The Office of the Supreme Leader

The Leader in a meeting with Intelligence Ministry personnel:

Corruption, aristocracy, luxuriousness should be tackled

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has met with Iran’s intelligence minister as well as a host of officials and personnel of the Intelligence Ministry. In the meeting, the Leader underlined that the Intelligence Ministry has emanated from the Revolution and those loyal to the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, and the Revolution.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the Intelligence Ministry should keep moving on the path of the Revolution and should remain revolutionary “one hundred percent.”

The Leader then touched upon the intelligence war waged by the enemy’s vast front against the Islamic Establishment.

“One of the key and major pivots of this war is to infiltrate and influence the officials’ system of calculations and to change people’s beliefs. In this war, in addition to defense and blocking ways of infiltration, offense should also occur and any ignorance and naivety should be seriously avoided,” said the Leader.

Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon the arrival of the lunar month of Sha’ban, and described this month as well as the months of Rajab and Ramadan as a good opportunity for a closer relationship with God Almighty, greater affinity with the holy Quran, taking advantage of prayers with lofty concepts, and boosting one’s understanding. 

The Leader referred to the establishment of the Intelligence Ministry after the Revolution and added, “The intelligence apparatus was clean and pure from the very outset of its formation, and has remained so until now and has passed good tests.” 

He said all the staff members of the Intelligence Ministry have their roots in the Revolution as well as in those loyal to the Revolution and the late Imam Khomeini.

“Accordingly, the Intelligence Ministry and all its personnel should remain revolutionary one hundred percent and move on the path of Revolution,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Leader said the Intelligence Ministry abides by the policies of the Establishment, adding, “All across the world, intelligence apparatuses comply with the policies ruling countries.’

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that the late Imam Khomeini has specified in his last will and testament the framework of the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, adding, “Even within this framework, the Leader is part of the Establishment and not the Establishment itself.’

He said siding factionalism at the ministry is a sin.

“In the Intelligence Ministry there is only one front, and that is the Revolution front,” said the Leader. 

He urged all departments of the Intelligence Ministry to carefully study the Late Imam Khomeini’s comments as well as his last word and testament.

“All departments and the main body of the ministry should be completely familiar with the basics and principles of the revolution and act in a revolutionary manner accordingly,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader touched upon the major and complex war launched by the front opposing the Islamic Establishment.

He said the espionage services of the other side are the major part of this confrontation.

“The intelligence apparatuses of the front opposing us have not been able to do any major damn thing so far despite all their resources,” the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon the different dimensions of this complex intelligence war.

“In this war, different methods and ways are on the agenda, from ‘infiltration and stealing information’ and ‘changing the calculations of decision-makers’ and ‘changing people’s beliefs’ to ‘creating financial and economic chaos’ and ‘triggering security disarray’,” said the Leader.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the recent developments on the forex market, saying, “When more attention is paid to such issues, the footprints of foreigners and their intelligence services are evident.”

“In this war, we should stand up to the front which is opposing us, and plans for offense as well as defense should be on the agenda to overcome the enemy, and this should be done in such a way that the playing field is determined by our intelligence apparatus,” he underlined.
Ayatollah Khamenei said one of the ways for Iran’s intelligence apparatus to counter the machinations of the front opposing us is to make long-term planning, predict future events, and carefully analyze and study intelligence. 

He said another way to counter the aggression by the opposing front is to take the issue of infiltration seriously.

“A person who wants to be the trustee of the country and people should be eligible, so the slightest uncertainty about individuals’ eligibility should be reflected, and government institutions are duty-bound to act in accordance with the views of the Intelligence Ministry,” said the Leader.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei called for cooperation, synergy and professional competition among the country’s intelligence services.

He also touched upon the issue of “corruption.”

“The fight against corruption should be taken very seriously, and the key elements behind it should be tackled because corruption will destroy individuals and society spiritually and mentally,” said the Leader.

He underlined that corruption, in many cases, emanates from the spirit of acquisitiveness, aristocracy and luxuriousness.

“That is why the great Imam [Khomeini] repeatedly stressed the need for authorities to lead a frugal and simple life,” said the Leader.

“Officials in an Islamic establishment cannot have the idea that it is acceptable for authorities in an Islamic system to enjoy different facilities because officials in other countries are like that,” said the Leader.

Addressing the personnel of the Intelligence Ministry, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Convey my greetings to all staff members of the ministry across the nation and your families, and do know that your spouses share a major divine reward for the activities you do because these activities are the result of their cooperation and patience in the face of difficulties,” said the Leader.

Prior to Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi presented a report on the activities and approaches of the ministry.

“All anonymous soldiers (a term used to refer to Iranian intelligence and security forces) announce their readiness to stand up to the cronies of the global hegemony led by the US, which is seeking domination over the world, the criminal Zionism and the infant-killing Al Saud regime, and to safeguard the ideals of the Islamic Revolution to the last drop of their blood,” said the intelligence minister.

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