In a message issued on the first day of the new Iranian year on March 20, the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei named it the year of “Resistance Economy: Action and Implementation.”
The Resistance Economy is a set of principles outlined by the Leader aimed at bolstering domestic production and cutting dependence on oil revenues.
In his assessment of the past year, he said it was, like other years, filled with both “opportunities and threats”, citing the popular February 26 elections, the July 14 nuclear deal with major powers and the deadly crush incident during the annual hajj pilgrimage.
Highlighting hopes, opportunities and threats lying ahead in the new year, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed hope that the country will prosper in the new year through “round-the-clock work and ceaseless endeavors”.
He said the top and urgent priority in this important drive would be to address economic problems, particularly by supporting “domestic production, creating jobs and eradicating unemployment and reviving the economy and tackling stagnation”.
He referred to Resistance Economy as the remedy for the prevailing economic problems, saying, “Armed with Resistance Economy, one can combat unemployment and stagnation, restrain inflation, resist against the enemies’ threats and create myriads of opportunities for the country and benefit from them.”
“Of course, actions and implementation are not expected to resolve all the problems in just one year, but if they are accompanied by correct planning, the results and effects will definitely be tangible by the end of the year,” he said.
The Leader addressed pilgrims in the holy city of Mashhad on the same day, describing Resistance Economy as a “logical and at times revolutionary approach [that] will immunize Iran to threats and sanctions and will enable the administration to present an objective and trust-building report to the people”.
Noting that the motto for the new year has been adopted purposefully and based on a rational approach, Ayatollah Khamenei offered proposals to help boost Resistance Economy.
“The choice of motto for the current year relies on an analysis and a general view of the country’s issues,” he said.
The Leader cautioned that the United States is trying to insinuate into the minds of elites and the Iranian nation that the Islamic Republic is to either submit to the West’s demands or face constant sanctions and pressure.
“At the present juncture, the Americans are trying to inject a specific thought into the minds of elites in the society and then the country’s public opinion, and that is the Iranian nation is facing a two-track way and has no other option but to choose one of these tracks,” he said.
“The two-track approach they claim is that the Iranian nation has to come to terms with the US or constantly remain under US pressures and associated problems.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said some insiders have subscribed to this fabricated way of thinking and are trying to convince others to accept it by promoting the idea that benefiting from the opportunities emerging after the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear accord depends on the resolution of other issues with the US.
The Leader has consistently clarified that Tehran-Washington contacts will be limited to the nuclear issue.
“The real meaning of this dangerous attitude is that the Islamic Republic will gradually back down from its strength and security bases and the fundamental issues to which it sticks based on Islam and within the framework of the Islamic establishment,” he said.
On the West’s hostile reaction to Iran’s missile drills early last month, he said, “While from time to time the Americans stage joint maneuvers in the Persian Gulf region, which is thousands of kilometers away from them, they kick up a fuss about the Islamic Republic’s drill in its territory and within its security perimeter.”
“If we step back in the face of the US, the enemy will move forward step by step and we will reach a point where the Islamic Republic of Iran will be devoid of content and only its appearance will survive,” he said.
“Enhancing energy efficiency” and “special and supportive look at small- and medium-sized industries” for creating employment and revitalizing the economy were also among the Leader’s proposals.
Need for Both Talks, Missiles
In a meeting with eulogizers in Tehran on Wednesday, the Leader highlighted the enemy’s persistent use of all tools for countering the Iranian nation and the Islamic establishment.
“In the present and future complicated world, we have to take advantage of all political, economic, social and defense tools to strengthen Iran’s position,” he said.
“Enemies take advantage of dialogue, economic transactions, sanctions, military threat and any other means to push ahead with their objectives, and we should also have the capacity for confrontation and defense in all these areas.”
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that military strength is the main means of bullying against the Iranian nation by the “arrogant” powers, strongly criticizing those who describe the future world as the world of negotiations and not that of missiles.
“[Our] times are times for everything; otherwise, the nation will see its rights trampled on easily and overtly. If this claim has been made due to lack of knowledge it is one thing, but if it arises from knowledge, it would amount to treason,” he said.
