Statements in Meeting with Representatives of the Ninth Parliament

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

I welcome my dear brothers and sisters; the esteemed representatives and elected officials of the righteous and faithful nation of Iran. I thank Mr. Larijani for the good and useful points he raised; both regarding the history of the legislative body and the National Assembly in our country and in our brief history, and in expressing what is expected from the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The points he made are indeed correct. And if, God willing, the esteemed representatives of the Parliament - as there is hope and confidence in this - in this position, with independence, with free thought, with consideration for the interests of the country, with courage in the face of the enemy, and with hope for the future, plan, organize, and pursue their movements, the country will certainly benefit, and we will advance on this path.

There is a fundamental point here that we all must pay attention to - I need to pay more attention to this point than you; all of you, by virtue of your responsibilities, need it too - and that is the feeling of duty; sincerity of intention and action for God. If this is achieved, all problems will be solved, all paths will be opened; if this is achieved, divine mercy and assistance will be bestowed; "If you are God-conscious, He will grant you a criterion" - the very verses that were recited just now - if this is achieved, the false illusion of defeat in the face of the enemy and the enemy's dominance will disappear. Trust in God, connection with God - which arises from this pure intention - solves all problems. The Revolution succeeded in the same way. If our great Imam - who was truly a leader in every sense of the word - did not have this trust, this sincerity, this Revolution would not have succeeded. If the people who came into the field, the elites who brought the people into the arena, did not have this sincerity, this work for God, progress would not have been made. It was the same during the Sacred Defense. Many of you were present during the Sacred Defense; well, those who were there know firsthand what it was like and what happened. The main secret is this: to pursue duty, to seek divine pleasure. If we look at life with a mercantile perspective, the result is the same. I have repeatedly said years ago that martyrdom in the way of God is a merchant's death; it is a profit-oriented death. It is truly like that. The one who does not become a martyr in the way of God will ultimately give this life, which has been entrusted to us, in a way that is not for God; he will eventually lose it; it is better that this spilled oil be dedicated to the Imamzadeh; it is better that this inevitable event - death, which is an unavoidable incident for us - becomes a means of our happiness; a means of our enjoyment in real life, from divine grace. Truly, martyrdom is a merchant's death.

The same applies to our worldly efforts. If we give up money, unnecessary and forbidden pleasures, we have acted as merchants and gained profit; because the Almighty God will reward us for this sacrifice in such a way that all that we could possibly gain from these pleasures is nothing compared to it; it is zero and below zero; it is nothing. Working for God is like this. In my opinion, this is the foundation of our issues.

You are in a system where you are a fundamental pillar - the Islamic Consultative Assembly is a fundamental pillar - that has emerged in the midst of a chaotic material world and is proclaiming spirituality; it challenges the path of the material world. Naturally, it faces enmities. The fact that some constantly criticize - with hints, directly - that you should not confront the world, in my opinion, is a thoughtless statement. When you claim to have a spiritual and religious government, when you say religious democracy or Islamic democracy, this itself is the beginning of the conflict. The problem of the world is confronting the call of religion. When we say the world, we mean the very governing bodies of the world; these are those whose existence and identity are based on the plundering of human beings, harming humanity, and undermining human values for material pleasures. You have heard of the Pharaohs of history, you have seen them. Well, the Pharaohs of history stand against human values; the world is in their hands. When you create a management and governmental system whose claim is to lean towards spirituality, to defend human values, to defend divine values - which is the spirit and meaning of human values - it is natural that there will be oppositions. Well, in the face of these oppositions, one must rely on a power. This power is not the power of material weapons and atomic bombs; this power is a spiritual power; reliance on God; this is the essence of the matter. You and I - I need it more than you - need to make our intentions, our hearts, and our goals more divine. If this is achieved, problems will be solved; if this is achieved, we will advance; if this is achieved, the enemy will lose hope of overcoming us. The limitations of the enemy are many; these are lengthy discussions that do not belong here, and you, thanks be to God, are all equipped with high levels of thought, knowledge, and education; you can fully understand and analyze the issues. The reality is this; if a person in this divine system can strengthen their relationship with God, in whatever proportion we advance in this path, undoubtedly our successes against the enemy will increase; obstacles will be removed; this must be kept in mind. Of course, in every position, in every task, in every mission, there are certain requirements; the Parliament naturally has its own requirements; being in the government has other requirements; in various other institutions or outside the governing institutions, there are other requirements. The goal must be this: to work for God. Many of the criticisms that are directed at us today - many of which are valid - if we correct this intention, this orientation, these criticisms will be resolved on their own.

Regarding the Islamic Consultative Assembly, what I can summarize in two sentences is that the Parliament must be both alive and healthy; these two characteristics are necessary for the Parliament.

The liveliness of the Parliament is shown by its vitality, dynamism, and activity. If the Parliament is stagnant, lethargic, and does not produce appropriate and correct outputs in various sectors, it is deficient. This sign of life and proof of vitality is activity and dynamism. How can this activity and dynamism be manifested externally? Duties must be performed correctly; good laws. Under this term "good laws," ten to fifteen criteria can be defined: it must be up-to-date, not repetitive, not contradictory, etc.; these are what constitute good laws. Second: proper oversight. The two main duties of the Parliament are these; primarily, legislation, and immediately the issue of proper oversight. Proper oversight can be translated. Proper oversight has its own criteria; these criteria must be specified. It is not necessary for me to mention these criteria; you know them; they are part of our clear and evident knowledge. Oversights that arise from incorrect intentions are incorrect oversight. Biased and anti-biased oversights are both incorrect oversight. Oversights that do not delve deeply are incorrect. Proper oversight has its own criteria; these must be specified.

Effective presence in the work environment; this is a sign of vitality. Of course, what I am saying are expectations from the Parliament as a whole; however, the Parliament is based on individuals. If you are not present during the work of the Parliament or in the public session of the Parliament or in the committee, it is true that you say I am one of two hundred and ninety, but your absence will have an impact; both in terms of your personal weight and in terms of its effect on others. That is, if you do not attend, the absence from the Parliament becomes that much easier; another person who was previously committed to attending will also not attend. This is one of the Parliament's predicaments; you should strive to truly eliminate this predicament in the Ninth Parliament. Therefore, effective presence in the work environment is a sign of vitality.

Political presence in the country and the world. The Parliament is a representative page of the Revolution and the public thoughts of the people and the macro policies of the country. Events occur in the region, events occur in the world; the Parliament must clearly state its positions. Fortunately, recent Parliaments have been active in this regard, they have been good. Today, you see there is turmoil in the region. What is published in the news and external demonstrations by news agencies, whether true or false, is a small part of the events occurring in this region. This region is not an ordinary part of the world; this region is the heart of the world; it is a crucial area connecting three continents, a significant oil region, a key area for Western colonial politics with the existence of the Zionist regime. This is a remarkable region. The events in this region are global events. It is not the case that we can say now in some corner of the world, four countries have a problem, and it is similar; no, this is the heart of the world. Well, events are occurring here; what is our position regarding these events? These are important issues. The liveliness of the Parliament is that you must be present in these matters, you must have a voice. This voice is impactful. Today, your position can influence each of these countries that are currently of concern to me; these very countries in the region. If we think correctly, choose the right sentences and words, and express them at the right time, it will certainly have an impact on the movements that exist today from both sides in the region; whether from the devilish and aggressive Western apparatus or from the people who are on the side of truth. Therefore, liveliness is these matters. A lively Parliament is one that legislates timely, appropriately, and correctly; oversees; is present in the issues of the country, in the issues of the region, and has engaged in work.

We must not neglect these committees; these committees are important; they are think tanks for refining issues in the Parliament; then decision-making in the Parliament means decision-making for the fate of the country, not just for four years. Sometimes you pass a law, and this law has an impact on the country for twenty years; it determines a line.

Alongside the liveliness of the Parliament, the issue of health is also important; it must be both alive and healthy. Health is important from various aspects; political health, ethical health, financial health; these are issues that relate to each of our dear friends, the esteemed representatives. If a tendency arises in the Parliament - of course, such tendencies will generally be small; they will not be general and overarching tendencies - that contradicts some principles of the Revolution, this is a lack of health. Or if the sense of duty in the Parliament is lost, this is a lack of health. If carelessness prevails regarding financial matters - taking money, giving money, becoming connected, becoming intermediaries; these kinds of things that exist in many places - this is a lack of health; this is important. Unnecessary expenditures for the Parliament are a lack of health. Yesterday, I discussed this matter in detail with Mr. Larijani. Truly, one of the things the Parliament must do is to become a model for other institutions in reducing costs; unnecessary travel expenses, various personal expenses of representatives; of course, a significant part of this work relates to the esteemed leadership of the Parliament, who must be vigilant; and also to each representative. Of course, I know - I have both general and specific knowledge - that there are indeed among the representatives those who are cautious and vigilant; there are individuals who truly earn admiration and happiness in one's heart, and one thanks God that such individuals are present in the Parliament. Ultimately, this issue is important.

A year or two ago, in this very meeting with the esteemed representatives, I spoke about the self-monitoring of the Parliament; a law was also passed. Look, this very verse that was recited here: "And beware of a trial that will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively" (2), is very important. In a building, the one who pours gasoline and acts carelessly and strikes a match may be one person; but the one who burns is not just that one person. One person may sink a ship; but the one who drowns is not just that one person. The Quran says to avoid such trials; when it comes, it does not only affect the one who causes the trial, the one who is unjust; it also affects the innocent; it affects those who have not contributed to creating this trial. "And beware"; avoid such trials, be vigilant. What is necessary for this? The necessity is self-monitoring; that is, we must monitor one another; "And advise one another to truth and advise one another to patience"; (3) we must constantly advise one another. These are signs of health.

One of the things that is truly a sign of health in the Parliament is to avoid attacking the reputation of this or that person. Well, you have a platform at your disposal; this platform is a public platform. When you speak, you are speaking behind a national loudspeaker; it reaches everyone's ears. If in these statements you make in the Parliament, there is something that attacks someone's reputation, that accuses someone - even if you think they are guilty, but their guilt has not been proven - or if it involves a matter that, even if it is true, it is not our duty to address it; for example, private matters of individuals. Why should such things be mentioned in the Parliament, behind the loudspeaker of the Parliament? We must avoid these things strictly. If we avoid these, it is a sign of health.

I have previously mentioned this point to some esteemed representatives, and now since all of you are present, I will tell you as well: the Parliament is a place for wise and rational dialogue. You make a statement, you have a reasoning, you present your reasoning; then the next person comes and says for this reason, their statement is wrong, their reasoning is incorrect; ultimately, the assembly either votes for this opinion or that opinion; this is correct. If when you are speaking, someone else starts clapping or making noise so that your voice does not reach the listener, is this a wise act? Is this a rational act? This habit must be eradicated in the Parliament so that when a representative is speaking, or a minister, or a government official is speaking, four people from one corner of the Parliament start making noise! This is a very bad thing. Unfortunately, this was the case in the Eighth Parliament; I do not know if it was the same in the Seventh Parliament or not. The first time I encountered this issue, I was astonished: is such a thing possible? We saw that yes, it is possible, and it is real! It has happened in the Parliament. The Parliament is not a place for such talk. Yes, in public gatherings, ordinary people may do such things; one person speaks, another makes noise. In history, there have always been such actions. The Quran states: "And they forbid it and avoid it"; (4) when the Prophet spoke, some did not allow his voice to reach others; they made noise. But this is not the case in the Islamic Republic; nor in the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The Islamic Consultative Assembly is a place for speech. The speaker must fully express their words, finish; then if their words are wrong, illogical, you can intervene, reason, and say no, this person's statement has no logic, no basis; reject it. This is not a problem.

I place great importance on the independence of the Parliament and truly believe that an independent Parliament is one of the great blessings. Some think, and some constantly bring this up in the media; they think that the manifestation of independence from the government is to constantly attack the government. This is not the case. The discussion is not about this government or that government; in all periods, over these years - you know there have been various governments - I have always emphasized this. Independence from the government does not mean that one must constantly, with or without reason, attack the government; its actions, its policies, which do not necessarily require objection. Well, pass a law that contradicts the direction it is moving. These are necessary matters.

In my opinion, one of the important issues we need in the country today is unity. Unity does not mean uniformity of thoughts. Well, thanks be to God, you are all at high levels of thought and knowledge; these do not need to be stated to you. We need to be reminded to act; otherwise, we know many things. Today, unity must exist. Duality, disagreement, and division are manifestations of weakness, decline, and defeat of a nation; do not let this happen. Differences of opinion exist, and there is no shame in expressing differences of opinion; yes, we have differences of opinion in this matter, but our hands are joined. For example, one says this must be done, I say it must not be done. Ultimately, there is a reference; either the reference is the law; or the reference is the judiciary; or the reference is the Guardian Council - or whatever - that reference will determine the matter; but we do not become adversarial. This unity must exist. There must be harmony among the institutions for the higher interests of the country; this must be manifested. Of course, everyone says this. Once, someone was angrily defending something, and another person said to him, why are you getting angry? With the same anger, he shouted: I am not angry! Now, from both sides, it cannot be said that some constantly talk about unity, but at the same time, signs and examples of division are sometimes seen. I urge you to pay attention to this issue; both within the Parliament among your friends who are in the Parliament, and between the Parliament and other powers - the executive and judicial branches - maintain this unity and agreement and know that this nation, this country, this system, this orientation, is a promise of success and victory; this is God's grace, and divine traditions necessitate this.

The nation is a good nation; they are a faithful nation; our youth are good youth. Our nation, fortunately, is still a young nation; religious thought and religious and Islamic orientation are, thanks be to God, the main axis of the country's movement. Well, the representatives of the Parliament, the officials of the country, the government officials, the judiciary officials, are believers in the principles of Islam and the Revolution; this is very important. The people are believers; the officials are believers; God willing, divine success will be upon us, and we are moving forward. In this decade, which is the decade of progress and justice, with God's grace, God willing, we will achieve both noticeable progress and, at the end of this period, a remarkable figure of justice.

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