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

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و الحمدلله ربّ العالمين و الصّلاة و السّلام علي سيّدنا و نبيّنا ابي‌القاسم المصطفي محمّد

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و علي آله الاطيبين الاطهرين المنتجبين سيّما بقيّةالله في الارضين

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You are very welcome my dear ones. You illuminated the space of our Hosseiniyeh with your honest, faithful, [and] revolutionary presence,

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with your remarks, [and] with your statements,

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and gave me a sweet taste of meeting with a large group of an endeavoring, faithful [and] sacrificing [social] class.

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Our labor community – as they noted [and as] I have frequently said –

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is indeed a devoted, faithful, honest, [and] endeavoring class, [which] not only [endeavors] in factory,

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[but also] endeavored under conditions of the revolution for the essence of the revolution, to defend the revolution, and to [defend the country during the] period of the [Iraqi] imposed war [against Iran].

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Today is close to the middle [of the lunar month] of Sha’ban. Let me make a comment about the festive occasion of the middle of Sha’ban

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and that comment is that the middle of Sha’ban is the symbol of hope in the future.

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I mean, all hopes that we pin on something may be realized [and] may not be realized;

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however, hope in the final reform [in human affairs] by the absolute guardian [chosen by] God,

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[namely] Hadhrat Sahib az-Zaman (May God Hasten His Reemergence and May Our Souls Be Sacrificed for Him) is a hope which will be certainly fulfilled.

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[When addressing him in the prayer, we say,] “Peace be upon you o the [great] promise of God, He has guaranteed [its realization];”

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[therefore, his return from occultation] is the guaranteed promise of God.

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[Elsewhere the prayer says] “Peace be upon you o raised flag and accumulated knowledge and he who responds to the call of the helpless and hopeless and o unlimited mercy and the promise that is not false.”

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It emphasizes that this is an incontrovertible divine promise.

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It is not only us – Shias – who say this, [and even] it is not only us Muslims who say this, [but] all religions in the world are waiting for such a day.

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The positive point about us is that we know who he is, we feel his existence, believe in his presence,

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talk to him, address him, ask him [what we want] and he answers us; this is the difference [between us and them].

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Other people – [including] non-Shia Muslims and non-Muslim believers [in other religions] – put their faith in an ambiguous concept;

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this is not true about us, Shias. It is clear what we want, [and] with whom we speak. [Therefore, the middle of Sha’ban] is the day of hope.

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My dear ones, dear youths, [and] dear laborers! Know the value of this hope; [and] hold [this] hope [alive] in your hearts;

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[I mean,] hope in change of the bleak and dark and distorted countenance of a world, which is at the present time under domination of superpowers.

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Know this and be sure that this situation will change.

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Have no doubt that this atmosphere of oppression and despotism, which you see in the world at the present time,

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from bullying, slandering, wickedness and meanness – whose symbols are the leaders of America and the leaders of Zionists and others more or less like them –

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this [state of affairs] will undoubtedly change; this is the hope that we have.

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We must help [each other and] ask God and [also] endeavor ourselves to bring forward that day and, God willing, bring it close.

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Another point is about the month of Sha’ban; the month of Sha’ban must not be neglected.

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The month of Sha’ban is full of festive occasions from its beginning to its end, [and from this viewpoint is] similar to the month of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is also full of festive occasions from its beginning to its end, [which are] festive occasions for the Chosen Ones of God.

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Any day in which there is an opportunity when a human being would be able to focus on purity of his soul

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[and] on the illumination of his heart, that day is an opportune day and a festive day.

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The month of Sha’ban is a month for such opportunities, from day one to the last day.

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Asking for [God’s] forgiveness in this month, praying in this month, doing pilgrimage in this month, supplication [before God] in this month,

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recitation of the Quran in this month, [and] saying one’s [daily] prayers in this month, these are all opportunities.

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We must do our utmost in order to develop our world and there is no doubt about this, but we must also work to help our hearts prosper as well;

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we must help our hearts prosper. It is through prosperity of heart that one can create a good world.

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If the heart is not prospering, if the heart is full of grudge, [and] if the heart is dark and sinner,

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it is possible [for us] to make technology advance and take technology to where it has reached at the present time and [even] further, but the world will not be a desirable world;

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the world will be a bitter world, [and] the world will be a world devoid of justice. A desirable world will be [realized] when

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all decision-makers, those who take steps, those who move, and if possible the body politic, have prosperous hearts, [and] have illuminated hearts.

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[Therefore,] do not neglect [the spiritual value of] the month of Sha’ban

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[Now] I [want to] say a few words about labor issues, [and] a few words – of course briefly – about global issues that afflict us.

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As for the labor issues, manpower is one of the biggest riches of any country.

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I mean, existence of laborers, designers, engineers, [and] people active in production in any field in the country

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is much more valuable for the country than underground reserves and gold and oil and diamond and the likes of these.

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This [manpower] is that [factor], which can develop a country. Now, [if] you look [you will see that] there are countries in the world,

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which produce all or most of the diamond in the globe, but they themselves are living in misery and poverty; Why?

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Because they lack adequate manpower, do not possess active manpower, [and] do not have manpower that can think [creatively].

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[This is why] manpower is the biggest wealth of a country and you are the manpower;

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you laborer, you entrepreneurs, you engineers, you designer, [and] you who are active in various labor sectors,

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are [the country’s] manpower. This is the high value of manpower, and the working class is part of this high value and this huge wealth

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In terms of value creation, the efforts made by our laborers are above conventional and average [norms] of the world.

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I have frequently said this about various sectors, about [university] students, [and] about scientists and researchers.

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Then all studies, which have been reported, confirm this issue; this is also what I believe in bout laborers.

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The Iranian laborers are among the best in the world;

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I mean their artistic hand and ideation and thinking and high motive are higher than the world’s average.

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And this comes as during the repressive era under the tyrannical Pahlavi rule, [and] before that during the period of permanent neglect and slumber of the Qajar [dynasty due]

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attention was not paid to labor and laborers and the labor community and production and national issues.

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Of course, during the Qajar period, it was due to imbecility and mental retardation, [but] under the Pahlavi rule, it was due to treason.

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Meanwhile, during the [post-]revolution period, when the labor force and laborers have become active and found a new fervor

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and have progressed in terms of quantity and quality, we see that average abilities and prominence

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of the Iranian laborers is higher than the world’s rate.

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Yesterday a small exhibition of domestic products was arranged here for me to visit.

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I went and visited this exhibition for a few hours, [and] saw [the result of] your work.

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The artistic hands of the Iranian laborers must be really kissed,

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[and] your hands must be kissed. This domestic production is [very] valuable

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in terms of quality despite all the problems that we have, despite these sanctions,

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which block [the import of] raw materials, [and] block [the import of] advanced machinery,

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[and despite] all sorts and kinds of problems, which the arrogant [powers] of the world create for us.

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However, when one looks at a [domestic] product, he sees how prominent it is. And [there was] everything [on display in that exhibition].

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Yesterday, scores of [Iranian] companies had brought their products – which are the very works of your hands – here and I visited [them].

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From textile and shoes and ready-made clothes and furniture and chinaware and crystal [products]

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to medicines and cosmetics and home appliances and refrigerators and stationery and everything,

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which they showed me here yesterday – it took a few hours – were all prominent [products and] were all excellent.

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One really feels humbled in the face of domestic workforce. Then when I say that supporting the Iranian products [is a must]

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some people either do not believe or do not confirm or do not act [along this line].

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Well, supporting the Iranian products means to support these laborers,

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means to support [domestic] workforce, [and] means to support [domestic] production.

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This support is overarching; [I mean,] people must support and the government must [also] support, [and] everybody must support [domestic production

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They brought up problems, which are related to both entrepreneurs and laborers:

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the problem with insurance, the problem with shortage of facilities, the problem of liquidity, the problem of tax impediments,

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the problems caused by banks, the problems related to the Ministry of Economic Affairs [and Finance], [and] problems caused by various [related] places. These problems must be resolved,

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[and] a resolved and complete measure must be taken for the resolution of these problems.

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When problems are resolved, when Iranian products are supported,

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[and] when the work done by the Iranian laborers is appreciated, then we will no more witness that [officials of a] factory would say

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“we are working at one-third of the capacity.” Some people told me this yesterday

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[and noted that] we have this much potentialities and are working like this: [I mean] at one-third of the capacity [or] at half the capacity.

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Well, why? Where are laborers for [activating] that remaining two-thirds [of the factory’s capacity]? This amounts to that accumulated unemployment [which exists] in the country.

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[The fact] that I say [we must] “support Iranian products,” it means that [new] jobs must be created,

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[and new] job opportunities must be provided; it means that we must not have jobless laborers; it means that our educated youth must not simply think about [getting a] desk job;

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they must know that they can work in different sectors in accordance with their status. If an Iranian product is supported, this will happen.

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Why some people insist on pouring their money into the pockets of a foreign company? What sickness is this

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that [we] must consume foreign products? Sometimes, we do not have a similar Iranian product, [in which case,] well, yes [consumption of foreign products] is of no objection.

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There are [also] some products, whose production inside [the country] does not conform to economy, [and] is not economical; very well!

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We [can also use foreign products in case] we do not have a similar product inside [the country].  [However, when] there is domestic counterpart of a product inside [the country], is produced

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and in terms of quality some of them have a quality comparable to the foreign products, [and] some even top the quality of their foreign counterparts,

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why some people must insist that they must certainly consume a foreign product

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and that given foreign brand and the likes of these? What sickness is this? What misunderstanding and misconception is this that some people have?

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[We must] consume Iranian products. Let us decide; [in the meantime,] big institutes, the administration itself, others

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[and] everybody [must] decide [to support Iranian] products. We have no prejudice against others, [and] do not want to be hostile [to others];

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[we just] want to make our own children, our own youths and our own laborers to work; we want to occupy them with a job,

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[and] want to save them from the harmful effects of unemployment.

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Unemployment has many harmful effects; it causes social harm, causes security harm, causes ethical harm,

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[and] causes all kinds and sorts of harm. We want this; [and] the [best] way [to achieve this goal] is to support Iranian products.

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Iranian products [and] Iranian production must be backed and supported

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This is also the best way of countering the enemies. Look my dear ones! Our enemies have understood and come to realize

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that they will get nowhere through hard military war.

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A few years before this, another American president – who was also bad-tempered and

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made nonsensical remarks and talked nonsense like the current one – made certain comments against me.

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In a speech those few years back, I said, “Mr., the period of hit and run is over; you will be hit back if hit [us].”

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They know this. They know that if they embark on hard and military conflicts and confrontation with us, they will be trapped.

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Yes, they will deal a blow to us, but they themselves may be dealt many more blows; they have understood this.

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The solution that they have come up with is [to launch] an economic war and a cultural war and the likes of these [against Iran]. Now apart from the cultural issue,

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what is currently of significance to our enemies is the economic war.

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America’s war room against us is America’s Department of Treasury, which is their ministry of economic affairs and finance;

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it is the war room [which makes decisions] against us. Well, what is the [best] solution to counter the economic war?

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[The solution] is that we focus on our own economy inside [the country].

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When our economy is reliant [on other countries and] when it is dependent, we face problems. Of course, I do not believe that

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[Iran’s] economic relations must be or can be cut off from the world; it is clearly impossible [to do this]. At the present time, all countries across the world are related to one another and interconnected,

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but relying on [what exists] outside our borders is totally wrong; [we] must not rely [on others].

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Yes, [officials must establish] relations with the world through [their] cunning, with [a good] plan, with correct policymaking, through correct follow-up, [and] with seriousness.

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The world is big; the world is not limited only to America and a few European countries; the world is very vast.

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[Therefore, officials] must establish relations [with other countries] as much as is needed, but [they] must not set their sights on any foreign force;

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[they must] set their sights on the domestic elements and eye this great value: domestic manpower.

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When people see that we, officials, insist on solving our problems inside [the country] and take advantage of domestic potentialities,

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even if we have to face some difficulties, they will tolerate [difficulties as well and] will help us.

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The esteemed officials of the country must pay attention that reliance must not be made on [what is] outside [the country].

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One way used by Americans to counter the freedom-seeking [and] independent establishment of the Islamic Republic

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is this economic work, [because] they are opposed to its freedom seeking, are opposed to it being independent, [and] they say [to Iran that you must] come under our flag,

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come under our umbrella, obey our orders, [and] make policy according to our will, because we have more arms,

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because we have more power, [and because] we have more money; this is what they want.

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Another [way to counter the Islamic Republic] – [and I say this] so that you would be informed and pay attention to

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– is to instigate some of these less understanding governments, [which I really do not know] how to describe them,

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[and] these inattentive governments in our own region to cause differences and conflicts and fighting and such things.

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Americans sit with these Saudis in order to instigate them against the Islamic Republic;

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well, if you want to instigate, why you do not instigate Zionists, who are your own stooges, [because] in a certain way, they are [US] stooges, [but] in another way, they are masters [of the US government]?

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Why you instigate those miserable ones – Saudis? They say we want a war to be waged among Muslims.

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One of their plans is to encourage and incite and instigate some countries like [this]

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– as I mentioned Saudi [Arabia] as an example – to counter and face and come to blows with the Islamic Republic.

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If they are sane, they must not be duped by this enemy;

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[because] if they come to blows with the Islamic Republic, they will be certainly dealt a blow and defeated.

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They [Americans] do not want to undertake the cost of confrontation with the Islamic Republic establishment and the powerful nation of Iran by themselves

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and [aim to] transfer its cost to such governments in the region.

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What America does is to create insecurity; wherever Americans have set foot on during these [past] years, they have created insecurity.

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At any point – both in West Asia, where we are, and in other parts of the world, [and] wherever they have set foot on– they have created insecurity.

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[They have] either triggered civil war, or triggered fratricide, [and] brought people misery wherever they went.

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It is for this reason that America’s foothold in the West Asia region must be erased;

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Americans must get out of the West Asia region;

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that the party, which must be driven out of here, is America, not the Islamic Republic.

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We are the Islamic Republic, we hail from this [region], the Persian Gulf is our home, West Asia is our home,

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[and] here is our home. You are aliens, you have come from afar, it is you who pursue wicked goals,

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it is you who want to stoke sedition, [and] it is you who must leave [this region].

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And know that Americans and the rest of people who are like them will be driven out of this region.

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One of those issues on which I put emphasis with regard to supporting Iranian products and have said this many times

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– now Mr. minister is also here – and, God willing, this issue must be seriously pursued by the administration

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is the issue of preventing excessive imports and seriously preventing smuggling,

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because [the main] complaint and grievance that many of these officials and those who are active with regard to issues related to Iranian products,

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[including] entrepreneurs, investors, skilled workers and others, have is that foreign products enter the country,

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[and] mostly with low quality, and compete – in an unequal and imbalanced competition – with domestic products and limit popularity of domestic products.

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This is one of those things, which must be certainly prevented.

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Of course, the comments, which were made by Mr. Minister here today and steps that have been or are being taken, these are valuable [comments and] steps.

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God willing, they will follow up [on this goal] so that it will be realized and the output of these works should be seen; I mean, the output of [these] works should be tangible.

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And, God willing, our labor community, especially the dear young laborers, will become more optimistic and hopeful about the future on a daily basis.

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