Statements in Meeting with the President and Cabinet Members on the Eve of Government Week

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

I also congratulate you on the successful completion of a year of the great mission and responsibility you have undertaken, coinciding with the great victories and the collective joy of the dear and oppressed nation of Iran. We honor the memory of our esteemed martyrs, the late honorable martyr Dr. Bahonar and the esteemed martyr Rajaei.

These two honorable figures were truly among the distinguished and prominent elements of this country and this system; they were tested, compassionate, and popular; their existence was intertwined with the ideals of the revolution; they had tasted hardships; they had passed the period of struggle and combat for the victory of Islam with success and pride. All these were values present in these dear ones; especially martyr Rajaei, who had a longer period of responsibility in the prime ministership and later in the presidency, which was a difficult responsibility and period. They truly performed well and demonstrated their loyalty to Islam and the revolution. It is fitting that we always honor the memory of these dear ones.

At the head of this government is Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani, who himself is one of the personalities who, from the early days of this movement, was present in the field and in the front lines and endured the same hardships, pains, and tortures. From the first day of the revolution's victory, both he and you have truly worked hard and know better than many and are aware that in the movement of the government, two main axes and pillars must be considered:

The first axis is movement and effort. Fatigue and depression truly have no meaning in this path. Perhaps those who are worldly, if a difficult path is placed before them, the hardships of that path gradually diminish their motivation. The path of God is not like this. The harder it is, the more interested and motivated the faithful become; because they understand that the importance of this movement is greater.

When a person moves in the path of God and works for Him, when they observe hardships, they understand that the duty is more urgent; when they see danger, they understand that defense is more obligatory; thus, they become more lively and motivated. Truly, in the path of God, hardship, obstacles, problems, and various things that discourage ordinary people and ingratitude—which, thanks be to God, is not the case with you, and the nation truly appreciates the officials—do not bring a person down or make them despair or reduce their motivation. Be aware that movement and effort must not pause for a moment. No hour of our and your useful life should pass without a beneficial work for these people. These people truly deserve service. If we can be servants to these people and prove that we truly serve the people, it is the greatest honor.

The second axis is the direction of movement and ideals and principles; the same thing Mr. Hashemi pointed out, which is very important. There is a big difference between those managers who started an effort with intention and faith, and those who are not like this and have been assigned a mission and want to do the work. There is truly a difference between the government of Iran and other governments. Here, the issue is that when we started this movement from the beginning, those who took the first steps in this movement did so with the intention of reviving Islam, defending Muslims, reviving Islamic values, eliminating oppression, establishing justice in society, and helping people who had not seen the shadow of justice over their heads due to tyrannical governments.

When we reached the initial result, meaning we were able to wrest power from the clutches of the devils and started working, we must precisely set and adjust the direction of movement towards the same goals that were the basis of the movement from the beginning and continue the movement. We must be careful that no deviation from these principles occurs. This is so that all those working in government institutions pay attention to this point in their personal actions; otherwise, the senior officials of the country are either among the founders of this movement and the explainers of these principles—who do not need to be reminded—or among those who have shown sincere steps in this path. Therefore, in the entire government apparatus—government in the general sense, meaning the entire apparatus of governance, including the executive branch, the judiciary, and the institutions that each in some way are involved in the administration of the country—this inner conscience of orientation towards Islamic ideals must always be alive.

We must move in the direction of helping the deprived in society. It is true that in an Islamic society, justice is for everyone; meaning if you see a thief climbing the wall of someone who, for example, has wealth, you will stop the thief; you will not say it is okay, let him steal from this person's house. Or if it is seen that an average and ordinary person in society is being oppressed, it must be stopped; however, we must see which strata and classes in our society, social system, and history have been more oppressed and unjustly treated and are behind; they must be helped. It is clear that the barefoot classes of the country are like this.

The deprived of the country are those who, despite their equal rights with other members of this family, have been oppressed over many years. In this country, families, upper and powerful classes, khans, and company owners ruled, and power and law were in their favor. Everything must move in the opposite direction of that trend; meaning the wealth, effort, management, and material and spiritual resources of the country must go towards uplifting those deprived and oppressed classes. In all government programs, this meaning must be considered. Of course, in the programs, it is like this. Meaning truly in these programs that you have, and I am aware of most or all of them, these aspects have been observed; however, in the actions of government members and the components of the country's staff, this meaning must be constantly considered.

The Iranian nation today works and strives in the name of Islam and for Islam, engages in jihad and struggle. And this is the miracle that happened in our time, that a social system is formed based on God's religion and divine concepts and values. With material calculations, such a thing was not conceivable at all. Muslim nations are truly attracted to this movement. This is not an exaggeration; it is a reality that exists. Despite all the propaganda against the Islamic Republic, we see that Islamic nations are still optimistic about the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic and move in the direction of this trend. Today in the world, there are few Islamic nations that have not been influenced by this movement.

This enthusiasm and hope remain in the nations as long as we do not descend or compromise even a hair's breadth from unconditional faith and complete adherence to God's religion. In dealing with global powers, it is the same. In dealing with global issues, it is the same. In setting foreign policy, it is the same. In the internal administration of the country, it is the same.

We must strengthen and highlight the secret of society's happiness—which is gathering around the axis of faith in God—in our lives and social system at every moment; lead the nation towards deeper and more profound Islamic education; educate the young elements of society with Islamic education; our universities must feel the duty of educating young Muslims and Muslim specialists and scholars—not merely scholars; primary schools as well. We must make Islamic values absolute values in society and all other values pale in comparison to them. Radio and television must move and plan in this direction.

In summary, as the nations of the world have recognized our nation and the Islamic Republic system as soldiers and devotees of Islam and moving in the path of Islam, we must act and prove this meaning. This is, of course, the same decision that the nation, government, and officials had, and according to which so much effort and struggle have been made, and it must continue to be so in the future.

We have a great asset. This asset is our self-sacrificing nation. I truly do not know of any system where the people support the decisions of the country's managers with this quality. Of course, there are many countries in the world where, after all, nationalist feelings and national interests lead people to follow the managers; but there is a difference between nationalist feelings and deep religious faith. Deep religious faith is what you observe.

The return of our freed captives opened a new perspective to the whole world. See what the people do; what enthusiasm, what expression of devotion, what expression of sincerity they have. Why? Because they struggled in the path of God and endured during captivity for the sake of God. Look at these freed captives; pure, faithful young people, some of them spent ten years, some eight years of the best and most unattainable hours and years of their lives in this hardship and returned lively. As if no propaganda had been done on them, as if no torture had been inflicted on them, as if they had not tasted the bitterness and hardship of struggle in the path of God. They returned like this. This is because of faith. This cannot be bought with any asset; except the asset of faith, which, thanks be to God, our nation had. We have this great asset. We must consider it very precious and preserve it. We must invest a lot in maintaining and protecting it.

Thanks be to God, dear brothers pay attention to the essential points of management; but I want to mention a point that really needs some work in our country, and that is the work conscience that must be injected and instilled a lot in our staff. During the years of the enemy's domination over this nation in our country, many of our spiritual reserves have been tampered with, including this subject. Gentlemen! One of the things you pay full attention to in your ministries and management centers is this point. You must give a lot of importance to the work conscience, the conscience of the duty and responsibility that rests on each of your individuals, and revive it. Today, work in our country must be done with great effort. Without that work conscience, it is not possible.

At the end of today's talk, I would like to point out a point, and that is one of the things we always had in mind as the outstanding virtues of Mr. Hashemi and observed was his self-sacrificing and prudent presence in the scenes of the imposed war, and truly words fail to express gratitude for those efforts and sacrifices. I do not forget those difficult nights, those moments full of concern and responsibility that he spent in front of all of us—which were always appreciated by our honorable Imam (may his soul be sanctified). We now want to embody this gratitude in a symbolic movement and attach this medal of victory to Mr. Hashemi's chest.

I hope that Almighty God will help you and grant you success and support you in this difficult path ahead and the great responsibility you have undertaken, so that you can fulfill your duties. God has bestowed a favor upon you and placed you among the sincere servants of Islam. This is a great blessing. Its gratitude is to work more eagerly and passionately, which, God willing, Almighty God will grant us all the success of this gratitude.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings