Statements in Meeting with Hundreds of Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Economic Activists

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially the Awaited One on earth.

Today’s meeting was very useful and sweet. One part was about the achievements, initiatives that have emerged, successes, victories, and sources of hope, which I believe we need to hear; in the discouraging atmosphere that the enemies, with their special intentions, try to inject into specific environments of the country, such as among the youth and academics, these words, these reports, these statements are a source of life, hope, movement, and progress. Another part consists of grievances, which we have repeatedly heard from groups like yours, and we are obliged to pay attention to them and address these grievances.

Regarding the first part, that is, the good news and advancements and presenting what has happened, I believe we need an important media effort. Do all our youth know about these advancements you reported here? Do our students know? Do those who wish to be active in the country, who see their capabilities within themselves, know that, for instance, a small unit could be established in a small city a few years ago, and after a while, it could be increased several times and progressed? Are they aware of this? We are lacking in showing what exists, those advancements, the realization of dreams; a media effort is necessary, which is a separate chapter; they must sit down and discuss and think about this.

Well, today’s meeting is the fifth meeting we have had with you, with the group of entrepreneurs and investors in these past few years. We started this session in 2019; in 2019, 1400, 1401, 1402, and now also in 1403. Many of you were present in these sessions in previous years. In 2019, at the height of sanctions and compounded threats regarding sanctions and pressure, we held this meeting to thank those who have rolled up their sleeves in the country and made production and the progress of the country their priority; we told them that you are the commanders of the front line of the economic war; in 2019, we gave this title to the friends who were present and said you are the commanders of the front line of the economic war. Today, one of the most important aspects of our war is the economic war. We said that production growth must be pursued. Every year this meeting has been held, we have observed and become informed—not just a mere report—we have learned that the private sector’s creativity has increased and become stronger. Previously, our concern was to bring the private sector into the field; today we observe that the private sector, with the experience it has gained from entering the field, is motivated and eager to expand production and investment; the meaning of this statement is that we have made progress in these five years.

Yesterday, I saw the exhibition. Of course, what was displayed in this exhibition was actually a small part of the reality that exists in the country; at the same time, this exhibition—the exhibition I saw yesterday—showed that the private sector of the country, despite external pressures, despite sanctions, despite threats of further sanctions, has been able to achieve a satisfactory level of progress. This exhibition was indicative of progress, indicative of forward movement. Why do we not appreciate these great blessings from God? The country is moving forward. The private sector is one of the examples and manifestations of the country’s progress in the economy. If we enter the realm of science and research, we will also encounter such a reality. We see these advancements in various sectors of the country. Of course, there are many flaws, deficiencies, and problems that revert to us. Now, the ministers are present here; Dr. Aref is also here; I will mention what is our responsibility.

A country that grapples with sanctions must follow this line and make it one of its principles; today there are several countries in the world that are under the sanctions of the powers; of course, sanctions from their perspective; the very things they have sanctioned are made available to these countries in appropriate and correct forms, despite them. However, at the same time, what is the duty of a country that is under sanctions is to focus more on its internal capacity, pay attention to it, and benefit from it. I suggest that the country’s officials come to see this exhibition; we previously made the same request in the past; [officials] should come if they have not seen it. The esteemed heads of the branches, various officials should come to see this exhibition. Last year, I made the same request; the martyr president, Mr. Raisi—may God have mercy on him—came here to see this exhibition after a day or two; he spent more time there than I did—perhaps twice as long—and was more pleased and happy than I was; I am certain that the country’s officials, the heads of the branches, and various officials will have the same feeling.

There is a sweet point that was seen both in the exhibition and repeated in today’s discussions, and I knew it from outside as well; that is, in some cases—which are not few—we observe that the private investor cares more about the progress of the country than about personal income; this is very important; we observed this in today’s statements as well. Yes, income and expanding private life are also important to them, but in some cases, more than that or several times more than that, the progress of the country is important to them; that the country can overcome these problems.

The essential point I have been making, and today I want to emphasize the same point, is that the country’s executive decision-making system must assist the private sector; this is a necessity: it must help. The most important assistance is to remove obstacles from their path; remove the obstacles. Unfortunately, I observe that in some places, government agencies or supervisory bodies act as speed bumps; that is, instead of helping the advancement and development of the company, they create obstacles that actually hinder its progress.

One issue is the issue of imports, which several gentlemen mentioned; this is something I have repeated many times; well, pursue this. Mr. Dr. Aref, from the esteemed ministers, should ask the esteemed Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade. One feels ashamed that one of the gentlemen said: the financial figure of imports [of similar products] from the factory is about forty percent more than the figure of imports of that factory’s production; that is, a competitor for the Iranian worker, for the Iranian factory, for the Iranian investor. One truly feels embarrassed! When Iranian goods can solve the country’s problems, why should we allow the way to be opened for foreign investors to benefit at the cost of bringing the Iranian investor to its knees? This is harming the country; this is not a small matter; this must be pursued. What I emphasize is this: government agencies must help, remove obstacles; these obstacles are sometimes laws; they should amend the laws; some are government regulations; they should change them. Of course, I do not recommend negligence in the face of misdeeds; some enter the field as investors, as entrepreneurs, but the reality is that they are not investors; they want to exploit, which was observed in the allocation of preferential currencies and similar matters, and many abuses occurred; I do not recommend this. Increase vigilance, but also increase assistance; help those who are genuinely doing the right work; remove the obstacles from their path.

An important example of removing obstacles is to implement the policies of Article 44. When we announced the policies of Article 44 a few years ago, everyone—meaning all individuals from officials and knowledgeable people who had contact with me—approved it; some in the press, some in the media approved it, some told us that this is the solution to the country’s economic problems and will open the knots. However, unfortunately, many relevant officials did not implement these policies; we are still facing this problem. The policies of Article 44 must be implemented. In my opinion, one of the reasons for our economic decline in the 1990s was this. There were various reasons; one of the reasons was that these policies were not implemented; we repeatedly recommended [but] there was no attention.

Regarding the eight percent economic growth, thanks be to God, I have learned that a number of experts in this field, in the form of various specialized working groups, have worked for several months, identified capacities, identified capabilities, defined investment plans, and also enumerated solutions to problems. Government officials must seriously pursue this. These works have been done; these working groups sat down, worked, made efforts, found solutions to problems, but the implementation of them and acting on them is the responsibility of the officials so that they can, God willing, achieve this eight percent economic growth. They should not say it cannot be done; they should not suspend it to something impossible that requires a certain amount of foreign investment! Well, it is clear [with such a view] this will not be realized. Those who sat down and worked on this issue did not suspend this eight percent growth to something impossible; what they propose are actions that can be done domestically, [however] it requires assistance; the government must help. In my opinion, this work is entirely possible. Of course, an eight percent growth will not perform miracles and something significant will not happen in one year; high growth must be sustained, its revenues and products must be equitably distributed so that changes occur in the country and be noticeable to the people that this work has happened.

One of the opportunities and capacities we have is our recent presence in gatherings like BRICS and similar ones; we must make the utmost use of this. This requires the presence and entry of the country’s diplomatic officials; they must engage, assist. This is a great opportunity for the country. Especially the BRICS financial system and exchanges that are to be conducted with the currencies of member countries, if realized, will undoubtedly provide great assistance. Today, one of our problems is being tied to the dollar; this has been understood by those countries as well. Of course, some members of this financial fund do not dare to engage in practice due to political reasons and similar matters. Diplomatic movement must be made; they must be compelled to make this happen. Inside the country, the esteemed President also said and is pursuing this idea, and I fully endorse that they strive to eliminate the dollar from trade exchanges as much as possible; this is a significant task, this is an important task; in the economic campaign, this is a very decisive and determining move. Of course, it will create reactions, but your hand is stronger if you can accomplish this. And for currency allocation, the Central Bank should open the field for other currencies.

I have many statements regarding the issues of the private sector that I have mentioned in previous years and do not wish to repeat. The important thing is that government agencies assist the private sector. The private sector should feel that it is supported by government assistance; it should feel that there are no obstacles being created and that its work is smooth and easy. Yesterday at this exhibition, one of the gentlemen told me that last year I told you that for the permit of such establishment, they delayed us for three years. He told me this last year, and I also had a speech here the next day, I raised this issue. I said: why do you delay for three years? A task that can be accomplished in ten days, at most a month, why is it delayed for three years? Solve it and let it go. This gentleman said yesterday: last year’s three years have become four years with this year! That is, in this one year, they have not done it either. Well, this must be solved; it cannot continue like this. I truly felt ashamed. These matters must be resolved. There is much to say; we speak, we say, we repeat, we emphasize, [but] we must act; indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds. Faith is necessary, but alongside it, righteous action is also necessary. This applies to both the hereafter and this world, and to religion and law; [but] it is the same in life matters. Belief in a truth is necessary; [that is] you must believe that assistance must be provided to the private sector; this is necessary, and without this belief, work does not progress, but this belief is not enough; alongside it, righteous action must also be present; faith and righteous action. These are my statements today regarding the issue of this meeting.

Regarding Gaza, let me say a word. We said that resistance is alive and will remain alive; Gaza has triumphed. The resistance has shown that it will remain alive. What is happening before the eyes of the world is like a legend. Truly, if we read this in history, we would be skeptical; we would not believe that a massive military apparatus like America would come to the aid of a tyrannical bloodthirsty government like the Zionist regime, that this regime would be so ruthless and merciless as to have no qualms about killing fifteen thousand children in about a year and a few months, that this power would be so indifferent to human and humanitarian concepts as to provide this ruthless regime with bunker-busting bombs to bomb the homes of those children and the hospitals where they are hospitalized; if this were in history, we would certainly not believe it, we would say there must be some flaw in that account.

Today, this event occurred before our eyes; that is, America gave all its capabilities to the Zionist regime—if it had not done so, the Zionist regime would have been brought to its knees in the first weeks—these people committed every crime they could for one year and three months; hospitals, mosques, churches, homes, markets, places of gathering, wherever they could reach, they struck; where? In a small piece of land like Gaza; in a small piece of land like Gaza! They committed every crime they could; they set a specific goal; that Zionist regime leader—the unfortunate wretch—said that we want to destroy Hamas and it must be destroyed; and they even drew up a plan for governing Gaza after the war! They were that confident. Now the same tyrannical and ruthless Zionist regime has come to the negotiating table with the same Hamas that it wanted to destroy and accepted its conditions for a ceasefire; this is what is happening. When we say resistance is alive, this is what we mean. When we say: "And if those who disbelieved fight against you, they will surely turn their backs and not find a protector or helper"; this is what we mean. This is not only for that time, because afterwards it says: "This is the way of God that has passed before, and you will not find any change in the way of God"; this is the divine tradition; they had to be victorious, and they were. Wherever there is resistance from the good servants of God, victory is certain. That deluded dreamer announced that Iran has weakened; the future will show who has weakened. Saddam also thought that Iran had weakened and started the attack. Reagan also thought that Iran had weakened and provided that kind of assistance to Saddam’s regime; they and dozens of other deluded ones have perished, and the Islamic Republic has grown day by day; I tell you, by God’s grace, this experience will be repeated this time as well.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.