The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei received a large number of government officials and executives, including the heads of three government branches and the deputies of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, on Monday, June 19.
In an address to the audience, the Leader reminded the officials and executives of the Islamic system of some important moral and spiritual precepts. In particular, he elaborated on the real meaning of giving thanks and expressing gratefulness to Almighty Allah for all the divine bounties and blessings that one enjoys.
Ayatollah Khamenei further provided an analysis of the country's present situation and expounded the basic principles of the Islamic system and revolution. He also emphasized that the Iranian nation and officials will be able to solve the existing problems and conquer the high summits of progress and honor one after another through unity, faith, awareness, wisdom and knowledge.
The Leader described excessive optimism and immoderate pessimism as both misleading in carrying out a proper analysis of the country's situation. Furthermore, hinting at the existing realities on the domestic and international fronts, he pointed out that the great and numerous achievements of the Iranian people in various fields are among the most prominent strong points of the country and the Islamic system.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the motivation and dynamism on the part of the general public, the firm intention on the part of the incumbent government to serve the public, the high status of the Islamic Republic on the international scene, remarkable scientific achievements, the existing political tranquility, the failure of the enemies in fomenting ethnic and religious conflicts and the coordination and harmony between the three government branches as among other strong points of the country at the present time.
"However, there are certain problems that need to be solved and some requirements that should be fulfilled, and the government is expected to make every effort to solve those problems and meet those requirements," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
The Leader cited the creation of more jobs, checking inflation, paying greater attention to the deprived regions, launching a serious campaign against corruption, providing full security for investment, prudent stabilization of the Islamic system's international status and ameliorating the country's cultural atmosphere as among the requirements that the three government branches are expected to fulfill through appropriate planning and earnest and incessant efforts.
Expounding the basic principles of the Islamic system, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to faith and Islamic and revolutionary identity as a major principle in this regard. He added that the Iranian government and relevant cultural organizations are expected to promote genuine faith, which is not mixed with superstition or narrow-mindedness, in society and among the young generation.
The Leader stressed that those who are characterized by this genuine faith will never fan the flames of sectarian conflicts. He denounced those with a deviationist ideology that were once in Afghanistan, and who are now active in a terrorist network in Iraq.
"These individuals portray a violent and grim image of Islam. However, the genuine Islam whose flag has been raised by the Islamic Republic of Iran based on the noble thoughts and clear views of late Imam Khomeini presents an authentic Islamic faith and identity to other nations," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to justice as another basic principle of the Islamic system. He emphasized that justice should be dispensed while economic growth and progress is achieved, and he described as 'irrational' the thinking of those arguing that justice should be administered after economic growth and development has been accomplished.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that narrowing the social gap, creating equal opportunities for all citizens, encouraging honesty, taking action against those encroaching on national wealth, launching a real campaign against corruption and those enjoying undeserved privileges and paying greater attention to deprived regions are among the main aspects of dispensing justice in society.
The Leader cited the preservation of the country's independence in all its aspects as another major principle of the Islamic system and revolution. He stressed that whoever does not try to counter the imposed Western culture and preserve the country's political and economic independence cannot be called an adherent of the Islamic and revolutionary principles.
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the boosting of self-confidence and self-reliance in all areas as well as engaging in an all-out scientific campaign to accelerate the country's progress as among other criteria for judging adherence to the basic principles of the Islamic system. He called on the government to prepare a suitable ground for the students and academics so that they may enhance their scientific activities and contribute to the production of knowledge to a greater extent.
The Leader pointed out that free will and the freedom of thought constitute another important Islamic and revolutionary principle. Describing freedom as one of the greatest divine blessings, he stressed that without the freedom of thought, scientific, intellectual and philosophical development is not possible.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei cited reformation in its real sense as another basic principle of the Islamic system. He noted that those reforms that are in compliance with Islamic and revolutionary principles are completely different from American reforms and the reforms initiated by Reza Khan in this country, which were actually corruptive measures and not reforms.
The Leader stated that the Islamic Republic's Constitution is the only criterion by which reforms should be judged. He added that reforms should be regulated and conform to Islamic and national values and principles.
"The amelioration of methods and stage-by-stage objectives and decision-making processes is also among the necessary reforms. The real reforms are contrary to and completely different from measures that are aimed at destructuring and subverting Islam and the constitution," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to achieving economic prosperity and raising the public's living standards as the eighth basic standard of the Islamic system. He noted that encouraging investment, lowering unemployment rate by creating jobs, increasing production, launching a serious campaign against smuggling and corruption, bringing about stability and transparency in economic regulations, global marketing, the appropriate utilization of oil and heeding the country's strategic plans are among the issues that should receive serious attention from the government.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic described some internal weaknesses and external plots as the source of certain challenges facing the Iranian nation and government.
"Beyond all doubt, today, the most significant external challenges facing the Islamic system stem from the U.S. opposition to the Iranian nation," the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the Middle East region is of great significance to the global hegemonic system and the United States. He added that in this very significant region, the Iranian nation has defied the oppressive policies of the United States by establishing the Islamic Republic and has thus aggravated U.S. politicians.
The Leader also referred to the U.S. failure in overthrowing the Islamic system through the Iraqi imposed war and economic sanctions and the U.S. administration's lack of success in the silent subversion of the Islamic system through its cultural invasion.
"There are still more plots in the offing. However, the Iranian nation and officials will protect the country and the Islamic system against all these plots and conquer the high summits of progress and honor one after another through unity, faith, wisdom, prudence and vigilance in the face of the enemy," the Leader told the audience.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking at the meeting, said that his government is making every effort to boost national unity and solidarity, inspire the public, especially the young generation, with increased motivation and vitality, administer social justice and promote the fair distribution of opportunities, safeguard the rights of the Iranian nation, lower the rate of unemployment, encourage cultural and artistic activities in line with national values and upgrade the educational system with the intention of training faithful, creative and efficient manpower.
The Iranian president also said that adhering to the basic principles of the Islamic system, advocating peace and tranquility, promoting dialogue based on justice and human dignity and defending the rights of the Iranian nation with prudence and power are among the main features of his government's foreign policy.
At the end of the meeting, the participants in the gathering said their noon and afternoon prayers, which were led by Ayatollah Khamenei. Then, they were invited to lunch by the Leader of the Islamic Republic.