On the eve of the 27th day of the holy month of Ramazan, the officials and executives of the Iranian government called on the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Sunday, October 30.
In an address to the audience, the Leader described self-amelioration, self-discipline in dealing with individual, social and political affairs and repenting of sins and personal flaws as the major factors evoking divine mercy and blessings.
Ayatollah Khamenei also told government officials and executives to avoid schism and discord, egotism and self-interest in its general sense, negligence in serving the public, inattention to what raises national strength and power and dereliction in the face of the enemies' plots and machinations, so that the path to the country's progress and development and accomplishment of the ideals of the Iranian nation may be trodden in an appropriate manner with the help and assistance of Almighty Allah.
The Leader further expounded on the importance of repentance by referring to the verses of the holy Qur'an and different traditions.
"The indifference of nations or human communities to oppression and injustice is a cardinal sin which will evoke divine punishment and retribution, the deliverance from which will be possible only if nations change their attitude and course of action," the Leader noted.
He also stated, "This is what the honorable Iranian nation did when it broke its silence toward the former tyrannical imperial regime with its Islamic Revolution, and Almighty Allah also assisted our nation in achieving its noble objectives."
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that among the sins which government officials and executives should repent of is indifference to discords and contentions.
"Sometimes, dissensions and conflicts are provoked by inflaming ethnic, religious or political sentiments. And sometimes, differences of opinion are turned into vain discords and disputes. There is nothing wrong with differences of opinion in society, and the people also enjoy freedom of expression. But if attempts are made to mislead the public by raising various issues which should be discussed in academic and specialist circles, such attempts will constitute an exploitation of this freedom," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to the attempts made by the enemies over the recent years to create rift and division among pillars of the Islamic system. He noted that thanks to the vigilance and awareness of the officials of the Islamic Republic, the enemies have been thwarted in their attempts.
Placing emphasis on the need for government officials to avoid dereliction in the face of the enemies' plots against the Islamic system and constitution and machinations against the Iranian people and their national interests, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that government officials should try to foil the enemies' plots and schemes in a wise and vigilant manner and make every effort to safeguard the country and protect the identity and interests of the Iranian nation prudently.
As regards the slogans which were raised at the time of recent parliamentary and presidential elections and which attracted broad public support, slogans such as administering social justice, countering corruption and serving the public, the Leader emphasized that government officials should do their utmost to realize these slogans.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei hinted at U.S. plans to dominate the world and establish a global empire and the great significance that the United States attaches to the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and North Africa for this purpose.
"The main objective pursued by the United States in the above regions is to install governments which appear to be democratic, but which are in fact puppet governments. This is why the United States is not satisfied even with the present obedient governments in these regions, since these governments are causing problems for U.S. administration due to their undemocratic appearance," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
He further stated, "It should be heeded by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries in the region that Lebanon and Syria are not the only countries targeted by the United States."
Referring to the wide gap between U.S. objectives and existing realities in the region, the Leader of the Islamic Republic noted, "U.S. politicians, as elite American analysts also believe, are pushing their country to the verge of collapse and downfall through their wrong measures and policies. This is probably divine retribution."
Ayatollah Khamenei further touched on the commotion and outcry that is often raised by the global hegemonic system against the Islamic Republic.
"The national and political power of the Islamic Republic and its position in a very sensitive region, the concord and harmony among Iranian officials and, in particular, a young and talented nation that our country is boasting have conferred a special status on Iran both in the region and at the international level. This is the reason why, as the late Imam Khomeini often stated, the enemies are always hatching plots and raising a commotion against our nation," Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic also referred to the recent outcry raised over the remarks by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"Indeed, one feels ashamed before humanity to see that these countries are so much under the influence of Zionists," he stressed.
As for the remarks by certain Western officials and media that had linked the Iranian president's statements to the issue of Iran's nuclear activities, Ayatollah Khamenei noted, "These morons cannot understand that atomic weapons are not capable of toppling regimes and governments, but it is the resistance and resolution of nations that will overthrow corrupt regimes."
He further stated, "In the light of this reality, the resistance of the Palestinian people will undoubtedly result in the downfall of the Zionist regime."
At the beginning of the meeting, President Ahmadinejad expressed his appreciation for the glorious participation of the Iranian people in the massive rallies marking the international Day of Quds.
Ahmadinejad further described the behavior of the Zionist regime as bringing shame and dishonor to humanity at the present age.
"It is unfortunate that some European countries and certain officials of international organizations are supporting a regime which does not adhere to any international standards or human rights principles, a regime which is an epitome of state-sponsored terrorism," he told the gathering.
President Ahmadinejad stressed that the holding of a free election with the participation of all native Palestinians living both inside and outside the occupied territories, whatever religion they belong to, and the recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation is the only solution to the issue of Palestine.
Pointing to the fact that the recent commotion raised by Western media was aimed at overshadowing the glorious rallies staged by Muslims throughout the world on the international Day of Quds, President Ahmadinejad further stated, "As President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I would like to ask the United Nations Organization and its Secretary-General to put the issue of establishing a legitimate and democratic government in Palestine on the UN's agenda."
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian president referred to the measures taken by his government since it took office nearly two months ago, including measures to solve the problems facing youngsters and facilitate their marriage and employment and also measures to facilitate exports and reduce tension in the stock market.
Ahmadinejad also referred to the allocation of some 10,000 billion rials for the construction of residential units in rural areas and measures to accelerate the reconstruction of the city of Bam.
At the end of the meeting, government officials and executives said their evening and night prayers, which were led by Ayatollah Khamenei. Then, the participants at the meeting broke their fast in the presence of the Leader of the Islamic Republic.