Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met Sunday evening with government officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence said that carrying out one's executive responsibilities is an opportunity to maintain Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) orientations in different national matters. Referring to current and historical realities of the country, he stressed: "The economy and continuing our scientific advances should be the priority for all government officials."
Ayatollah Khamenei thanked Allah the Exalted for having lived long enough to benefit from the blessings of another month of Ramadan, further stating: "One of the obligations of a human being is to increase solemn praying and reliance on God after witnessing every instance of divine assistance and grace."
His Eminence referred to successive instances of divine assistance for the Iranian nation and added: "The last instance of divine grace was that Allah the Exalted helped our nation give rise to political valor in the presidential elections, the outcomes of which will appear gradually in different areas."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the coincidence of the Iranian nation's great political movement with the holy month of Ramadan is another blessing and added: "The holy month of Ramadan, which is the month of mercy and divine grace and the month of penitence, prepares the ground with all its blessings, rituals and prayers for increased attention to Allah the Exalted and for more solemn praying. All of us should make the most of this great and exceptional opportunity."
His Eminence said that remembering God guarantees progress for humanity and reiterated: "This attention to God and this reliance on Him should result in taking action, in which case there will be no stagnation, no despair and no regression."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the requirement for taking action is patience and reliance on God. He stressed: "Patience means steadfastness, resistance and not losing sight of one's goal, and reliance on God means taking action and trusting Allah the Exalted to produce results."
Referring to the role of patience and reliance on God in personal matters as well as in matters relating to management of the country, Ayatollah Khamenei said that there are a few essential factors in this regard. "The first factor is choosing the right direction and moving forward in that direction."
His Eminence reiterated: "If the wrong direction is chosen, intensified efforts will not only fail to help us achieve results, but they will also push us away from our goals."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to his recent statements on the occasion of Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) demise anniversary and added: "As was stressed on that day, on the basis of Imam's authoritative interpretation, correct orientations of the Revolution and the country are clear in all areas and there is no need to revise our orientations."
His Eminence described Imam Khomeini (r.a.) as an experienced, wise and aware religious scholar and added: "Imam's interpretation, which has been clearly discussed in his statements, writings and works, particularly in his testament, is accepted as a standard by our outstanding personalities, experts, government officials and people. Of course, there are at times wrong interpretations of Imam's (r.a.) views, which is bad and dangerous."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added: "The correct orientations that Imam (r.a.) has specified should play an outstanding and essential role in large- and small-scale administrative policies of the country."
Elsewhere in his statements, His Eminence stressed the need for prioritization and utilizing all available instruments in order to manage the country. Ayatollah Khamenei said that transition of power from one administration to the next is a good and auspicious stage in the Islamic Republic and added: "The introduction of new elements, views, innovations and tendencies into the arena of transition of power creates a great opportunity and it is necessary to make the most of it."
He added: "Thankfully, except for the year 1388 when certain people made great mistakes and pushed the country towards a precipice, transition of power in Islamic Iran has always been accompanied by tranquility and happiness."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed: "The elements and groups that enter the arena with new ideas and innovations should build on the work that has been done and strengthen the country."
Ayatollah Khamenei said the incumbent administration has carried out numerous and outstanding projects and added: "Every group should develop a positive attitude towards the group it has replaced and it is very valuable if the next administration works as hard as the incumbent administration or even harder."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that Iran's geographic location, history and natural and human resources are exceptional. "Over the past two, three centuries, Iran has been seriously harmed by domestic autocracy as well as by foreign cultural and political invasion and influence. This should be taken into consideration in all large-scale analyses of the existing conditions."
His Eminence referred to national awakening during the Constitutional Movement, nationalization of Iran's oil industry and the Islamic Revolution, and reiterated: "Our national uprisings failed to produce results during the Constitutional Movement and nationalization of the oil industry. However, the victory of the Islamic Revolution and establishment of the Islamic Republic were decisive responses to the blows that Iran had received from foreign invasion."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that victories in different political, economic, scientific and cultural areas should also be taken into consideration when presenting a large-scale evaluation of the conditions of the country.
His Eminence added: "Our amazing scientific advances, our undeniable influence on important regional and global issues, our amazing advances in development of the country and the U-turn we took away from the era of taghut in the area of culture, are among the signs of our victorious movement over the past 30 years."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that religious democracy and healthy democracy are among the greatest achievements of domestic policy and added: "Healthy and genuine transition of executive and legislative power, without the tricks and ploys that are commonly employed in the West, is a novel and valuable paradigm that the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic have presented to the world."
His Eminence referred to Iran's dynamic young generation and the bright future prospects of the country, adding: "The issue of family planning is a great danger. According to experts, this issue will cause population aging and numerous problems for Iran and it is necessary to prevent it."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution demanded members of the Majlis to pay more attention to the proposal that is being considered in the Majlis in order to counter the issue of population decline.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Islamic Republic is faced with a vast camp of enemies and opponents. He reiterated: "Reactionary elements, the arrogant powers, certain Western leaders and certain weak officials of the regional governments have created a vast camp to oppose the Iranian nation, a camp that has not been created against any other country so far."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed: "The truths that I mentioned show that the current decade can really become a decade for progress and justice. In this regard, the innovations and activities by our government officials and managers are an opportunity and a divine blessing."
His Eminence stated: "In order to continue making progress and move towards our lofty goals, we need to strengthen ourselves domestically through patience, reliance on God and resistance against the enemy camp."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the people and government officials should be firmly determined in the face of problems and enmities. He reiterated: "Under no circumstances should our government officials falter in political, economic and propaganda areas because of the enemy's frowns and scowls."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to current priorities of the country and stressed: "Our senior government officials, policy-makers and all other government officials should focus on the two main priorities, namely the economy and scientific progress."
His Eminence said: "Economic valor is one part of this year's slogan. We hope that the efforts of our government officials will give rise to economic valor, just as the people gave rise to political valor."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated: "Of course, economic valor is not a short-term endeavor, but it is necessary to start working."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the other national priority, namely scientific progress, and added: "The rate of our scientific progress has been very good over the past ten years and it is necessary to maintain this rate of progress because in order to reach the desired level and the first rows in the world in the area of knowledge, we need to maintain this rate of progress."
At the end of his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the issue of interaction with the world and added: "We have always believed and continue to believe in interaction with the world, but the important point regarding interaction with the world is to know the other party and to understand its goals and strategies because if we fail to develop an appropriate understanding of the other party, we will be tripped up."
His Eminence stressed: "In our interaction with the world, we must not ignore our enemies' actions, even though we might have to refrain from reminding them because of certain considerations."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to recent statements by American officials regarding negotiations with Iran, further stating: "At the beginning of this year, I said that I am not optimistic about negotiations with America although over the past years I have not advised against negotiations in the case of certain issues such the issue of Iraq."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed: "The Americans are untrustworthy and illogical and they are not honest in their dealings."
He added: "The positions that have been adopted by American officials over the past few months confirm once again that it is necessary to avoid being optimistic about them."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed: "In your interaction with the world, the art is to be able to continue your path without the opposing side being able to stop you and if interaction with the world results in deviation from the path, it is a loss."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the regional issues as important and reiterated: "Our government officials should pay attention to these issues."