Members of the Experts Assembly met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Thursday, September 8.
Speaking at the gathering, Ayatollah Khamenei felicitated the audience on the auspicious birth anniversary of the Master of Martyrs Imam Hussain-ibn-Ali (peace and greetings be upon him) and other propitious occasions in the lunar month of Sha'ban.
The Leader stated that the Ulema, intellectuals and social and political elites shoulder a momentous responsibility under the present circumstances.
"Preserving and consolidating national unity, helping the new government to fulfill its slogans, strengthening religious foundations, especially among the youth, and serving the public are the four major duties that should be performed at the present juncture," the Leader told the audience.
Referring to the 9th Presidential Election in Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the massive voter turnout at the polls raised the status of the Islamic Republic in the international arena and brought further honor and dignity to the Iranian nation.
"The glorious and spectacular participation of the Iranian people with different political tastes and leanings in the 9th Presidential Election displayed the adherence of our nation to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution and Imam Khomeini and to the principles of the Islamic system," the Leader noted.
He further stated, "This massive participation, which once again revealed the power of the Almighty, not only neutralized the negative propaganda of the enemies of the Islamic Revolution and foiled their plots and machinations, but it also entrusted our government officials and elites with heavy duties and responsibilities."
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that efforts should be made to strengthen national unity and solidarity and soothe the hard feelings that may have remained in society from the election time. He noted that it is mainly the duty of public figures that have a higher status in society to make such efforts, adding that those who are trying to undermine national unity cannot be considered to be interested in the people and the revolution.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic stressed that all political groups and factions in the Islamic Republic should support the new government.
"The new government has taken office with some attractive, popular and revolutionary slogans, and it will be beneficial to everybody if these slogans are fulfilled. Therefore, everybody should try to support the new government so that the problems facing the public may be resolved as soon as possible," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that, in his capacity as the Leader of the Islamic Republic, he will support the president and the new government as before. He stated that the new government should not be undermined because of certain expectations or hard feelings.
Further in his statements, the Leader referred to the organized and premeditated attempts made by the enemies of the Islamic Revolution to pose challenges to the religious and political foundations of the Islamic system.
"Countering such attempts is for the most part the duty of elites and scholars, especially intellectual and erudite clergymen, who should enter the scene with firm intention and perseverance and try to consolidate religious beliefs and principles among the youth by expounding and elucidating the rich Islamic knowledge. They should also try to counter superstitious beliefs through logical methods and strong reasoning," the Leader remarked.
Ayatollah Khamenei also stated that serving the public, especially the deprived and underprivileged strata of society, is among the major duties of the officials of the Islamic system, in particular the officials of the executive branch of government.
"If efforts to serve the public are made in an appropriate manner, a great step will be taken toward the administration of social justice. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the performance of the bureaucratic system so that it may able to serve the public in an optimal manner," the Leader told the gathering.