Statements in Meeting with the People of Qom

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially the Awaited One among the inhabitants of the earth.

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters, brave and valiant people of Qom, and a group of esteemed clerics and honored scholars. The nineteenth of Dey (December 9) each year brings me the glad tidings of a meeting with you, the faithful, brave, and noble people.

Qom is full of motivation, full of hope; it is both hopeful and hope-giving. Qom is a pioneering city, and its people are undoubtedly pioneers in our country. Since the nineteenth of Dey in 1356 (1978) - when we heard about the events in Qom from afar and there was no news of public gatherings or popular excitement in the country, and Qom rose up, stood firm, and sacrificed lives - until today, for forty years, Qom has continued its steady movement on the straight path. This year, you saw that on the ninth of Dey, the people of Qom conducted the usual march - which took place all over the country - but they did not stop there; on the thirteenth of Dey, they held that enthusiastic march, that great movement.

The message of our nation has always been the same; the message of our dear nation, our various classes, our different cities, our youth, is the message of the revolution and the Islamic system and standing firm against oppression and not submitting to the imposition of powers. The message of the nation has been the same throughout these long years, and today, forty years after those days, our nation continues to pursue that same logic, that same path, that same goal; however, today it is more mature, more experienced, and more knowledgeable. In terms of motivation, if we do not say that today our youth are more motivated than before, at least they have the same motivations, in addition to being more numerous; that is, today the number of motivated, faithful youth who are ready to stand firm in the face of danger is several times greater than the youth we had on the brink of the revolution and in the early years of the revolution; this is the continuous line of this country. Well, I always say these things, and there are always some evidence and signs, but what has happened these days has been clear and obvious evidence of this matter. As we mentioned, the Iranian nation, in all corners of the country, in large cities, in small cities, since the ninth of Dey - when the fireworks and the mischievous actions of certain individuals, which we will discuss later, had just begun - began this movement everywhere in the country, and when they saw that the enemy's mercenaries were not backing down, then, day after day, this march was repeated; from the thirteenth in Qom, in Ahvaz, in Hamadan, in Kermanshah, until the fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth in various cities, in large cities, and again in Mashhad, in Shiraz, in Isfahan, in Tabriz. These are not ordinary events; these do not exist anywhere in the world; I say this based on information. This great, organized popular movement against the enemy's conspiracy, with this order, with this insight, with this enthusiasm, with this motivation does not exist anywhere in the world; and this has continued for forty years; it is not a matter of one year, two years, or five years; it is the struggle of the nation against anti-nation, the struggle of Iran against anti-Iran, the struggle of Islam against anti-Islam; this struggle has continued and, of course, will continue after this; however, the engagement of the Iranian nation in struggle and resistance has not caused them to neglect other aspects and dimensions of life; rather, your youth, your children have achieved scientific advancements, and your officials have done great work for the dignity of the Iranian nation in the country and in the region. That is, the nation has shown that it is a living nation, a vibrant nation, a God-conscious nation, and God helps them.

Well, in fact, all the movements that the enemy has carried out against us in these forty years are counter-revolutions. The revolution has uprooted the enemy politically in the country, and now the enemy constantly counterattacks and fails each time; they take action and cannot proceed; due to the steadfastness, due to this strong popular and national barrier; this time too, the nation firmly tells America and England and the London dwellers: this time you could not, and you will not be able to again. They have spent billions of dollars - this is true that they have spent billions - they have networked for years, they have nurtured mercenaries to create problems from within. They did not say this before; the officials of America today, whose naivety in political matters is evident, have revealed themselves and said, "We cannot confront Iran from outside; we must undermine it from within"; that is, this is exactly what they have been doing for several years: networking, creating mercenaries; then, to fund it, they go to dependent governments, come here, and seek out some wealthy Gulf state to fund their expenses here and elsewhere; they recycle the trash that has fled from Iran, bring them back into the field, if they can recycle them; they have launched thousands of virtual networks, established dozens of television channels, established satellite channels; they have created assassination and explosion squads and sent them across the borders, whether from the southeast or the northwest; they have bombarded this nation with lies, slanders, and rumors, hoping to change the thoughts of these people, especially our young, innocent youth - our dear youth, those who have not seen the Imam, have not seen the revolution, have not seen the sacred defense era, have not seen our great martyrs - they wanted to influence their minds; what is the result? It is martyr Hajji; this dear martyr from Najafabad and other martyrs who were martyred in these two or three days; all of them were these young people - and bribing some inside; infiltrating some of the pillars; of course, they also directly intervene; you saw - I will mention later - the interventions of American officials in these few days through these internet networks and the like; but they still could not succeed; with all these efforts, they failed.

I must thank our dear nation; I must thank them a thousand times, not just once. The nation is truly a mature, loyal, insightful, determined, and timely nation that knows when to act. On Thursday, the events began in Mashhad; on Saturday, that strange march took place, which perhaps had not been held with such enthusiasm in Mashhad for several years; then, one or two days of other scattered activities took place that everyone is aware of; then, from the thirteenth of Dey to the seventeenth of Dey, at least five consecutive days [the people came to the field]. Truly, the loyalty of the nation, the timeliness of the nation, [that they know what to do at any moment] is commendable. Well, others receive these messages; yes, in their propaganda, they show hundreds of disruptors and destroyers as thousands, [but] they introduce the millions of movements of the nation in demonstrations as a small group or a few thousand people! They say this in their propaganda, but they understand; their policymakers see it, [but] they do not admit it; that is, the nation does its work, makes its impact, instills its fear in the hearts of the enemy's policymakers with this great movement it undertakes. The nation has truly elevated its insight to the peak; truly, this nation has elevated its insight to the peak and has shown its motivation well in these few days.

[However] analysis; in these days, various analyses have been made by different individuals and factions, in newspapers, in internet networks regarding these events; in these analyses, there was a point that was almost common, and that point is correct, and that is the distinction between the sincere and rightful demands of the people and the wild and destructive actions of a group; these must be distinguished. That someone is deprived of a right and protests, or that these protesters - a hundred people, five hundred people - gather somewhere and express their views is one matter; and that a group takes advantage of this gathering and this motivation to insult the Quran, to insult Islam, to insult the flag, to burn mosques, to destroy, to set fire, is another matter; these are two different categories; these should not be mixed. The people's demands or protests or requests have always existed in this country, and they still exist. Well, these problematic ballot boxes or some problematic financial institutions or some problematic agencies have dissatisfied some people; it has been a year or perhaps more than a year - we have the news; the news often reaches us - they gather in such and such city in front of such and such institution, in front of the governorate, in front of the parliament here. Such things exist; they have always existed and exist, and no one opposes or disagrees with them; these matters must be addressed, we must listen, we must hear, and we must respond to them to the best of our ability. [Of course] among the requests, if there are ten requests, two may be inappropriate; [but] those that are appropriate, those that are correct, we must all pursue. I do not say, "They must pursue them"; I myself am responsible, we all must pursue them. [Of course] I will have remarks directed at the officials in my talks that I will present. This is one matter, but this has nothing to do with those who come and burn the country's flag or those who come and use the people's gathering to speak against the beliefs of the people and shout; against the Quran, against Islam, against the Islamic Republic system!

Let me tell you; a triangle has been active in these matters. This is not something new; it has been organized. What I am saying has all the evidential information; now some is obvious and their own words, some has been obtained through intelligence channels. There has been an active triangle: the plan belongs to the Americans and the Zionists; they drew the plan. They have been working on this plan for several months. The idea of "let's start from small cities, [then] move towards the center and activate the people regarding their demands and heat them up" is a plan that has been drawn and they have been working on it for several months. The plan belongs to the Americans and the agents of the Zionist regime.

The money belongs to one of these wealthy states around the Persian Gulf. Well, these actions cost money; they must pay; the Americans are not willing to spend money when they are present; these people paid the money. This is the second side. The third side is their peddling; their peddling is related to the Mojahedin organization, the murderous Mojahedin organization; they were the peddlers. They had been prepared for months; the Mojahedin media confessed in these days; they said we have been in contact with the Americans regarding this matter for several months; to peddle, to organize, to go see this and that, to identify those inside and find those who would help them to call on the people - they also gave the call - and to raise the slogan "No to Inflation". Well, this is a slogan that everyone likes; with this slogan, they attract a number of people, then they come in the middle themselves, pursue their sinister goals, and drag the people along with them; this was the goal.

What the people did here is this: first, well, a number of people came; of course, there were not many, but as soon as they saw what their goals were and their slogans became clear, the people separated the lines. Those who had participated in the gatherings demanding "No to Inflation" and the like on Thursday and Friday, those same people came on the ninth of Dey to participate in the massive demonstrations and shouted against them; against America, against the Mojahedin, they shouted. The people separated their lines.

They established two command centers in the neighborhood of Iran. They themselves confessed this; these are their own confessions; not confessions here, [but] those who reveal their words in the media and speak in an interview and say some things, said that two command centers for operations in cyberspace and managing the disturbances were established by the Americans and the agents of the Zionist regime in the neighborhood of Iran; they confessed this themselves. That is, they prepared everything in advance, they had already considered victory as certain; thanks be to God who made our enemies foolish; thank God! With all these consecutive events, they still do not understand this nation, they still do not realize what this strong barrier of national faith and national steadfastness and national courage means; they have not reached its depths. Then these unfortunate, deceived, miserable fools inside, on one hand, said, "My life is devoted to Iran," and on the other hand, burned the Iranian flag! The fools did not understand that these two do not fit together. [They said] "My life is devoted to Iran"; well, God willing, you will sacrifice for Iran, but since when have you - these groups, these types - stood firm against the enemies of Iran? The same young Hezbollahis have stood firm against the enemy of Iran, the revolutionary youth have stood firm. Who were the three hundred thousand martyrs of the sacred defense? After that, who were the martyrs we had? They were the same faithful and revolutionary children who defended their country against the anti-revolution, against foreign invaders, against America; when did you sacrifice for Iran that you say "devoted to Iran"? Then they say "devoted to Iran," and then they come and burn the flag! This really does not indicate foolishness, it indicates immaturity and lack of maturity?

But America; America is angry, very angry. Who are they angry with? They are not only angry with me; they are angry with you too; they are angry with the Iranian nation, they are angry with the Iranian government, they are angry with the Iranian revolution; why? Because they have failed; they have failed from this great movement. Now the American officials have fallen into nonsense! The President of America says, "The Iranian government fears its people"; no, the Iranian government is born of these people, belongs to these people, has come into existence through these people, relies on these people; why should it be afraid? If it were not for these people, there would be no government; the fact that this government has stood against you for forty years is thanks to the help of these people; it was the people who were able to help the government stand against you. He says, "The Iranian government fears the power of America"; well, if we fear you, how did we throw you out of Iran in the 50s and expel you from the entire region in the 90s? He says, "The people of Iran are hungry and need food," [while] in America, according to their own statistics, there are fifty million hungry people who need bread for the night; then he says, "The people of Iran [are hungry]!" The people of Iran have lived with dignity and honor, God willing, with divine grace, they will become better day by day, and their economic problems will be resolved in spite of you.

The President of America expresses concern! In these five or six days, he has made a statement almost every day. (4) He expresses concern about the treatment of the protesters, saying, "We do not know what the Iranian government does with the protesters." Are you not ashamed? (5) You have killed eight hundred of your own people in a year! In a country, in a year, the police, which is responsible for the safety of the people, kills eight hundred people? You are the ones who, in the case of the Wall Street uprising, did everything you could against the people, kicked, hit; you killed people on the basis of an accusation or a suspicion; a woman driver is driving her car, the police becomes suspicious and kills the woman in front of her small child! These repeated incidents have occurred in America.

And England! The wicked officials of England also express concern. An English judge ruled in the case of the attack on Muslims and their defense against themselves - which happened recently - that if a Muslim picks up a stone but does not throw it, he has four years in prison; if he throws it, he has seven years in prison! This is your judge. These gentlemen who sometimes believe the judgments in Hollywood films, the cinematic films - which broadcast that the judge said this, the police did that - should hear these words: an English judge ruled that if you pick up a stone and do not throw it, you have four years in prison; if you throw it, you have seven years; if you make and pick up a Molotov cocktail [but] do not throw it, you have seven years, otherwise, if you throw it, you have fifteen years in prison. This is how they deal; then they have become the sympathizers of the protesters in Iran, lest they be oppressed!

Their ultimate goal is clear; of course, the previous American government did not reveal this, it said the opposite; [but] their goal was the same: to overthrow the Islamic Republic. The previous government insisted, repeated that we accept the Islamic Republic; they wrote several letters to me, and in these letters, they repeatedly stated that we accept the Islamic Republic; but we saw; a person with open eyes realizes; their behavior was one of overthrow. Now they openly and without any consideration express these words, saying that we must overthrow the Islamic Republic; this is the goal.

Well, what is the means? Pay close attention to this [point]! Their means is to take the tools of national power away from the Islamic Republic. National power has tools: one of the most important tools of national power is the emotions of the people and the public opinion of the people that moves in the direction of the welfare and wisdom of the people and the government; they want to take this public opinion away from the Islamic Republic.

One of the tools of our national power - now I specifically mention this because they repeat it a lot - is our powerful presence in the region; the powerful presence of the Islamic Republic in the region is one of the tools of national power; it shows the nation as powerful, and it truly is; they want to eliminate this. Now a certain European president (6) - the Americans do not dare to mention negotiations with us - [says] "We want to discuss Iran's presence in the region"; well, [we should] discuss your presence in the region; why do you want to be present in the region? This is one of the tools of national power; they want to take this away from the Islamic Republic.

One of the tools of national power is the defensive power of the country; they want to take this away from the Islamic Republic. The reason you see so much commotion about the missile issue, the uproar, is because of this. If a nation can respond appropriately to someone who launches missiles at it from afar, well, this is a power; this power is what the Islamic Republic has today, and they want it not to have it; they want to take the tools of national power away.

One of the most important tools of national power is our faithful youth; they want to take this faith away from the youth. It is this faithful youth who stays awake and works hard in the nuclear issue, in scientific advancements, in nanotechnology, in stem cells, and in other scientific fields to bring a scientific advancement to fruition; this faithful youth, these are our faithful children, and many of them we know closely. They want to take this faith away from these youth, they want to take the motivation away from these youth.

Well, now let me mention a few points so that our discussion does not become too lengthy. One point is directed at the Americans. First, the American ruling class! This time you hit your head against the stone; you may repeat it, but know that you will hit your head against the stone again. Secondly, you have caused us damage in these few days; you may cause damage in the future; know that it will not go unanswered. Thirdly, the person at the head there should know - although he does not seem to be a balanced person (7) and these days there is talk in America about his psychological problems and [the need for] a psychologist and such things; we have heard these too - both he and the components of the government [of America] and his entourage! These theatrical madnesses will not go unanswered. The Islamic Republic firmly stands on its foundations and principles, defends them, defends its nation, defends its interests, and does not submit to oppression and such things. This was regarding them; this was directed at America.

Those who wish to sit and rise with the Americans and socialize with them - whether from outside Iran or, unfortunately, some who may think this way and act inside - they should also hear the same words we said to those gentlemen, they should know that this nation and this system stand firm and, with God's grace, will resolve all problems and weaknesses; this system has the ability to do this, and God willing, it will.

This was directed at the Americans.

I also have a message for our government officials - which, of course, includes myself - and political elements, those who are active in politics, think, write, speak, and act; to both these and the government officials: First, we talked about the foreign enemy; what we said was not analysis, it was real, it was news, it was information; there is a foreign enemy, but this should not make us oblivious to our own weaknesses. We also have weaknesses, we also have shortcomings and disarray in our work; it is not that we have no problems, that only the foreign enemy is causing [problems]; no, a fly lands on a wound; heal the wound, do not let the wound arise. If we do not have internal problems, neither these networks can have an effect, nor can America do anything. We must solve our problems ourselves; we must solve our internal problems, we must solve our weaknesses; we have weaknesses. Defending the rights of the oppressed is the duty of all of us; especially [defending] the weak and the rights of the nation is our duty; especially [defending] the weak classes of the nation; we must all be vigilant. Now there are classes that are affluent, their life problems do not press them; but there is a significant group in the country that the pressures of life are putting them under pressure. Our entire effort must be to relieve them from this pressure; our endeavor must be this.

Another point is that all three branches should recognize the problems of the country and focus on each of these problems. If we [list the problems], suppose we may have ten or fifteen fundamental problems and write them down on paper; [we must] divide the work, focus on these problems, spend time on them [and solve them]. I have held several sessions for social harms; it has been about two years or two and a half years that every now and then, we hold a session here for social harms with the essential and first-rate officials of the country, from ministers and representatives and heads of branches and such; we discuss social harms, we talk. I have told the gentlemen there; each of them must divide the work. Of course, in some of the works, they have indeed made good progress, they have moved forward; in some issues, they have focused, they have worked, they have progressed. We do not have any unsolvable problems in the country that we can say this problem is unsolvable, [or] this knot cannot be untied; we do not have such a thing; everyone should know this. All these knots can be untied, [but] we must prepare ourselves more, be more proactive, work harder, work more precisely.

The next point is that everyone should be united; the officials of the country should all be united. Yes, each part of the country has a specific area of responsibility for which it must be accountable, and that area does not relate to another; we know this. The Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Judiciary, the Executive branch, and other sections and institutions each have a separate area of responsibility, the work of one area does not relate to them, they are not questioned about them; but this is in a normal state. When you see that the enemy is threatening you - a stubborn, obstinate enemy - and they create problems with the actions they have taken inside the country, all must stand together, all must stand side by side. I say this to everyone; both to the officials of the country and to the political groups in the country. Everyone should cooperate, strive, synergize, and not undermine each other. It should not be that one says something that undermines the other, and the other says something that undermines the first. They should synergize! The system is unified; the Islamic Republic system is a unified system. Yes, all sections have separate responsibilities, but the system is one, the Executive branch belongs to this system, the Judiciary also belongs to this system, the Legislative branch also belongs to this system, the armed forces also belong to this system, the security forces also belong to this system, the scientific institutions also belong to this system; they are all together.

The next point: everyone should consider the law as the criterion; we suffer from lawlessness, we are harmed. You saw in 88 (2009); the reason the country suffered damage in 88 - in 88, we suffered both material damage and our reputation in the world was endangered - was due to lawlessness. We told them to come and act according to the law; the law is clear. You say the elections have problems; very well, where the elections have problems, the legal duty is clear about how to resolve the issue; well, come and act according to that. They did not, they did not submit to the law, they acted unlawfully, well, they created problems; they created problems for the country, for themselves, for the people; for seven or eight months, they continuously created insecurity and various problems. This was due to not submitting to the law. My recommendation, my emphasis, my demand from various institutions is that everyone should submit to the law.

Another point is that criticism is good and necessary, reminding is good and necessary, but they should not present reminders and criticisms in the form of "a crow forty crows". We have several thousand managers in the Executive branch; well, among these several thousand managers, there may be, for example, ten or twelve corrupt individuals. If we exaggerate this, generalize it to all managers, then our youth, if they hear this from me and you, have the right to feel disheartened and say, "Wow! All our managers are suffering from this problem." No, sir! Now among several hundred or several thousand officials of the Executive branch or officials of the Judiciary, there are a few bad ones. In the Judiciary [it is the same]; there are so many honorable and hardworking judges who are busy working, well, yes, certainly there are a few bad judges; we know this. This has always been the case, and it is the same now, and they are dealing with them; it is intended to deal with these in the Executive branch, it is intended to deal with these in the Judiciary, it is intended to deal with these bad individuals in the Legislative branch, in the parliament. Now suppose, for example, among two hundred or three hundred members of parliament, one or two representatives do not fulfill their duties or behave differently; this cannot be generalized to all of them. So if we give reminders, if we criticize, it should be fair; it should not be exaggerated, generalized, or blackened. Blackening means this "a crow forty crows"; this is blackening.

The next point is that our government officials must pay attention to the issue of employment and production - which we have designated this year as the year of employment and domestic production - these are key issues. This [point] is more directed at the executive officials; of course, other officials may also play a role. We have repeatedly told the respected officials of the Executive branch about the problem of imports. Some complain that why does someone not give reminders; no, I give many reminders. When you see that I sometimes say something publicly, this is one-tenth of the reminders and admonitions and warnings I have with these gentlemen. In government meetings, I often have reminders, warnings, and demands. It is not that we are unaware of the issues; now some say that someone is unaware of a certain issue; I must be ten times more aware of the social, public, and fundamental issues that people are aware of, and thank God I am. We receive numerous reports from various places - whether public, governmental, official, or unofficial - we look at them, we understand the issues, we are aware of the problems. What I am pursuing is that these key points should be followed, attention should be paid to them. The issue of employment is among these; many of these social harms and damages will disappear if there is employment; many of these harms stem from the unemployment of youth. If we want employment to be created, we must pay attention to the issue of production and advance domestic production with correct methods, with precise policies. Reckless spending will not get us anywhere; we must calculate, act precisely. Thank God the group of officials in the Executive branch is pursuing these issues, they are following them, God willing, we will help them as much as we can; God willing, they will reach results.

The next point is that our law enforcement officials, our security officials, our IRGC, our Basij, have acted well in these matters, they have acted well, the senior officials of the country have thanked them, and I thank them too; but attention should be paid: that young person or teenager who is influenced by the excitement of an internet network in cyberspace and takes an action or says a word is different from someone who is connected to organized devices and is among those peddlers; these should not be counted the same. Some, of course, mention the names of students; there is no difference between students and non-students; our university environment is thank God one of the best and healthiest environments. We have several million students today who are busy studying, researching, and working; our universities have had no problems; now a few may have gotten caught up in these events; do not unnecessarily involve the students. If someone is truly guilty, it does not matter if they are a cleric, a student, or a layperson; however, the relevant officials should differentiate between someone who, as we mentioned, is influenced by excitement from cyberspace and does something or says something, and someone who is connected to the networks of American peddlers and the Mojahedin; these are not the same. This is also a point. With the first group, enlightenment should be done, they should be talked to, but that someone kills people, those who commit murders in Dorud, in Toyserkan, in Khomeini Shahr, destroy, this is another matter; these are not the same. This is also our remarks to the officials.

To our dear people, let me say two or three sentences - of course, all these words were also directed at the people - I tell the people that may God be pleased with you; you acted well; you acted well. Throughout these years, wherever the country needed, you entered; selflessly, without expectation, with insight, you entered the field. Our dear nation acted very well. May God Almighty bestow His successes, mercy, and grace upon this nation. You stood firm, you saved this country; the Iranian nation was saved. Both in the matters of the sacred defense, where the nation saved, and in political matters, and in scientific matters. Science has also been advanced by your youth. As I pointed out, in these institutions where scientific advancements exist, most of these are the youth of the people, meaning they are all the youth of the people, your children who are doing scientific work. Your presence has given dignity to the country. Wherever the presence of the people is necessary - whether on the twenty-second of Bahman (February 11), whether on Quds Day, whether in matters like the ninth of Dey and the like - the people show up; you have given dignity to [the country]. In elections, in marches, in every place where the presence of the people has been necessary, the presence of the people has been able to [make an impact]; you have preserved the dignity of the country.

What is necessary to pay attention to is that today one of the most important strategies of our enemies is spreading rumors. As I mentioned, the public opinion of the people is the source of national power. To change this public opinion, what do they do? They spread lies; they spread rumors. First, do not disseminate the enemy's rumors that we hear an unfounded statement from someone, then we repeat it five or six times; well, this is exactly what the enemy wants; [so] do not do this; let us not repeat the rumors spread by the enemy. Then, [do not] believe the rumors; as long as there is no valid document, no logical and reasonable statement, we should not believe the enemy's words.

Another point is that everyone should know that the senior officials of the country are working. The idea that [the officials] have taken a nap, are not working, is wrong; it is not like that; I witness it closely, I see it. The senior officials are working as much as they can; of course, there are shortcomings, there are faults - not that we deny these; I, too, have shortcomings, I have faults; may God forgive - but the officials are working, they are striving. The idea that they spread that "Sir, it is useless, they cannot do anything; nothing [is possible], everything is locked," is not the case; some problems are being solved, some problems are solvable, some problems take time to solve; these should be taken into account. Many problems, when viewed from afar, seem easy to solve, but when we get closer, we see that it is not that simple. I remember during the life of Imam (may God be pleased with him), some would come to him, complaining about a certain government official - now I was the president at that time; about me or the prime minister or a certain minister - that these people should have done a certain task, but they did not, and so on; the Imam would listen, and when they finished speaking, he would say, "Running a country is hard"; it really is like that. It is hard, it is a difficult job, it is not easy; it requires effort, it requires innovation, it requires being up-to-date, timely, physical readiness, and mental readiness; well, there are officials who are all, almost directly or indirectly, elected by the people, they are working; they must be helped; everyone must help the officials so that they can do good work.

Of course, I give reminders - I said, what I sometimes say publicly is one-tenth of what I say in special sessions with the gentlemen; sometimes we give warnings, sometimes we argue; we usually remind various issues - but as I said, as much as we can. I want to say to everyone: I sincerely accept religious democracy; we truly accept religious democracy; whoever the people choose, we consider him the leader, we consider him responsible, we see it as our duty to help him; this has been the case with all governments, and it is the same with this government. I have helped all governments. Of course, I do not interfere in their detailed affairs, I do not interfere in their special duties, but I help them. I have helped all governments, and I will help this respected government as well.

My hope and outlook regarding the future of this country is very bright. I know that God Almighty has willed to elevate this nation to the highest degrees, and know that, God willing, the Iranian nation, by the grace of Islam, by the grace of the Islamic system, will undoubtedly reach the highest degrees of a nation commensurate with the Iranian nation, and know that the enemy's plots, the enemy's sabotage, the enemy's attacks, the enemy's blows will have no effect, and in the true sense of the word, the enemy will not be able to do anything.

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