Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with Governors from Across the Country

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

Of course, I do not insist on saying anything in this meeting. You often know my words. The points I make in public sessions and that are broadcast are the same as my words. When we speak to the officials, it is the same; when we talk to the people, it is the same. Therefore, you know our views; however, the arrangement of this meeting has been set so that you say a bit, and we also express some points. God willing, may God accept both your words and ours and be pleased with us.

I am generally pleased and satisfied with the governors - to the extent that I have seen some closely and have heard news about others. In my opinion, the overall group is a good one. In the provinces we have traveled to, I have seen up close that the governors and their families are truly faithful, hardworking, and some are really thoughtful and active, and they work. When I see some of these efforts in some of the provinces we have visited, I thank God. They generally have good, logical, and cordial communications with our representatives - that is, the representatives of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist in the provincial centers - which is good. The reports they give us regarding the mentioned indicators are mostly positive. When one looks at some provinces, one sees that all indicators are positive. Of course, the reports that come to me are not the governors' reports; I receive a set of reports before the trip. My information regarding the issues of that province is relatively good; then when I observe closely, I see it is good and work is being done. We consider this a divine grace and the kindness of the Lord, and we wish for this to continue and be pursued.

Before addressing the issues of concern to some of the gentlemen, I believe there are matters more important than the issue of elections. Elections, because they are a current issue, although transient, have excitement and attract attention; I do not find it surprising that you, as governors and heads of a group, are drawn to this matter; however, we must be careful that the main issues do not swap places with seasonal matters. In my opinion, our main issue in the provinces right now is this: the Fourth Plan - which will be approved in the Majlis with some minor changes - and the outlook that this plan is based on, and in the path to reaching that outlook, this plan is set up, necessitates that each province feels a serious, immediate, and uninterrupted responsibility for achieving this plan. Of course, it can be said verbally that yes, it is so; however, in practice, it is very difficult and requires effort. When we say difficult, it does not mean impossible; it means that it requires movement, determination, and giving up many things for one to move forward and realize this. I think I mentioned this point in a speech in Qazvin that during the preparation of the twenty-year outlook, it was understood through calculations that this outlook is achievable; provided that we move and strive and the whole system gets going.

Individuals are not the criterion; neither I personally am the criterion, nor are you personally the criterion, nor is any minister or any representative or any president the criterion. What is important is that our movement becomes institutionalized. The one who must leave the impact of his work until the end is you and I who are here now. Based on these foundations, the work of those who come after will be set right. It should not be that in ten years I am not here, and you are not here, and then others come and say these people should have done these tasks initially and did not, and now we cannot fulfill this duty; and God forbid, they be truthful in this statement. In my opinion, this work requires determination.

The words that officials in the center say are not without importance - yes, all worldly actions start with thought and speech; therefore, it is very important - however, this importance is related to the other side of the matter, which is action; and that action is in your hands, as you are in the provinces. I am repeating the same words as always. I once said we have a country and a Minister of Interior; and the governors each act like a prime minister in their respective provinces. I still believe that the governor plays the role of a prime minister in the province. The prime minister's job is not just coordination. Your fundamental task is to preserve the province, advance the province, and integrate the province into the puzzle of the movement and development and prosperity of the entire country. Your province must be positioned correctly so that this map can be filled. Therefore, your presence, activity, and serious effort in the province are beyond all fleeting political and non-political waves. This is a very important point, and I emphasize it.

You must pay close attention to the program and follow it. Many times you are like a child sucking milk from the mother's breast. This is neither an insult to you that you are likened to a child, nor an insult to the government that it is likened to a mother. The opportunity that exists for your sector can be drawn out. Of course, I should also say this here: I do not recommend provincial thinking in the sense of an independent island. Yes, in my opinion, the head of each sector is commendable when he comes to defend his sector with pride and enthusiasm. A few years ago, one of my friends who was responsible for a sector of sports in the country had a disagreement with the armed forces and came to us to resolve it. He defended his sector very much. I said I enjoy this defense you are making of your sector and how diligently and enthusiastically you are pursuing the work; I will certainly not accept your argument; because I do not grant you the right; but I appreciate your action.

I truly enjoy it when a governor comes and defends his province diligently, with enthusiasm and zeal; however, it should not be thought that this province is a separate island; no, provinces should, in a sense, complement each other; they should preserve and assist one another. Each province is part of the whole country; I strongly recommend this. Move within this framework. It is wrong for us to divide the government into twenty-some provinces, or to divide it ethnically, or to divide it ideologically. Fragmenting the government under any title and in any name is an anti-government action; it is an action to incapacitate the government. The government must be unified to be able to fulfill its duty.

Many of you have been involved in the revolution and know that from the very beginning of the revolution, the most important political work that was being done from within was the fragmentation of the government. I do not say that this work was done by the Americans from the beginning; no, we did it ourselves from the beginning. Unfortunately, our internal motivations did this; however, I have no doubt that the intelligence and political agencies of the world and international policymakers are not blind; therefore, why should they not take advantage of such a good opportunity? If they can, they will take advantage; if they can, they will heat the fire. Be careful and be vigilant not to fall into the trap of government fragmentation. Division and splitting and breaking up the government are anti-government actions.

I have said many times that I see the path, although uneven, but clear, direct, and traversable. The points that some of you friends have mentioned from your provinces all confirm this view. There is no shortage in our motivation and strength of movement; therefore, there is no reason that we cannot progress on this difficult and uneven and sometimes winding path and reach the summit. The outlook is very clear, and a bright horizon is in front of us. Of course, sometimes I unfortunately hear that some officials in various parts of the country express their despair. In my opinion, if someone thinks this way, it is very short-sighted and narrow-minded. No; the pillars of the system are solid; the internal talent and capacity of the system are very high; the existing power, both in the pillars of the system and in the support of those pillars - which are the people - is very high.

You see the gatherings of the people and the movement of the youth. In the travels I make to your provinces, you witness this issue up close. You do not have the doubt that a crowd might have been brought from somewhere; you are present there and observe what the situation is; you see that people sincerely express their feelings towards the revolution. Personally, I do not matter at all. I thank God that in my own view, this issue is much less important than the views of those who may look from the outside. The matter is that they believe in the system and see the system in the framework of a whole or in the framework of you and me and respect us. The issue is the belief in religion. The point that the governor of Kermanshah mentioned is completely correct. It is the same everywhere; that is, the people's belief in the future, in the current situation, and in the challenges of the country is this. The people believe in Islam and the Islamic Republic; why should we underestimate this? This is a very important matter. Try not to fall into the trap of those who propagate and want to conceal this truth from us.

The power that is in the hands of you and me does not belong to our individuals, nor does it belong to any party or group, nor does it belong to any faction; it belongs to the system. The abilities and authorities that are in the hands of you and me are equal to our responsibilities and duties. We have no authority that is devoid of responsibility and duty at all, and if we act contrary to this, each of us - whether I am, or you are, or a minister, or a representative - is responsible before God and, in and of ourselves, are disqualified. What you have heard that if a leader deviates from responsibilities, whether someone removes him or not, he is disqualified from leadership - meaning that every word and action and omission of his is contrary to the Sharia - applies to all of you and all officials of the system as well. If, God forbid, we deviate from the responsibilities that Islam and faith and Sharia have set for us, we fall short of the necessary capacity; like water that falls from the Kurr; at that point, it is no longer reliable.

Given these points, what should be done? All provinces of the country are part of Iran, and Iran, especially today, is truly a wronged land. We are attacked for the crime of wanting to be independent, standing on our own feet, and relying on our nation. The enmities that are directed against us are based on this. Those who make excuses believe that these excuses are not real; they are baseless. We must not fall into this trap; we must be vigilant.

The points you gentlemen made are good and worthy of attention. Of course, some of the logics that were expressed were weak. What kind of logic is it that, for example, it is said that someone has rejected the head of the judiciary? Is this reasoning? It was said, what should we tell the people? In fact, tell the people that it is very good; the supervisory body is a very good body that cuts its own handle. In all the world, knives do not cut their own handles; but here the knife has cut its handle. Or it was said that someone who is a journalist in Iraq has been rejected; this reasoning does not suffice for us to think based on it. However, your words are worthy of attention. Of course, if the gentlemen of the supervisory board also come here and have a meeting with me, they will certainly speak against you. I am neither your defense attorney nor their defense attorney - let this be clear - I am the defense attorney of the law, and primarily of the constitution.

I believe we must act according to the law; whether it is to our benefit or to our detriment. Many of the laws that are passed in the Majlis may not be acceptable to you; many of the government resolutions may not be acceptable to you and me; however, we must act according to even what we do not accept, and this has logic. The logic is that a bad law is better than lawlessness and violation of the law. That we accept the law wherever it aligns with our desires; wherever its outcome does not align with our desires, we do not accept it, is not logical. I believe the law should be the criterion; however, in this contentious framework, who has adhered to the law and who has violated the law is a point of contention between you and them. The other day I was speaking with Mr. Mousavi Lari, and I mentioned this point. You say things, and they also say things; can one side's claim be accepted just like that? No.

If it reaches a sensitive point and requires decision-making, and if it passes through legal stages and reaches the leadership, there is no doubt that I will intervene and act according to what I deem necessary; as has happened until now; it has happened regarding elections and will happen again; but this does not mean that if you approved someone's qualifications and another rejected them, or you rejected someone and another accepted them, it is necessary for the leadership to come in and arbitrate between you and them; no, there is a legal process and legal method. Or, for example, if you approved someone's qualifications and he was not qualified and was rejected under your supervision, I may know him and may not be pleased with this action; however, I have no duty to come and stop this person; he follows his legal process. You are the Ministry of Interior and do your work; the Guardian Council and the supervisory board are also responsible and do their work. According to the law, both of you are obliged to act; if either of you acts contrary to the law, there is a legal recourse. It is not that we say we do not accept your work because we consider it contrary to the law; another person also tells us that they do not accept your work because they consider it contrary to the law. The law is clear and explicit and has a clear language, and it must be acted upon.

Some gentlemen said now that the issue has reached the Guardian Council, the promotion of non-tension has been made. You must be saying that the radio and television have done this. There may be a problem with the radio and television; but I am not their defense attorney either; let everyone know this, and many also know it; but do not forget that some have been threatening to create tension for some time. Yes; when there is a threat of tension, from the other side, some must say that there should be no tension. I also tell you that tension is completely unacceptable. Your primary duty is to ensure calm and security in the province so that you can truly hold the elections well, healthily, and strongly. There are many who are waiting for an excuse to create turmoil and tension. Of course, there is no doubt that you must confront this issue.

God willing, may God assist you and make you successful and supported and encompassed by divine grace and guidance. Also, we expect the governors who have gone to their provinces in the past year or two to inform us if there is any sluggishness, delay, or hindrance in the arrangements made during our visit so that if necessary, we can help resolve it.

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