The Office of the Supreme Leader

The Leader’s Remarks in Meeting with Iranian Officials and Ambassadors of Islamic Countries

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

(Arabic prayer)

I congratulate all of you, dear brethren and sisters, who are present in this meeting, and the esteemed ambassadors of Islamic countries, who are present [here], and the Iranian nation on the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr, and it is really deserving that one would congratulate this great and faithful and loyal and courageous and sacrificing nation [on the occasion of] the auspicious Eid al-Fitr with all his soul and from the bottom of his heart. I also congratulate the great Islamic Ummah on [the occasion of] this Eid (festive occasion), which [as we say in the Eid prayers]: “[it is a day] which [God] has made it an Eid for Muslims.” The Almighty God has made this day a festive occasion for the Islamic Ummah.
In this Eid, people have been invited [to pay attention] to two basic pillars: to monotheism and to unity. Monotheism is [embedded] in this very profound and meaningful line which exists in the Eid prayers, which is followed by zakat (a form of alms-giving and religious tax in Islam); [that is,] there is both prayers and its complement, which is zakat; this [issue] is the symbol of monotheism in this day. The unity, which in fact emanates from this monotheism, is empathy among Muslims. [During the Eid al-Fitr prayers, people’s] bodies are [close] together in the prayers and in [other] gatherings of the Eid, and [people’s] hearts are oriented toward one center, [which is] the center of the divine grandeur, [and] the center of God’s power and mercy. Such a day is this day [of Eid al-Fitr].
Of course, today, unfortunately, the Islamic world is devoid of unity, [and] is grappling with [all kinds of] problems and is grappling with conflict. When there is turmoil, [and] when there is conflict among Muslims, then spirituality starts to wane. According to the Quran’s logic, spirituality and faith need tranquility to a large extent. [As put by the Quran:] “It is He who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers so that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith.” When there is serenity, when there is tranquility, [and] when there is security, it would be turn for humans to increase their faith through good deeds, through attention [to spiritual values], [and] through remembering [God]. When in an Islamic country and in an Islamic establishment, people are in fear about their lives, about their property, [and] about their security and are not safe, [and] do not have security, there is no serenity there, [and] when there is no serenity, there is not this [possibility of] increasing their faith. Today, Muslim are afflicted with this situation.
I explained to people in the [Eid al-Fitr] prayers sermon that today, Baghdad is mourning. Many other Islamic countries are mourning due to wars, [and] due to bloodletting; Syria is mourning, Yemen is mourning, Libya is mourning, [and] Bahrain is mourning [as well]. The Islamic Ummah does not deserve all these problems.
Where do these problems come from? From what evil and inauspicious source do these problems emanate? Who is spreading this unclean seed of terrorism in the Islamic world? In words, everybody disavows terrorism and sometimes, apparently, they show a practical pretense against terrorism as well – as put by [our] esteemed president, they form an outward and false and artificial coalition against terrorism – but this is not the case in the inside. In the inside, they spread terrorism. We have not forgotten those days, when these issues in Syria had just started, the American ambassador went among the opposition to embolden them and make them turn a political dispute into a civil war. In this a small matter? Well, political disputes exist in many countries, why should they turn a political dispute into a civil war? [And that] a war within a nation and [a war of] fratricide. Then with money and with illegitimate oil revenues bring together young people from all corners [of the world] and direct them [toward there]; in Syria one way, in Iraq another way. Now, it has spread [to everywhere], [and it is seen] in Bangladesh, [in] Turkey, and other places. These are [the problems] which afflict the Islamic world with such miseries and create this insecurity. Why we do not know our enemy?
Some [people] think that when I put emphasis on the enmity of America against us, it is out of prejudice; no, it is out of knowledge, [and] out of experience. We have been experiencing these enmities for 37 years. Since the beginning of the [Islamic] Revolution, these [enemies] started [their] enmity against our honorable Imam [Khomeini] and his huge movement. Since the beginning of the revolution, they started [to hatch] plots, and they are still doing it: they [first] tried to incite insurgency among Iranian ethnic groups against the Islamic Republic, [but] they did not succeed. [Then] they tried to insurrect dependent elements against people [of Iran, and] were successful to some extent, but [our] people overcome them; up to the present day, they have been making the same effort, but [our] nation is awake, the government is vigilant, [and our] officials are ready.
Unfortunately, this plot has succeeded in other regions and in other countries, [and] there are people who assist terrorists with money, with contact, [and] with modern weapons. Where do terrorists obtain all these modern weapons from? With what money do they buy them? These are those things, which incapacitate the Islamic world, [and] the Islamic Ummah. [Therefore,] these [problems] must be understood, [and] these [problems] must be recognized.
Today, we observe that they are doing the same in other regions as well. We have not interfered in the issue of Bahrain and will not [interfere] in any way, but we are advising them. There is a political dispute going on there, [but enemies] are doing something to turn this political dispute into a civil war. If they have awareness, if they have knowledge, [and] if political wisdom governs them, well, they should not do such things. Political opposition and political dispute can exist in any country. Why they should do something to force nations toward violence and pit [various groups of] people against one another? These are mistakes, which today, unfortunately, one can observe in some other Islamic countries.
[Countries making up] the global Arrogance, topped by America, want [countries in] this region to be busy and occupied with themselves, so that, the Zionist regime could breathe easily. They want the issue of Palestine to be forgotten, [and] they want to deny the existence of a geography and a nation. Palestine is not a fake country which has been created today, [because] Palestine has thousands of years of history, [and] the Palestinian nation is a [real] nation, owns a land, [and] owns a geographical region. The Arrogance wants to deny these [facts] and to deny the Palestinian nation. These pressures that today, these savage Zionists are exerting on the Palestinian nation, they will pay [price] for it; [and] they must know this. The issue of Palestine is the axial issue of the Islamic world, [and] the issue of Palestine is an issue, which no country must forget; not any Islamic country, but even countries, which are endowed with human conscience must not forget that this is a major issue, [and] is a basic issue. A nation is being oppressed, a nation is under siege, [and] a nation has been continuously under oppression and tyranny during these past seventy years; [and other countries] must not forget this. We believe that other issues in the Islamic world are often [being magnified] in order to cause the issue of Palestine be forgotten, then they create catastrophe [in Islamic countries.]
Well, you see the issue of Yemen. What is going on in Yemen is a catastrophe, [and] is a [real] calamity. It has been for a year and a few months that this people have been under aggression and are bombarded for a fictional reason by another so-called Islamic country. It is not that war fronts are bombarded, [but on the contrary] hospitals are bombarded, people’s houses are bombarded, mosques are bombarded, [and] infrastructure of the country is being destroyed. This situation cannot continue. The aggressor party must stop aggression and the Islamic world must punish the aggressor so that others would not [dare] think about aggression.
The Iranian nation is standing [fast], [and] the Iranian nation has shown in these [past] 37 years that it is standing [fast]. This is [just] one [point] and [the Iranian nation] has shown that the [best] way to progress is [through] steadfastness. Had the Iranian nation submitted [to pressures], shown weakness, [and] had bowed to the power-thirsty [countries] of the world and the arrogant [powers] of the world, it would not have achieved so much progress. [Therefore,] the way to progress is [through] steadfastness and resistance, [in addition to] bolstering internal structure [of the country], bolstering the national will and determination and bolstering contact with God.
My dear ones! Appreciate these entreaties in the month of Ramadan, [and] appreciate these prayers. These blessed vigils, [and] these pure tears that flow on [your] faces in these Nights of Qadr and in these sessions of prayer and entreaty and obsecration and supplication, appreciate these, [because] these are very valuable, these [prayer sessions] strengthen the heart of the faithful person, [and] increase his trust in God. When you put your trust in God, you would not fear anybody other than God, [and] when you do not fear others than God, you would march toward your lofty goals with strong steps.
O Almighty! Resurrect the purified soul of the honorable Imam [Khomeini], who showed us his path and ushered us to this path, and the purified souls of dear martyrs, who laid down their lives on this path, with the Prophet [of Islam] (PBUH) and the Prophet’s Household.

Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and His blessings