Friday Prayer in Tehran led by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, seek His help, ask for His forgiveness, and put our trust in Him. We send blessings and peace upon His beloved, His chosen one among His creation, the guardian of His secrets, and the one who conveys His messages, our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, the guided and infallible ones, especially the Awaited One of God among the inhabitants of the earth. And may blessings be upon the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers.

I invite all dear brothers and sisters to piety and God-consciousness. It is both the blessed month of Rajab and the great day of the birth of the Commander of the Faithful and Imam of the Pious. Rajab is the month of purifying the heart and refreshing the soul; a month of supplication, humility, remembrance, repentance, self-improvement, and cleansing the rust from the heart, removing darkness and bitterness from the soul. The supplications of the month of Rajab, the retreat of the month of Rajab, the prayers of the month of Rajab, all serve as means for us to purify and refresh our hearts and souls; to distance ourselves from darkness, troubles, and to illuminate ourselves. This is a great opportunity for us, especially for those who are fortunate enough to engage in retreat during these days; I will, God willing, address a few words to the retreatants at the end of this sermon.

As for the thirteenth of Rajab, it is the blessed birth of the Commander of the Faithful, who is the pinnacle of human dignity; the eternal example of the noble men of the world; the everlasting leader of the believers, the pious, and the righteous and truthful people of the time. In order not to limit ourselves to words and appearances, but to learn from the memory of the Commander of the Faithful today - which we particularly need - I will briefly present a lesson from his teachings here; and that is the lesson of piety, which should be emphasized more than anything else in Friday prayers.

Piety is the eternal lesson of the Commander of the Faithful. If you refer to Nahj al-Balagha, you will see that no instruction or recommendation in this great book has been repeated as much as piety. Piety is indeed one of the highest chapters of the practical life of the Commander of the Faithful and his verbal teachings. Piety means being vigilant about oneself. A person must always be vigilant; both regarding their actions and behavior - meaning being vigilant about their eyes, tongue, ears, and hands - and also being vigilant about their heart; being careful not to let base animal traits infiltrate, not to let the heart be inclined towards desires and whims, not to be captivated and enchanted by degrading appearances, not to harbor envy, not to wish ill upon others, not to allow whispers to enter the heart, and to make the heart a place for virtues, remembrance of God, love for the divine friends, and love for humanity; one must also have piety of thought and intellect; meaning keeping the intellect from deviation, preventing errors and slips, saving it from idleness and inactivity, and applying reason in life matters. Thus, constant vigilance over the limbs, the heart, and the mind is piety.

Many of the actions we take and the slips we make are due to a lack of vigilance. Many sins are not committed with prior intent; we become heedless of ourselves, our tongues become tainted with backbiting, slander, gossip, and lies; our hands and eyes do the same. Therefore, it is heedlessness that leads us into calamity. If we are vigilant about our eyes, tongues, hands, signatures, judgments, writing, and speaking, many of the major and minor errors and sins will not occur. If we are vigilant about our hearts, envy, ill-will, malice, grudges, stinginess, unfounded fears, and desires for the wealth and honor of others will not infiltrate our hearts. This vigilance in a person is the path to salvation. A good end is achieved under the shadow of this vigilance; "And the end is for the pious." If this vigilance exists in a person, the possibility of sin becomes very low. The justice of a person also stems from this vigilance; the steadfastness of a person and a nation also originates from this vigilance; the pursuit of truth and justice also arises from this vigilance. This vigilance and this piety are the mother of all virtues; guidance is also created because of this vigilance; progress in this world and the Hereafter is also due to this vigilance. When we are vigilant, our thoughts do not remain idle; our hearts do not stray from the right path; our limbs and organs do not commit errors or slips, or do so less frequently. The world and the Hereafter are under the shadow of piety; this is the lesson of the Commander of the Faithful. Today we need this lesson; not just today, but always; however, this particular time is important for us.

We are a Muslim nation. This nation, with the firm will of the public, has been able to establish a system in accordance with its faith and beliefs in this country. What is the goal of this system? What was the goal of this nation? The goal was for this country, with this system, to benefit from all the goodness, progress, blessings, and bounties that God the Almighty has promised to the faithful nations; that is, to become an Islamic country. An Islamic country means a country where the life-giving Islam, the invigorating Islam, the dynamic Islam, the Islam without deviation, stagnation, and distortion, the Islam without syncretism, the Islam that instills courage in people, and the Islam that guides people towards knowledge and science is dominant; an Islam that, in the same form it was practiced in the first century of Islam, was able to elevate a scattered collection to the peak of historical and global civilization and its civilization and knowledge dominated the world. Scientific dominance brings with it political dignity; it also brings economic prosperity; it also brings moral virtues; if the country becomes truly Islamic.

In order for this to happen, we first needed a revolutionary movement; to dismantle the decayed, crooked, and poorly founded structures of the despotic regimes. The nation accomplished this with great power and complete success. After our dear nation undertook this great movement, the next step was to establish an Islamic system - that is, the administration of the country as Islam has prescribed. This was also successfully accomplished by our nation. The constitution was drafted; a political arrangement was established; religious democracy was established in this country, and the people directly or indirectly elect the officials of the country - from the leadership to the presidency and other officials.

Religion is the foundation, basis, and axis of law and execution in this country. The movement of the people is towards the goals and ideals of religion; this is the meaning of the Islamic system; this has been realized; but it is not enough. In order for that goal - that is, an Islamic country - to be fully realized, it is necessary for the ruling apparatus of the country to act completely Islamically in its actions, in its organization, and in its behavior; which I mentioned a few years ago that the next stage after the Islamic system is the Islamic government. We have also made progress in this path. Faithful officials, good ministers, and faithful presidents have taken charge of the country's affairs one after another; however, the Islamic government that can fulfill the objectives that the Iranian nation and their great revolution had is one in which there is no bribery, no administrative corruption, no favoritism, no negligence, no disregard for the people, no inclination towards elitism, no squandering of public funds, and other things that are necessary in an Islamic government. All of these are present in the teachings of the Commander of the Faithful in Nahj al-Balagha. They should not say that these are related to fourteen hundred years ago. Some repeat these repetitive words and doubts that have been refuted hundreds of times. Human truths and human constants do not change over time. People have loved justice and needed justice from the beginning of history until today and from today until the end of the world; this does not change. People have always needed officials who are loyal to them, serve them, and act sincerely for them; these do not change. The lesson of the Commander of the Faithful in Nahj al-Balagha pertains to these matters. These constants and these human life truths throughout history are expressed by the Commander of the Faithful; we want them; otherwise, we are not saying that if we want to travel from this city to that city, we should go like in the time of the Commander of the Faithful; no, now you can go by airplane, and it is possible that in ten years you will travel with a much faster means than an airplane. Back then, they sent letters that took two months to arrive; today you can talk to the other side of the world in real-time via the internet. These are variables, but justice and the integrity of officials are always necessary; not squandering the people's wealth that is in my hands and those like me is always necessary; this does not change. If, by God's grace, we can perfect ourselves in this direction and complete the steps that have been taken so far, then the Islamic country will come into existence in the form I mentioned; that is, the Islamic government can create an Islamic country.

If I and those like me are sincere, we can raise the people to be sincere. If we are not captives of desires and whims, we can raise the people to be free from desires and whims. If we are courageous, we can raise the people to be courageous. If I and those like me are captives of desires and whims and are slaves and subservient to our fears and desires, we cannot raise the people with virtues. This depends on the luck and fortune of each person finding a good teacher in a corner and developing individually; society will not progress. It is the Islamic government that creates the Islamic country. When the Islamic country emerges, the Islamic civilization will come into existence; then the Islamic culture will encompass the public space of humanity. All of this is practical with vigilance and piety; individual piety and communal piety and the piety of the nation.

The Islamic nation, if it is pious, can move through difficult paths; problems will kneel before it; it does not kneel before problems. Pay attention to this saying of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him): "Whoever takes piety as their path, hardships will be removed from them after they have drawn near." If an individual - and I say if a nation - makes piety their path of action and becomes pious, the hardships of life, even if they have approached them, will be removed from them. "And the bitter things of life will become sweet for them." "And the waves of life's hardships will recede after they have accumulated." The stormy waves of life's hardships, after they have accumulated, will be removed from them, and they will ride the waves. "And the difficulties will become easy for them after they have reached their peak." The reality is just like that. Today, Muslim nations have no voice against the bullying of global powers; neither the necessary knowledge, nor advanced technology, nor skills in various political fields; why? Why have we fallen behind? Because we have lost piety. This is the severity that is removed with piety.

You, the Iranian nation, have observed divine piety in your revolution; in defending this revolution and your country and your Islamic, religious, and national identities, you have observed divine piety; therefore, today, thanks be to God, you are esteemed to that extent. Today, the dignity, power, and greatness of the Iranian nation in the eyes of the people of the world and governments, even its enemies, cannot be compared to most Islamic countries; this is due to piety. Whatever shortcomings we have are due to a lack of piety.

Standing firm is also a result of piety. One of the titles of the Commander of the Faithful is "the one who charges forward and does not retreat." The Noble Prophet gave this title to the Commander of the Faithful. This is not limited to the military field; in all human fields, the Commander of the Faithful was the one who charged forward and did not retreat; meaning he was an attacker, powerful, thoughtful, and without retreat. Firm positions, standing firm on accepted and believed principles, moving from a defensive position to an offensive one against the deviations, ugliness, evils, injustices, and inequities of the world; this is the same characteristic of the Commander of the Faithful. If you look at the life of the Commander of the Faithful, you will see that from beginning to end, his life is like this. Our remedy is also in this. The late Iqbal Lahori says:

"Do you know what it means to charge forward? This is one of the ranks of Ali. Nations in the world are unstable; it is only possible to live through charging forward."

Do you want to stay alive? Do you want to be esteemed? Do you want to advance in knowledge and action? Do you want your youth to be proud? Do you want your tomorrow to be a bright tomorrow? You must have perseverance. Be active, charge forward, tireless, and pursue your goals; the future of such a nation is bright. Our nation has fortunately started this path and has continued it until today; however, this path requires continuity.

Now the youth have come to the forefront. My dear youth! It is your turn. The youth before you exerted all their efforts in this path and brought us to this point; today it is the turn of our youth. Enter the fields of knowledge, action, piety, politics, service to the people, and various merits; adorn yourselves with righteousness and piety and move forward.

I would like to say a word to the retreatants. Blessed are you, dear retreatants! The phenomenon of retreat is one of the revolutionary growths; we did not have these things at the beginning of the revolution. Retreat has always existed. In our youth, when the month of Rajab arrived, in Imam Mosque in Qom - and only in Qom; I had never seen a retreat in Mashhad! - perhaps fifty or a hundred students would engage in retreat. This public phenomenon; that tens of thousands participate in the retreat ceremonies, most of them being young, is one of the growths of the revolution. I once said that our revolution has losses, but it also has growths; the growths outweigh the losses. So blessed are you, dear retreatants! My advice is that during these three days you are in the mosque, practice vigilance over yourselves; when you speak, when you eat, when you socialize, when you read books, when you think, when you plan for the future, in all these matters, prioritize God's pleasure and will over your desires; do not submit to your desires. Practicing these things in these three days can be a lesson for those dear ones and for us who are sitting here and looking with envy at our dear youth who are in retreat. Teach us with your actions.

O Lord! Quench our hearts with the rain of Your mercy and grace. O Lord! Save us from the darkness of our misguided thoughts and misdeeds. O Lord! Make us believers and pious - in the true sense of the word. O Lord! Make our nation as it deserves, esteemed, proud, and honored.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Say, He is God, the One. God, the Eternal. He neither begets nor is born, and there is none comparable to Him.

Second Sermon In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, the guided and infallible ones, especially upon the Commander of the Faithful and the pure lady, the Mistress of the Women of the Worlds, and upon Hasan and Husayn, the masters of the youth of Paradise, and upon Ali ibn Husayn, Muhammad ibn Ali, Ja'far ibn Muhammad, Musa ibn Ja'far, Ali ibn Musa, Muhammad ibn Ali, Ali ibn Muhammad, Hasan ibn Ali, and the awaited guide, the Mahdi, the proofs of Your servants and Your trusted ones in Your lands, and send blessings upon the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers, and ask God for forgiveness for me and for you.

In the second sermon, God willing, I will address a few necessary matters and hope to convey what is in my mind in a short time.

The first matter is about the government. Thanks be to God, the elections of the Iranian nation have been a source of pride for the country and national dignity and power. The Iranian nation has undertaken a very meaningful movement during this period, and its effects have appeared in the world. Those who are knowledgeable in politics and aware of global events understand well what I am emphasizing. The Iranian nation has shown its power, will, direction, and steadfastness to the world. Today, thanks be to God, the government is almost on the verge of formation. In the parliament, representatives have duties and rights; the president also has duties and rights. Both sides must fulfill their duties and utilize their rights. Of course, it must be based on understanding so that work can progress and the country's affairs do not remain stagnant. After the formation of the government, God willing, the parliament and the government should cooperate and fulfill their responsibilities; however, in a brotherly manner. The parliament should exercise its oversight, conduct its accountability, and ask its questions - these are the duties of the parliament, and the expectation from the parliament is precisely these matters, and these help the government - and the government, God willing, should carry out its efforts and movements with the necessary power and competence. They should pass laws for the needs of the government so that the government can fulfill its promises; the government should also, with God's help, relying on God and with the support of the people, be able to implement their demands to the extent that is possible and feasible within a specified legal timeframe. I, as a humble servant, will support the president and the entire government as always. My practice and that of our dear and great Imam has been and will be this way, God willing. We support the president - who is elected by the people - we support the entire government; we also support the rights and demands of the people. Our dear brothers in the government and our esteemed president - who, thanks be to God, is backed by the love and votes of the people - after the government is formed, should review the promises made to the people and earnestly strive to fulfill these promises. The people recognize those who act sincerely. Speed of action is good; haste, passivity, and rashness are bad. The government should not become passive in the face of some who disguise their own demands as the demands of the people; no, they should do their own work. The genuine demands of the people; the same things that, thanks be to God, have been prominently stated and reiterated in the slogans and statements of our esteemed president, are good things; the people want these. The government should pursue these earnestly, without panic, with proper planning, and within a reasonable and specified timeframe.

We have always complained about delaying work - for example, completing a five-year project in twelve years. If they can complete a five-year project in five years, we are grateful. If they can complete a five-year project in four years, we are even more grateful. However, if they want to complete a five-year or four-year project with patchwork and haste in a short time, no; the people do not favor such work; I am not pursuing such a thing either. Of course, our esteemed officials certainly do not want to act this way. Therefore, today, thanks be to God, a bright horizon is in front of the people.

Elections in our country have their true meaning. In many so-called democratic countries, elections are not like this; elections are subject to the powerful and wealthy's money and their desires. The fact that a candidate emerges from the people - without being connected to the power structures - can speak to the people, attract their votes, and is not followed by a party or political currents, is rarely seen in the world; this belongs to you, the people; this is a renewal; a new day and a new horizon; this has, thanks be to God, occurred in our country. Of course, the people also have many problems and are waiting. But I say, with the understanding I have of the people and the many connections I have had with the people over the years, I know that the people are fair; it is not the case that they expect to solve accumulated problems in a short time. Some speak or write something in corners; these are their words; they are not the words of the people. Thanks be to God, the government has a wide range of powers; the president has very broad authorities; the national budget is also at the president's disposal. God willing, a strong and efficient government will come to power; with faith, motivation, piety, vigilance over themselves, oversight from the parliament and oversight bodies, with advanced and good laws, and a judiciary that is present and ready to act against violations, so that within the time that the law has given them, they can fulfill the promises made to the people and accomplish what can be done in this time; they should also lay the groundwork for long-term projects during this time.

The second matter is regarding Iraq. We support the Iraqi government, which is a popular government; the Iraqi nation is our eternal brothers. The current Iraqi government, which has come to power with the people's vote, has no precedent in the history of Iraq, from the time God created this region until today. The Iraqi people have never elected their own head of state. The head of state always came for long periods from the Ottomans; before that, it was in another form, and previous despotic governments were in power; after that, it was under British control for many years; then it was under leftist parties; and the last was the infamous Saddam and the Ba'ath Party; therefore, the people have never been present in the Iraqi scene. This is the first popular government that is coming to power in Iraq. The Americans did not like this, but the Iraqi nation and the leading clergy wanted it, and the religious authority entered the field, and thanks be to God, this issue has occurred.

Our wish is for the welfare, prosperity, and security of the Iraqi people. We are deeply troubled by the insecurities that occur in Iraq - the daily killings in mosques, husseiniyahs, streets, and gatherings - which sacrifice the poor Iraqi people. Killing innocent people is a great crime, and it does not matter who commits this crime. The American machine that sacrifices the Iraqi people is guilty; the bombers who blow up gatherings of people and kill children, women, and men are guilty. Of course, we consider the primary culprit of these incidents to be America. Why? Because the terrorism in Iraq is under the watch of America. Thousands of military, intelligence, security, and political forces from the Americans are spread throughout Iraq today. If they wanted to eliminate insecurity in Iraq, they could.

Some believe there are indications that these assassinations are the work of American and Zionist intelligence services; why? Because they do not want this government to succeed. Insecurity is an excuse for the continuation of occupation. Because it is insecure, we must stay; if we leave, the sky will fall! What has happened in Iraq is not what the Americans wanted. They wanted a puppet government of their own; they wanted Iraq to have a seemingly popular government, but in reality, their agent would rule over Iraq; but this did not happen. The Iraqi nation made an effort, the religious authority made an effort, and the political elites of Iraq made an effort and did not allow this to happen. Just as today they are interfering in the drafting of the Iraqi constitution. The Americans are officially interfering in the drafting of the Iraqi constitution. What business is it of yours? Let the Iraqis do their work. They interfere: this should be included, that should not be included. Of course, America has failed in Iraq; there is no doubt about it. They spent a lot, but none of their promises have been fulfilled; the hatred of the Iraqi people towards them is increasing day by day. Perhaps today, in Iraq, there is no figure more despised than George Bush. Day by day, the hatred of the Iraqi nation towards the Americans is increasing. This hatred is not limited to the Iraqi nation; it is in the Islamic world, on a global scale, and even in America itself, protests against the American government due to military intervention in Iraq are increasing. Even within America, this is the case. Protests have reached the political elites of America; they are protesting sharply and harshly against their own government. A poll last week in America showed that most Americans oppose American intervention in Iraq and the continued presence of America in this country and the continuation of occupation. They see the results as negative, which they have rightly understood. America has failed in Iraq. This apparent uproar is not a sign of success. Blaming this and that is not a means of absolution from blame, as the Americans accuse Iran and Syria of bringing terrorists and explosives across your borders. These are meaningless and nonsensical words that they repeat. Security is in their hands and under their watch. Who in the world does not know that the terrorist groups that are currently operating in Iraq in their name, some of them are creations of the Americans; some are under American influence? Who does not know that they are creating discord between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq? Who cannot guess that they want insecurity so that they can continue their illegal and illegitimate occupation? They are responsible and guilty. The terrorists are operating under their watch; we are aware of this; this is no longer a guess. At some borders of Iraq, terrorists are moving under the watch of the Americans - and perhaps with their help - from here to there; then they come and falsely accuse Iran or Syria. We have a 1300-kilometer border with Iraq; we have secured these borders. Of course, in every secure border, there may be illegal crossings. The Americans, after many years, have still not been able to secure their borders with Mexico; individuals are constantly crossing illegally. Therefore, illegal crossings may occur, but we stand firm and do not allow it. The security of Iraq is our security; the progress of Iraq is a great achievement for us; we desire this. We hope that the Iraqi nation will soon be freed from the hardships it has suffered and that this naturally rich country can reach the point it deserves.

The next matter is the issue of Palestine. The withdrawal of the Zionists from Gaza after 38 years of occupation is a very important event. It is interesting to note that this withdrawal was not a choice made by the Zionist regime; it was a defeat and a compulsion; it was out of necessity and inevitability. Now the psychological pressure of this defeat is affecting all the pillars of the Zionist nation and government and is shaking them. Some are angry, some protest. A few days ago, they held a demonstration of two hundred thousand people in Tel Aviv. They are tumultuous, but they had no choice. Some want to pretend that this withdrawal was due to negotiations; this is a very childish statement. Throughout 70 years of occupation of Palestine, the Zionists have not retreated an inch of occupied land through negotiations; what negotiations?! This withdrawal was due to the resistance of the Palestinians. The first event was the withdrawal and flight from southern Lebanon; this is the second event that occurred due to resistance. The Palestinian nation should know, the Palestinian jihad groups should know; do not fall into the trap of thinking that negotiations freed Gaza; no, negotiations did not free Gaza; it did not free any other point; it will never free anywhere. What has freed Gaza is the pressure of the resistance of the Palestinian nation; they were compelled.

Another important point is that the issue of Palestine will not be resolved with these withdrawals; let them know this. Both America and the Zionists should know this, as well as those who act as brokers and intermediaries; they should know that the issue of Palestine will not be resolved this way. That someone comes and forcibly occupies your house, and after a while gives you a small room in that corner of the house, and registers the rest of the house in their name; can such a thing happen? They have taken Palestine; now they have been compelled to withdraw from a corner of Palestine; can anyone say very well, now that you have given this part, the rest of Palestine belongs to you! Can such a thing happen? The issue of Palestine will not be resolved this way. The issue of Palestine has only one solution; the same thing we announced a few years ago: to consult the original Palestinians - whether they are inside Palestine, in refugee camps, or in other countries; whether they are Muslims, Jews, or Christians, it does not matter; they should be Palestinians - and let them choose the government they want to come to power. That government, whether it is Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or mixed, as long as it arises from the votes of the Palestinians, is acceptable and will resolve the issue of Palestine. Without this, the issue of Palestine will not be resolved.

The last matter I will address is the nuclear issue. Before I explain a few sentences about the nuclear issue, I want to clarify the propaganda deception of the West, especially the Americans. In fact, they have had two propaganda deceptions, the first of which has been that in their propaganda, when they want to express their views on the nuclear issue, they say we oppose nuclear weapons in Iran and that nuclear weapons are a great danger. As if Iran is seeking nuclear weapons and these gentlemen are opposed to nuclear weapons! The Americans first said this, and unfortunately, we see that some Europeans also repeat the same words. This is a deception; they know it is a deception. This statement is meant to deceive their own public opinion. The issue of nuclear weapons is not in Iran at all. Our officials have said, and all our people have accepted; governments have said, and I have repeatedly said that we are not seeking nuclear weapons. The uranium that is enriched in Iran will be between 3 to 4 percent. For an atomic bomb and nuclear weapon, it must be enriched to over ninety percent; the gap is that wide. We want to enrich uranium that belongs to us, from our own mines, with equipment that belongs to us, without borrowing from anyone, and we are not indebted to anyone, and our own children and youth have initiated this, to enrich it to 3 to 4 percent so that we can supply the fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant - which we currently have one partially completed. The discussion is entirely about its fuel. We want to produce the fuel for our nuclear power plant ourselves. They say do not produce it yourself. Let them build a power plant for you, but come and buy the fuel from us! What does this mean? It means remain dependent. The Iranian nation must remain dependent on the fuel-producing powers so that if they ever want to withhold fuel, they can impose conditions, and the Iranian government and nation will have to raise their hands and say we have no choice; our fuel - which our electricity and facilities depend on - must come from that side; otherwise, our power plant will shut down. The Iranian nation must remain dependent; this is what they want.

For us, the nuclear issue is a scientific and economic issue. In the nuclear issue, the path we have taken so far, and thanks be to God, we have been completely successful, if we can continue on this path and bring it to completion, this will be a scientific advancement for the country. Iranian youth have proven their scientific skills, talents, and abilities in this field; this is very valuable for us scientifically. Economically, it is also cost-effective. They say you should use this oil and fossil fuels - that is, non-renewable and finite resources. This is like saying you should plant vegetables or produce fruits in your garden and sell them to sustain your life; someone says no, you should sell your old heirlooms, that historical gem, that carpet under your feet, and eat.

We want our non-renewable resources to remain for future generations. It should not be that twenty years from now, twenty-five years from now, this country has no oil; we have to buy our oil from America or its agents. We want to have an alternative to oil, and that is nuclear energy. They say no, do not have it; consume your oil until it runs out. If you want to have a nuclear power plant, you must buy its fuel from us. This is the coercive statement that today part of the Western world is making to us. The primary culprit in this matter is again America.

Up to this moment, we have not violated any international commitments or any bilateral or multilateral agreements. We have proceeded very calmly, logically, and with moderation. But we have always said from the beginning, and we repeat now that the Iranian nation will not accept imposition, bullying, and tribute from anyone. Our policy is negotiation, understanding, and building trust; but trust must be strengthened from both sides. These two or three European countries say you should build trust - meaning do something that makes us trust you - I also tell them you should do something that makes us trust you. There is no reason for Iran to trust you; when you do things that cause distrust. If trust-building is necessary on this side, it is also necessary on that side.

The Europeans should not speak in a demanding tone. Today is not the nineteenth century. The Iranian nation is not a nation that, if a puppet regime of England and America was in power here, would have to accept whatever they said; no, today the Islamic Republic is based on seventy million people. Today, the Iranian nation, the Iranian government, and Iranian officials feel steadfastness and power like a mountain. We are not afraid of anyone. We have always had the necessary power and ability to defend our rights, and we will not compromise on these rights. No one has the right to bargain with the rights of the nation here. The nuclear issue, fortunately, is not a factional or group issue in our country; it is a national and collective issue, and everyone believes in this matter. The Europeans should think more about the dimensions of the issue; they should reflect and contemplate more and not be influenced by the Americans and the Zionists. Europe should heed our advice and know that the Americans and the Zionists do not want their good, nor ours. America is monopolistic; it wants to dominate the whole world and have everyone follow it. The Europeans should not submit to it. We are thinking of a scientific endeavor, an economic endeavor, and an endeavor in accordance with national interests; this is what our nation wants; we stand firm.

The second propaganda deception is that in the statements of the Europeans and their newspapers, it has been said that there is a global consensus against Iran. No, sir! There is no global consensus. Even within Europe, there are governments that oppose this method of bullying and tribute. The global consensus in the world is against nuclear weapons, which today is centered in America and some European countries, and the most dangerous of all is the Zionist regime; otherwise, all the countries that aspire to have such independent technology are supporters and backers of us; their nations and governments also support us. What global consensus?! No, there is no global consensus. Even if there were a global consensus, the nation would not give up its rights; but such a thing does not exist in reality. And they should know that, God willing, in the not-too-distant future, our nation and our youth will also build the nuclear power plant themselves.

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