In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
الحمدلله ربّ‌ العالمين
و الصّلاة و السّلام علي سيّدنا و نبيّنا ابيالقاسم المصطفي محمّد
الهداة المهديّين المعصومين المکرّمين سيّما بقيةالله في الارضين
اللّهمّ صلّ علي فاطمة بنت نبيک و زوجة وليّک و امّالسبطين الحسن و الحسين سيّدي شباب اهل الجنّة
الطّهرة الطّاهرة المطهّرة التّقيّة النّقيّةالزّکيّة سيّدة نساء اهل الجنّة اجمعين
اللّهمّ صلّ علي وليّک عليّ بن موسي عدد ما في علمکصلاة دائمة بدوام ملکک و سلطانک
اللّهمّ سلّم علي وليّک عليّ بن موسي عدد ما فيعلمک سلاماً دائماً بدوام مجدک و عظمتک و کبريائک
I thank the Almighty God who provided us with this opportunity one more time and one more year
at the holy shrine and under the aegis of Hazrat Abil-Hassan al-Reza (PBUH)
to meet with you, dear brethren and sisters, pilgrims and neighbors of Razavi Mashhad (city)
Smart Muslim Iranians have changed the ancient tradition of Norouz according to their own conviction and in the way that they desired
They have kept the outward appearance of Norouz, but changed its content
The ancient Norouz was the Norouz of kings; it was an opportunity for tyrannical kings and rulers
to flaunt their apparent grandeur and glory to nations and sit [on their thrones] and expect gifts [from nations]
Even under the rule of Umayyad and Abbasid [caliphs], when Norouz became established at Umayyad and Abbasid courts
they followed suit with the same conduct and traditions of the ancient Persian kings and monarchs
The Muslim Iranian, however, changed that order and that framework to his own benefit
although that change did not come about suddenly
Now after the lapse of many centuries, you see that Norouz has turned into an excuse
for establishing spiritual relationship between people and the source of real grandeur and dignity; that is, the sacred being of the Almighty.
In the Iranian Norouz, the true Norouz is a popular one
On the occasion of Norouz, people treat one another with friendship and compassion; they felicitate and give gifts to one another
Now, after the lapse of many years and centuries, the ancient and monarchial traditions and customs of Norouz are history
In Norouz and at the turn of the new year, the most crowded and most visited centers in our vast country
are the sacred shrines of [Shia] Imams and their progeny [Peace Be Upon Them]
Last night, in the middle of the night, in this sacred shrine, hundreds of thousands of faithful people with pure hearts, turned to the center of grandeur and power
They talked to their God, asked the One who determines people’s destiny for an auspicious fate
and observed religious rituals
Therefore, the Norouz that we have today, is not the ancient Norouz, but is the Iranian Norouz
it is the Norouz of a Muslim nation, which has used the framework of this ancient ceremony
as an asset to move toward its goals
I hope that the Almighty God would help the dear Iranian nation
to incorporate such smart Islamic innovations into all issues and all cases
Therefore, since this year’s Norouz falls on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the great lady of the Muslim world, Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (PBUH)
there will certainly be no conflict between Norouz festivities and the veneration as well as commemoration of that great lady
and there will be certainly no incompatibility [between these two occasions]
I have chosen some topics today to tell you, dear brethren and sisters
who are present in this glorious gathering, and to tell the entire Iranian nation
I start the discussion with a point from the Quran
The Almighty God has set a condition for those people whom He has promised to make victorious by saying
وَ اِنَّ اللهَ عَلي نَصرِهِم لَقَدير
اَلَّذينَ اِن مَکَّنّاهُم فِي الاَرضِ اَقامُواالصَلوةَ وَ ءاتَوُا الزَّکوة وَ اَمَروابِالمَعروفِ وَ نَهَوا عَنِ المُنکَرِ وَ لِلّهِعاقِبةُ الاُمور
In this holy verse, the Almighty God has mentioned four characteristics for the faithful people who take power in their hands
and who get rid of the domination of powerful tyrants, and has promised that
The Almighty God is able to help such a nation and will certainly do so
One of those four conditions is [saying one’s] prayers, one is [giving] Zakat
one is promoting virtue, and one is prohibiting vice
Each and every one of these four characteristics and indices has an individual aspect
but in parallel, also has a social aspect and influence the social structure
[Take] prayers [for instance]; despite all the secrets and mysteries that are hidden within true prayers, which has been described as the ascension of every faithful
قُربانُ کُلِّ تَقي
prayers are a means of salvation and eternal happiness
and superior to all other religious actions; prayers even have a social aspect to them
The social aspect of prayers is that all Muslims communicate with a single center through prayers
At the time of prayers, all Muslims in all parts of the Muslim
world turn to a single center all at once and get connected to it
This connection of all hearts to a single center is a social issue
an issue at builds order, [and also] determines and shapes the geometry of an Islamic establishment
Zakat has personal aspects as it teaches humans to be generous and give away “what they like”
which can be a very important experience and test. However, it also has a social aspect
As used in the Quran, Zakat absolutely denotes all kinds of giving away [of one’s property], which also includes the customary Zakat, which has been mentioned in the Quranic verse
خُذ مِن اَموالِهِم صَدَقَةً
Zakat, therefore, is absolutely applied to any form of financial donation
[but] it has also a social aspect and a social, order-building translation
according to which a human being who has worldly possessions in an Islamic environment and an Islamic society
considers himself committed, considers himself in debt, does not consider himself a creditor, but as debtor to the Islamic society
not only before the poor and the weak, but also before the Path of God. Therefore, in this approach, Zakat is an injunction and an index for building the system
However, promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, is, in fact, the bedrock of all social movements in Islam
بِها تُقامُ الفَرائِض
Promotion of virtue means that all the faithful in any part of the world
are duty-bound to guide their society toward what is good, toward all acts that are good
And prohibition of vice means to keep everybody away from whatever that is evil, from meanness, and from evil deeds
Every one of these four indices are, in their own way, a translation of the structure and geometry of an Islamic establishment
Let me say in parentheses that this important meaning of promoting virtue and prohibiting vice
should not be limited to less important issues
Some people think that the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice is restricted to [cases in which]
a person gives a warning to a woman or a man who has ignored a secondary religious duty
Of course, these are also considered promotion of virtue and prevention of vice but [they are] not the most important examples of promotion of virtue and prohibition of vice
The most important instance of promoting virtue and preventing vice is to enjoin [people to do] the greatest of goods and prohibit [them] from [doing] the worst of vice
The greatest good, in the first place, is to establish and protect an Islamic system
this is promotion of virtue
There is no good superior to the establishment and protection of an Islamic system
any person striving toward this end, is promoting virtue
Protecting the dignity and honor of the Iranian nation is the greatest of goods
These are some good acts: promoting culture, [creating] a healthy ethical environment, [having] a healthy family environment
reproduction and raising a young generation ready [to strive] for the progress of the country, bringing prosperity to economy and production
promotion of Islamic ethics, development of science and technology, establishment of judicial justice and economic justice
making efforts to strengthen the Iranian nation and beyond that, the strengthening of the Islamic Ummah
as well as endeavoring and making efforts to realize Islamic unity. These are the most important instances of good
and all people are duty-bound to strive for them, to promote them
The opposite of them is vice. Immorality is a vice, helping the enemies of Islam is a vice
weakening the Islamic Establishment is a vice, undermining the Islamic culture is a vice, weakening the economy of society
and undermining [efforts made to promote] science and technology are all vice; The first one ordering [people to turn to] virtue is God Almighty, who says
اِنَّ اللهَ يَأمُرُ بِالعَدلِ وَ الاِحسانِ وَايتآئِ ذِي‌القُربي وَ يَنهي عَنِ الفَحشآءِ وَالمُنکَرِ وَ البَغي
God is the one who orders good and forbids vice, both good and vice have also been clarified
The Great Prophet of Islam (PBUH), has been among the most sublime persons promoting virtue and prohibiting vice
A Quranic verse [about the Prophet] says
يَأمُرُهُم بِالمَعروفِ وَ ينهاهُم عَنِ المُنکَر
[Shia] Imams were among the greatest people promoting good and prohibiting evil. As the prayer says:
اَشهَدُ اَنَّکَ قَد اَقَمتَ الصَّلاةَ وَ آتَيتَالزَّکاةَ وَ اَمَرتَ بِالمَعروفِ وَ نَهَيتَ عَنِالمُنکَر
Both faithful men and women, in all parts of the world, enjoin [other people] to do good, because God says
وَ المُؤمِنونَ وَ المُؤمِناتُ بَعضُهُم اَوليآءُبَعضٍ يَأمُرونَ بِالمَعروفِ وَ يَنهَونَ عَنِالمُنکَرِ وَ يُقيمونَ الصَّلوةَ وَ يَؤتونَالزَّکوة
These are four major pillars for building a system every one of which has secondary branches
An Islamic establishment is based on promoting prayers, giving Zakat, promoting good and prohibiting evil
that is, social and emotional cohesion and relationship among all people in an Islamic establishment
Right here, at the beginning of my today’s remarks, I want to reach a conclusion from this discussion about what I told you
dear people, in my last midnight’s address about the motto of the year
In our society, in our dear and vast country
what Islam expects from all of us with any social background and social way of thinking
is cohesion, synergy, and helping one another
Administrations in an Islamic establishment should be supported by people
they should even be backed by those people who have not voted for this special person in the administration
This is the reality and gist of social and national cohesion in our Islamic country
All [of us] as a single entity, should be united with the administration that is incumbent and in office , and help it
especially in those cases when the country is facing important issues and important challenges on which I will elaborate
Today, it is the duty of the entire nation to support the country’s officials and help state officials
This is not special to this administration and applies to all administrations
This will be also true about administrations that will come into office in the future
Firstly, because the main and basic concern of all administrations is to solve people’s problems
Of course, their abilities [in this regard] may differ and may not be equal
Secondly, they may have different views
but the goal in all these administrations is to solve the country’s problems as much as possible during their term in office
Any administration that has come to office within the framework of the Constitution is the legal administration, the legitimate administration
It does not matter how many and what proportion of voters have cast their votes for this or that president
The decrease and increase in the number of votes is related to popularity
but has nothing to do with legitimacy and legality
Any person with any number of votes from the majority of people, who is elected within the framework of the Constitution, will be legitimate
, [and] the legal administration, and people should consider it legal
and help it as much as they can. [Of course,] there are mutual rights
Of course, every administration has its own critics. This administration has critics
and previous administrations had critics of their own; this issue, per se, is no problem
There are people who do not agree with this method, do not agree with this behavior
do not agree with what is being said, do not agree with this policy
They are all critics and criticize and this is of no objection. Criticism, however, should be bound within a logical framework
I, myself, have had criticisms of different administrations
and have always voiced my criticism
In no instance I have stopped warning [administrations] against whatever has appeared as a flaw to me and has been open to criticism
However, such warnings have been given in a suitable way and in a suitable situation and in a suitable manner
I either sent a message, or uttered [my criticism] in meetings, or insisted [on my criticism]
Giving warning is no problem
but that warning should be given in such a way that public trust in those who are in office and are working is not undermined
Giving warning should be such that it would not lead to public distrust
There should be no insult and angry methods [for giving warning]
everybody should look at the issue of the relationship between the government and the nation as a matter of Islamic brotherhood and behave accordingly.
Of course, this [issue] goes both ways
I both recommend the people talk to the administration kindly and with an eye on empathy and cooperation
and reiterate this to state officials – in all three branches of government –
that they should treat their critics and those who criticize them
in a suitable manner; don’t humiliate them, don’t insult them
The humiliation of opponents by state officials is against foresight and against wisdom
I wouldn’t like our dear people to be indifferent
I wouldn’t like them not to oversee [the administration’s performance]
I invite them to take basic problems of the country seriously
However, [at the same time], I insist that treatment, either that of the administration by people
or that of critics by the officials, should not be meant to undermine. It should be neither humiliating, nor insulting
Perhaps, with regard to an issue, a group of people have a certain concern
Having concerns is not a crime; being anxious is not a crime
Some people can be truly anxious and concerned about an important and sensitive issue of the country
There is nothing wrong with this
However, this should not amount to incrimination, to ignoring endeavors and services
On the other hand, neither the administration nor supporters of the administration should insult those who express their concern and anxiety
I explicitly say this to our dear nation, and I have said this before
that I have supported all administrations during the time I have been in office [as Leader]
and I support this administration as well
I will issue a warning wherever it is necessary; [and] of course, I do not give carte blanche to anybody
I look at the performance and judge accordingly
and will act in accordance with the performance, God’s grace and through divine assistance
This is the first comment for the explanation and elucidation of what I proposed as the motto of the year – empathy and rapport between the government and the nation.
[I expect them] to work as one, to use the same language and cooperate
and work together toward settling problems
I already said that this will become important when major opportunities are offered
and major challenges are also ahead of us. Today is one of those days
Today, we have both major opportunities [to take advantage of]
and big challenges ahead of us which we should tackle
and with the help of those opportunities we should overcome those challenges through divine assistance
Well, we have big opportunities today
One of the greatest of those opportunities is related to efficient and innovative manpower
and our country, thank God, abounds with efficient workforce, which is mostly young with innovation and high spirits
One of the greatest opportunities available to us is the loyalty of our people and our youth to the Establishment and to the goals of the Establishment and [late] Imam [Khomeini]
I urge you dear brethren and sisters to look [and see]
that in rallies on Quds Day and 22nd of Bahman [which marks the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution], most [participants] are young people
These young people are those
who are under the destructive bombardment of audio and visual media and the Internet day and night
there is much ballyhoo going around in the world, in the virtual world. In the world of audio and visual media
hundreds of media, an even thousands of media outlets, are constantly bombarding the thoughts of our youth
Some of them try to convert the youth from religion
some try to make them turn their backs on the Islamic Establishment
some try to sow discord among them
some try to recruit them to serve their evil goals
some endeavor to push them toward hedonism and laziness
This bombardment is constantly targeting our youth
through these outlets and audio and visual media and the Internet
At the same time, you look and see tens of millions of the very same youth come [into the streets] on the 22nd of Bahman [February 11]
and shout slogans and show their sentiments
and express their love for Imam [Khomeini], for Islam, [and] for the Islamic Establishment
This is nothing insignificant; this is a very great opportunity
Another opportunity is
the scientific progress that has been made in the time of sanctions
There are times when powers and governments and international money and capital come to a nation’s assistance
and there are times when all doors are closed to a nation
but that nation, nonetheless, can do great work in various sectors
Today, you see these works; they should not be taken lightly
This 12th phase of South Pars [gas field] which was inaugurated by the president a few days ago
is a very big and complicated industrial project
which can cause tangible growth in the country’s economy and make the general effort made in the country more fruitful
We have many similar cases
You observed that in [the recent] armed forces’ drills, some [military] equipment was introduced
that surprised the enemies They have uttered their surprise
not that we guessed their surprise they have themselves said that they are surprised
All these things happened at a time of sanctions
This is not an insignificant matter; this is a very big opportunity
All these were done during long years of sanctions
that is in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, when the sanctions that they [enemies] supposed were crippling, were imposed on our country
by our youth, our innovative forces,
This is a very big opportunity for our country. [Therefore,] these sanctions are an opportunity
I will explain this briefly later that even these sanctions are, in a certain sense, an opportunity for our nation
Yes, they caused difficulties, but these sanctions can be an opportunity, which I will explain
Of course, we are also facing challenges and I will explain these challenges today
Today, one of the most tangible and most important challenges facing our country is the issue of national economy
economy. The rightful expectation of our people is to have a prosperous economy
to have public welfare, so that the underprivileged [social] classes will get out of their unacceptable situation
to be relieved of problems; these are our people’s expectations and these expectations are right
The country’s economy needs a serious movement and a major boost
and I will explain some of the characteristics [of such a movement]
Of course, I have been talking about the economy for a number of years
A few years ago and in this very place, I made a prediction
and said enemies will focus on our economy
[I said that] officials should be alert and prepare themselves. [I told them to] fasten their belts
in order to face the hostility of enemies and hostile policies of enemies which have been focused on the country’s economy
Now I will give more explanation about the economy.
Today, the decade of justice and progress is in its second half
We designated and introduced a decade as the decade of justice and progress. It has passed its first half now
The 20-year [National] Outlook [Plan] halfway through
Ten years have passed since we set a 20-year period for the plan and adopted policies for that. We have still ten [more] years left
These are important issues. Given these facts, the sensitivity of economic issues becomes all the more important
Our enemies say openly that their objective behind economic pressures is a political one
Their objective is to turn the Iranian people against the Islamic establishment. (People start chanting Death to the US).
Look! Yes, of course, Death to the US! Because the US is the main factor behind these pressures
and they (the Americans) themselves insist on concentrating on the economy of our dear nation
What’s their objective? Their objective is to pit the people against the system
They say it openly that they intend to exert economic pressure in order to make conditions hard for people
and force people to protest against the government and against the Islamic establishment. They say that openly
Of course, they often claim that they support the Iranian nation
and one cannot believe these lies and one should not believe [such lies heard] from the enemies
as their objective is a political one
They intend to disrupt the security prevailing across our country today
this security is unique in the West Asia region we live in
Praise be to God, neither in our east, nor in our west, nor in our north, nor in our south
is there such security as that which our country and our nation enjoy
They intend to force people to disrupt security and start protest movements in the country
they are instigating, taking action, making plans
This is what they are following up on seriously and intensively
This is an important situation; this is a big challenge
When there is such a challenge in the country, all forces should come together
work together and take the issue of economy seriously
I’m going to make several points about the economy
The first point is that today, the economic sector has turned into a battlefield, a warfront, due to the US hostile policies
a specific type of war
In this battlefield, anyone making efforts to the benefit of the country would be making jihad
Today, anyone who can help the country’s economy, would be making a jihadi move
This is a jihad and of course a jihad with its own specific tools
and specific methods
Everyone has to contribute to this jihad by necessary prudence and with necessary tools. That was the first point.
The second point is that on the macro scale, there are two views vis-à-vis our country’s economy
I specifically ask our dear pundits, youths and public to pay attention to this point
that there are two views towards economic prosperity and economic progress
One view says we have to achieve economic progress by tapping into domestic potential and using people in the county
There are many potentialities in the country
which have either not been used at all or not used correctly
We have to use these potentialities. [It means] endogenous economy
an economy which derives its essence and material from inside the country
and from the country’s capacities and from the capabilities of our own people
This is a view which says that for economic prosperity
we should look at the domestic potentialities of the country , identify the talents and capacities, and use them correctly
[Then] the economy will grow. That is one view
The second view towards the country’s economy is envisaging economic progress by seeking help from beyond borders
It obliges us to change our foreign policy, so that our economy would be fixed
to mend ties with an arrogant power so that our economy would see prosperity
to accept the imposed [policies] of arrogant powers in different sectors and different issues
so that our economy would see prosperity. That is the second view
Today, the country’s conditions have shown us that this second view is totally wrong, futile and useless
The very sanctions imposed against the Iranian nation today
provide a strong and solid-based reason for the fallacy of this view
It means that when you place hope in foreign powers
to come and bolster our economy
[when] you agree to bow to them to improve the economy, they will not settle for the minimum [profit]
When you look towards outside, you come across an issue like the drop in oil prices
Out of the blue, arrogant powers along with their regional stooges unfortunately come to the conclusion
that they should cut the oil price by a half and even more than a half
You see such a problem. When you look towards outside, that would be [the result]
When you look towards inside, that would no longer be the case
Today, foreign [governments] and the heads of arrogant powers are trying to strengthen this second view in our people
I saw the text of the US president’s message addressed to the Iranian people on the occasion of Norouz
In this message, he says that you should come and accept our words
In fact, he says that
in the nuclear issue, you should accept what we are dictating to you
so that jobs would be created in your country, investment would be made into your country
economic activities would be launched in your country. That means the second view
This view is one which will never reach any conclusion
We have to look towards inside the country. There are many domestic potentialities
The resistance economy which we put forward
has been fortunately accepted and welcomed by all pundits
I did not even see a single economic and social pundit
to reject what was put forward as the policy of resistance economy
That means orientation towards the country’s domestic potential
When they do not let you carry water from outside to [irrigate] your own land
you have to drill wells to supply water to your own land, so that you would not depend on the water of your tight-fisted neighbor
we have to seek assistance from inside and be able to push ahead with our plans. That was the second point
The third point is that neither in economy nor in any other sector can one move without making plans
There must be plans
If in any sector, government officials go ahead without any plans
that would become a routine job and no conclusion would be made
There must be precise and clear plans
towards which all organs and all potentialities would be mobilized
In my view, what should be taken into account this year and the following years as the objective of the economy
is investment in domestic production
All efforts by everybody should be mobilized to boost domestic production
All officials involved in economic domains
and all people should be asked to contribute to boosting domestic production
Of course, there are helpful options some of which I’ll mention
One of the most necessary plans is to support medium- and small-sized manufacturing enterprises
One option is to boost the activities of knowledge-based enterprises
If we focus on science and technology it is not only to
improve our scientific ranking
Progress in science and technology helps economic progress
Knowledge-based enterprises can contribute to national economy
A necessary measure would be to reduce selling raw materials
Some time ago, I objected to the dependence of our economy on oil and my speech [at that time] was related to this issue.
We have to move towards gradually reducing the sales of raw materials 333 --> until the sales totally end. We have to generate added value
Banks can play both a helpful and harmful role [to that effect]
and this issue should be taken into account by the country’s senior banking officials
Some banks across the country, by [resorting to] specific methods, shut down small- and medium-sized economic enterprises
and destroyed them. Banks can be of help or do harm
One fundamental task would be to facilitate investment
one fundamental job would be to reduce the imports of consumer goods
one fundamental job would be to combat smuggling
Government officials have different options to take care of
What I mentioned here was just a selection of them
Of course, all of them are difficult
It would be easy to express them, but putting them into practice is difficult
But officials have to do these difficult jobs because it is an important issue
People can also make a contribution
Those who are capable of making investment
should direct their investment to production and invest in production
Those who are consumers – our people are in fact consumers –
should consume domestic products
I have time and again laid emphasis on this issue and I emphasize again today
Everyone should try to consume domestic products
support Iranian laborers and help local manufacturing entities gain prosperity by consuming their products
[We have] to prevent extravagance
those who are extravagant should know that this profligacy and squandering [of wealth], which has been reproached by Islam
determines the fate of national economy
If extravagance and squandering of personal properties
be it water, bread, extravagance in parties, marriage ceremonies and in other events
are avoided, that would help boost national economy
Those who are involved in foreign trade and foreign transactions can make a contribution
and their role would be to act correctly in order to save the Iranian nation’s face. That was the third point.
The fourth point about economy is that sanctions are the only tool [at the hands] of the enemy. . They should know this
today, sanction is the the only tool of the enemy for confronting the Iranian nation
If we act correctly, act with prudence, the sanctions would become ineffective
As I mentioned,
the manufacturing and industrial plants which government organs are fortunately inaugurating today
– including Phase 12 of South Pars [gas field] which I earlier mentioned
and the military progress and these sci-tech parks and similar projects –
are among things that can overpower sanctions. They first reduce the impact of sanctions before terminating them.
Sanctions were the most difficult of them, but they also brought us blessings.
The sanctions showed us that we should be self-reliant and proved to us that we can benefit from our own domestic potential.
If government officials and people and particularly economic activities make endeavors
and public media outlets help , which I will talk about later
we will, God willing, see that the sanctions would not be able to prevent the Iranian nation from making progress.
Now, I’ll speak about the nuclear issue.
Of course there are other points I don't like to talk about more in this regard
A few points about the nuclear issue;
the first point on the nuclear issue is that our enemies, mainly the US, which are standing against the Iranian nation,
are moving ahead with prudence and policymaking.
We are totally aware of this issue. They know what they are doing.
They need these negotiations. The US desperately needs nuclear talks. 382 --> The differences which you see among the Americans
– the US Senators on one front and the US administration on the other – do not mean that they do not need these negotiations.
No, the rival faction [in the US] wouldn’t like to see its rival
– the Democratic Party – is credited with making gains in these negotiations. They are pursuing this.
They need these negotiations and they consider these negotiations as necessary for themselves, but they pretend to not need them.
In this New Year message of the US president, there were unfortunately dishonest words.
Although they pretend to be friendly towards the Iranian nation,
one can completely and clearly find out that these remarks are not honest.
One of them was that there are some in Iran
who do not agree with the diplomatic resolution of the nuclear issue. That is what he says.
He says there are some in Iran,
who do not want the nuclear issue to be resolved through negotiations and diplomacy. That is a lie.
In Iran, there is nobody who wouldn't like the nuclear issue to be resolved through negotiations.
What the Iranian nation does not want is to accept the impositions and bullying of the US. It doesn’t want this.
What the Iranian nation resists is to accept bullying by the opposite side.
The opposite side says you should come and negotiate and you should accept what we say word by word. That is what they say.
The Iranian nation resists this
and certainly neither our officials, nor our negotiating team backed by the Iranian nation, will accept this.
The second point on the nuclear issue and the negotiations under way
with European governments and the US,
is that negotiations with the US are only about the nuclear issue and nothing else. Everyone should know this.
We do not negotiate with the US about regional issues.
The US objectives in regional issues are exactly on the opposite end to our objectives.
We want security and peace in the region, we want self-rule of nations,
[but] the US policy in the region is to trigger insecurity.
Look at Egypt, look at Libya, look at Syria.
Arrogant powers with the US at their head launched a counterattack against Islamic Awakening which was created by nations
and still continues,
pushing the nations in the region gradually into misery. That’s their objective.
That is exactly at the opposite end of our objectives.
We have absolutely nothing to negotiate with the US neither on the regional issues, nor on domestic issues, nor on the issue of arms.
Negotiations are limited to the nuclear issue
and on how we can reach a conclusion regarding the nuclear issue diplomatically.
The third point is that the Americans repeatedly say
“We seal an agreement with Iran, then we look to see if they abide by the terms of the agreement; we will then lift the sanctions”.
That is wrong and unacceptable. We do not accept this.
The lifting of sanctions is part of the topics of negotiations and not the result of negotiations.
Those involved [in the talks] know the difference between these two correctly.
That is a US trickery to say that we [first] clinch an agreement,
then we look at the behavior and then we lift the sanctions! That’s not so.
As our officials have made it clear and the esteemed president spoke in clear terms,
the lifting of the sanctions should take place exactly at the same time when an agreement is being reached.
It means that the lifting of sanctions is part of an agreement and not something resulting from an agreement.
Another point is that the Americans repeatedly say that
in the decisions made by Iran, and the commitments accepted by Iran
there must be irreversibility. We do not accept this.
If the opposite side is able to re-impose the sanctions against the Iranian nation under any pretext,
that would be pointless for our negotiating team to accept something that would be irreversible.
Never! That is a popular industry,
a domestically-developed industry. It belongs to the people. Its knowledge and technology belong to the people. It should go ahead.
This progress is an essential part of any industry and technology.
They raise the issue of A-bombs, but they know that we are not seeking nuclear weapons,
but they are using this as a pretext to put pressure on the Iranian nation.
Throughout these negotiations, we have honored all [our] international obligations,
we respected our commitments under the politico-Islamic ethics throughout these negotiations,
we never reneged on our promises, we did not speak in conflicting languages, we did not show fickleness.
But our opposite side, the Americans, broke their promises,
showed fickleness, cheated.
Their behavior is a lesson for our nation.
Those in intellectual circles who were unaware of the nature of the opposite side
- the US- should look at these negotiations
to realize who they are facing and what the US is doing in the world today.
The threats they are making are ineffective.
Threats of more sanctions, threats of military action
do not scare away the Iranian nation.
The Iranian nation is standing tall and, God willng, it will successfully emerge the winner from this big test.
Of course, divine blessings can help our nation succeed on this path.
There are also other issues, but there is no time to mention them now.
Certainly, big tasks are upon the Iranian nation and government.
The issue of Islamic unity, the issue of helping oppressed nations,
expansion of the spiritual influence of Islam in the region where the Iranian nation is a standard-bearer.
These are all major tasks. If Almighty God bestows His grace upon our dear nation,
and God willing He will do so,
under the aegis of your prayers, your endeavors and your efforts, particularly by youth,
all these big tasks will, God willing, be accomplished.
Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and His blessings.