Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with thousands of people from East Azarbaijan province on Wednesday described the consolidated, powerful and vivid participation of the Iranian nation in this year’s Bahman 22 (February 10) demonstrations, which marked the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, as a "cause of prestige for the revolution and the Islamic establishment and Iran." Noting that officials must not take people’s participation in nationwide rallies as a sign that they have no complaints, the Leader said, "By repeating the ploy of threats and a military war, America wants to divert the attention of state officials from the theater of the real war, that is, the economic war. [Therefore,] officials must be vigilant and spend all their energy on solving such problems as unemployment, recession, high prices and discrimination."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution once again described the magnificent
participation of Iranians in nationwide rallies held to commemorate the
anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution on the 22nd day of the
Iranian month of Bahman as a "source of prestige for the revolution and the
Islamic establishment and Iran." While thanking the people from the bottom of
his heart, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Today, not only domestic sources talked
about the increased presence of people [in nationwide rallies] in many cities,
but [even] the enemies of the revolution, unlike the past years, also used such
terms as 'million'-strong rallies, [thus, admitting to this dignifying presence]
and I really don’t know how to express my gratitude to the nation."
The Leader also referred to the incessant efforts made by the US intelligence
agency, CIA, Israel’s Mossad, and the British spy and intelligence services, in
addition to expenditure of petrodollars by tycoons, to create an atmosphere
against the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran. He added,
"Throughout the year, hundreds of satellite networks, cyberspace and bankrupt
figures, who have fled Iran, are busy humiliating and undermining and accusing
the [Islamic] establishment, but the nation's huge participation [in
pro-revolution rallies] is like a downpour of the divine blessing, which on the
day of Bahman 22, clears this misty atmosphere and does away with all
contaminations like a placid and blessed river."
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that it was necessary and very important to muse over
the demographic composition of the Bahman 22 demonstrations, adding, "The bigger
part of this huge crowd has not experienced the bitter and dark times of the
monarchy, victory of the revolution, the late Imam [Khomeini] and the Sacred
Defense [eight-year Iraqi imposed war against Iran], but they pour onto the
streets with [great] sentiments and knowledge and intellect and
clear-sightedness".
The Leader then pointed out, "The hope-inspiring participation and steadfastness
of the third and fourth [post-revolution] generations in the arena of defending
the revolution and the establishment is a [clear] sign of growth and thriving of
the revolution and is also a very important and thought-provoking point.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the enemies’ effort to prove
inefficiency of the Islamic establishment as beating the air and added, "Of
course, like all other parts of the world, we have problems, which by no means
we take lightly, but the enemy is trying to show disregard for advances and very
important measures taken during the past 38 years, and sow despair among
people.”
Citing true reports, Ayatollah Khamenei described the advances that the country
has achieved with regard to some infrastructural affairs over the past four
decades as amazing, and noted, "Some of these advances and [growth] spurts are
usually not possible [to achieve even] over one-hundred-year periods [of time].”
The Leader mentioned the increased prestige and national dignity of Iranians in
comparison with the humiliating time of the past monarchial regime as one of
proud achievements of the revolution and said, "The [monarchial] regime, which
was an underdog for America and Britain, had made the nation abject and
obsequious, but today, everybody admits to the dignity and might of the nation
and the determining presence of Iran, and knows that when it comes to almost all
regional issues, without Iran's presence and determination, nothing can be
done."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution then described nationwide rallies on the
occasion of the Islamic Revolution’s victory on Bahman 22 as a "divine bounty
and valuable opportunity” to declare positions and demands of the nation,
adding, "This year, the nation showed that it stands in the face of the enemy
and seeks to realize Islam and progress of the Islamic establishment, which has
its roots among people, and any official, who does not accompany the nation and
does not show steadfastness, the nation will reject them without a doubt.”
Addressing state officials, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized, "Do not take the
enthusiastic presence of people in the face of the enemy, who is lying in ambush
to devour Iran, as a sign that they have no complaint about the performance of
officials, because people have grievances about various problems, including
discrimination and underachievement [by officials] and disregard for [their]
problems, and have a feeling of disgruntlement and suffering.”
The Leader then reminded everybody that "the year of ‘Economy of Resistance,
Practical Steps and Action’ is nearing its end and officials of the
administration and other branches [of government] must give a report to people
on what they have done in this regard.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, "Officials should not tell people
that 'this must be done', rather should say 'this was done'."
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei mentioned "joblessness and stagnation and high
prices” as important problems facing the country and said, "Of course, officials
are making efforts [to solve these problems] but the country’s potentialities
are more than this and the way out of the [existing] multidimensional problems
is clear.”
The Leader referred to the remarks he made six years ago to the effect that the
enemy is aiming to mount economic pressures and discourage the Iranian people,
adding, "Officials must pay full attention to economic issues. Of course,
cultural and scientific issues are also important, but in a short-term approach,
economic issues are a priority.”
Analyzing the real goal that the previous and incumbent US administrations seek
to achieve through repeating the ploy of "threatening Iran with war,” the Leader
of the Islamic Revolution said, "Today, like the past, they are talking about
military options being on the table and a European official also tells our
officials that ‘if it were not for the JCPOA [Iran's nuclear deal with the P5+1
group of countries], war would be inevitable’. But this is a sheer lie and they
want to divert our attention from the real war, which is the economic war, to
the military war, so that, the country’s officials would not focus on the issue
of economic progress and not pay attention to the cultural war of Western
countries against the Iranian nation.”
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that supervision over and pursuit of plans and projects
were totally necessary and said, "I have asked the esteemed president to give
notice to executive officials that management [of the country’s affairs] must be
combined with transparency and supervision and follow-up. Otherwise, no progress
would be achieved and no objective step would be taken if merely managers say,
‘this must be done’ and the opposite side says, 'yes sir.'"
Citing the Quranic verse, which says, "And prepare against them using whatever
power you're enabled with,” the Leader of the Islamic Revolution emphasized,
"This verse does not simply call for attention to [boosting the country’s]
military power, but this verse means try to strengthen what is inside you as
much as you can and this is the same strength of internal structure about which
I have frequently talked.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution noted that taking into account the
viewpoints offered by specialists, and if internal potentialities of the country
are taken full advantage of, realizing an eight-percent economic growth rate is
feasible. He added, "The real meaning of growth is the growth of production and
the internal strength of the economy, which is the same Economy of Resistance,
not merely selling more oil, which is also of course useful [in its own place].”
Criticizing those elements, who simply point to the existing shortages and
weaknesses and magnify them, the leader added, "The noteworthy point is that
these elements are the same people who directed the enemy themselves to impose
sanctions [on Iran].”
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution touched upon the
event that took place on the 29th day of the Iranian month of Bahman in the
Iranian year 1356 (February 18, 1978) in the northwestern Iranian city of
Tabriz, describing it as an important lesson and a driving force that pushed the
Iranian nation toward the victory of the Islamic Revolution. The Leader added,
"The people of Azarbaijan have been among the main axes of struggles in all
important social and political developments that happened in the country during
the past 130 years, including in the case of [banning the consumption of]
tobacco, the Constitutional [Revolution], the oil industry nationalization
movement, the Islamic Revolution and the Sacred Defense and this is the proud
identity and history of Azarbaijan."
Explaining divisive moves taken by certain groups in the early years following
the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Tabriz, the leader said, "When faced
with those moves, which emanated from old British policies, our honorable Imam
said, ‘Do not be worried at all, because the people of Tabriz will respond to
them’, and that is what really happened.”
The Leader described as laudable the vigilance of various classes of people,
including the people and youths and elites of Azarbaijan in the face of the
enemies’ divisive measures and temptations, and added, "Azarbaijan is a point of
strength for the Islamic Revolution and establishment and its people have
sacrificed their lives on the path of defending the national unity, something
which everybody must appreciate.”
Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned diversity of various ethnic groups as Turks,
Persians, Lors, Kurds, Arabs and Baluch people as a valuable opportunity for
Iran and pointed out, "The enemy always casts a covetous eye on creating ethnic
gaps [in the country] so that, in his own imagination, it would [be able to]
take advantage of any fault line in the country and cause an earthquake, while
there is no fault line in the country and people are consolidated and united.”
The Leader then noted that all big Iranian ethnic groups, and better than all,
the people of Azarbaijan, have taken up the cudgels and resist in the face of
the evil policies of the enemies. Ayatollah Khamenei then brought the late
Mawlawi Abdolaziz Sadati, from Sunni Baluch clerics, and the late Martyr
Sheikholeslam, from Sunni clerics of Kordestan province, as well as Martyr Ali
Hashemi, a young Arab commander from Iran's Khuzestan province, as examples of
the united and coordinated moves by various ethnic groups to defend Islam and
the revolution and added, "The Iranian nation is united, consolidated,
coordinated, and empathic.”
From this very viewpoint, Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon the term "national
reconciliation," which has been brought up by certain people during recent days,
and while describing it as meaningless and criticizing newspapers for clamoring
over it, said, "Are [Iranian] people not on talking terms with one another to
need reconciliation? There is no estrangement [among people]. Of course, our
people are estranged from those, who in the [Iranian] year of [13]88 (2009)
insulted the day of Ashura, and with brutality and tomfoolery and lack of
modesty, disrobed a Basiji youth on the street and beat him, and will never come
to terms with them."
The Leader noted, "Of course, those people who were essentially against the
revolution and said, ‘elections are just an excuse, the establishment itself is
our target’, are a small group and are only a small drop in the face of huge and
vibrant ocean of the Iranian nation.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution then pointed out, "When it comes to Islam,
Iran, independence and resistance in the face of the enemy, the Iranian people
stand with all they have and are united and act hand in hand. Of course, any two
persons may have different opinions with regard to a given political issue, but
this is not something important and effective and is considered as a normal and
ordinary issue."
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized, "The roaring, consolidated and unified ocean of
the nation must be bolstered day by day.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution noted that the flames of a sacred and
divine hope always keep the nation’s heart warm, adding, "Despite all advances,
we have so far taken only a short step toward the realization of the ideals of
Islam and the revolution and we must take long strides toward [realization of] a
just, advanced, mighty, and dignified Islamic society, which through God’s Grace
[and] with the nation and the establishment continuing on their path, victory
and future will certainly belong to the dear nation of Iran.”
Before the remarks by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Mojtahed
Shabestari, the Leader’s representatives in East Azarbaijan province and the
Friday Prayers leader of Tabriz, expressed condolences over the martyrdom
anniversary of Hadhrat Fatemeh (PBUH), the daughter of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH),
saying, "The zealous people of Azarbaijan created a historic and memorable epic
on Bahman 29, 1356 (February 18, 1978), and once again on Bahman 22 this year,
they proved their insight and awareness and renewed allegiance to their Leader."
The Leader’s representative in East Azarbaijan province noted that Iranians have
never been, and will never be, deceived by the Great Satan, emphasizing, "The
Iranian nation has proved through unity and solidarity that it is united in
defending [the country's] interests and national security."
source: leader.ir