A large group of Friday prayer leaders from across the country met with the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Monday, November 14.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader stated that the Islamic Republic is taking great strides toward the accomplishment of its objectives and ideals, the objectives that have specified in the 20-Year Perspective Charter.
He noted that the 20-Year Perspective Charter has been drawn up based on Islamic revolutionary ideals and the viewpoints of the late Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to preserving unity and boosting vigilance in society, maintaining revolutionary spirit and values by infusing the public with hopes and aspirations, making earnest efforts to accelerate the country's progress and development and utilizing in an appropriate manner the strong inclination to spiritual and revolutionary values on the part of the Iranian people, especially the Iranian youth, as the basic necessities of the present time.
"Today, by the favor of Allah, our esteemed president and his Cabinet members are doing their best to realize their revolutionary slogans and accomplish the ideals of the revolution. Thus, it is everybody's duty to support and assist the president and his Cabinet," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic hinted at the fact that the Islamic system which has been established in Iran has influenced other Muslim nations and the entire Islamic world.
"The banner of Islam has been valiantly raised in Iran, and the Iranian people feel proud that they are treading the path to scientific growth and development, and that they are solving their problems through Islamic methods. This reality is encouraging and setting a model for other Muslim nations. It is also causing the global hegemonic system to feel seriously threatened," the Leader remarked.
Ayatollah Khamenei told the Friday prayer leaders that under the present circumstances, especially following the recent presidential election in the country, greater efforts should be made to preserve unity and boost vigilance in society.
"Friday prayer leaders are expected to place emphasis on the basic principles of the Islamic system. Besides, any word or deed which may undermine national unity and fan the hard feelings still remaining from the election time should be seriously avoided," Ayatollah Khamenei advised the audience.
The Leader also told the participants at the meeting that maintaining revolutionary spirit and values in society is among the major duties that should be performed at the present time.
"Maintaining revolutionary values means making efforts to instill the public, especially youngsters, with hopes, aspirations and strong determination to make progress. The preservation of revolutionary spirit never means a regression to certain natural disorders that existed in society following the victory of the revolution," the Leader pointed out.
Referring to the negative propaganda disseminated by the enemies against the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei called on the Friday prayer leaders to expound on the genuine values of the Islamic Revolution on frequent occasions so that these values may become a common feature of the everyday lives of the Iranian people.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic emphasized that deepening the religious faith of youngsters is also among basic social necessities and one of the responsibilities of Friday prayer leaders.
"The strong inclination to religion and spiritual values on the part of youngsters is a reality of our time, and the recent presidential election in our country indicated this reality," the Leader told the gathering.
He further stated, "In the recent presidential election, some candidates chanted attractive slogans appealing to material interests, and others chanted political slogans modeled on Western political concepts. However, the majority of voters, who were youngsters, voted for the presidential candidate who chanted slogans in favor of social justice and revolutionary values. This reality should be highly valued."
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has emanated from the Iranian people's inclination toward revolutionary slogans and values. He also described President Ahmadinejad's government as competent and dynamic.
"In order for any judgment to be made about the new government's performance, enough time should be given to President Ahmadinejad and his Cabinet first so that they will be able to carry out their plans and take their intended measures," the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated, "But unfortunately, despite the fact that only two and a half months have passed since the new government took office, some expectations are currently being raised which were not raised six months or even one year after previous governments took office."
The Leader described as unfair the critical remarks made and the materials published by some newspapers about the new government's performance.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei advised the Friday prayer leaders to establish closer ties with the people and deal with the public in a humble and cheerful manner. He stressed that Friday prayer leaders should act as the people's trustees, friends and mentors in their public relations.
Before the Leader's statements, the chairman of the policy-making council of Friday prayer leaders, Hojjatoleslam Taqavi, presented a report on the activities of and the service rendered by 517 Friday prayer leaders across the country.