Statements on the New Year Meeting with a Group of Officials

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

Happy New Year! God willing, may this holiday, both the New Year and the birth of the great lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), truly be a blessing for all of you dear brothers and sisters; for yourselves, your families, your children, and your spouses, who undoubtedly bear a significant share of the divine reward. Many of the burdens of your responsibilities and occupations are borne by them, yet you become the face of recognition and appreciation, receiving thanks from both the elite and the public, while no one thanks them. I extend my congratulations to them - to your spouses and families - and I express my gratitude for their patience and cooperation, which enables you to fulfill your important duties and heavy responsibilities in the best possible manner.

Nowruz (the Persian New Year) is truly an opportunity for us Iranians. Regardless of the connection of this specific day with historical events in Islam - some relate it to the day of Ghadir and others to different days, and I cannot judge the accuracy of these correlations - this holiday, which marks the beginning of our solar year and is associated with the migration of the Prophet Muhammad, is indeed a great and good opportunity. Such holidays serve as a new beginning and introduce a new period to humanity. This feeling of entering a new era helps individuals gain renewed energy, make new plans, and bring forth innovations; it is a very good thing. Therefore, all nations around the world place importance on their annual holidays. This importance may have a religious aspect in some places, like among Christians and others; in other places, it may not have any religious aspect, but it is the beginning of the year. The beginning of the year signifies a new day, new work, and new initiatives; that is its meaning. This creates a very positive feeling for individuals.

Another blessing of Nowruz is these gatherings and harmonizations. Now that you have gathered here, you are the main officials of the country; representatives from the three branches and some institutions are all sitting together; from the executive branch, the legislative branch, the judiciary, and revolutionary institutions, all are gathered together, demonstrating a unity; this is very valuable and very important for a country.

National unity is an issue that, thanks be to God, the Islamic Republic has enjoyed since the beginning of the revolution until today. However, there is something alongside national unity, and that is the unity, common language, and empathy among the officials of the country; this is very important. It does not contradict differing tastes or viewpoints. Yes, everyone has their own preferences; you may have an opinion on a particular political or economic issue, while your brother, friend, or colleague in your organization or another may have a different opinion; this is not a problem. What matters is that the unity of direction, unity of path, and unity of goal remain intact; that is what shapes the unity of the officials, and ultimately, the national unity; this is very good. This very meeting today is a manifestation of this common language, empathy, cooperation, and affection; we must appreciate this; we value it highly.

I believe that without cooperation, the country's affairs will not progress. We have gained a lot of experience over these thirty-some years; if the officials of the country are united in one direction, in one goal - which are the overarching, fundamental, and revolutionary goals - even if there are differences in taste on hundreds of issues, it does not harm progress; that is the main thing, and we desire this. Thanks be to God, one feels that this exists in the country; that is, the officials of the branches and the key officials of the country are aligned in the overarching goals of the system, they are in agreement, they are empathetic; although there may be differences in tastes regarding methods and approaches.

This is also one of the blessings of Nowruz, that we gather together; for instance, we have not seen Mr. Jahangiri (the First Vice President) for a while; now, thanks be to God, due to the blessing of Nowruz, we have been able to meet him and other friends; this is very good.

I have an opportunity in this meeting to first express my gratitude for the efforts that friends are making in various sectors, especially in the area of resistance economy, where Mr. Jahangiri is set to play a role as the commander of this significant initiative. I insist on the necessity of true leadership; because the institutions have their policies, they have their tasks, they have their conventional and routine work; the role of leadership is to observe which of these tasks fit within the framework of economic policy, which are indifferent to the resistance economy, and which are against the resistance economy. These must be evaluated; the first category should be strengthened; the second category should be guided towards the resistance economy as much as possible; and the third category should be completely prevented. That is the expectation. Well, I know that the gentlemen are indeed working and are busy; both he and his colleagues; and we must thank them for doing this work.

This year we said "Action and Work"; our intention with action and work is that a comprehensive and all-encompassing action takes place, so that by the end of the year we can receive reports and friends can report that these several tasks, for example, these ten items were accomplished. Suppose in the area of production, these tasks were completed, or in the area of scientific production, these tasks were completed, or regarding foreign trade and commerce, these actions were taken; that is, specific tasks. Our expectation is this, and we hope, God willing, that this work will be accomplished.

Of course, I feel that this group that has been considered can accomplish this task. The Parliament, God willing, will assist; other institutions can also play their roles in this regard; revolutionary institutions can truly play a role in this area. What is important is that this centrality, the centrality of thought and action; the characteristic of leadership is this; that is, it is both thought and action; it is not just a coordinating headquarters but a command center, a headquarters. In the meeting where we discussed this issue, we explained the difference between a headquarters and a command center: a command center is the center of operational command, like military command centers; it utilizes various institutions to achieve the goal that has been outlined. Therefore, it is both a center of thought and must sit down to think, and also a center of action; that is, orders must be given, follow-ups must be made, and the results of the work must be seen; these tasks must, God willing, be accomplished; that is our expectation, and I am completely hopeful that, God willing, this work will be done.

Of course, we do not raise our expectations too high; I know the obstacles, the problems; the lack of funding is one of our problems, but this must be compensated; that is, look and see where savings can be made, wherever savings can be made, save and allocate the saved amount to where there is a gap. We have many tasks that require funding and can also be saved. Therefore, compensate for the lack of resources. Now, institutions may face some difficulties, but if, God willing, work is done with determination and good management, the work is feasible.

I believe we do not lack management; we truly have very good managers in the country. I have years of experience; I have been in government and have also observed various governments from outside; we genuinely have competent managers; both in terms of their motivation for management, their thinking, and their actions. We do not lack managers; we need the necessary follow-up and concentration, which is the main focus; concentration of decision-making, concentration of leadership, concentration of execution.

I have also told our esteemed President. Well, the President has a lot of work; from a distance, people do not realize the extent of the tasks and activities that a President must undertake; managing the country from various aspects is not an easy task, it is very difficult. During the blessed life of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), some would refer to him, sometimes complaining about certain matters, saying that something has happened in a certain place. He repeatedly responded by saying that managing the country is a difficult task. It truly is; we have experienced managing the country ourselves; it is indeed a difficult task, not an easy one. Therefore, the President has many responsibilities. The First Vice President, who holds a prominent and distinguished position, can, God willing, engage well in these areas with full authority. Our expectation is this; that is, we want this work to be done.

I support any action that either the government or the Islamic Consultative Assembly takes in the interest of the people and to facilitate the affairs of the people. What is important is that one feels that work is being done that is beneficial and necessary for national interests; if I feel that work is being done regarding any issue - whether related to the executive branch, the legislative branch, or the judiciary - that serves the people and is for the people, I will genuinely defend it; I will utilize all the energy and ability that exists within this insignificant being to support this work that is in the interest of the people and to alleviate the problems of the people.

The main thing is that we must rely on ourselves; this is the foundation of work. We must rely on ourselves; we cannot rely on others, we cannot rely on foreigners, we cannot trust them. I have repeatedly said during the nuclear negotiations - perhaps four or five times or more - that we cannot trust the Americans. Now you observe and see; the statements they make, the declarations they issue, and the actions they demonstrate are entirely the signature of what I was saying at that time; that is, we truly cannot trust them. [Of course] the Americans, as a symbol of immorality and bad faith, are not the only ones; there are others who are similarly immoral and behave poorly; ultimately, we cannot trust them. We must trust ourselves, rely on ourselves, and know that we can, and know that God the Almighty will also assist us. Amir al-Mu'minin (the Commander of the Faithful) says: "When God saw our sincerity, He sent down victory upon us and sent down humiliation upon our enemies"; when we sincerely enter the field and move forward, God the Almighty will certainly grant us victory. Well, life has its ups and downs; individual life also has its ups and downs, let alone the social life and the life of a nation. At times, one encounters problems, at times one faces anomalies and unfavorable conditions, and at times one encounters openings; all aspects exist. The main thing is that we should, God willing, follow that straight line and the straight path and move forward.

In any case, I ask God the Almighty for success for all of you. I always pray; I pray for all the officials of the country; that is, for all those who are moving in this path and are striving in every corner and in every way, I pray for them. [Of course] our prayer has no importance or value, but ultimately we fulfill the duty of praying. You too strive and work so that, God willing, we can reach a result.

And I emphasize the issue of production. The issue of domestic production must be taken very seriously; that is, the key to all work is the issue of domestic production. In both sectors, both the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture, the issue of production must be taken seriously. God willing, God the Almighty will assist you.