plan for this. The world of Islam should attend to this issue because it is a grave danger. Unfortunately, a number of Muslim governments unwittingly add fuel to the fire of this discord. They do not understand that fueling this discord will kindle a fire which will burn them as well. This is what arrogance wants: they want a group of Muslims to wage a war against another group of Muslims. Those who give rise to this war are people who benefit from the money provided by puppet rulers. These puppet rulers give them money and weapons in order to pit people in such and such a country against one another

Ayatollah Khamenei's Response to Religious Questions: Unity Between All Islamic Denominations

Leader's Message to Union of Islamic Students Associations in Europe

The youth and children of the Iranian nation who are acquiring knowledge in different universities throughout the world are valuable saplings which have their roots in fertile soil of their own country. Like their brothers and sisters in the dynamic and active universities of the country, they will provide their country and their people with valuable fruits.