The Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei rejected the notion that he thinks most of the problems in the country have to be blamed on the US and outside factors, saying be believes that most of the troubles are domestic and internal.
Addressing a group of university students in Tehran on Monday, the Leader said, “Some people ask ‘Why does the Leader blame all the problems on the US and perfidious UK?’ This is a wrong interpretation, because I believe most of the problems are domestic and internal, which, of course, the enemies exploit,” his official website reported.
Ayatollah Khamenei said failing to get a proper grasp of and insight into the conditions under which problems emerge and “confusing the bastions of friend and foe” are among the obstacles to the endurance of the move toward reaching the country’s goals and ideals. “Passivity, sloth and impatience” are the factors that impede the move toward progress and growth, he said.
Engaging in Marginal Issues
The Leader called on the authorities “not to engage in destructive and divisive issues and excuses” and “not be dragged into marginal issues”.
As an example on marginal issues getting central in importance, he said, “Paying unwarranted attention to the issue of messaging applications is one example of engaging in marginal issues.”
Last month, the popular Telegram messaging application was blocked in Iran over issues that were said to be related to national security, capping months of speculation regarding the fate of the encrypted messaging app that has been accused of allowing elements hostile to the state to fuel violence in Iran. President Hassan Rouhani has publicly announced that he is not in favor of blocking the messaging app and the issue has since been covered regularly in the domestic print media.
Sowing Despair
Elaborating on the external factors that impede the development of the country, the Leader said “Sowing despair and inability in society” is among the plots hatched by enemies of the state to hinder its progress.
The inculcation of religious democracy in Iran as being dictatorial, false and unreal description and distortion of historical facts like those related to the corrupt, dictatorial, feeble and tyrannical (Pahlavi) monarchy, trivializing the victories and exaggerating weaknesses and treachery and economic sanctions are among other outside factors that Ayatollah Khamenei cited as obstacles impeding national development.
