US Election Results
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said in a meeting with thousands of people from the central Iranian province of Isfahan on Wednesday that Isfahan is a province of “martyrdom and pioneering people,” “resistance and steadfastness,” “science and culture,” “religion and Velayat (religious guardianship),” and “work and initiative.” Emphasizing that the Islamic Republic of Iran passes no judgment on the presidential election in the United States and has always seen hostility from the two dominant US political parties, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Today, the most important needs of the country [Iran], especially for the elites and officials are ‘political insight and not neglecting the enemy’s plots’, ‘maintaining revolutionary spirit and orientation’, ‘[taking] action and practical steps in the field of the Economy of Resistance’, ‘accelerated continuation of [Iran's] scientific growth’, ‘national unity and solidarity’, and ‘maintaining spiritual and internal strength’.
During the meeting, which was held on the anniversary of the epic funeral held by the people of Isfahan on November 16, 1982 for 370 martyrs of Operation Moharram, which was staged during the eight-year Iraqi-imposed war against Iran, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to the spirit of “martyrdom seeking” and “resistance” as the most important characteristics of people of Isfahan province. Emphasizing the need to know the enemy’s plot at any juncture and avoiding submission in the face of the enemy, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Standing fast on the principles of the Islamic Revolution is one of the important things we need today, and the principles of the revolution are the same fundaments and indices, which have been laid out in [the late] Imam [Khomeini]’s speeches and his last will and testament."
Once again recommending the young people to study the speeches and the last will and testament of the Imam as a roadmap for the movement of the Islamic establishment, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed out, “That Imam who shocked the world, has been materialized in these speeches and his last will and testament and the Imam cannot be interpreted in any way contrary to what he really was.”
The Leader noted that the sole way for the resolution of the country’s problems, making up for all cases of backwardness, and achieving material, spiritual, ethical and cultural dignity and welfare and progress is standing fast on the principles of the Islamic Revolution and said, “From a scientific viewpoint, serious attention and actions are also needed to [bolster] the country's internal strength, especially in the economic sector.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, “The enemy has zeroed in on [Iran's] economy because it imagines that economy is the [main] weakness of the country and for this reason, emphasis has been put [in Iran] on the ‘Economy of Resistance, action and practical steps’, and officials must demonstrate ‘action and practical steps’ and their indices before the people’s eyes.”
Ayatollah Khamenei described “political insight” as another special requirement, particularly among the Iranian elites, and stressed, “Absence of insight will cause one to be attracted to those things, which actually lack attraction, just in the same way that some people are attracted to America while this attraction is false.”
The Leader then focused on issues that have been raised about the problems and the realities that exist inside the American society, especially during the recent presidential election, and said, “The person, who has been elected as the president of America, said during his election campaign that if the money they have spent on war during these past years had been used inside America, they could have built the country anew; do those people, who are attracted to that imaginary point, understand the meaning of this?”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to statements made during the United States’ election campaigns about the existence of widespread destruction, poverty and problems in this country and pointed out, “During recent years, [the government of] America has spent the money of this country’s people on dishonorable wars whose results have been massacre of tens of thousands of civilians and devastation of infrastructure in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen.”
Ayatollah Khamenei then noted that the realities that were laid bare through election campaigns in America had been frequently talked about during past years, but some people did not want to accept them. The Leader then added, “The [real] meaning of insight is to know with whom you are faced and how he thinks about you and [also know] that if you close your eyes, you will be certainly dealt a blow.”
Stressing that political and nonpolitical elites are expected to have such insight, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, “Fortunately, ordinary people do have this insight, but it is surprising that some elites, who rely on illusions, do not have it.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution then pointed to the results of the recent presidential election in the United States and noted, “We pass no judgment on this election, because America is the same America and during the past 37 years, any one of these two [Republican and Democratic] parties have been in power, they have had no benefit [for Iran] and their mischief has been permanently directed toward the Iranian nation.”
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized, “Despite some people across the world, who have been grieving over the results of America’s election, or some other people, who are happy, we neither grieve, nor are happy [over US election results], because it makes no difference to us and we have no concern and with God’s Grace, we are also ready to face any possible eventuality.”
The Leader said, “The issue on which we must now concentrate is the way out of the current and future problems of the country, and the sole way [to achieve this goal] is to preserve and promote internal strength of the [Islamic] establishment.”
Stressing the fact that with the realization of political, economic and cultural strengths [of the country] as well as spiritual and psychological strengths of the elites and senior officials no danger would be threatening the country, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, “The Iranian nation, especially the youths, must continue this blessed growth of the revolutionary spirit, because the main problem of the country is not some discussions and clamors and controversies, but is preservation of the revolutionary spirit and orientation.”
Ayatollah Khamenei then stated that from a scientific viewpoint, the Economy of Resistance, scientific progress of the country as well as the domestic unity and solidarity were necessary, adding, “Various tests are, in fact, good grounds for the recognition of weaknesses and removing them and turning them into strengths.”
Remembering the track records of the people of Isfahan in successfully passing various tests, the Leader pointed to November 16, 1982, which marks the “anniversary of glorious and historic funeral held for about 370 martyrs of Operation Moharram in the city of Isfahan,” and said, “That unforgettable funeral is indicative of the [high] spiritual capacity, [as well as] laudable strength and resistance of the people of Isfahan, because on the very day of the funeral of the martyrs, many young people in Isfahan stood in line to be sent to the war front.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described reducing the importance and sending into oblivion of prominent and honor-inspiring points in the history of the Islamic Revolution as one of the main goals of the enemies’ onslaught and said, “The epic and enthusiastic move by the people of Isfahan must never be forgotten.”
The Leader described Isfahan as the city of “science, religion, Velayat, work and initiative, art and culture, and martyrdom” and noted, “The people of Isfahan have been pioneers and vanguards in making sacrifices for the country and the religion of God, and such great and renowned martyrs as Ayatollah [Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini] Beheshti, [as well as former Islamic Revolution Guards Corps commanders like Mohammad Ebrahim] Hemmat, [Hossein] Kharrazi, [Ahmad] Kazemi and [Mostafa] Raddanipour have arisen from this region every one of whom lights the path [ahead] of this nation like a shining torch.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also enumerated “generosity in giving up their property on the path of God and for the public good,” and “saving in ordinary and personal life” as other good and exemplary characteristics of the people of Isfahan.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution then pointed to the ongoing Arba’een march and while describing it as a valuable asset, added, “This huge and millions-strong move between [the holy Iraqi cities of] Najaf and Karbala and this enthusiasm and movement, even if accompanied with some risk, is always alive in the hearts of our people and youths and this asset must be preserved, because it guarantees the country's survival.”
Ayatollah Khamenei concluded his remarks by emphasizing that, “The future of the country will be much better than its present and with God’s Grace and thanks to the blessings of Islam and the revolution, the Iranian nation will overcome all problems and make headway.”
Before the remarks by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei's representatives and the Friday Prayers leader of the city of Isfahan commemorated the anniversary of the funeral held for 370 martyrs of Operation Moharram on November 16, 1982 and said, “The resistant and faithful people of Isfahan follow the religion of Islam and are ready with all they have to serve the Islamic Revolution.”
Pointing to the potentialities of Isfahan province in the fields of economy and industry, he added, “The people of Isfahan have taken many steps toward the realization of the Economy of Resistance and this province is capable of turning into a role model in this regard.”
16 / Nov / 2016
To the Youth in Europe and North America
In the name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful
To the Youth in Europe and North America,
The recent events in France and similar ones in some other Western countries have convinced me to directly talk to you about them. I am addressing you, [the youth], not because I overlook your parents, rather it is because the future of your nations and countries will be in your hands; and also I find that the sense of quest for truth is more vigorous and attentive in your hearts.
I don’t address your politicians and statesmen either in this writing because I believe that they have consciously separated the route of politics from the path of righteousness and truth.
I would like to talk to you about Islam, particularly the image that is presented to you as Islam. Many attempts have been made over the past two decades, almost since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, to place this great religion in the seat of a horrifying enemy. The provocation of a feeling of horror and hatred and its utilization has unfortunately a long record in the political history of the West.
Here, I don’t want to deal with the different phobias with which the Western nations have thus far been indoctrinated. A cursory review of recent critical studies of history would bring home to you the fact that the Western governments’ insincere and hypocritical treatment of other nations and cultures has been censured in new historiographies.
The histories of the United States and Europe are ashamed of slavery, embarrassed by the colonial period and chagrined at the oppression of people of color and non-Christians. Your researchers and historians are deeply ashamed of the bloodsheds wrought in the name of religion between the Catholics and Protestants or in the name of nationality and ethnicity during the First and Second World Wars. This approach is admirable.
By mentioning a fraction of this long list, I don’t want to reproach history; rather I would like you to ask your intellectuals as to why the public conscience in the West awakens and comes to its senses after a delay of several decades or centuries. Why should the revision of collective conscience apply to the distant past and not to the current problems? Why is it that attempts are made to prevent public awareness regarding an important issue such as the treatment of Islamic culture and thought?
You know well that humiliation and spreading hatred and illusionary fear of the “other” have been the common base of all those oppressive profiteers. Now, I would like you to ask yourself why the old policy of spreading “phobia” and hatred has targeted Islam and Muslims with an unprecedented intensity. Why does the power structure in the world want Islamic thought to be marginalized and remain latent? What concepts and values in Islam disturb the programs of the super powers and what interests are safeguarded in the shadow of distorting the image of Islam? Hence, my first request is: Study and research the incentives behind this widespread tarnishing of the image of Islam.
My second request is that in reaction to the flood of prejudgments and disinformation campaigns, try to gain a direct and firsthand knowledge of this religion. The right logic requires that you understand the nature and essence of what they are frightening you about and want you to keep away from.
I don’t insist that you accept my reading or any other reading of Islam. What I want to say is: Don’t allow this dynamic and effective reality in today’s world to be introduced to you through resentments and prejudices. Don’t allow them to hypocritically introduce their own recruited terrorists as representatives of Islam.
Receive knowledge of Islam from its primary and original sources. Gain information about Islam through the Qur’an and the life of its great Prophet. I would like to ask you whether you have directly read the Qur’an of the Muslims. Have you studied the teachings of the Prophet of Islam and his humane, ethical doctrines? Have you ever received the message of Islam from any sources other than the media?
Have you ever asked yourself how and on the basis of which values has Islam established the greatest scientific and intellectual civilization of the world and raised the most distinguished scientists and intellectuals throughout several centuries?
I would like you not to allow the derogatory and offensive image-buildings to create an emotional gulf between you and the reality, taking away the possibility of an impartial judgment from you. Today, the communication media have removed the geographical borders. Hence, don’t allow them to besiege you within fabricated and mental borders.
Although no one can individually fill the created gaps, each one of you can construct a bridge of thought and fairness over the gaps to illuminate yourself and your surrounding environment. While this preplanned challenge between Islam and you, the youth, is undesirable, it can raise new questions in your curious and inquiring minds. Attempts to find answers to these questions will provide you with an appropriate opportunity to discover new truths. Therefore, don’t miss the opportunity to gain proper, correct and unbiased understanding of Islam so that hopefully, due to your sense of responsibility toward the truth, future generations would write the history of this current interaction between Islam and the West with a clearer conscience and lesser resentment.
Seyyed Ali Khamenei
21st Jan. 2015
Negotiation with America
February 7, 2013
…
Now the Americans have raised the issue of negotiations again. They repeat that America is prepared to directly negotiate with Iran. This is not new. The Americans have repeatedly raised the issue of negotiations at every juncture. Now their newly appointed politicians repeat that we should negotiate. And they say that the ball is in Iran's court. The ball is in your court. It is you who should explain the meaning of negotiations that are accompanied by pressure and threats. Negotiations are for the sake of proving one's goodwill. You commit tens of acts which show lack of goodwill and then you speak about negotiations. Do you expect the Iranian nation to believe that you have goodwill? Of course, we understand why the Americans repeatedly raise the issue of negotiations and why they speak about it in different ways. We know what the reason is. As the Americans themselves say, their Middle East policies have failed. They need to play their trump card. Their trump card is dragging the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is based on the people, to the negotiating table. They need this. They want to say to the world that they have goodwill. No, we do not see any goodwill.
Four years ago - during the early days of the current American administration - when they were saying the same words, I announced that we will not prejudge and we will wait to see what action they will take and then we will judge. Now after four years, how should the Iranian nation judge their actions? They supported the fitna in Iran, they helped those who started the fitna, they sent their troops to Afghanistan under the claim that they were fighting terrorism, they trampled on so many people and they destroyed them. They are also supporting and cooperating with the same terrorists in Syria and they used the same terrorists wherever they could in Iran. Their agents, their allies and Zionist spies openly killed the scientists of the Islamic Republic. They did not even condemn these terrorist activities. [On the contrary] They supported them. This is their record. They imposed sanctions - which they wanted to be crippling - on the Iranian nation. They openly said, crippling. Who do you want to cripple? Did you want to cripple the Iranian nation? Do you have goodwill?
Negotiations are meaningful when the two sides negotiate with good intentions and without planning to deceive one another. Negotiations should be on equal terms. Negotiations for the sake of negotiations, tactical negotiations and offer of negotiations as a superpower gesture, are deceptive moves. They are not honest moves.
I am not a diplomat. I am a revolutionary. I speak openly and honestly. A diplomat says something, but he actually means something else. We speak openly and honestly. We speak clearly and decisively. Negotiations are meaningful when the two sides show their good intentions. [Negotiations are not meaningful] when one side does not show his good intentions. You yourselves refer to this as pressures and negotiations. These two things are not compatible. You want to point the gun at the people of Iran and say, negotiate or we will shoot. You say these things to intimidate the Iranian nation. You should know that the Iranian nation is not intimidated by these things [Audience shout "Allahu Akbar"].
A number of people become happy about the American offer of negotiations and they say, come and negotiate with us. This is expressed by a number of people who are either simple-minded or who have some ulterior motives. One cannot make definitive judgments about people. But what a simple-minded person does is no different, in essence, from what a person who has ulterior motives does. Negotiations with America will not solve any problems. When did they keep their promises? Over the past 60 years, since the coup d'état of the 28th of Mordad of 1332 until today, the officials of our country have been harmed whenever they trusted the Americans. One day Mosaddeq trusted the Americans, relied on them and considered them as his friends. Then the coup d'état of the 28th of Mordad occurred and the Americans found the opportunity to launch a coup d'état. The agent responsible for launching the coup d'état came to Tehran with a briefcase full of money and he divided it among thugs and vandals so that they launch the coup d'état. The agent was American. They admitted what the purpose of their plot was. After that, they helped the oppressive Pahlavi regime achieve domination over our country. They established SAVAK and chained and tortured political activists. These are the things they did at that time.
During a certain period after the Revolution, the officials of the country trusted them. But the politicians of the American government labeled Iran as "axis of evil". It is you who are the embodiment of evil. It is you who are doing evil deeds in the world. You wage wars, loot nations and support the Zionist regime. On the issue of Islamic Awakening, you suppress the nations who have risen in revolt as much as you can and you weaken them and pit them against one another. You are evil. Evil is part of your character. They accused the Iranian nation of doing evil acts. This is a big insult. Whenever people trusted them, they made such moves. They should show their good intentions. Negotiations and offer of negotiations are not compatible with pressures. Negotiations and pressures are two different paths. It is not possible for the Iranian nation to accept negotiations under pressures and threats, with those who make threats. What should we negotiate for?
Today, the Iranian nation is vigilant. The true face of America has been revealed not only in Iran, but also in the region. Nations distrust America and there are many reasons for this distrust. The Iranian nation has also accurately read the Americans' moves. It understands what their purpose is. Our nation is vigilant. Today, if certain people want to help America re-establish its domination and act against our national interests, against the progress of the country and against the path of independence, they will be held responsible by the people and even if I act against this public demand, the people will complain. It is obvious. All the officials are responsible for safeguarding national interests and preserving national independence. They should preserve the dignity of the Iranian nation.
We have negotiated, signed contracts and established relations with countries which have not plotted against Iran. The Iranian nation is peace-loving. The Iranian nation is patient. The unity of the Iranian nation is in line with promoting the interests of humanity. Today, what the Iranian nation does is for the sake of its interests and the interests of the Islamic Ummah and humanity. And undoubtedly, divine assistance is behind the Iranian nation. By Allah's favor, the people of Iran will be able to help not only themselves but also the Islamic Ummah to reach the peak of glory with their wisdom, with their firm determination and with the resistance that they have shown on this bright path, the path that they will continue following in the future as well. The way to reach this glory is to preserve this wisdom. The way to do this is to preserve our unity. The way to do this is for the officials to safeguard the interests of the country.
Truth
In the name of allah the most gracious the most merciful
الإمامُ الباقرُ عَلَيهِ السَّلامُ: تَعَلَّمُوا الصِّدقَ قَبلَ الحَديثِ.
امام باقر عليه السلام: پيش از سخن گويى، راستگويى بياموزيد
Imam al- Baqir (AS) said, 'Learn to tell the truth before you start to speak.
(الكافي: 2 / 104 / 4)
Truth
In the name of allah the most gracious the most merciful
الإمامُ الباقرُ عَلَيهِ السَّلامُ: تَعَلَّمُوا الصِّدقَ قَبلَ الحَديثِ.
امام باقر عليه السلام: پيش از سخن گويى، راستگويى بياموزيد
Imam al- Baqir (AS) said, 'Learn to tell the truth before you start to speak.
(الكافي: 2 / 104 / 4)