July 21, 2013
Compiled by Holly Dagres
Remarks by President
Barack Obama in Celebration of Nowruz
(March 20, 2009)
Source: The White
House
Today I want to
extend my very best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz around the world.
This holiday is both
an ancient ritual and a moment of renewal, and I hope that you enjoy this
special time of year with friends and family.
In particular, I
would like to speak directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic
of Iran. Nowruz is just one part of your great and celebrated culture. Over
many centuries your art, your music, literature, and innovation have made the
world a better and more beautiful place.
Here in the United States our own communities have been enhanced by the
contributions of Iranian Americans. We know that you are a great civilization,
and your accomplishments have earned the respect of the United States and the
world.
For nearly three decades relations between our nations have been strained.
But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us
together. Indeed, you will be celebrating your New Year in much the same way
that we Americans mark our holidays—by gathering with friends and family,
exchanging gifts and stories, and looking to the future with a renewed sense of
hope.
Within these celebrations lies the promise of a new day, the promise of
opportunity for our children, security for our families, progress for our
communities, and peace between nations. Those are shared hopes, those are
common dreams.
So in this season of
new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran’s leaders. We have serious
differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to
diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us and to pursuing
constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international
community. This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek instead
engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect.
You, too, have a
choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its
rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right—but it comes
with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or
arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness
of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is
not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and
create.
So on the occasion of
your New Year, I want you—the people and leaders of Iran—to understand the future
that we seek. It’s a future with renewed exchanges among our people, and
greater opportunities for partnership and commerce. It’s a future where the old
divisions are overcome, where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world
can live in greater security and greater peace.
I know that this
won’t be reached easily. There are those who insist that we be defined by our
differences. But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi,
so many years ago: “The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been
created of one essence.”
With the coming of a
new season, we’re reminded of this precious humanity that we all share, and we
can once again call upon this spirit as we seek the promise of a new beginning.
Thank you, and Eid-eh
Shoma Mobarak.
Remarks by President
Barack Obama Marking Nowruz (March 20,
2010)
Source: The White
House
Today, I want to
extend my best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz in the United States
and around the world. On this New Year’s celebration, friends and family have a
unique opportunity to reflect on the year gone by, to celebrate their time
together, and to share in their hopes for the future.
One year ago, I chose
this occasion to speak directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, and to offer a new chapter of engagement on the basis of
mutual interests and mutual respect. I did so with no illusions. For three
decades, the United States and Iran have been alienated from one another.
Iran’s leaders have sought their own legitimacy through hostility to America.
And we continue to have serious differences on many issues.
I said last year that the choice for a better future was in the hands of
Iran’s leaders. That remains true today. Together with the international
community, the United States acknowledges your right to peaceful nuclear
energy; we insist only that you adhere to the same responsibilities that apply
to other nations. We are familiar with your grievances from the past—we have
our own grievances as well, but we are prepared to move forward. We know what
you’re against; now tell us what you’re for.
For reasons known only to them, the leaders of Iran have shown themselves
unable to answer that question. You have refused good faith proposals from the
international community. They have turned their backs on a pathway that would
bring more opportunity to all Iranians and allow a great civilization to take
its rightful place in the community of nations. Faced with an extended hand,
Iran’s leaders have shown only a clenched fist.
Last June, the world
watched with admiration, as Iranians sought to exercise their universal right
to be heard. But, tragically, the aspirations of the Iranian people were also
met with a clenched fist, as people marching silently were beaten with batons,
political prisoners were rounded up and abused, absurd and false accusations
were leveled against the United States and the West, and people everywhere were
horrified by the video of a young woman killed in the street.
The United States
does not meddle in Iran’s internal affairs. Our commitment—our
responsibility—is to stand up for those rights that should be universal to all
human beings. That includes the right to speak freely, to assemble without
fear, the right to the equal administration of justice, and to express your
views without facing retribution against you or your families.
I want the Iranian
people to know what my country stands for. The United States believes in the
dignity of every human being, and an international order that bends the arc of
history in the direction of justice: a future where Iranians can exercise their
rights, to participate fully in the global economy, and enrich the world
through educational and cultural exchanges beyond Iran’s borders. That is the
future that we seek. That is what America is for.
That is why, even as
we continue to have differences with the Iranian government, we will sustain
our commitment to a more hopeful future for the Iranian people. For instance by
increasing opportunities for educational exchanges so that Iranian students can
come to our colleges and universities, and to our efforts to ensure that
Iranians can have access to the software and Internet technology that will
enable them to communicate with each other and with the world without fear of
censorship.
Finally, let me be clear: we are working with the international community
to hold the Iranian government accountable because they refuse to live up to
their international obligations. But our offer of comprehensive diplomatic
contacts and dialogue stands. Indeed, over the course of the last year, it is
the Iranian government that has chosen to isolate itself and to choose a
self-defeating focus on the past over a commitment to build a better future.
Last year, I quoted
the words of the poet Saadi, who said: “The children of Adam are limbs to each
other, having been created of one essence.” I still believe that. I believe it
with every fiber of my being. And even as we have differences, the Iranian
government continues to have the choice to pursue a better future, and to meet
its international responsibilities, while respecting the dignity and
fundamental human rights of its own people.
Thank you, and Eid-eh
Shoma Mobarak.
Remarks by President
Barack Obama Marking Nowruz (March 20,
2011)
Source: The White
House
Today, I want to
extend my best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz in the United States
and around the world.
Each year of my
presidency, I have marked this holiday by speaking directly to the people of
Iran. That is what I would like to do once more.
This is a holiday for
the Iranian people to spend time with friends and family, to reflect on the
extraordinary blessings that you enjoy, and to look forward to the promise of a
new day. After all, this is a season of hope and renewal. And today we know
that this is also a season of promise across the Middle East and North Africa,
even as there are also enormous challenges.
I believe that there
are certain values that are universal: the freedom of peaceful assembly and
association, the ability to speak your mind and choose your leaders. And what
we are seeing across the region is the insistence on governments that are
accountable to the people.
But we also know that
these movements for change are not unique to these last few months. The same
forces of hope that swept across Tahrir Square were seen in Azadi Square in
June of 2009. And just as the people of the region have insisted that they have
a choice in how they are governed, so do the governments of the region have a
choice in their response.
So far, the Iranian
government has responded by demonstrating that it cares far more about
preserving its own power than respecting the rights of the Iranian people.
For nearly two years
there has been a campaign of intimidation and abuse. Young and old, men and
women, rich and poor—the Iranian people have been persecuted. Hundreds of
prisoners of conscience are in jail. The innocent have gone missing.
Journalists have been silenced. Women tortured. Children sentenced to death.
The world has watched
these unjust actions with alarm. We have seen Nasrin Sotoudeh jailed for
defending human rights; Jaffar Panahi imprisoned and unable to make his films;
Abdolreza Tajik thrown in jail for being a journalist; the Bahai community and
Sufi Muslims punished for their faith; Mohammad Valian, a young student,
sentenced to death for throwing three stones.
These choices do not
demonstrate strength, they show fear. For it is telling when a government is so
afraid of its own citizens that it won’t even allow them the freedom to access
information or to communicate with each other. But the future of Iran will not
be shaped by fear. The future of Iran belongs to the young people, the youth
who will determine their own destiny.
Over 60 percent of
the Iranian people were born after 1979. You are not bound by the chains of the
past—the distracting hatred of America that will create no jobs or opportunity,
the rigid and unaccountable government, the refusal to let the Iranian people
realize their full potential for fear of undermining the authority of the
state.
Instead, you—the young people of Iran—carry within you both the ancient
greatness of Persian civilization and the power to forge a country that is
responsive to your aspirations. Your talent, your hopes, and your choices will
shape the future of Iran and help light the world. And though times may seem
dark, I want you to know that I am with you.
On this day, a
celebration that serves as a bridge from the past to the future, I would like
to close with a quote from the poet Simin Behbahani, a woman who has been
banned from travelling beyond Iran even though her words have moved the world:
“Old, I may be, but, given the chance, I will learn. I will begin a second
youth alongside my progeny. I will recite the Hadith of love of country with
such fervor as to make each word bear life.”
Let this be a season
of second youth for all Iranians, a time in which a new season bears new life
once more.
Thank you, and Eid-eh
Shoma Mobarak.
Remarks by President
Barack Obama Marking Nowruz (March 20,
2012)
Source: The White
House
Today,
Michelle and I extend our best wishes to all those who are celebrating Nowruz
around the world. In communities and homes from America to southwest Asia,
families and friends are coming together to celebrate the hope that comes with
renewal.
To the people of Iran, this holiday comes at a time of continued tension
between our two countries, but as people gather with their families, do good
deeds, and welcome a new season, we are also reminded of the common humanity
that we share.
There is no reason
for the United States and Iran to be divided from one another. Here in the
United States, Iranian-Americans prosper and contribute greatly to our culture.
This year, an Iranian production—“A Separation”—won America’s highest honor for
a foreign film. Our navies have confronted the danger of piracy, with U.S.
sailors even rescuing Iranian citizens who had been taken hostage. And from
Facebook to Twitter, from cell phones to the Internet, our people use the same tools
to talk to one another and to enrich our lives.
Yet, increasingly,
the Iranian people are denied the basic freedom to access the information that
they want. Instead, the Iranian government jams satellite signals to shut down
television and radio broadcasts. It censors the Internet to control what the
Iranian people can see and say. The regime monitors computers and cell phones
for the sole purpose of protecting its own power. And in recent weeks Internet
restrictions have become so severe that Iranians cannot communicate freely with
their loved ones within Iran or beyond its borders. Technologies that should
empower citizens are being used to repress them.
Because of the
actions of the Iranian regime, an electronic curtain has fallen around Iran—a
barrier that stops the free flow of information and ideas into the country and
denies the rest of the world the benefit of interacting with the Iranian
people, who have so much to offer.
I want the Iranian
people to know that America seeks a dialogue to hear your views and understand
your aspirations. That’s why we set up a Virtual Embassy, so you can see
for yourselves what the United States is saying and doing. We’re using Farsi on
Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. And even as we’ve imposed sanctions on the
Iranian government, today my administration is issuing new guidelines to make
it easier for American businesses to provide software and services into Iran
that will make it easier for the Iranian people to use the Internet.
The United States
will continue to draw attention to the electronic curtain that is cutting the
Iranian people off from the world. And we hope that others will join us in
advancing a basic freedom for the Iranian people: the freedom to connect with
one another and with their fellow human beings.
Over the last year,
we have learned once more that suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them
go away. The Iranian people are the heirs to a great and ancient
civilization. Like people everywhere, they have the universal right to think
and speak for themselves. The Iranian government has a responsibility to
respect these rights, just as it has a responsibility to meet its obligations
with regard to its nuclear program. Let me say again that if the Iranian
government pursues a responsible path, it will be welcomed once more among the
community of nations, and the Iranian people will have greater opportunities to
prosper.
So in this season of
new beginnings, the people of Iran should know that the United States of
America seeks a future of deeper connections between our people—a time when the
electronic curtain that divides us is lifted and your voices are heard; a
season in which mistrust and fear are overcome by mutual understanding and our
common hopes as human beings.
Thank you, and Eid-eh
Shoma Mobarak.
Statement by
President Barack Obama on Nowruz
(March 18, 2013)
Source: The White
House
Dorood. As you and
your families come together to celebrate Nowruz, I want to extend my best
wishes on this new spring and New Year. Around the world, and here in the
United States, you are gathering at the Nowruz table to give thanks for loved
ones, reflect on your blessings, and welcome all the possibilities of a new
season.
As I have every year
as President, I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to the people
and leaders of Iran. Since taking office, I have offered the Iranian government
an opportunity: if it meets its international obligations, then there could be
a new relationship between our two countries, and Iran could begin to return to
its rightful place among the community of nations.
I have had no illusions about the difficulty of overcoming decades of
mistrust. It will take a serious and sustained effort to resolve the many
differences between Iran and the United States. This includes the world’s
serious and growing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, which threatens
peace and security in the region and beyond.
Iran’s leaders say that their nuclear program is for medical research and
electricity. To date, however, they have been unable to convince the
international community that their nuclear activities are solely for peaceful
purposes. That’s why the world is united in its resolve to address this issue
and why Iran is now so isolated. The people of Iran have paid a high and unnecessary
price because of your leaders’ unwillingness to address this issue.
As I’ve said all
along, the United States prefers to resolve this matter peacefully,
diplomatically. Indeed, if, as Iran’s leaders say, their nuclear program is for
peaceful purposes, then there is a basis for a practical solution. It’s a
solution that would give Iran access to peaceful nuclear energy while resolving
once and for all the serious questions that the world has about the true nature
of the Iranian nuclear program.
The United States, alongside the rest of the international community, is
ready to reach such a solution. Now is the time for the Iranian government to
take immediate and meaningful steps to reduce tensions and work toward an
enduring, long-term settlement of the nuclear issue.
Finding a solution
will be no easy task. But if we can, the Iranian people will begin to see the
benefits of greater trade and ties with other nations, including the United
States, whereas if the Iranian government continues down its current path, it
will only further isolate Iran. This is the choice now before Iran’s leaders.
I hope they choose a
better path, for the sake of the Iranian people and for the sake of the world,
because there’s no good reason for Iranians to be denied the opportunities
enjoyed by people in other countries, just as Iranians deserve the same
freedoms and rights as people everywhere.
Iran’s isolation
isn’t good for the world either. Just as your forbearers enriched the arts and
sciences throughout history, all nations would benefit from the talents and
creativity of the Iranian people, especially your young people. Every day that
you are cut off from us is a day we’re not working together, building together,
innovating together, and building a future of peace and prosperity that is at
the heart of this holiday.
As you gather with
family and friends this Nowruz, many of you will turn to the poet Hafez who
wrote: “Plant the tree of friendship that bears the fruit of fulfillment;
uproot the sapling of enmity that bears endless suffering.”
As a new spring begins, I remain hopeful that our two countries can move
beyond tension, and I will continue to work toward a new day between our
nations that bears the fruit of friendship and peace.
Thank you, and Eid-eh
Shoma Mobarak.
Speech by Iranian
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Imam Reza Shrine, Mashhad, Iran (March 21, 2013)
Source: The Center
for Preserving and Publishing the Works of Grand Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei
In the Name of Allah,
the Beneficent, the Merciful.
All praise is due to
Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and
Prophet and the love of our hearts, Ab-al-Qassem al-Mustafa Muhammad, upon his
immaculate, pure, chosen, and infallible household, especially the one remaining
with Allah on earth. Greetings be upon Seddiqah at-Tahirah Fatima, the daughter
of the Messenger of Allah. Allah’s greetings be upon her, her father, her
husband and her children.
I extend my greetings
and congratulations to all the dear brothers and sisters who have attended this
warm and enthusiastic meeting, and from the depth of my heart I am thankful to
Allah the Exalted who gave me one more opportunity to be present at the holy
shrine of Hazrat Abul-Hassan ar-Ridha, many greetings be upon him, on another
Nowruz, and meet with you dear people of Mashhad and the esteemed pilgrims who
have come here from different parts of the country.
I am thankful to
Allah the Exalted who gave me this opportunity to speak about important current
issues of the country. I ask Allah the Exalted to guide our hearts and tongues
to accommodate and say whatever that satisfies Him. And this is a great
blessing that every year on Nowruz I find the opportunity to see the joys and
beauties that are inherent to Nowruz, and at the same time evaluate current
issues and conditions of the country among you people, take a look at our past
and future and have brief evaluation of our large-scale national conditions.
It is necessary for
us to evaluate ourselves in the case of our personal matters. As the narration
says, “Evaluate yourselves before you are evaluated.” We should evaluate our
work and actions. Similarly, it is important and valuable to carry out an
evaluation on a national level. We should evaluate ourselves. We should review
everything that has happened to us and try to learn lessons for the future.
The dear brothers and
sisters should pay attention to the fact that we people of Iran are not the
only ones who try to study, track and evaluate our issues. There are other people
who study our work, and they comment on our issues and actions. There are
certain nations that are making use of our experiences. There are also certain
other nations that are studying the conditions of the Iranian nation—they
become happy whenever we make advances and achievements. If we achieve a
victory, they feel victorious, and if we fail, they feel that they have failed
as well.
There are other
people in the world who carefully study everything that we do—these people
become happy whenever we make mistakes and they feel disappointed whenever we
succeed. They are the ill-wishers of the Iranian nation. They, too, are
carefully studying whatever we do. The majority of them are the same people who
used to have full control over every affair of our country for many years. The
revolution came and put an end to their domination. For this reason, they are
opposed to the revolution. They are opposed to revolutionary people. They are
opposed to our revolutionary government. They are opposed to our revolutionary
system. Therefore, we are being watched carefully by a large number of people
in the world. They are constantly watching and evaluating our work.
Therefore, we should be realistic in our evaluation of our performance in
the past and the plans we have for the future. Our evaluation should be
accurate. Some people in our country only see the weaknesses whenever they look
at the conditions of the country. They only see the high prices. They only see
the decrease in production in certain sectors. They only see the enemies’
pressure. This outlook is flawed; I have a different outlook. When I look at
the conditions of our country and our nation, I see a vast arena that is full
of challenges, and the Iranian nation has been proud and victorious in this
arena despite the will of the enemies.
There are certain weaknesses and problems. There have been certain bitter
events among the things that have happened in our country. Certain
materialistic powers did everything in their power to cripple the Iranian
nation. And they announced this. The incompetent lady who was responsible for
America’s foreign policy boldly announced that they wanted to impose certain
sanctions on the Islamic Republic in order to cripple Iran. They announced this
openly. Later on, I will explain what measures they adopted, what happened, and
what the result of their actions was. On the one hand, there are the enemies
who are making efforts in this vast arena of confrontation between the Iranian
nation and its enemies and on the other hand, there are the great achievements
which show the capacity, power, and intelligence of our great nation.
This vast arena is
like the arena of competition between powerful athletes, which involves efforts
and exhaustion, but a true champion achieves victory in such arenas and makes
everybody praise him. In this great arena that lies in front of our eyes, the
champion is the Iranian nation. Anybody who studies this arena carefully and
appropriately will praise the Iranian nation, just as we hear perceptive people
throughout the world praising our nation today. Among the enemies and
ill-wishers of the Iranian nation, there are certain political and academic
elites and certain experienced individuals who are watching the conditions and
are praising the Iranian nation. This is an arena that lies in front of our
eyes. Therefore, it is wrong to only focus on the weaknesses. It is necessary
to see what results are produced by the efforts that are made throughout the
country. From this perspective, we should praise Iran and faithful Iranians.
As I said, certain
people become sad when the Iranian nation makes advances. Who are these people?
I will speak about this issue later on. The enemies who do not want to see the
Iranian nation making comprehensive progress are pursuing two main goals. One
of their goals is to create as many obstacles in the way of our nation as they
can in order to prevent the Iranian nation from achieving progress and
development. They try to achieve this goal through sanctions, threats, keeping
our managers busy with secondary issues and diverting the attention of the
great Iranian nation and outstanding personalities of the country to issues
that are not on the list of our priorities.
The second goal is to
deny our advances in their propaganda campaigns. Today there is a massive
propaganda network in the world with thousands of different types of media
outlets whose goal is to prove that there are no advances in Iran, to deny the
victories that the Iranian has achieved, to magnify the existing weaknesses and
attract everybody’s attention to them, and to hide the strengths that exist in
different parts of the country and are visible to just and impartial people.
In his official addresses, the American president speaks about Iran’s
economic problems as if he is speaking about his victories. He proudly says
that, for example, the value of Iran’s currency has declined and that there are
such and such economic problems in our country. Of course, he has not mentioned
the strengths that our nation enjoys, the positive and constructive efforts
that are being made in our country and the great victories that our nation has
achieved. And he will never mention such things. We have been faced with this
challenge for thirty years and I will present a brief evaluation of the past
thirty years later on in my speech. However, the challenges that the Iranian
nation has been faced with and the enemies who are trying their best—in words
and in action—to prevent Islamic Iran’s remarkable growth from becoming
visible, are several times more than they used to be.
In this regard, the
year 1391 [2012 in Gregorian calendar], which has come to an end, was one of
the busiest years for our enemies. They said that they were determined to
cripple the Iranian nation through sanctions. If the Islamic Republic stands
firm, remains vibrant, and continues making progress, they will lose
credibility in the world. For this reason, they do their best to stop us, and
if things get out of hand, they at least try to present a different story in
their propaganda campaigns. They are pursuing these two goals more seriously
than in the past. They are trying to create obstacles in our way—through
pressure, threats, sanctions and other such things—and they are also launching
propaganda campaigns to discount our strengths and to magnify our weaknesses.
As I said, we have
certain enemies. Who are these enemies? Where is the main den of designing
machinations against the Iranian nation? It is not difficult to answer this
question. It is thirty-four years that, whenever the word “enemy” is mentioned,
the Iranian nation immediately thinks of the American government. It would be
good if American officials paid attention to this point and tried to understand
that over the past thirty-four years, the Iranian people have witnessed things
and gone through stages that, whenever the word “enemy” is mentioned, they
immediately think of America. This is a very important issue for a government
that wants to have pride in the world. This is an issue that deserves careful
attention. They should focus on this issue. America is the center of enmity and
designing plots against the Iranian nation.
Of course, there are
certain other enemies, but we do not consider them among the first row of our
enemies. For example, there is the Zionist enemy, but the Zionist regime is too
small to be considered among the first row of the Iranian nation’s enemies.
Sometimes leaders of the Zionist regime threaten us. They threaten us with a
military invasion, but I believe even they themselves know—and if they do not,
they should know—that if they make a wrong move, the Islamic Republic will raze
Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground. The evil English government is also hostile
towards the Iranian nation. The English government is among the old enemies of
the Iranian nation, but in this arena it plays a complementary role as the
follower of America. The English government is not independent, so one cannot
consider them a separate enemy. It is a follower of America.
There are certain
other governments that are hostile towards Iran. I would like to take this
opportunity to point out that officials of the French government have been
openly hostile towards the Iranian nation over the past few years and this is
not a clever move by French government officials. A wise human being,
particularly a wise politician, should never have the motivation to turn a
neutral country into an enemy. We have never had problems with France and the
French government, neither in the past nor in the present era. However, since
the time of Sarkozy, the French government has adopted a policy of opposing the
Iranian nation and, unfortunately, the current French government is pursuing
the same policy. In our opinion, this is a wrong move. It is ill-advised and
unwise.
The Americans speak about “the global community” in their statements. What
they call “the global community” is a few countries, whose main leader is
America, followed by the Zionists, the English government, and certain other
small governments. The global community is not at all determined to oppose
Iran, Iranians and Islamic Iran.
Now that we are
supposed to have an evaluation of the year 1391, I should mention that the
Americans started their new plans from the beginning of the year 1391. They
announced that they were our friends. Sometimes they sent letters, messages and
other such things and told us they were our friends and other times they
announced in the media that they were friends of the Iranian people, but
despite these false claims, in practice they tried to be harsh towards Iran and
the Iranian nation. They imposed harsh sanctions from the beginning of the year
1391-—sanctions on oil and sanctions on banking and monetary transactions
between the Islamic Republic and other countries. They did many other things in
this regard.
It is laughable that
the Americans show hostility towards us and expect us not to realize that they
are our enemies. They show malice and opposition, yet they expect the Iranian
nation not to realize that they are hostile. This policy was initiated towards
the end of [President] Bush’s last term and, unfortunately, American officials
are pursuing the same policy today, the same policy of extending an iron fist
covered with a velvet glove. A few years ago in my speech on the first day of
Farvardin, I said here at Ali ibn Musa ar-Ridha’s (a.s.) shrine that you
[Americans] should be careful, that your proclaimed affection and friendship
should not mean that you are wearing a velvet glove over an iron fist,
pretending that you are our friends while being hostile in your hearts.
The Americans sent
special agents to prevent Iran from selling oil and transferring the money to
the country. America chose certain outstanding and experienced agents to travel
to different countries and even speak to heads of certain companies in order to
encourage them to stop oil-related transactions with the Islamic Republic.
These agents were tasked with punishing those who had financial relationships
or oil-related transactions with the Islamic Republic. They started this work with
full intensity from the beginning of the year 1391, particularly from Mordad.
They expected that Iran would stop its growing scientific activities and give
in to America’s bullying as a result of those well-planned moves, which were
being pursued very seriously.
Of course, as I said a few months ago, the Americans expressed joy and said
that I have confessed to the effect of the sanctions. Yes, the sanctions have
not been inconsequential. If they are happy about this, let them be happy.
After all, the sanctions have had an effect, which is because of an essential
flaw that we are suffering from. The flaw that our economy is suffering from is
that it is dependent on oil. We need to distance our economy from oil. Our
governments should include this among their basic plans. Seventeen, eighteen
years ago, I told the government of that time and its officials that they
should act in a way that we could shut down our oil wells whenever we wanted
to. The so-called “technocrats” smiled in disbelief, as if to say: “Is that
even possible?” Yes, it is possible. It is necessary to follow up the issue,
take action and make plans. When economic plans of a country are built on a
particular base, the enemies of that country will target that base. Yes, the
sanctions have had an effect, but not the effect that the enemies wanted. I
will explain this issue later on. This is all I wanted to say about the issue
of economy.
On the political
front, throughout the year 1391 they tried to “isolate” Islamic Iran from the
world. That is to say, they tried to shake the faith of other governments in
their relations with Iran and in the Islamic Republic. They tried to prevent
the Islamic Republic from promoting and implementing its policies in the
region, in the world and in the country. They failed completely.
In the case of international issues, they tried to undermine the importance
of the Non-Aligned Movement summit, which was being held in Tehran. They tried
to discourage people from taking part in the summit or from having an active presence.
What happened was the exact opposite of what they wanted. Two-thirds of the
nations of the world are members of the Non-Aligned Movement. Heads of other
countries took part in the Tehran summit. High-ranking government officials
took part in the summit. Everybody felt that the Iranian nation was
praiseworthy. They said this in their meetings with us and in the interviews
they gave. They also said the same thing when they returned to their home
countries. What happened was the exact opposite of what the enemies of the
Iranian nation wanted. They failed to do what they wanted.
In the case of
domestic policies, the purpose of their sanctions was to make the Iranian
nation uncertain about their path, to distance the Iranian nation from the
Islamic Republic, and to make the people disappointed. On the 22nd of Bahman,
the people of Iran gave them a powerful punch in the mouth with their massive
presence, with their enthusiasm and with the affection that they expressed for
Islam, the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic. In the area relating to
security, they tried to undermine our national security and the details have
been explained to the people by our government officials in their interviews
and speeches. They failed in that area as well. On the political front, they
once again witnessed the power and influence of the Islamic Republic in the
region. In the case of the regional issues, they even admitted that no major
problem will be solved in the region in the absence of Iran and its vote.
In the case of the
Zionist regime’s invasion of Gaza, the powerful presence of the Islamic
Republic behind the scenes caused them to admit that they had been defeated by
Palestinian combatants. We did not announce this—it was they themselves who
announced and insisted that if it had not been for the presence of the Islamic
Republic and its show of power, Palestinian combatants could not have even put
up a resistance against Israel, let alone bring Israel to its knees. In the
eight-day war, the Palestinians managed to bring Israel to its knees, and this
was the first time in the history of the fake and usurping Zionist regime.
As I said, their
efforts were not completely inconsequential. Yes, their efforts were not
inconsequential, but as we expected, there were great positive effects as well.
The sanctions caused the massive domestic capacities of the Iranian nation to
become activated. The sanctions motivated us to start doing great things. Our
youth made certain achievements that would have been impossible in the absence
of the sanctions. In the area of infrastructure, in terms of the achievements
that were made last year, the year 1391 stands out among the previous years. A
massive amount of work was done in the area of infrastructure, in the area of
building roads, in the area of energy, in the area of discovering new oil
reserves, in the area of discovering new sources of uranium, in the area of
building and developing power plants and refineries, and in tens of other great
industrial areas. All of these measures will help develop the economic
infrastructure of the country in the future. If we had built this
infrastructure earlier, the sanctions that were imposed by the enemies would
have failed to produce the few negative effects that they did. We adopted these
measures and we managed to move forward in the positive direction despite the
enmities and the sanctions. Great achievements were made.
One example is the
great scientific advances that we made in the year 1391. In the area of science
and technology, certain things were done which were remarkable and a genuine
source of joy for those who have faith in the future prospects of the country.
That is to say, the year in which they were determined to be harsh towards the
Iranian nation, our honorable youth and scientists launched the Nahid satellite
into space. They launched the Pishgam explorer, which was carrying a living
creature. They built an advanced fighter jet. The importance of these
achievements is so much that it would not be excessive if a nation expressed
joy, composed songs, and arranged festivals to celebrate each of these
achievements.
When this living
creature was sent into space and was returned safely, international scientists
and observers were so surprised that they first denied it. Then, when they
realized that they had no choice but to accept the truth, and after witnessing
reality and the evidence, they were forced to acknowledge it.
In the area of health and biomedical engineering, great achievements were
made, achievements which are related to the health of the people. We achieved
the first rank in the region in the area of biotechnology. Outstanding
technical achievements were made in this area, which led to the production of
different kinds of pharmaceuticals. All these achievements were made in a year
in which the enemies were determined to be harsh towards the Iranian nation in
order to deprive it from a good life and from all the products of human talent.
In the same year, we achieved the first rank in the region in area of
nanotechnology, which is a revolution in the area of technology and industry.
In the same year, we were the first in the region in terms of production of
knowledge in the area of several important scientific fields. In terms of
production of knowledge, in terms of publishing scholarly articles, in terms of
the rate of scientific progress, and in terms of our country’s contribution to
global production of knowledge, we made progress in the year 1391. In terms of
achievements in science and technology competitions, our students’
accomplishments were 31 percent more than the previous year. In the year 1391,
the number of our university students increased so much that we had twenty-five
times more students than the early years after the revolution. The number of
students who are studying in our universities is twenty-five times more than
the early years of the revolution. These are examples of the great achievements
that the Iranian nation has made. In the areas relating to water, in the areas
relating to the natural environment, in the area of stem cell research, in the
area of alternative energy, in the area of medicinal herbs and in the area of
nuclear energy, our country managed to accomplish great achievements. All of
these achievements were made in a year in which the enemies of the Iranian
nation had focused all their efforts on stopping our nation.
The events that
happened in the year 1391 contain a big lesson for us. The lesson is that a
vibrant nation will never be brought to its knees as a result of the enemies’
threats, pressure and harsh measures. It became clear to us and to all those
who follow up the issues of Iran that what is important for a nation is relying
on its own capacities, trusting Allah the Exalted, having faith in itself, and
not relying on its enemies. This is what can help a nation move forward.
The year 1391 was
like a war game for us. It was an occasion for practice. Much to the dismay of
the enemies, we, the people of Iran, were not crippled and we also managed to
show outstanding performance in this war game. Of course, we identified our
weaknesses as well. After all, this is the purpose of war games. In a military
exercise, military units identify both their weaknesses and their strengths,
and they try to eliminate their weaknesses. We identified our weaknesses. Our
economic weaknesses, which led to harsh conditions for certain groups of
people, include dependence on oil, disregarding large-scale economic policies
of the country, and adopting policies and decisions on a day-to-day basis.
Government officials of the country—the incumbent officials and officials who
will be elected through this year’s presidential elections—should pay attention
to this point. Our country should have clear and well-planned large-scale
economic policies, policies that will not change as a result of different
events.
Another great lesson that we learned was that our country enjoys firm
foundations. When the foundations of a country become firm, the effect of the
enemies’ hostile actions is minimized. In this great country which enjoys firm
foundations, if government officials accept their responsibility and adopt wise
measures, if managers stay together and cooperate—which is my constant advice
to our government officials and managers—if our managers act in a wise and intelligent
way, then we can turn every threat into an opportunity, just as we did in the
year 1391 and managed to move forward. What our government officials and dear
people achieved in the year 1391 will hopefully reveal its effects in the life
of the people in the future.
Of course, the
economy of the country is an important issue and I have constantly stressed its
importance over the past few years, but it is not the only issue. Our national
security is important too. Public health is important too. Our scientific
advances are important too and they are the base and foundation of our work in
the country. If our country makes progress in science, all the other things
will become easy. Independence and national dignity are important too.
Avoidance of becoming a vassal state is important as well. Regional influence
and power of a nation is the support of its independence and national security,
and it is important. We have made progress in all these areas. We have made
progress in the area of security, in the area of health, in the area of gaining
international influence, and in the area of controlling different events that
happen in the country and in the region.
Through its advances, our nation proved that refusing to live under the
hegemony of America does not mean backwardness. This is an important point.
Powerful people of the world and colonialists, at a time when there was direct
colonialism, tried to prove to nations of the world that, if they wanted to
have a good life and make progress, they had to live under their hegemony. And
today America is doing the same thing. The Iranian nation proved that this is a
lie. Our nation proved that being independent of America and other superpowers
not only will not cause backwardness, but it will also bring about progress.
You can compare the thirty years that the Islamic Republic has been in power
with the thirty years that certain countries were living under the hegemony of
America. They pinned their hopes on two, three billion dollars that they were
receiving from America in the form of financial aid and they surrendered to
America. Notice where they are and where we are. There were certain countries
that attached themselves to America’s tail and followed it. Thirty years of
experience lie in front of our eyes. Notice what has happened in the thirty
years that the Islamic Republic has been in power. Notice where the Islamic
Republic and the Iranian nation used to be and where they are now. And compare
this with the conditions of those countries. Anybody who studies this issue
will realize that being independent of superpowers is an opportunity for a
nation, not a threat. And, thankfully, the Iranian nation has achieved this
opportunity by relying on its power, its courage and its intelligence.
There are two essential issues that I should discuss in this meeting. These
two issues are related to the future. One issue is that we should always move
ahead of our enemies as far as planning is concerned. Our country should not
adopt a passive stance in the face of the enemies’ activities. It is necessary
to try to predict the enemy’s plans and move a few steps ahead of him. In
certain cases, we acted like this and we witnessed the resulting success. One
example is the issue of producing 20 percent enriched fuel for the research
reactor in Tehran, which produces the important radiopharmaceuticals that our
country needs. This small power plant required 20 percent enriched fuel.
At that time, we
could not produce 20 percent enriched uranium and we had to import it from
abroad. Our enemies started to think that they should seize the opportunity.
They decided to use this national need to force the Islamic Republic to give in
to their imposition and hegemony. They tried to use this need to impose their
demands on us. Before the conditions became critical, our youth and scientists
managed to produce 20 percent enriched fuel and they turned it into fuel rods
that were needed at the power plant. Our opponents could not guess that we
would be able to do what we did. However, our government officials identified
this need in time and started working. Iranian capacities blossomed and
revealed themselves and we managed to produce what we needed. While they
expected that the Islamic Republic would beg them for 20 percent enriched fuel,
the Islamic Republic announced that it had produced 20 percent enriched uranium
inside the country and that it did not need the enemy’s.
If our scientists and
youth had not done what they did, today we would have to go to those who are
not our friends and ask them for either 20 percent enriched uranium or
radiopharmaceuticals. We would have to beg them for what we needed and pay a
lot of money. Our government officials identified this need in time and they
did what they had to do. For this reason, we achieved a victory. This should be
the general plan in the case of all our national issues and needs.
Administrations, industrialists, farmers, capitalists, entrepreneurs, researchers, and designers of
scientific and industrial projects should all carry out this great responsibility,
which is a rational and moral responsibility. That is to say, they should
prepare themselves and move one step ahead of the enemy’s plans. Economic
managers, university professors, scientific associations, science and
technology parks—all of them should focus their efforts on proactive measures
in scientific work. If they want to write scholarly articles, they should adopt
this orientation. If they want to do research, they should adopt this
orientation. If they want to engage in industrial, technical or scientific
work, they should adopt this orientation. Managers of governmental
organizations, managers of our universities, managers of scientific projects,
and ordinary citizens should all adopt this orientation.
All of us have a
responsibility to make efforts to keep our country impervious and resistant to
the enemies. This is one of the requirements of the idea of “economy of
resistance” which I put forward. In an economy of resistance, one fundamental
pillar is resistance of the economy. The economy must be resistant. It must be
able to withstand the enemies’ machinations. This is the first point that I
wanted to discuss in this meeting.
The second point is
that the Americans send messages to us through different channels, asking us to
negotiate with them regarding the nuclear issue. They both send messages to us
and discuss the proposal in their global propaganda. High- and middle-ranking
officials of America repeatedly say that alongside the P5+1 talks regarding the
nuclear issue, America and the Islamic Republic should hold one-on-one
negotiations over the issue.
I am not optimistic about such negotiations. Why? Because our past
experiences show that in the logic of the American gentlemen, negotiation does
not mean sitting down together to try to reach a rational solution. This is not
what they mean by negotiation. What they mean is that we should sit down
together and talk so that Iran accepts their views. The goal has been announced
in advance: Iran must accept their view. For this reason, we have always
announced that this is not negotiation. This is imposition and Iran will not
give in to imposition. I am not optimistic about these statements, but I am not
opposed either. In this regard, there are a few things that I should clarify.
The first point is
that the Americans constantly send messages, sometimes in writing, that they
are not after regime change in Iran. This is what they are telling us. The
answer is that we are not concerned about whether or not you have intentions of
overthrowing the Islamic Republic although you constantly insist that you do
not have such intentions. Even the day when you had intentions of overthrowing
the Islamic Republic and you announced this openly, you could not do anything,
and you will not be able to do anything in the future either.
The second point is that the Americans constantly send us messages, telling
us that they are sincere in their offers of rational negotiation. They claim
that they sincerely want to have rational negotiations with Iran. That is to
say, they claim that they do not want imposition. In response, I would say, we
have told you many times that we are not after nuclear weapons and you say that
you do not believe us. Why would we believe your statements then? When you are
not prepared to accept a rational and sincere statement, why would we accept
your statements which have been disproved many times? Our interpretation is
that offers of negotiation are an American tactic to mislead public opinion in
the world and in our country. You should prove that this is not the case. Can
you prove this? Go ahead and prove it if you can.
I would like to take
this opportunity to say that one of their propaganda techniques is that they
sometimes start rumors that certain people have negotiated with the Americans
on behalf of the Leader. This is another propaganda tactic and a downright lie.
So far, nobody has negotiated with them on behalf of the Leader. Over the years
in a few cases, certain people in different administrations have negotiated
with them over certain temporary issues and I was not opposed. However, this
was done by different administrations, not the Leader. Of course, even those
people had a responsibility to observe the Leader’s red lines, and today the
same responsibility still exists and they should observe the red lines.
The third point is
that on the basis of our experiences and careful analysis of the existing
conditions, our interpretation is that the Americans do not want the nuclear
negotiations to end. The Americans do not want the nuclear conflict to be
resolved; otherwise, if they wanted these negotiations to reach a solution, the
solution would be very close by and easy to reach. In the nuclear issue, Iran
only wants the world to recognize its right to enrichment, which is Iran’s natural
right. Government officials of the countries that are claiming to be after a
solution should admit that the Iranian nation has a right to domestic nuclear
enrichment for peaceful purposes. Is this too much to expect? This is what we
have always demanded, and it is exactly what they do not want [us to have].
They say they are
concerned that we might go after producing nuclear weapons. The ones who are
saying this are no more than a few countries whose names I mentioned earlier,
and they call themselves “the global community”. They say that the global
community is concerned. No, the global community is not at all concerned. The
majority of the countries in the world are on the Islamic Republic’s side and
they support our demand because it is a legitimate demand.
If the Americans
wanted to resolve the issue, this would be a very simple solution. They could
recognize the Iranian nation’s right to enrichment and in order to address
those concerns, they could enforce the regulations of the International Atomic
Energy Agency. We were never opposed to the supervision and regulations of the
International Atomic Energy Agency. Whenever we are close to a solution, the
Americans cause a problem in order to prevent reaching a solution. My
assumption and interpretation is that their goal is to keep the issue
unresolved so that they can have a pretext for exerting pressure on us. And as
they themselves said, the purpose of the pressure is to cripple the Iranian
nation. Of course, much to the dismay of the enemy, the Iranian nation will not
be crippled.
The fourth point
regarding this issue is that if the Americans sincerely want to reach a
solution, I will give them the solution. The solution is that the Americans
should stop being hostile towards the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation.
Offers of negotiation are not a rational and reasonable solution. This is the
right solution. They should stop being hostile if they want to put an end to
the problems that exist between us—and they announce that they really want to
resolve the problems that exist between Iran and America.
It is thirty-four years that different American administrations have
designed various kinds of hostilities towards us based on a wrong understanding
of Iran and the Iranians. Since the first year after the victory of the Islamic
Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic, they have been
hostile towards us. They have plotted to undermine our security. They have made
hostile moves. They have acted against our territorial integrity. They have
always supported our small and big enemies over the years. They have worked
against our economy. They have used all the tools that were available to them
against the Iranian nation. And thankfully, they have failed in all their
efforts against us, and if they continue these enmities towards the Iranian
nation, they will fail in the future as well. Therefore, I would like to give a
piece of advice to American officials: if they are after a rational solution,
the rational solution is that they should rectify their policies. They should
rectify the way they act and they should stop being hostile towards the Iranian
nation. This part of my speech is over.
I would like to briefly discuss another issue: the crucial issue of
elections. In our country, elections are the manifestation of “political
valor”. The responsibility that I mentioned lies on the shoulders of all
Iranian people can be described as “economic valor”. Elections are the
manifestation of political valor, the manifestation of the power of the Islamic
Republic, the manifestation of the pride and credibility of the Islamic system.
The credibility of the Islamic Republic depends on elections, the presence of
the people at polling stations and their votes that elect managers of the
country. Elections are the manifestation of our national willpower, the
manifestation of Islamic democracy.
We proposed the idea
of Islamic democracy as opposed to western liberal democracy, and the
manifestation of Islamic democracy is the presence of the people in elections.
Therefore, because of the importance that our elections enjoy, the enemies of
the Iranian nation have always tried to take enthusiasm and excitement out of
the elections. They have designed plots to prevent the people from going to the
ballot boxes. They have plotted to discourage and disappoint the people. Over
the years that we have held many elections, including parliamentary and
presidential elections, our enemies have always tried to decrease voter turnout
and make our elections less enthusiastic, and this is because of the
significant role that elections play in the affairs of our country.
Now I would like to
discuss a few points regarding the elections. Of course, the elections are more
than two months away. Hopefully, there will be other opportunities to discuss
the issues relating to the elections. For the time being, there are a few
points that I would like to discuss.
The first point is
that what is most important is massive presence of the people in the elections.
Enthusiastic elections in the country and the presence of the people at the
polling stations can neutralize the threats by the enemies. It can disappoint
the enemy. It can ensure the security of the country. Our dear people in all
parts of the country should know this. Their massive presence at the polling
stations plays a role in the future of the country, in our national security,
in our independence, in our national wealth, in our economy, and in all other
important issues of the country. Therefore, the first point is that with Allah’s
assistance, and with the determined efforts of the Iranian nation, there should
be a massive voter turnout in the elections.
The second point is
that all political orientations and currents that have faith in the Islamic
Republic should take part in the elections. This is both a right and a
responsibility that lies on the shoulders of everybody. Elections do not belong
to a particular political orientation or a particular intellectual and
political current. All those who believe in the Islamic Republic and in the
independence of the country, all those who care about the future of the
country, all those who care about our national interests should take part in
the elections. Turning away from the elections is appropriate for those who are
opposed to the Islamic Republic.
The third point is
that it is the votes of the people that determine everything. What is important
is your judgment and your vote. You should research, observe carefully, and
consult those you trust so that you can identify and vote for the most
qualified candidate. The Leader has only one vote. Just like the rest of our
people, I have only one vote, and until the time I cast my vote into the ballot
box, nobody will know what my vote is. The people at the polling station might
decide to open the ballot box, identify my handwriting and find out who I have
voted for. However, before I have cast my vote into the ballot box, nobody will
know my vote. Nobody should say that the Leader supports such-and-such a
candidate and not another. If such a claim is made, it is false.
Of course,
unfortunately these days, different statements are commonly attributed to
different people through the use of the new means of communication—short
message services and other such things. A person might send thousands of text
messages. I have reports that during the elections, several hundreds of
millions of text messages might be sent and received every day. Take care not
to be influenced by such things. Research, identify the most qualified
candidate, and write the name on the ballot paper with the aim of fulfilling
your obligation. Of course, every citizen or political activist may try to
encourage others to vote for a particular candidate. Nothing is wrong with
this. However, in this regard, nobody will hear anything from me. In the
meantime, the people can speak to one another, give advice, try to change each
other’s opinion, and help one another to identify the most qualified candidate.
In any case, the criterion is the votes of the people.
The fourth point is that everybody should accept the rule of law, be it
elections or anything else. The events of the year 1388 [2009 in Gregorian
calendar]. which inflicted losses on the country, took place because certain
people decided not to accept the law. They decided not to accept the votes of
the people. For example, the people might vote against what I want, but I must
accept their vote. Everybody must accept what the majority of the people vote
for. Fortunately, the necessary legal mechanisms exist for eliminating problems,
rectifying mistakes, and dispelling suspicions. It is necessary to use these
legal channels. When what has happened goes against what we want, it is an
irreversible mistake to call on the people to protest in the streets, and this
was what happened in the year 1388. This was an experience for our nation, and
our nation will always stand up against such events.
The last point is that everybody should know that the characteristics that
are needed in the next president include the existing advantages [of previous
presidents] minus the weaknesses. Everybody should pay attention to this point.
Every incoming president should enjoy the advantages that his predecessors had,
and should not suffer from the weaknesses that the previous presidents had.
After all, every person has his own strengths and weaknesses. Presidents, too,
have their own strengths and weakness. This is the case with all of us. All of
us have our own weaknesses and strengths.
The strengths that
the incumbent government and president enjoy should exist in the next president
as well. The next president should develop these strengths and he should also
distance himself from the weaknesses that exist, weaknesses that might be
pointed out by you, me, or others. That is to say, the governments that come to
power one after the other should help us move towards improvement and
perfection, and gradually we should move towards choosing the best among us.
The person who is elected should be committed to the revolution, to our values,
to our national interests, to the Islamic Republic, to communal wisdom and to
judicious action. This is how the country should be managed. Our country is a
great country. Our nation is a great nation. There are many encouraging and
discouraging issues. Problems exist on the path of any nation, including our
nation. Those who prepare themselves to enter this arena should move forward
with full power and confidence while relying on God.
Dear God, ordain what
is in the interest of this country and this nation. Dear God, make the holy
heart of the Imam of the Age, may our souls be sacrificed for his sake,
satisfied with all of us. Dear God, make the immaculate soul of our magnanimous
Imam (r.a.) and the pure souls of our martyrs satisfied and happy with us. Make
what we said serve Your cause and accept it from us out of Your generosity.
Greetings be upon you
and Allah’s mercy and blessings.