Thousands of faithful and enthusiastic residents of the Eastern Azarbaijan Province called on the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Saturday, February 17.
The meeting was held on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the historic uprising of the Tabriz residents against the former regime on February 18, 1978.
In an address to the audience, the Leader expressed his appreciation for the glorious participation of the Iranian people throughout the country in the parades and rallies marking the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution's victory. He referred to the revolutionary zeal and determination and valor of the Iranian people and their firm attachment to their religious identity and revolution as the most significant strong point of the Islamic Revolution.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the dedicated officials of the Islamic Republic, relying on the great support receiving from the Iranian people and the abundant talented human resources existing in the country, should not hesitate about advancing and making progress for a single moment, and that they should make every effort to conquer high summits in various fields with strong will and firm determination.
Hinting at the historic uprising of the Tabriz residents against the former regime in 1978, the Leader of the Islamic Republic described the uprising as a decisive and epoch-making event in the history of the Islamic Revolution. He stated that those who are still hatching plots against the Islamic system have not been able to know the Iranian people and understand the lasting realities of this nation.
"Although some 28 years have passed since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian people inundated the streets throughout the country and displayed a massive presence on the scene on the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution's victory this year when they felt that the enemy is casting a threatening eye on the revolution. This is a strong point of the Islamic Revolution which the enemies have never been able to grasp," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the massive participation of the Iranian people in the parades and rallies marking the 28th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution's victory on February 11 was the manifestation of divine favor which once again displayed the power of the Islamic system to the world. He noted that this display of power caused the threats of the enemies to diminish.
"Today, the preparedness of the youngsters belonging to the third generation after the revolution and their valor and zeal in defending their religious and revolutionary identity is not less than and may even be more than that of the first-generation youngsters who took part in the Sacred Defense," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic pointed out that the material prosperity and spiritual salvation of the Iranian people rely on their continuing to tread the path of Islam and revolution. He also underlined the strong devotion of the Iranian people to the Islamic and revolutionary values and principles.
"Today, thanks to dedicated and competent government officials who are making every effort to solve the people's problems and talented youngsters who are eager to obtain knowledge and conquer the high summits of scientific progress, the Iranian nation is capable of advancing and making progress more than at any other time," the Leader noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that, considering the abundant talented human resources in the country, no stagnation is permissible in academic and scientific circles or in industrial and technological areas or in commercial sectors.
"While treading this path, one should neither be daunted by the enemy nor lose one's prudence and discretion, and government officials should neither give up their firm intention to advance nor discourage the Iranian nation from doing so," Ayatollah Khamenei remarked. He added that what is needed in the face of the enemy is power and strength, and that the show of weakness would only embolden the enemy.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic described the solidarity, vigilance and watchfulness of the Iranian people as a reality of the present age.
"The vigilance of the Iranian people is quite evident with regard to the nuclear issue, since when the Iranian people noticed that the enemy was trying to deprive them of their right, they massively entered the scene and firmly called for the restoration of their right to the utilization of nuclear energy," the Leader observed.
As regards the country's need for nuclear energy, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that oil and gas reserves are depletable and would not last forever. He noted that if a nation does not consider the production and utilization of nuclear energy for its future, it will become dependent on expansionist powers for its energy requirements.
The Leader referred to the arrogant powers' intention to dominate the world's energy resources as the main reason for their opposition to the Iranian nation's utilization of nuclear energy.
"Fortunately, the Iranian nation has fully grasped this point and is insisting on its right to the utilization of nuclear energy, and the Iranian government officials are also seriously pursuing the matter and have already obtained good results. God willing, they will make greater progress and achieve better results," the Leader told the audience.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Leader's representative in the Eastern Azarbaijan Province and Friday prayer leader of Tabriz Hojjatoleslam Mojtahed-Shabestari referred to the significant role played by the residents of the Eastern Azarbaijan Province at various junctures in the Iranian history, especially their historic uprising against the former regime on February 18, 1978.
He said that the residents of the Eastern Azarbaijan Province have always thwarted the enemies in their plots to foment discord and schism among the people in the region.
Hojjatoleslam Mojtahed-Shabestari added that the residents of the region are characterized by great awareness and vigilance and Islamic and revolutionary ardor.