Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met Tuesday evening with participants of the Fifth Ahlul Bayt World Assembly at Imam Ridha's (a.s.) shrine in the city of Mashhad. Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence explained the threats that lie ahead of the Shia world and the Islamic Ummah, further stressing: "The recent impressive Islamic movements in the world of Islam are a prelude to a greater transformation and the rule of Islam and the position of the followers of the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) household is to support these Islamic movements."The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated: "The first nation and country that managed to create a system on the basis of Islam and the Holy Quran was a follower of the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) household."
Ayatollah Khamenei added: "In order to achieve their wishes, today the youth of Islamic countries have turned to Islamic teachings instead of materialist schools of thought and this honor has been achieved thanks to the movement of the Iranian nation."
His Eminence described the recent Islamic movements in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen as divine blessings and reiterated: "Our position is to support and strengthen these movements and we hope these Islamic movements will finally put an end to the hegemony of the main enemies - namely, the Zionists and America."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed: "It is necessary to guard against the threats and problems, including fomenting discord among different Islamic denominations, particularly between Shia and Sunni denominations."
Stressing that fomenting discord between Shia and Sunni Muslims has ulterior political motives, Ayatollah Khamenei stated: "Besides its policy of Islamophobia, the world of arrogance is seriously pursuing the policy of Shiaphobia and it is necessary to stand up against these efforts in a completely vigilant way."
His Eminence stressed that followers of the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) household firmly believe in unity of the Islamic Ummah. "Salvation of the Islamic Ummah, especially Shia Muslims, depends on unity of the Islamic Ummah."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that materialistic schools of thought have failed to address the needs and new questions of humanity. He stressed that religious teachings should be presented to Muslim and non-Muslim communities on the basis of their daily needs.
At the end of his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed: "Current developments in the world of Islam promise a bright future and the signs of this bright future and great transformation have become clear."