The officials of the Islamic Republic, the ambassadors of Islamic countries posted in Iran and the foreign scholars and thinkers participating in the 18th Conference on Islamic Unity (CIU) met the Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Tuesday, April 26.
The meeting had been convened on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his infallible household) and the birth anniversary of Imam Ja'far Sadeq (greetings be upon him).
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader felicitated the audience on the auspicious birth anniversary of the last messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his infallible household), and the propitious birth anniversary of Imam Ja'far Sadeq (greetings be upon him).
Calling on the Islamic countries to boost their unity and remain watchful and vigilant in the face of the divisive plots of the arrogant powers, Ayatollah Khamenei described unity as one of the most urgent necessities of the Muslim Ummah at all times. He pointed out that the pivot of unity, which the Islamic Republic of Iran is trying to promote in the Islamic world, is the holy prophet of Islam and his teachings.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic considered the existing problems besetting the Islamic world as stemming from the lack of due attention to the issue of unity.
"There are naturally certain ethnic, religious and political differences in the Islamic world. These differences can be ironed out by heeding and relying on the guidelines and teachings of the holy prophet of Islam. But it should be noted that the divisive hands of the enemies of Islam are constantly at work to foment rifts and schisms among Muslim nations, and foiling the plots of the enemies of Islam is something more difficult," the Leader told the audience.
He emphasized that the scholars and intellectuals of various Islamic sects and schools of thought are expected to resist this strong wave of plots and machinations with utter vigilance and watchfulness.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the fact that the Islamic awakening of Muslim nations has caused the United States, the Zionist regime and other arrogant powers to increase their divisive machinations and hatch more complicated plots aimed at fomenting rifts and conflicts in the Islamic world.
"The abundant natural resources and great cultural heritage of Muslim nations as well as their efficient manpower and the vast market created by their population of 1.5 billion have made the expansionist and domineering powers covetous of dominating the Islamic world. But the Islamic unity will pose an insurmountable obstacle to the enemies of Islam and their machinations. This is why the enemies are making every effort to remove this obstacle," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader hinted at the fact that the Islamic Revolution of the Iranian nation infused other Muslim nations with a sense of awakening, self-confidence and hopefulness.
"Considering that the Muslim Ummah is influenced by the model set by the Iranian nation, the plots of the arrogant powers are currently targeting the Islamic Republic. However, the arrogant and expansionist powers are pursuing the ultimate goal of dominating the entire Islamic world, from Africa to the Middle East and to East Asia," the Leader told the audience.
He warned the Islamic world that if Muslim nations offer no resistance to the plots hatched by the arrogant powers, no Islamic country will ultimately be immune from the expansionist powers' aggression and encroachment.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the enemies of Islam are intellectually incapable of offering a school of thought that will be able to present attractive and noble ideals.
"In order to cover up this inability and intellectual handicap, the enemies of Islam have raised the banner of supporting human rights and fighting terrorism, but the reality on the ground indicates that the United States and Zionists are themselves in the forefront of trampling on human rights and fomenting terrorism," he remarked.
In conclusion, the Leader of the Islamic Republic stressed that Muslim intellectuals, thinkers, statesmen, writers and orators shoulder a heavy responsibility in foiling the intricate plots of the arrogant powers.
"While countering these plots vigilantly and exposing the deep animosity of the United States and Zionists towards the divine religion of Islam, Muslim thinkers and intellectuals should also try to make Islamic nations hopeful of their bright future. Besides, they should make every effort based on knowledge, wisdom and prudence to increase the powers of Muslim nations and boost their resistance to the world's bullies and arrogant powers, so that Almighty Allah may fulfill His inviolable promise and Muslims may attain the status they deserve," the Leader told the audience.