Call for Tangible Economic Recovery

Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called for incessant efforts to make the effects of Resistance Economy tangible for people, emphasizing the need for officials to feel responsible toward Iranians, especially about their livelihood.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the statement in a Thursday meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts, an elected clerical body in charge of supervising the performance of the Leader, and appointing and dismissing him.

Resistance Economy is a set of policies aimed at boosting domestic production and productivity to make the country invulnerable to economic wars waged by foreign powers.

The concept was first raised by the Leader in 2011, amid the tightening of economic sanctions against Tehran by the US and its allies over their unfounded allegations that Iran intends to build nuclear weapons.

Acknowledging that remarkable steps have been taken by government officials to promote the principles of Resistance Economy, Ayatollah Khamenei said they are only a part of necessary steps.

The Leader also said, "If all necessary steps with regard to Resistance Economy had been taken, today, we would have observed a tangible difference in the country's economic conditions and people's lives," according to a transcript posted on the Leader's official website.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that there are ways that Resistance Economy can objectively affect people's lives by improving production, boosting employment and combating smuggling.

The Leader praised the government's efforts to attract foreign investment following the removal of nuclear-related sanctions under the July 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers, but lamented the fact that only a small number of foreign economic agreements have gone into force.

"We must not remain idle hoping for and expecting their investment, but we must domestically do what we can by ourselves. Resistance Economy, with its strong intellectual and theoretical fundaments, is the sole way of solving the country's problems," he said.

  Multipronged Onslaught

Ayatollah Khamenei said the enemies of Iran, the global hegemonic powers, have designed a multidimensional operation to attack Iran that, besides putting extreme economic pressure, includes security and political pressure and also a "widespread but silent cultural onslaught".

The Leader said the reason for "deep hostility" toward Iran by arrogant powers is the Islamic Revolution of 1979, "saving the country from dependence on powers" and "blocking the way to their exploitation".

"The growing influence of Iran and support of [various] nations for the Islamic system is our strong backbone and this reality has enraged Americans, with their analysts seeking a way to counter the increasing influence of Iran," he said.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the main goal of the adversaries' operation is to make Iranian people disgruntled about the Islamic system and strip officials of popular support in their resistance against the enemy.

The Leader pointed to a US Department of State's 2016 human rights report on Iran released on March 3, which accused Iran of "falling short of international standards for free elections", as an example of efforts to pressure Iran.

"Americans, who are engaged in friendly cooperation with the most evil and most inhuman regional regimes and caused this huge scandal in their recent [presidential] election, attack and criticize elections held by the Iranian nation", he said, pointing to the controversial victory of Donald Trump in the November US presidential elections and doubts raised by Republicans and Democrats about the health of the election.

Ayatollah Khamenei described "strong, aggressive and logical confrontation" with the enemy as the best way of thwarting plans and conspiracies of the arrogant front in various fields, including about human rights, terrorism and war crimes.

Earlier in the meeting, the Leader pointed to characteristics that officials of an Islamic system must display, including making efforts to implement Islamic commands, seeking justice and standing against oppression and corruption, saying the Assembly of Experts' most important work is checking whether the Leader possesses them.

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the deputy chairman of the assembly, delivered a brief report on major topics of discussions in the second meeting of the fifth Assembly of Experts, which was held in Tehran on Tuesday and Wednesday.