The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei received a group of officials and executives in charge of the hajj pilgrimage on Saturday, January 28.
Speaking at the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the mental and spiritual development of Muslims as the most important goal pursued by the hajj pilgrimage. He also expressed his appreciation for the valuable services rendered by the officials and executives in charge of the hajj pilgrimage to the Iranian pilgrims.
The Leader stated that the precious opportunity provided during the hajj season should be utilized in an appropriate manner. He also advised the officials and executives in the charge of the hajj pilgrimage to provide the pilgrims with the necessary facilities so that they may derive the most spiritual and cultural benefit from their pilgrimage.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the increasing inclination on the part of Muslim nations toward the Islamic Republic of Iran stems from the nature and character of the Islamic Revolution and the thoughts and views of the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, late Imam Khomeini.
"The political depth of the Islamic Republic of Iran among Muslim nations is a reality which should not be ignored in political calculations," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic also hinted at the explicit stances taken by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the important issues of the Islamic world and toward the United States, describing these stances as instrumental in raising the Muslim nations' inclination to the Islamic Republic.
"Today, if the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran visit other Islamic countries, the political depth of our Islamic system among other Muslim nations will be clearly displayed," the Leader remarked.
At the meeting, the Leader's representative for the hajj affairs and caretaker of the Iranian hajj pilgrims, Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi-Rayshahri, presented a report on the great hajj congress. He also referred to the holding of a glorious ceremony marking the disavowal of infidels and seven international seminars with the participation of intellectuals and scholars from the Islamic world during the hajj season.
Hojjatoleslam Mohammadi-Rayshahri further said that the increasing inclination expressed by Muslim pilgrims from other countries to the Islamic Republic of Iran and their rising hatred of the United States were among the points worthy of attention during the hajj season this year.