In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
All praise is due to God, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and our Prophet, Abul Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and his untainted, pure, chosen, guiding and well-guided, immaculate Progeny, particularly the Remnant of God on earth.
Welcome my dear brothers and sisters, our honorable officials, and the country’s distinguished administrators. Firstly, I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Raisi, our honorable President, for his statements. He shared some good information with us. I pray that God will reward him, help him, grant him strength, and allow him to continue in his efforts in the same way, God willing.
I would like to share a few words with you about the month of Ramadan. There are not many days left and [we need to] appreciate the month of Ramadan. I will then discuss one or two matters related to the current affairs of the country.
Ramadan is a blessed month in every sense of the word. The term "blessed month" is not just a pleasantry. This month truly is a blessed month as it develops and betters the inner spiritual abilities of individuals in various aspects. It elevates people in both their human and divine characteristics. The betterment of individuals in society leads to the betterment of society as a whole. There is no doubt about this. When I mentioned there are different aspects, I was referring to fasting, the recitation of the Quran — which has been emphasized and encouraged for this month with people being promised increased reward — beseeching God, reading supplications, and reciting the recommended prayers for this month. Additionally, there is the Night of Qadr, which presents an extremely important opportunity, because “The Night of Ordainment [Qadr] is better than a thousand months” (Quran 97:3). And there are various other aspects.
With regard to fasting, fasting during the month of Ramadan develops an individual's ability to resist temptations. This is very important. A person’s carnal desires are never-ending. They are endless. The more one responds to these desires, the more the cravings and expectations of the human’s carnal self increase. It is necessary for a person to have the strength to curb these desires. Fasting gives us this strength. [It allows us to] practice strengthening our willpower and spirit and also controlling the never-ending desires of our carnal self. This is one way for us to better ourselves.
Reciting the Quran for those who reflect on its meaning refers to connecting to the endless sea of the Islamic teachings. We have a constant need to be able to strengthen divine understanding in our hearts and to raise the level of our own understanding and insight. [In the verse] “to Him ascends the good word” (Quran 35:10), a major part of this "good word" is the understanding that enters the human self from the Quran.
The supplications that have been recommended for the month of Ramadan — at sahar [the time before the morning call to prayer], during the nights, during the days, on special days such as the first day of Ramadan, etc. — immerse the human heart in the remembrance of God. If a person pays attention to these supplications, it will lead to one building zikr [God’s remembrance] in him/herself and a connection with God in a suitable way. “And the remembrance of Allah is surely greater” (Quran 29:45). According to this noble verse, the main benefit of the ritual prayers is the remembrance of God, which brings happiness, progress, betterment, and helps one to avoid sin.
The Night of Qadr is the night of destiny. During the month of Ramadan, one can shape their destiny by harmonizing with the Night of Qadr. This is not a small matter. This is of great importance for those who earnestly pursue it. What is needed during these nights is asking and a yearning to ask. And of course, the Night of Qadr stands out from all the other nights of the year. The rest of the nights of Ramadan have more or less the same attributes.
These are what develop, cleanse, and polish the intellect, the human mind, and the heart. When these qualities exist in an individual, they have a ripple effect on society. The collective identity of society is shaped by the identity of its individual members and the impact they have on society. Once we are able to correct ourselves, our influence on society increases accordingly. This is what strengthening the self means.
Well, these were the aspects [of Ramadan] affecting, firstly, individuals, and indirectly, affecting society. But besides these, Ramadan is a month that is related to the society. It is the month of helping others. It is the month of giving charity and showing kindness. It is the month of iftar [the evening meal for breaking the fast], and giving iftar to others has been so highly recommended. It isn’t told to just give iftar to the less fortunate. The spirit of being in contact with and helping others, being together, and showing kindness to others are some of the special features of the month of Ramadan.
Therefore, Ramadan presents a wonderful opportunity for [spiritual] healing. Throughout the year, we suffer from wounds to our souls and to our lives. Every sin inflicts a wound. Much like physical injuries, they [sins] harm a person’s soul creating a wound, a disease. Ramadan, which is the month of seeking God’s forgiveness, is the month for repairing these wounds inflicted during the year. We should be able to emerge from this month with a healthy soul, God willing. “If You have not forgiven us in what has passed of this month of Ramadan, then forgive us in what remains of it,” since this is the month of seeking God’s forgiveness.
The concept of istighfar [seeking God’s forgiveness] and repentance in the Islamic teachings is a very important matter. It is not specific to just personal issues either. Repentance with regard to a personal sin is one thing, and repentance with regard to a sin in society is another thing. The Quran states that “now turn penitently to your Maker, and slay [the guilty among] your folks” (2:54). This is with regard to sins in society. So, when a sin is committed in society, the members of the society, or those responsible for creating the sin and the repercussions resulting from it, must seek God’s forgiveness and repent.
This istighfar and repentance will naturally lead to restorations — both for the individual and for society as a whole. And in every area, the process of asking for God’s forgiveness, turning back [from one’s mistakes], and repenting is in proportion to that area. Suppose we have made a mistake in a cultural issue, a political issue, or a military move — either out of negligence or sometimes due to laziness, carelessness, or failing to fulfill our responsibilities and obligations. When a wound is inflicted on society in this manner, the right way of istighfar [here], is to repent, turn back, and make restorations.
The Quran states, “Except for those who repent and make amends” (2:160). In several places in the Quran, “repent” is followed by “and make amends.” Now, in one section “make amends” is also followed by “and clarify” (2:160). And in another section it is followed by “and hold fast to God” (4:146). In other words, repentance and turning back must be accompanied by making amends. When we do something that is wrong and then turn back and seek forgiveness from Almighty God, we must also work toward removing the effects and consequences of that wrongdoing.
What is meant by a wrongdoing is not a misconduct according to the jurisprudential rulings that is done without intent. We are referring to actions that are [morally] bad or wrong, like personal wrongdoings. For example, backbiting, lying, and slandering are all wrongdoings. When we repent, we must make amends and correct matters. We must remove the effects and repercussions that are a result of that wrongful action. We must fix the consequences of our mistake. The exact same process is applicable to social issues.
The Quran then states, “Plead with your Lord for forgiveness, then turn to Him penitently: He will send copious rain for you from the sky, and add power to your [present] power” (11:52). Don’t you agree that we want a strong country? Don’t you agree we aspire to be strong? Very well. “[He will] add power to your [present] power.” Istighfar and repentance strengthens you. This means turning back from our transgressions. Transgressions weaken us, but turning back from our transgressions strengthens us. “[He will] add power to your [present] power.” It is like this in all matters, both in personal matters and in social matters.
In personal matters, the human soul grows stronger with istighfar. In social issues, society also becomes stronger with istighfar. We are the officials of the society. You are the country’s administrators. Our issues, conduct, actions, words, and the stances we take all have an impact on the state of the country. If we make a mistake, the solution is to seek God’s forgiveness.
Of course, istighfar obviously goes beyond mere words of repentance. This concept must be understood clearly. It is not just about saying "Astaghfirullaha rabbi wa atubu ilaih [I seek forgiveness from God and repent to Him]” on the Night of Qadr, on any other night, or during the Night Prayer. It's not just that. We must recognize our wrongdoing and acknowledge that we have made a mistake. When we fail to recognize that we have done something wrong, true istighfar and repentance will not take place at all. We must recognize our mistakes. We must realize that what we have done is wrong, be committed to turning away from those actions, and feel discontented with our actions. This is how God’s forgiveness should be sought. Otherwise, if we fail to do this, our plea for God’s forgiveness will be meaningless. According to the poet [Qudsi Mashhadi]: “Our fingers count the rosary beads and our lips repent, while our hearts long to sin / The sins themselves laugh at our way of repenting.”
So this was the first matter I wanted to address. In my opinion, as the officials of the country, we need to pay more attention to these matters. Regardless of our position, we must remain mindful and ensure that we avoid mistakes or wrongful actions. We need to keep in mind that the impact of our mistakes is different from those of ordinary people.
What I have written down [regarding the issues of the country] to discuss with my dear brothers, sisters, and the audience is, firstly, the issue of the economy and the motto of the year. Well, the President provided us with some good explanations, and, praise God, very good, comprehensive efforts are currently underway. We can truly and rightly see this. Work is truly being carried out. At the same time, there is still more work to be done. There is much to be done until we reach a satisfactory or close to satisfactory level.
The country’s economic realities are not all the same. There are both bitter and pleasing realities in the country’s economy. The bitter part about the economy includes the high prices, market instability, the depreciation in the value of our national currency, and gaps between social classes. These are the bitter parts of the situation.
The pleasing realities related to the economy involve the vast infrastructural activities that are being undertaken. The outcomes of these endeavors will appear in the medium-term and in the not-so-distant future. [These include] the restarting of a significant number of enterprises that were either semi-closed or closed, which increases production and employment. From what I have been told, perhaps more than 8,000 production units and companies that were either closed or semi-closed have been restarted. These are the pleasing realities of our economy.
The increasing presence of thousands of young groups in the form of knowledge-based companies is a truly promising development. Thousands of vibrant groups of motivated, enthusiastic individuals are working diligently to introduce new products and innovative services. These are the pleasing realities of the economy, and they will gradually have an impact on the country's situation.
The emergence of successful enterprises in both the public and private sectors, which was shown in the exhibition held here in February, is truly impressive. These strong, efficient, innovative businesses play an important role in increasing the country's production and GDP growth. Naturally, they have a gradual positive impact on people's lives, which I will elaborate on later. These are the sweet realities. Of course, as I mentioned previously, we expect much more. God willing, the current administration’s efforts will help overcome many more of these challenges.
One point our officials must always keep in mind in economic matters is that people expect that the decisions made by the country’s officials and the actions taken by them in economic matters should have a marked, tangible impact on their lives. This is what people expect. Let’s do something to meet their expectation, as it is well warranted.
The reason I say it is a “well-warranted expectation” is because of this point that the President referred to, “the country’s exceptional capacities.” I have written down a few of these, and according to the statistics that I have been provided with, I believe these are significant — both in terms of natural and human resources.
In terms of natural capacities, our country has only about one percent of the world's population but approximately seven percent of the world's total natural resources. This means that our natural resources exceed our population by seven times on the global scale, presenting a very important opportunity. Aside from oil and gas, which are undeniably crucial but not exclusive parts of our natural resources, our country also boasts a wealth of other valuable minerals, including copper, lead, zinc, and coal. There are a total of 64 different types of minerals that are actively being mined and used in our country, and these are rich and abundant resources. I sometimes receive interesting, outstanding reports regarding some of these resources, which various officials in our country are actively working on.
In the field of agriculture, it has been reported to me that there are 37 million hectares of arable land in our country. 37 million hectares is a very substantial amount of arable land! We are sometimes told that water is scarce in our country, which is true. We do not have abundant water resources. However, there are proven techniques that can provide all the water needed for our agricultural activities, efficiently irrigate the land, and foster agricultural growth using the existing water supply. Agriculture is also an important issue in our country.
We are currently ranked among the top producers in the world for products such as cement and steel despite the fact we are facing numerous global challenges, sanctions, and strict limitations. Those who imposed sanctions on our country expected these restrictions to cause our production to decrease or even cease, but that has not been the case. Our steel production continues to rank in the top ten globally, along with cement production and some other industrial products. These were regarding our country’s vast capacities in natural resources.
In my opinion, human resources are even more important, and I believe our country possesses great human potential. One example is regarding the talent in general of the Iranian people, which I have mentioned many times, and this is based on credible sources: The average intelligence of Iranians is much higher than the world average. Our youth have a great amount of talent and we have many abilities. This is precisely what amazes the world in various fields, such as in the production of military equipment. They consider it to be remarkable that despite all the sanctions and limitations that we are faced with, we are still able to produce advanced military equipment in the field of defense for instance, which the world is so sensitive about. The high average intelligence of the Iranian people is just one example.
There is a population of 36 million young people between the ages of 15 and 40 in our country, which is truly a great blessing. However, we must not overlook the importance of preserving our young population, which has unfortunately been neglected to some extent in recent years. We must not be negligent in this. It is crucial that we do not allow our population to age, and we must focus on maintaining a strong presence of young people who are the driving force for the progress of our nation. We have 14 million individuals who possess a higher education in our country and over 100,000 faculty members. There were only about 5,000 faculty members in the early days after the Revolution.
There were very few faculty members in the country's universities at the beginning of the Revolution, but presently that number stands at more than 100,000. There are also more than 150,000 medical specialists, and over 3 million students are currently studying in universities. This is in addition to the number of seminary students and scholars which is another matter. Sometimes when we see the work of our young seminary scholars, we thank God for these blessings. They are thinking and working in various fields and subjects. These are the country’s human resources. Now, that was regarding natural and human resources.
[Another noteworthy point is] our geographical capacities. The country’s geographical location and the country’s diversity in climate are important potentials. Therefore, the expectations that are sometimes expressed regarding the economy are not unreasonable. We must use these resources to improve our economic situation.
Of course, there are also obstacles that should be taken into consideration. Some of these obstacles are external, such as the sanctions, threats, the numerous restrictions that exist, and the strictness and pressure they put on our commerce and in our obtaining the necessary resources for production. There is a great amount of strictness. I once mentioned that special organizations have been created to oversee Iran’s investments and business activities. They monitor where Iran is going to make an investment so they can prevent it. These things have been happening for some years. These obstacles exist, but they can be reduced and their effectiveness can be minimized. While these obstacles have had negative effects, some of them have also had positive outcomes.
Our country’s manufacturers and entrepreneurs met with me here in this Hussainiyah a while ago. Around 10 to 15 people spoke, and some openly stated that the progress they have made would not have been possible without the sanctions. They emphasized this point here that how the lack of access to external resources made them push their own thinking and their abilities and were ultimately successful. Therefore, sometimes these obstacles can have positive effects and be beneficial for the country.
However, some of the obstacles we face are honestly internal obstacles. These include laziness, carelessness, and a lack of motivation. Additionally, we sometimes face personal and spiritual lacks. If a manager focuses on seeking popularity and the approval of others while neglecting the importance of his/her work, this will have a negative impact and diminish the blessings of the work done. Similarly, fixating on future positions and taking certain actions in order to advance to higher positions is also detrimental. This mindset, this behavior, and this way of acting is surely damaging and removes the blessings that the work brings. These are some of the obstacles that we face.
We must keep in mind that every moment when we are doing something, if it benefits the people, if it is for the people’s well-being, and if it is for the country’s development, then it is a divine work with a divine intention. When we say that your intention should be to serve God, one meaning of this is that you should make the intention to do this work in order to solve the people’s problems. By doing so, this becomes a divine intention, and that is when God will bless and reward our work. The reward bestowed by Almighty God is unrivalled as compared to the benefit that we would have received, for example, from a pretentious behavior.
One of the obstacles that I would like to discuss briefly, which is related to the motto of the year, is the government's involvement in economic matters. This is an issue that I have been discussing for years. The motto I chose for this year focuses on "people's participation,” and it calls for a greater focus on the potentials of participation of the people and getting them truly involved in economic issues. By people, I mean the people’s capabilities, that is, their financial, mental, and intellectual capabilities, along with the creativity of our people. The people’s initiatives should come into the field. We will benefit.
Some believe that if the people become involved in the economy and its management, this will limit the authority of the government and the officials. However, this is a misconception. Responsibilities should be divided among government officials and the people. When I say the government, I do not only mean the government itself, and I’m also referring to semi-governmental entities as well. There’s no difference, and we must allocate tasks. Some tasks are the responsibility of the government, while others are the responsibility of the people.
I once received a report with an interesting phrase, which said, “The strategic aspect and the practical aspect.” The government should act strategically in the field of economics, provide guidance and supervision in the areas of land-use planning and choosing the types of economic activities to be conducted, while being vigilant to prevent violations. The people should be the executors and take part in economic activities. This is the way to create a distinction between the responsibilities of the government and the people.
The way should be opened for people to be able to engage in economic activities, as this will strengthen the country and stabilize the economy. The policies in Article 44, which are derived from the constitution and were enacted years ago, are a part of this. These policies should not be perceived as being a violation of the constitution. Rather, they were extracted from and announced in accordance with the constitution itself. It is essential to take action, as there have been many shortcomings in this area in the past.
One thing to note is that economic experts say that an eight-percent economic growth rate is possible, which is also included in the general policies of the Seventh Development Plan. Some question whether this is possible or not. Economic experts say that an eight-percent growth rate is achievable, and if this growth is sustained over time — rather than rising one year and dipping the next — there will definitely be a desirable, significant improvement in people's living condition.
Of course, economic growth alone is not enough. That is, in order for a transformation to take place in the living condition of the people, in people’s livelihood, and in the lives of those from disadvantaged backgrounds, economic growth is not sufficient on its own. Other things such as equal opportunities in being able to access resources are needed. This is one of the very important tasks. Distributing resources at different levels must be done correctly and fairly to facilitate participation. These are of course not easy tasks. These are difficult to carry out. People need to be taught different skills. Many of our youth want to work, but they require skills. There should be a department for the development of skills in the younger population. And, of course, senior managers can make plans and work on these areas to ensure the successful completion of tasks.
People should be educated on the ways they can participate. We say that “people should participate in the economy.” Well, how can they do that? The ways they can participate need to be shown to them. Some need to sit down and show the ways in which different groups of people can participate in the economy. One way to do this is through knowledge-based companies, which can serve as an avenue for making economic contributions for some of the youth.
Some people can sit down and think. In my opinion, the government and the Majlis need to have a team of competent thinkers and intellectuals who can brainstorm ideas and show individuals how they can participate in various ways. While this may be challenging, it is very possible to enter into a partnership even with limited capital.
One issue pertains to the Seventh Development Plan. Well, there were six five-year plans so far, one of which [the Sixth Plan] was extended. So this year marks the commencement of the Seventh Plan. I strongly advise you to focus on this plan, pay attention to it, and adhere to its guidelines.
As reported to me, the average performance of past plans has been about 35%. In other words, with extensive effort a plan was prepared, passed into law, and was announced, but, in recent years, these plans have not been fully implemented, and this is detrimental to the country. Efforts need to be made to ensure full execution of the plan.
Fortunately, this administration is active. Our government officials are truly working hard, putting their minds to work, and making an effort. They should do something to make this plan operational. This plan is a guide to action. It is a good guide and framework for action in all sectors, not just the economy.
One important point [that we must bear in mind] is the issue of time. My dear brothers, sisters, and managers in different departments! Time passes quickly. It passes and is gone. Do not neglect the factor of time. Do not postpone today’s work for tomorrow. Every day matters. Sometimes even an hour can make a difference. We must be very cautious when spending this immense capital known as time. Do not waste time. When you approve various projects and programs in different departments, make schedules for them and adhere to the deadlines. Make sure that each program is completed by its specified deadline. This is how strict and vigilant you need to be when managing time.
Of course, it is essential to mention that when it comes to the economy, diplomacy and foreign policy performance play a crucial, influential role. We have many neighbors surrounding our country and we have a share in a number of international treaties, and we are able to use these. An exceptional diplomatic movement is needed to address economic issues. That concludes my remarks on economic matters.
I would like to address another issue, and that is the imposed challenge of the issue of "hijab" in the country. The issue of hijab has turned into a challenge that has been imposed on our country. They have imposed it. A group of people sat down and orchestrated a plan to turn hijab into an issue in the country. This is while such a concern never existed before and people were living their lives in various ways. Let me give you my firm opinion on this matter. This issue should be looked at from a jurisprudential perspective, based on Islamic law, and from a legal standpoint, while taking into consideration any other relevant issues and considerations on the side that may be present.
In terms of Islamic law, hijab is a definite Islamic law. That is, women are obliged to cover themselves except for their face and hands. This is something that cannot be ignored. Our people are Muslims. They are believers. They are pious. Our women are pious. They must observe this law as it is mandated by Islamic law. One viewpoint is the legal perspective. Obeying the law is mandatory and there is a legal ruling in this field. Compliance with the law is compulsory for all individuals. Regardless of whether or not they personally believe in the Islamic law, the law must be obeyed.
In peripheral matters and on the side, one issue is the creation of problems by foreigners. In this matter that is currently discussed in the country — the issue of hijab — foreign interference was clear and evident. From the outside, this issue was pushed forward using these systems of mass communication and various types of media. Now, a few people from inside the country assisted in doing this, of course. But it was mainly directed, thought of, and pursued from outside the country. We need to pay attention to this fact.
Our wise, intelligent women should pay attention to the fact that the enemy is pursuing this from the outside. Based on credible reports, it has come to our attention that some have been hired to undermine social norms and the sanctity of the hijab. Well, our women and those discussing and addressing this issue should pay attention to these points. When we see that a foreign hand is involved in a matter, we should adjust our stance accordingly so as to not aid that foreign power.
One of the issues among these peripheral considerations is that today they are trying to focus on the issue of removing women's hijab. But this is only the beginning, not the end. This is not their ultimate goal. The goal of the enemies is to push the country back to the disgraceful state that existed before the Revolution, during the era of the Taghut [Pahlavi]. Now, some of you may have witnessed and may recall that period, but many of you did not see it. The state in which women were in, their behavior, their interactions, and the way they were present in society was truly disgraceful.
Today, women in our country have achieved significant progress in the fields of science, managerial strength, and presence in key areas of administration at both national and international levels. Our women have surpassed the accomplishments of many other countries' women while wearing the hijab. That is not how it was back then. Women's literacy rate, academic achievements, and management levels were not like this. They were weak in these areas. But in terms of their clothing and the issue of [social] norms, they were in a terrible state. It truly was disgraceful. Their goal is to gradually bring back that situation. This is just the beginning. We must pay attention to this.
One of the peripheral considerations of this issue is that, as I mentioned, I am confident that the women in our country, even those who may be somewhat lax in adhering to hijab, are still devoted to Islam and the system. I have said this on numerous occasions. This is how our women should be viewed. However, they still need to observe the hijab. Everyone must observe it.
I believe the government, the judiciary, and various other departments have a shared responsibility in upholding and enforcing legal and religious obligations in this area. Our women themselves bear the most responsibility in this matter in the need for them to adhere to Islamic hijab. That was another issue.
The final matter I wish to address is the issue of Gaza. It is important to keep this matter as the first priority in the public opinion of the world. This is an extremely important matter! From what I understand of recent history — though I may not be well-versed in ancient history — the atrocities occurring in Gaza are unprecedented. These kinds of crimes, the mass killings, genocide, and attacks on women, children, patients, hospitals, and these tragedies that took place in hospitals are truly horrific.
It is so terrible that even those who have been brought up in the Western culture, in Europe and in the US itself, are crying out in protest. Despite not having full access to information, they are taking action based on the limited knowledge that is at their disposal. This is how severe the crimes [of the Zionist regime] are. So, this issue is very important in this aspect.
It is also very important in another sense and that is the fact that the Zionist regime has suffered two major defeats in the case of Gaza. The first defeat it suffered was due to the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7, 2023, which as I have already mentioned before, cannot be compensated for. That is truly how it is. That defeat has not been compensated for, and it will never be compensated for. A regime that relies on the accuracy of its intelligence, on the development of its military capabilities, and on its military superiority, claiming that it is able to see any bird that flies, experienced an intelligence defeat of this magnitude at the hands of a Resistance group with limited resources! This was the first defeat the Zionist regime suffered. This defeat has not been compensated for, and it will never be compensated for. The Zionist regime has lost its reputation.
The second defeat is the defeat it has experienced over the past six months. From the very first day when they entered the battlefield, they declared certain goals to make up for their first defeat. [But] they have failed to achieve any of their goals during the past six months. During the past six months, they have launched attacks using all kinds of weapons and equipment with the unfailing help of the United States, which has helped [the Zionist regime] with military, financial, and political assistance. The US has also vetoed several resolutions. The latest resolution which in some ways it could not veto is said to be non-binding!
This is a blatant lie and it will not be implemented. Despite all the support they received from the US and the capabilities they had, they have not been able to do anything. They have not even been able to achieve any of the goals they had stated. They sought to destroy and cripple the Resistance, and Hamas in particular, but they have failed. On the other hand, both Hamas and Islamic Jihad — overall the Resistance in Gaza — are enduring all these problems with strength and power. They are working hard and striking blows [to the Zionist regime] as well.
The Zionist regime is massacring women and children because it has failed to be able to confront the Resistance fighters. It feels powerless there, becomes agitated, attacks innocent, defenseless women and children, and kill over 30,000 people, most of whom women and children. This defeat will definitely continue. It will continue. These desperate efforts, like what they did in Syria (Israel’s air raid on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, resulting in the martyrdom of seven IRGC military advisors) — for which they will certainly be punished — these things will not help them and will not solve their problems.
They have fallen into a trap of their own making. They have thrown themselves into a trap from which there is no escape. The [Zionist] regime will grow weaker day by day, moving closer to its decline and extinction, God willing. We are hopeful today’s youth will witness the day when Holy Quds is in Muslim hands and they can say their prayers there. God willing, the Islamic world will be able to celebrate the destruction of Israel.
I pray for Almighty God to grant us success in fulfilling our important duties and give us the ability to accomplish the tasks that are entrusted to us. The Islamic Revolution has brought a great opportunity to the world of Islam. The establishment of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic has created a great opportunity for the Islamic world. This opportunity has been used in various forms to this day, and God willing, this opportunity should and will continue to be used for the good of Islam and Muslims.
God willing, the Islamic system will become stronger day by day, and its enemies will become weaker with every passing day. The equation for the region has changed and will continue to change following the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation. Those past equations are no longer valid.
Both the decisions made by the Resistance Front and the opposing front will inevitably change. Change has already taken place, and the situation of the Resistance in the region has changed and will change even more than this. The enemies of Islam, the enemies of the Resistance, and the enemies of the Islamic Republic have no choice but to surrender to these changes. They should know that they will not be able to rule over the Muslim community in this region.
During these final days of the blessed month of Ramadan, we ask Almighty God to grant us the success to be able to obtain the most benefit from the blessings of this month.
This year's Quds Day will be an international outcry against the usurping Zionist regime. In previous years, Quds Day was only observed in Islamic countries. [But] this year, most likely, Quds Day will be held with magnificence in non-Islamic countries too, God willing. We hope, God willing, the people of Iran will shine on this day as they have shone on all other occasions, by the honor of Muhammad and his progeny (pbut).
O Lord! If you have not yet forgiven us until now, forgive us from this moment on. O Lord! Grant us all the blessing to be able to serve the country, the people, the system, Islam, and the Islamic nation. O Lord! Do not please the enemies of the Iranian nation and grant the people of Iran complete success. O Lord! Unite the pure soul of the magnanimous Imam [Khomeini], who paved this path and initiated this magnificent movement in the world, with the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions. O Lord! May the pure souls of our beloved martyrs be united with the martyrs of early Islam, with Your close friends, and with Prophet Muhammad and his progeny (pbut).
O Lord! Grant the pure souls of the martyrs of the recent attack in Syria a place among Your most beloved friends. May the sacred heart of the Imam of the Time (may our souls be sacrificed for his sake) be pleased and content with us. Appoint us to be among his soldiers in all the phases of our lives. Bestow Your blessings upon us. May the outcome of our lives be a good Islamic outcome. May our lives have a good ending.
May God’s greetings, mercy, and blessings be upon you.
