Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts on March 12, said realization of “perfect Islam” is what has been demanded by Almighty God and is the main objective of the Islamic Republic.
Referring to the necessity of presentation of pure Islam against efforts by arrogant powers to spread Islamophobia among nations, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “In examining the reasons of solutions for the existing challenges, one should avoid superficiality and manage the issues logically by finding their roots.”
He highlighted the personality and background of as well as services rendered by Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, the new chairman of the Asmebly of Experts, said the election of the chairman was appropriate and well thought out. “This election was very well-founded and without any margins and it could serve as an example for other bodies.”
Citing verses from the holy Koran, Ayatollah Khamenei said attention to all pillars and instructions of religion is the main demand of Islam. “In Islamic teachings, there is no such thing as religion of minimums and realization of all elements of Islam and full realization of the enlightening religion should be set as objective and every effort should be made to that end,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei underscored the necessity of preserving all aspects of Islam both in appearance and in spirit, saying plans must be made for a perfect implementation of Islam.
He said world bullying powers are the main obstacle to the realization of perfect Islam.
“Spreading Islamophobia by the propaganda and political apparatuses of the Zionists indicates their fear for the annihilation of their illegitimate interests,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei said some enemies of the Islamic Republic claim that they seek the change in the behavior of the Islamic Republic and not regime change.
“A change in the behavior of the establishment means that the Iranian nation should back down from necessities of moving towards ideals and implementation of perfect Islam and this objective is in fact regime change and the annihilation of the very spirit of religion in the Islamic establishment. This time, [regime change] is being pursued through this method,” he said.
He said that everyone should avoid being passive vis-à-vis the phenomenon of Islamophobia, adding: “Islamophobia is in fact the manifestation of fear and panicking of international bullying [powers] in the face of political Islam and an Islam enshrined in the life of nations. The Iranian nation has become the standard-bearer of such Islam by its Islamic Revolution and has stabilized and bolstered it.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said Islamophobia could be transformed from a threat into an opportunity. “Incessant efforts for scaring nations and youths off Islam has brought to limelight an important question for public opinion; What’s the reason for this flood of onslaught and invasion against Islam?”
He said that this question could be answered through presenting pure Islam to nations, adding: “We should exhaust all our capacities to that end.”
Regarding characteristics of pure Islam, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Introducing Islam as a religion that supports the oppressed and opposes the oppressor will excite and motivate youths everywhere in the world and will make them understand that Islam has practical plans in support of the oppressed.”
He said Islam is opposed to promiscuity, illusionism, social injustice and rigid-mindedness. “We have to introduce an Islam, committed against promiscuity, an Islam present in everyday life versus secular Islam, an Islam of mercy for the weak and Islam of jihad against arrogant powers to the world. In this way, we will transform the enemies’ Islamophobia project into an opportunity for attracting the attention of nations to pure Islam.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to existing challenges between Iran, the US and some European countries on the nuclear issue, saying: “In examining the reasons of solutions for the existing challenges, one should avoid superficiality and manage the issues logically by finding their roots.”
As a concrete example, he referred to the sanctions and its consequences, saying: “A scrutiny [of the issue of sanctions] would make it clear that the reason for harms we have endured due to sanctions is the country’s dependence on oil, state-run economy and absence of people in the economy.”
“Had we not made the country’s economy and the nation’s life dependent on oil revenues and by avoiding the repetition of mistakes we made after the Revolution regarding government control of all affairs, and let people get involved in economic activities, could the enemy inflict these harms by imposing oil embargo and sanctions against state organs?”
“If we find the roots of such issues and resolve them, our problems will be resolved and we will no longer be waiting for enemy’s affection,” he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Iran’s nuclear issue, saying: “To be fair, the nuclear team the esteemed president [Hassan Rouhani] has picked is good, trustable, acceptable and sympathetic and is making endeavors.”
“But,” he said, “I am worried because the opposite party practices trickery and deception and stabs in the back.”
Ayatollah Khamenei called on Iran’s nuclear negotiators to watch out for the US plots, saying: “Always ahead of the deadline set for the conclusion of negotiations, the Americans adopt a harsher, tougher and more radical tone in order to realize their objectives. We have to watch out for this ruse.”
He dismissed a general view that powerful governments no longer need to be deceitful. “Certain [individuals] imagine that the US no longer needs slyness and tricks, but despite this imagination, the Americans depend on ruse and deception and this is how they are behaving now. This reality worries us,” he added.
He referred to “disgusting and meaningless” claims by American official in recent weeks, saying: “After a Zionist clown travelled to the US and made remarks, the US officials sought to steer clear of all this, but they still claimed that Iran sponsors terrorism. That’s risible.”
“The Americans and their allies in the [Middle East] region created the most infamous and murderous terrorists, ISIL, and their likes and they continue to support them. But they attribute such things to the Iranian nation and the Islamic [Republic] establishment,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the US government’s support for the fake Zionist government, saying: “Washington is supporting in the most heinous way a government which officially acknowledges its terrorist acts, but at the same time it raises allegations against the Islamic Republic.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said a recent letter signed by a group of US Republican senators against Iran heralded the demise of political ethics in the US government.
“As required by internationally recognized regulations, all world countries remain committed to their obligations even after their governments change, but the American senators officially announce that after the current administration bows out, the obligations will be null and void. Is it not the ultimate of collapse of political ethics and implosion in the US system?”
“The Islamic Republic’s officials know well their job and they know how to act so that the US government could never renege on [its obligations under any] deal which may reach,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.
Ayatollah Khamenei also honored the late Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani, the former head of the Assembly of Experts, describing him as a knowledgeable scholar and an influential combatant. He prayed to Almighty God for mercy upon him.
Prior to Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks, Ayatollah Yazdi, the newly-elected chairman of the Assembly of Experts, presented a report about the 17th meeting of the Assembly.
Ayatollah Yazdi said Iran’s nuclear issue and domestic affairs, insistence on the implementation of the economy of resistance, avoiding slogans, presenting a report about the status of Islam in the current world, Islamophobia in the West and some worrying cultural issues were among the main topics discussed during the Assembly of Experts’ meeting.