It is about 40 years, now, that we in the Islamic Republic have managed to stand up against the aggression led by the Front of Arrogance, and we have managed to make progress. Contrary to the foolish desires of those who wanted to destroy the Islamic Republic, we became deeply-rooted. Our capabilities increased, our power increased, and we achieved more progress contrary to the foolish desires of the enemy.
Unfortunately, today our region is suffering from grave problems. Yemen, Bahrain, Syria and Iraq have serious problems each. When we look for the main factor in these problems, we see that it is arrogance. It is the intelligence and security services of the US and Zionists who are creating these problems and who are using different forces against one another. These points should receive attention.
Thankfully, the Islamic Republic's willpower and determination is unbreakable on this path. There is clear and firm determination in the Islamic Republic, not only on the part of its government officials, but also on the part of the masses of the people. In the Islamic Republic, those who have stood up against bullying are all the people of Iran. It is our youth and our revolutionary and pious people who have stood up against the bullying of arrogance. Every nation and every country whose people stand up against the enemy in a unanimous and harmonious manner cannot be harmed by the enemy in any way. The enemy cannot do a damn thing to them. The Islamic Republic's courage and resistance is because of the unity and solidarity that exists and because of the people's presence on the scene. Our people consider it their responsibility to show their presence on the scene.
Fighting against arrogance in the Islamic Revolution and among our people is a rational and reasonable movement that enjoys a scholarly source of support. And it is also a wise movement contrary to what some people want to pretend. Such people pretend that this is a merely slogan-based and emotional movement that is not reliant on reason and rationality. On the contrary, the movement of the people of Iran is one that is reliant on rationality. Let us forget – for now - about what religion, Quranic ayahs and divine revelations have said in this regard. Let us forget about “And those who are with him are strong against unbelievers, but compassionate amongst each other” [The Holy Quran, 48: 29] and “Fight the leaders of unbelief” [The Holy Quran, 9: 12] for now because some people do not believe in or trust such things. So, we rely on the experience of the people of Iran.
When it comes to economy, the issue of fighting against the Arrogant front is identical as the Economy of Resistance. Cultural Independence—which I have for years highlighted—is also a part of the same struggle against the Arrogant Front. But today, we are talking about the economy. These past few years, our number one priority has been the economic issues. The discussions of fighting against the Arrogant front, confronting those who act against that orientation as well as speaking out against the United States and the like are in fact the other side of the coin in Economy of Resistance. If you wish to achieve the ideals of the Economy of Resistance, you cannot achieve it without this [struggle against the Arrogant front]. The Arrogant front has multiple tools of exercising power; it has plenty of capabilities. We never underestimate our enemy. We know very well who the enemy is, what it does and how powerful it is; however, we do not ignore our own capabilities either. We, too, have plenty of capabilities. It can be that our capabilities are of different types, but they are capabilities. One proof to our power is that since day one after the Islamic Revolution, they were desperately thirty of shedding Imam Khomeini’s and this revolution’s blood. Nevertheless, it has been over 37 years that the Islamic Revolution has been growing stronger on a daily basis: therefore, we are capable and that is why we have been able to improve. Had there been no capability, no growth or improvement would have been fulfilled. So this is power. This is the best evidence, the best proof for the possibility of [achieving] it: that it has happened; it has been possible then. It has been over 37 years that we have been moving ahead, progressing, endeavoring and resisting.
April 12, 2016
