In a message issued on March 21 on the occasion of Noruz marking the start of the Iranian new year, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called for close cooperation between the people and government to help realize the country’s potential for progress, naming the Iranian calendar year 1394 the year of “Government and Nation; Harmony and Unanimity.”
“Our great wishes for the people in this year are economic progress, regional and international power and dignity, scientific leaps in the real sense of the word, judiciary and economic justice, and faith and spirituality… In my opinion, all these dreams and wishes are attainable. None of these wishes are things which are beyond the capacity of the people of Iran,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, according to a transcript of his remarks posted on the website of the Leader’s office.
“Now, what I like to say to our dear people is that this great and important potential can be realized, but there are certain conditions. One of the most important conditions is close cooperation between the people and the administration. If this close cooperation is shown bilaterally, all of our wishes will undoubtedly be attained and our people will witness its result,” he said, adding, “That is why I believe that this year should be named the year of full cooperation between the administration and the people. I have chosen this name for the new year: ‘The Year of Government and Nation; Harmony and Unanimity.’”
In his address to a gathering of pilgrims at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in the city of Mashhad later in the day, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Today, the responsibility of all the people is to support the officials of the country… This is not particular to the current administration. All administrations should receive the people's support… this is because the main concern of all administrations is to solve the people's problems.”
“Any administration which is elected on the basis of the Constitution is a legal and legitimate administration… Anyone who is elected with the votes of the majority of the people… is a legitimate president. Their administration is legitimate as well and the people should help them as much as they can,” he said, noting, “Of course, this is a mutual relationship. I advise the people to behave in a kind, helpful and supportive way towards the administration. Similarly, I advise the officials in the three branches of government to behave in an appropriate way towards their critics and those who level certain criticisms at them.”
Challenges and Opportunities
The Leader stated that the cooperation between the people and administration becomes more significant when there are great opportunities and challenges.
“Today, there are both great opportunities and great challenges ahead of us,” he said, explaining, “One of the greatest opportunities is related to competent and innovative human resources. One of our greatest opportunities is the support that our people and our youth show to the Islamic government and its goals… Another opportunity is the scientific achievements that have been made during the time of sanctions.”
On the problems facing the country, he said, “Today, one of the greatest and most important challenges of the country is the issue of the national economy.”
“The economy of the country needs a serious move and a great feat… Officials should think about this. They should prepare themselves and tighten their belts for confronting the hostile policies of the enemies who have focused their efforts on the economy in the present time.”
“Our enemies openly say that their purpose of exerting economic pressures is political. Their purpose is to pit the people of Iran against the Islamic Republic.”
In addition the Leader raised some points about economy, saying, “The first point is that today, the arena of the economy is the arena of battle and war… because of the hostile polices of America. In this arena of battle, anyone who can make efforts to the advantage of the country has made jihad.”
“The second point is that there are two fundamental outlooks towards the economy of our country,” he said, explaining, “One outlook says that we should make economic progress with the help of domestic capacities and domestic forces… The second outlook towards the economy of the country relies on foreigners for economic progress. It says that we should change our foreign policy so that the economy will progress.”
“Today, the conditions of the country have shown us that the second outlook is completely wrong, infertile and useless. The sanctions that are imposed on the people of Iran in the present time are a firm and clear proof that the second outlook is wrong. When you pin your hopes on foreign powers so that they come and develop your economy… they will not be satisfied easily,” he noted.
Domestic Production
“The third point is that we cannot move forward without defining our goals… In my opinion, the goal of the economy in this year and in the coming years should be to invest in domestic production. Everyone should focus all their efforts on strengthening domestic production.”
Ayatollah Khamenei added, “The fourth point about the economy is that sanctions are the only tool left for the enemy… If we act properly and wisely, sanctions can be counteracted.”
Pointing to nuclear talks between Iran and the major powers on a final deal, the Leader said one important point about “our ongoing negotiations with European governments and America on the nuclear issue is that we only negotiate with America on the nuclear issue, not on any other issue… We do not negotiate with America on regional issues. America's goals in the region are the exact opposite of our goals.”
He also said lifting sanctions must be one of the terms of a prospective nuclear accord, not a result of it.
“They repeatedly say that they will sign an agreement with Iran and that they will lift sanctions only if the Iranians adhere to it. This is a wrong and unacceptable statement and we do not agree with it.”
