New Year Message on the Arrival of the Year 1382

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful O Turner of hearts and sights. O Manager of night and day. O Transformer of years and conditions. Transform our state to the best state. I congratulate the arrival of the new year to all our dear compatriots and send greetings and peace upon the Lord of the Free, the Master of Martyrs, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), and also upon the pure soul of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the noble martyrs. The book of our lives has turned another page, and a new leaf has been added to the thick book of the history of the Iranian nation. The lines of these pages and the writings of these books shape the destiny of individuals and nations. Many people have recorded golden and valuable words in the lines of each year's life, influencing their happiness and the bright horizons they await, whether positively or negatively. Some of us have also made shortcomings, and the impact of all these good deeds or bad deeds and shortcomings returns to us. I ask the Almighty God that in the coming year, there be more good words, meaning actions that serve the lofty divine and human goals and are beneficial for our world and the hereafter, and that the actions and words that lead to shortcomings, backwardness, and regret be reduced. In the past year, we recommended two struggles to the Iranian nation and officials: one was the struggle against unemployment and job creation, and the other was the struggle against financial corruption and efforts to eradicate the terrible whirlpool that devours and destroys all good activities. The emphasis to the officials meant that among the many activities that various agencies and officials of the country are committed to, these should gain special prominence, and while all work should proceed in its ordinary course, these two movements and struggles should genuinely progress as a "struggle." Of course, the results of what has been done are commendable; although they are not convincing and sufficient. The reason is that great works—if they are to be done correctly—are carried out in their appropriate times. Great works cannot be done suddenly and impulsively with precision. The executive branch has made useful efforts in the area of employment. Likewise, the executive and judicial branches have made good efforts together in the fight against economic and financial corruption. The government's work was in the area of prevention, and the judiciary's work was in the area of legal prosecution; however, what has been done is only the beginning of the work. We appreciate the beginning and do not underestimate it; however, a beginning is only valuable if it continues. Of course, the fight against corruption is not always accompanied by uproar and noise. It may sometimes be noisy, and at times it may proceed quietly. We should not wait for uproar and noise and propaganda in this regard; we should wait for work and action. The legislative branch must also join this struggle. The work and actions of the esteemed officials in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches should be such that their sweetness settles in the mouths of our dear people, and they can feel its effects. Therefore, this year, the struggle for employment and the eradication of financial and economic corruption in government agencies must continue. A point that I add this year and emphasize is that all officials in the three branches must start a movement to serve the people. We may have various types of work and programs ahead of us and implement them; among them, what is considered deeper, more lasting, and quicker in service should take priority. Especially, these works should be more focused on serving the underprivileged and needy sectors of society. These actions must be carried out wisely and with planning, and their reports should also be presented to the people. Officials should allow the people to judge based on a correct and accurate report so that they can see the effectiveness of the system and judge it accordingly. The movement to serve the people is a great and heavy struggle; because serving the general public conflicts with the interests of some specific groups, and this is where we must enter the field with struggle, effort, and firm determination. My address is to all officials of the three branches, the country's administrators, and political groups; consider this matter the main competition. Today in the country, the legitimate and acceptable competition from the perspective of the people and us is only the competition to serve the people. Political competitions that often occur over trivial matters lead to many disputes and harmful controversies, and it is not a competition that we accept and approve for the country and the nation. Also, in Islam, there is no competition for seizing power. I say this because some only strive for political power and engage in competition. Therefore, the correct, legitimate, and acceptable competition is the competition in serving the people. Everyone must take the movement to serve the people seriously. The people should demand this, and officials should plan for it. Executives should implement the programs and prove the effectiveness of the system, which the enemy is trying to deny with the utmost effort, to the people in a tangible way. This year, we begin the new year while, unfortunately, a devastating, oppressive, and bullying war is underway. Unfortunately, America and behind it some other countries, including England, have initiated a movement driven by evil motives, which, although it started with them, it is uncertain whether it will end under their control; unless they quickly withdraw from the battlefield and put an end to this humanitarian catastrophe. In the past fifty years, this is not the first time that America has started a war or put a nation in the great trouble of bloodshed and war. It is not the first time that Americans want to forcibly occupy a country. We have previously witnessed other cases in East Asia, Africa, and Latin America from the United States government, and it is interesting that in all these cases, although America has achieved short-term victories, in the long run, it has received a severe backlash from the nations. Where is the government that America defended in Vietnam—South Vietnam of that day? Where is Pinochet, whom it brought to power in Chile? What is the situation of the illegal groups that came with American money or the oil money of America's agents in Afghanistan and other regions? In all these cases, especially when it came to creating disasters in Africa, America ultimately had to leave those countries with disgrace and humiliation. In none of these cases has America been successful; in this case, it will be the same. The war that America and England have initiated today is in absolute opposition to the public opinion of the people of the world. All the world's intellectuals and public opinion have condemned this war and its instigators. The warmongers who claim to value human votes carry out their actions without regard to this public opinion. Their goal is to occupy Iraq, dominate the Middle East, seize the precious oil treasures of Iraq and the region, and support and protect the existence of the illegitimate Zionist state. In such circumstances, we pray for the people of Iraq. This does not mean defending the dictator of Iraq and his Ba'ath regime. We know them better than anyone else and have felt and experienced their missiles and chemical materials with our flesh, blood, and youth. The American and British warmongers equipped Saddam Hussein with deadly equipment, and today they are questioning him about these weapons one by one, claiming to be neutral and innocent. Therefore, our defense is for the Iraqi nation. Only the Iraqi nation has the right to change its destiny and future, and this right is not in the hands of any other government or organization, even the United Nations. The ancient and historical Iraqi nation, which has a deep and rich civilization and prominent personalities, must determine its own destiny. The people of Iraq can determine the future of Iraq and its government by voting and considering the total votes. We condemn this war and declare our sympathy and support for the people of Iraq, believing that this war must be stopped as soon as possible. If the aggressors do not stop this war, it will undoubtedly turn against them and the blow will return to them. To our dear nation, I say: This is America! This is the unmasked face of America! Wherever it deems necessary and defines its national interests, even if illegitimately and unlawfully, it allows itself to attack a nation and a country. Recently, we were informed that they have committed much firework in the city of Basra. In Baghdad, they have also caused numerous atrocities. This is the unmasked face of global arrogance. The meaning of the word "global arrogance," which the Islamic Revolution introduced into the political vocabulary of the world, is this: a government that, relying on weapons and force, violates the national interests of others and calls it the demand for national interests or defense of people's rights or similar false and deceptive slogans. The Iranian nation must remain as aware as it has been until now, be more aware, recognize America, England, and global arrogance correctly, and prepare itself for possible confrontations—not only in military terms—but also in cultural, political, and economic fields. My message to the youth of our country, who make up more than seventy percent of our nation and are aged fifteen to thirty-five, is to strive and strengthen your determination and will. Prepare yourselves bravely in various fields and be ready. We may never have a military war; however, we will certainly have political, economic, and especially cultural wars. Here, I again recommend to the officials to organize the accounts and plan the programs in such a way that our youth can taste the sweet struggle against corruption and the effort to serve. I pray that the Almighty God grants the officials this success and bestows pride, prosperity, happiness, and dignity upon our dear nation, and may the attentions of the Master of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and his answered prayers encompass our dear nation. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.