Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with the Country's Press Managers and Officials

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

Dear brothers and sisters, welcome. A gathering where people of knowledge, culture, and the companions of the pen and thought are present is a very delightful and sweet session. Sometimes, when I meet with such groups, I feel comfort and tranquility, as if one is entering a new environment away from the tiring routine of daily tasks. Of course, it would have been sweeter for me if I could have met with you, the brothers and sisters who are responsible for managing the country's press and hold a significant part of the country's culture in your hands, in a conversational meeting and listened more to you than I spoke. Unfortunately, this has not happened. I wish our dear brother, Mr. Mirsalim, had arranged for us to have such a meeting with you dear ones.

Before I convey my remarks, I must thank the Ministry of Culture and the organizers of this festival - the 'Press Festival'. It is a necessary and beneficial task, and indeed, such work is the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture. Of course, this work must be completed and refined day by day so that it can achieve its results, and those results, God willing, will be felt in the country's press arena. To avoid repetition, God willing, I have divided the topics I want to present to the brothers and sisters into several sections. Since you, the press people, are among the most serious segments of society and your presence among the elite segments of society as the companions of the pen and those who write and whose writings are read by the people is effective, influential, and prominent, I wish to speak with you seriously, frankly, and honestly. Not only as an official but more as a cultural individual who has been involved in press affairs at times and has made efforts in various press fields, including the software fields of the press. Therefore, I wish to speak with you within this scope and framework because the country's issues are fundamental and important.

The first topic is about the position of the press. The question today is, where does the press stand in Iran and in the Islamic Republic system? Who are they and what are they? Are they redundant and burdensome? Are they mere adornments? Or are they a real, influential, indispensable, and constructive element? Our view, of course, is directed towards the second point and the latter sentence. We believe that the press is not a luxury or ceremonial matter for the Islamic Republic. Therefore, increasing it, diversifying it, improving its quality, and correcting its mistakes if it has any, are among the fundamental tasks in this system. Perhaps it will be asked, 'What characteristic does the Islamic Republic system have that such an approach to the press is among its fundamental tasks?' In response, we say: The characteristic is that the Islamic Republic system is a popular system, and no one can deny this. Even our opponents cannot deny this. At most, they criticize the people and say, 'The people did not understand and made peace with these officials and this system.' Ultimately, they cannot deny the people's peace with this system, and this is a clear matter. Our dealings are with the people; therefore, this system is a popular system.

A popular system cannot progress without the awareness of the people. A dictatorial system, a non-popular system, a coup system, an imposed system that has no dealings with the people, does not care about the people's work, does not care about the people's thoughts, does not care whether the people understand or not. Whether the sword rules there or capital rules there - it makes no difference - if there is hostility and opposition to the system, ultimately its dealings are with money or the sword and it does not care about the will and desire of the people. Therefore, for that system, the awareness of the people is not important. Whether they want to know or not.

The nonsense-spouting officials of the previous regime once said, 'Anyone who opposes us should leave this country!' The approach of non-popular systems towards the people is like this. Of course, sometimes, hypocritically, they mention the people; but it is a show and not real. A popular system - in which the people are involved in its main structure - is not independent of the awareness of the people. It must make its people aware; it must give them the strength to analyze and must fill them with the necessary and useful awareness and knowledge. The intention is not propaganda to continuously feed its words to the people; no. The intention is not this. In a popular system, the people must become analytical to understand that the system is beneficial for them. Awareness for such a system is as necessary and obligatory as water and air. Our system is like this. The more aware the people are, the more the Islamic Republic benefits. Therefore, this system needs to make the people aware.

Well, the role of the press is clear. The press means healthy press; not necessarily press that supports the government - which I will explain in the classification. Press that follows the path of health and does not intend to be hostile and malicious. Such press, in whatever field they write - whether political, cultural, economic, whether they talk about foreign issues, whether they talk about domestic issues - and whatever they do, they have moved in favor of the system. Why? Because they add to the people's awareness. The position of the press in the Islamic Republic is this.

Therefore, my words have two audiences: one audience is the government. The government must take the issue of the press very seriously, which, thanks be to God, evidence shows that the brothers take it seriously. The reason I thank the festival is for this reason. The reason I inquire about the details of the festival's work is for this reason. I was telling Mr. Mirsalim about the festival's daily publication: in any case, it was a publication that provided awareness and information about the festival. That is, we are interested in even the small issues. All because the government inevitably must have a share in press matters. Sometimes the share is material; like the quotas and subsidies they gave in various sectors and the assistance they provided. Sometimes it is the share of moral support, which is more important than material support and various aids.

The second audience of my words is the press people themselves who must take the work out of the state of amusement. The work is serious and fundamental and is necessary for this nation. Therefore, this is a conclusion from the first topic we presented and is also worthy of further pursuit and study.

The second topic is that we are asked - and it is a question for everyone - 'Are you satisfied with the current state of the Iranian press or not?' If I want to tell you something in this private and intimate session, my answer is 'No; I am not satisfied.' Why? Because the quality of the country's press is not commensurate with the history of the press in this country. This is an important point. When we speak and judge about any phenomenon, we must look at the history of that phenomenon. Sometimes it is a phenomenon that, although it has a lot of precedents in the world, has just entered this land. Well, we cannot expect much. Sometimes it is a phenomenon that has entered weakly or by incompetent people. We cannot expect much. But sometimes it is a phenomenon that has a long history and has entered well, which is the case with the press. Of course, the press is an import; that is, it is part of the positive aspects of Western culture that we took from them. Once I had a detailed discussion about 'cultural exchange' - as opposed to 'cultural invasion' - one of its examples is the press. Well, we took the press from the West. Westerners had a long history in the journalism profession. From the late Naser al-Din Shah era, the press entered Iran and began its activity. The peak of the press's work was during the Constitutional Revolution; that is, it gradually increased from the time of Mozaffar al-Din Shah.

When we look at the press of that time, we see that contrary to the principle of intellectualism in Iran - which I have repeatedly said 'Intellectualism in Iran was born sick' - those who introduced the phenomenon of intellectualism in its Western and European sense into our country were not healthy people. They were people like 'Mirza Malkam Khan'. Their good person was someone like 'Taghi Zadeh', whose famous aphorism still rings in the ears and reflects his state of self-defeat. Intellectualism in Iran was not born healthy. That is why over these long years, good intellectuals, committed intellectuals, and truly caring ones - one of the characteristics of intellectualism is 'commitment'; in the well-known sense in our country - were truly deserving of these meanings. But nevertheless, the intellectual movement did not become a movement that could mix with the Iranian people, become familiar with them, learn from them, and teach them. In most cases, the intellectual movement did not show a good experience. Of course, some intellectual individuals, honestly, entered the field very well and made many sacrifices. If we consider the scholars, who were one of the two influential movements in the Constitutional Revolution, outside the intellectual movement, the intellectuals of that period, who were included in associations and the like, were considered the second influential movement. But after the issuance of the Constitutional Decree, those well-known problems in the intellectual movement emerged. In any case, I do not want to discuss intellectualism. But the press was not born sick in our country.

If you look at the collection of newspapers from the Constitutional period and a little before the Constitution, you will see very good content in them. Mature satire, high literature, and content indicating care and interest in the country's fate are the characteristics of such newspapers. With about ninety years having passed since the publication of these newspapers, some of their content and points are not very outdated even today. I was studying a publication from that era that had a very mature satire about 'Amin al-Sultan'! A strong and continuous satire that was published after Amin al-Sultan was killed. I was surprised! A satire from ninety years ago, so good; that too by a writer who is not very famous! Has today's satire in our country's press progressed as much as ninety years ago? One cannot firmly and confidently give a positive answer.

Intelligence and cleverness in presenting content are other features of the press of that era. Another example in my mind is something I saw in one of those Constitutional era publications. It relates to the time when 'Ali Khan Amin al-Dawla' was dismissed from the premiership and had gone to Rasht and was in seclusion. Apparently, there were rumors against Amin al-Dawla. In any case, his opponents were in power. The story is that Amin al-Dawla writes a letter to - I think - the 'Parvaresh' newspaper and defends himself. Of course, he does not sign the letter and sends it as an anonymous individual. Writers know that Amin al-Dawla's pen is mature, strong, and at the same time recognizable. He may be better than all the Qajar era men in this regard.

Anyway, the editor of that newspaper recognizes Amin al-Dawla's pen and understands that writing the letter is Amin al-Dawla's work. Therefore, he gives a response appropriate to this recognition to the mentioned letter. The editor's response, in my opinion, is so interesting, clever, and mixed with cunning that one is amazed. See! Our journalism history is these. Of course, there is also sensationalism, slander, and the promotion of some people in the press of that era, which is one of their biggest weaknesses. But they also have such positive points as mentioned.

Well, we now have nearly a hundred years of journalism history. I do not want to refer to the date of the first newspaper's publication in Iran; but since multiple newspapers appeared in the cities of Tabriz, Rasht, Isfahan, Tehran, and Mashhad, until today, it has been about a hundred years. My dear ones! We have not truly progressed as much as a hundred years, and this is a loss. Interestingly, in some other categories, which also came from Europe and we are the recipients of them, we have made a lot of progress. Today, when we compare our magazines and newspapers with the famous world press, we see that both technically, in terms of content arrangement, in terms of containing strong and deep content and analyses, and broad perspectives, we are behind them! Why should it be this way?! Suppose our country is behind the West in industry, technology, and new knowledge; but it is not behind in terms of culture! We are not behind them in cultural treasures. Our poetry, our prose, our types of literature, and our national culture have no shortage! So why should we lag behind?! I am not satisfied with this situation.

Of course, everyone will blame someone else. Some say 'The government did not help us.' Some say 'You politicized.' and some raise other issues. The discussion is not about determining who is to blame and who has been negligent in this matter? The discussion is about the reality that exists. Who should find a solution to this problem? Certainly, the press family itself and the official custodian of the press in the government, which is the Ministry of Culture. You must think about this issue. My point is that if the festival only addresses this one issue to see 'What is the way to deepen the quality of the press in the country?' and some people think about this, it is worth it. In other words, the festival should have reached the conclusion that only this specific issue should be studied and thought about.

Of course, I have noted some points related to our press that indicate the existing weaknesses of this medium. The lack of strong presence in international issues, the absence of strong analyses, the weakness of artistic works, and the weakness of the Persian language are among them.

Well, the paper you hand to the reader in the form of a newspaper or magazine becomes the 'Imam's word'; that is, the 'standard language' for them. How do you want to prepare this? Then we lament that the Persian language has become such and such! Is it not from the press that the Persian language should be corrected? The press, in this regard, is more important than radio and television. Of course, I have been discussing and arguing with radio and television about the Persian language for years - perhaps more than ten years - to make progress in that area; to do things and fix the problems. But newspapers, in this regard, are more important than radio and television. Because the audience of that medium only connects through hearing in terms of the Persian language and linguistic subtleties and nuances, and the cases presented are momentary and fleeting. But the press remains in our homes for a long time; multiple people read it and ponder over it.

Another weakness of our press is the blind imitation of Western works. We said that Western newspapers are stronger and more mature than us; but that does not mean that we should also imitate their title selection style. Suppose the quality of English grammar, for example, in the backward and forward positioning of sentence elements, differs from Persian. They determine the title style according to their language's rules and grammar. What is the necessity for us to imitate that exactly in Persian?! In some newspapers, we see that they exactly imitate the title selection style of American and British newspapers; which, of course, the Arabs are worse than us in this regard! What is the necessity to do this?! Persian is a rich and sweet language. There are a thousand ways in Persian speaking and writing for titling. Well, let's use these methods. Of course, they also do some good things that should be learned. For example, making titles melodious is very common among English newspapers. That is, they make melodious titles with alliterations at the beginning of the speech. Of course, our alliteration is not at the beginning but at the end of the speech and sentence. They do these things, which are good. If we imitate these things in a limited way, there is no prohibition; although wholesale imitation is not permissible.

The third topic I want to present is the classification of the country's press in relation to the system. This classification is necessary in terms of the overall atmosphere of the press and giving them a general direction. From this perspective, I make this classification, otherwise, I currently do not intend to criticize or object to anyone. From this perspective, the country's press is divided into three categories: one category is the press that accepts the system and is supporters of the system. Of course, this does not mean that they accept the government with all its actions. Those who accept the system form a wide spectrum. Some are critics of the government or supporters of it. Some are objectors to a certain ministry and a certain organization and apparatus, or defenders of them. But in any case, they accept the Islamic Republic system in Iran. Among them, there are leftists, rightists, different tastes, and political factions with different lines and divisions. All of these are on one side, and they are the majority. The second category is the press that is indifferent to the Islamic system. That is, they do not support the system in any way - even by publishing a news item - but they also do not interfere with the system and pass by it. This is also a category of the press. (Like scientific magazines, purely cultural magazines, poetry magazines, specialized magazines, and the like.) One category is the press that I call 'hostile magazines or newspapers'; 'hostile press'! which, of course, are not many in number, and we do not name any magazine! Among the incorrect and common terms in this category of the press is the term 'dissenting thinker'. The active elements in this press also like to be called 'dissenting thinkers'! In meaning, they want to say that because we have a different thought, we are subject to the wrath of the apparatus! Of course, they are not very much under wrath. In any case, the discussion is not about thought. The discussion is not about 'dissenting thought'.

Well, in the Islamic Republic, all kinds of thoughts are free. We interact and behave and have friendships with religious minorities like our brothers. We do not even remember that a certain person - suppose - has a different religion and, in principle, does not accept our thought, our religion, and our Islam! We even go to their homes. For years, I have usually gone to the homes of Christian martyrs on the occasion of the New Year. The person is Assyrian or Armenian. We go to their homes; we sit next to their women, children, and youth; we talk and eat their fruits and sweets; but we do not even remember that they have a different religion. In the Islamic Republic, we do not have a discussion of thought that, for example, because someone has a different thought, we confront them. It is not like this at all! So, what does 'dissenting thinker' mean?! The discussion is about 'hostility'; the discussion is about 'opposition'; the discussion is about 'malice'. They are malicious because they do not accept this system. Of course, it is not just about not accepting. They intend to oppose the system. That is, they intend to be hostile and, to the extent that their courage allows, to strike. Of course, we have not found them to be very courageous people! But to the extent that the conditions dictate, they seek to say something; at a specific juncture, to sting and pour poison. The discussion is about these; that is, the malicious ones who are a class and a group.

Each of these has a ruling. I said, I want to be frank in this session, and I hope and ask you to follow the method of frankness with the people in the field of the press. Of course, we do not want to say go and immediately introduce the hostile ones and say so-and-so is such; no. Creating a commotion, not at all! I do not accept intellectual and cultural tension at all. No; everyone should attend to their work and duty. But in expressing matters to the people, use this spirit and this language. Sometimes we tell them that contrary to all the world's diplomacies, our diplomacy is frank. In any case, we want to speak frankly.

My view about the first group is this: We believe that those gentlemen who accept the system also have duties. These duties do not conflict with their specific taste and belief at all. The expectation is that they fulfill those duties.

One of those duties is not to make the country's atmosphere a press tension atmosphere. That is, this one should not constantly speak ill of that one and that one of this one. In the newspaper related to the press festival, the gentlemen in charge had interviewed several people about press issues, which I was reading. (In parentheses, let me say that we also objected to Mr. Mirsalim about the newspaper's name. 'Kaghaz Akhbar' is not a very sweet calque. They named the newspaper 'Kaghaz Akhbar'; not even 'Kaghaz Khabar'! While if they really wanted to translate Newspaper, it would be 'Kaghaz Khabar' and not 'Kaghaz Akhbar'. In my opinion, this calque was not necessary. They did it anyway! He excused himself that since the first newspaper's name was 'Kaghaz Akhbar', they used that name for the festival newspaper as well. Choosing the name 'Kaghaz Akhbar' was not a very sweet thing.) In any case, I was reading the interview printed in this Kaghaz Akhbar - or more correctly, Newspaper. I saw a young man stating in his views that the atmosphere of the country's press and newspapers is an atmosphere of quarrel! He was right. The newspapers are quarreling with each other. Well, what do you have to do with each other?! Do your own work. One is line one, another is line two, another is line three. Well, everyone should follow their own line and do their own work. The expectation is not that they abandon their tastes for the sake of another. Everyone has a basis, a method, a taste.

So, one expectation is that they do not make the atmosphere one of quarrel with their disputes. The second expectation is: do not weaken the system they accept. We do not say do not object to a certain minister or a certain official or a certain foundation or a certain revolutionary institution. If the objection and criticism are within reasonable limits, what is the problem?! As the government officials say, it is also 'constructive'. We have no discussion over criticism. The discussion is about the system. Since the foundation of every system and every individual life is based on hope, do not shake the hope in people's hearts. This is one of our recommendations. Do not speak in a way that the old and young, men and women, see their future horizon as dark and foggy. Why do you do this?! Iran does not have a dark and foggy horizon! This nation is a nation that has grappled with all major problems throughout the centuries and has overcome all of them, even after a long time. So, we do not have a dark horizon in the country.

Well, today America has stood against us? Let it be! Israel is running around in the international arena? Well, let it run. It does not matter to us. Or suppose goods and commodities have become expensive? Well, let them be. One day they will be cheap too. The point is that if in any field, a disorderly situation arises, it should not be a license for us to extinguish the light of hope in hearts. This is not permissible. Do not question the principles and fundamentals of the revolution. Do not question Islam. Do not let issues that are the main foundations of the revolution be questioned by clumsy writings or writings that some people cunningly insert into your press. Be careful of these matters. Of course, we said that tastes are different, and we do not interfere with different tastes. In any case, this is our recommendation.

Among the points I have noted here is the publication of public culture and social knowledge, which you must give depth and quality to. In fact, the most important work of you gentlemen and ladies who work in the press is to give quality to the works; both to political works, cultural works, and literary works. Sometimes one looks at the poetry page in the press; one does not feel inclined to read it at all. One looks at the editorial; it has no attraction at all. So, what happened to the beauty in speech?! What happened to the delicacy of the Persian language?! What happened to the art of writing?! What happened to taste?! Is it not all for giving quality to the press?! Use measured words, beautiful expressions, and new combinations. Use art, cartoons, and photos. Print good analyses. Well, these are the points we expect all the press of the first category to observe. The majority of the press - both newspapers and magazines - are these.

Of course, some of the press of the first category - whether magazine or newspaper - are run with public budgets. Let me also say this point: The press that is run with public budgets does not have more connection with the apparatus compared to the press that is run with personal budgets. It is not at all that we assume the Ettelaat and Kayhan newspapers are sitting with the phone in hand waiting for someone to tell them what to write and what not to write! No. These are independent newspapers. The connection of these newspapers with the government, government officials, and their financial sources - because they are related to public funds - is in no way comparable to private sector newspapers in the world that receive money, lines, and inspiration from companies. It is something else entirely.

In any case, these newspapers are independent. That is, fortunately, they write for themselves, their thoughts, and their tastes and promote their views. Sometimes they are accused of being governmental and taking orders from the government. As if taking orders from the government is bad and undesirable, but taking orders from the enemy is good and desirable! In any case, it seems such a transaction exists in the minds of some people. Interestingly, the newspapers in question not only do not take orders from the government, but many times the government complains about them to me! The President often complains to me about these newspapers, saying they did this and wrote that. This is about the first category of the press and the expectation we have from them.

And as for the second category of the press, we do not have much expectation. That is, we have no expectation at all from those who do not express a positive opinion about the system, do not say anything in support, are busy with their scientific and cultural work, and of course, do not take any action or activity against the system. Know this! I, as a country official, say: we have no expectation at all. Anyone who speaks of pressure from the apparatus in this regard has spoken contrary to reality and lied. They should do their work. If they strengthen the country's culture, the government should help them. If they increase the people's literacy; promote literature and spread the Persian language, the government should also help them; even if they are indifferent. They do not have anything to do with us, let them not have anything to do. We have no expectation from them.

But the third category is different. Of course, if I call the third category of the press 'hostile', it does not mean that we have taken up the sword and want to go after them; no! Their situation tomorrow will be no different from yesterday. I want to state the truth and say what is in mind.

Firstly, in the press that is hostile to the Islamic Republic system, there are many unreliable elements. Even if some of the individuals present in this category of the press do not intend to clash with the apparatus; but the presence of bad elements in their organization is certain. We know people in this organization whose background is completely unreliable and devoid of trust. Suppose in this organization, there is an element or elements with strong Marxist tendencies that are known. I know many of them by name, sign, and works from long ago. I have had close and intimate contact with the country's intellectual environment for many years and have had either close and friendly relations or greetings and acquaintances with many of these individuals, some of whom are in Iran and some abroad. Most of them are not outside the circle of my knowledge and information. Before the victory of the revolution, for many years, I was at least familiar with their works. Among them were those who had strong Marxist tendencies and with these Marxist tendencies, began to cooperate with SAVAK or were engaged in activities in Farah's office! Well, is this background a very clean background?! Can such elements be trusted?! Of course, having expectations from such an element or elements is really an unreasonable expectation. There are people in the third category of the press who today speak of freedom. They say: 'There is no freedom of expression and oppression prevails.' They say: 'The government allows saying and writing only what it desires.' While they themselves know they are speaking contrary to reality. Some of these individuals were also engaged in press work during the Shah's regime. They saw that dark oppression; but not only did they not open their lips in protest, but they also cooperated! They worked in favor of the apparatus of that day with verbal praises, writing articles, and writing books and pamphlets. Are they sincere in defending freedom?! Someone who endured the oppression of Mohammad Reza Shah's era and did not open his lips in protest, if he speaks of freedom-seeking during the Islamic Republic when everyone writes whatever they want, is he sincere?!

They do not realize that they themselves are their own deniers. They are the embodiment of someone who argued for an hour to prove that he is a man of few words! They keep writing that there is no freedom and accompany their writings with all kinds of slanders. They accuse the system of being backward, narrow-minded, one-sided, ignorant, unaware of new issues, medieval, and having old glasses, and accuse it using so-called literary and artistic expressions. Yet, if a newspaper writes something against them, they cry out that 'The environment is one of slander and they are slandering us.' Is slandering the officials of the system; that is, those who have spent a lifetime in struggle, in hardship, and in the sufferings and tribulations of a regime you cooperated with, and now even in their responsibilities, they do not use this responsibility for their own world, permissible, but criticizing you is an unforgivable mistake?!

Know that today in the world, no president lives as simply and without ceremony as Mr. Hashemi. During my presidency, I traveled to countries that were supposedly revolutionary countries many times. In a certain country, a president who until yesterday lived in a tent - as he or his foreign minister said, they lived with an ordinary gun for eight years under a tent - in his current palace where he hosted us, such ceremonies and grandeur prevailed and such precise imitation and photography of the Portuguese ruler who lived and ruled in that country before him had been done that one was amazed! The officials of other countries live like this! But the officials of the Islamic Republic have no expectations from anyone. A minister leaves his house, goes to the dairy shop, buys a bottle of milk for his child, or stands in line at the bakery, takes bread, and brings it to his home. Where in the world is such a thing?!

I remember during the previous regime, a president in India passed away. - You know that in India, the president is not a significant figure. He is present as a ceremonial position; and they do not count on him at all. - That president was an educated man. Our newspapers at that time wrote about him that he lived in a simple building with four or five rooms and managed his personal affairs himself. We were really surprised in those days that a president lived like that! Consider that president who was really nothing - in fact, he was a statue - and look at our president who is a responsible and respected figure in international arenas. Go see his house, does it have more than four or five rooms? It is the same house that was his residence before the revolution or he has resided in it since the beginning of the revolution. This is the living condition of the officials of the Islamic Republic! In this republic, everyone says whatever they want. Everyone follows whatever path and sect they like. No one has anything to do with anyone. Then in this system, some people who endured the atrocities of the previous regime and did not open their lips, speak of freedom-seeking and the violation of human rights! In the face of such issues, one feels how unfair some people are!

You should know, our tolerance is very high. Really, in the Islamic Republic system, the tolerance for hearing opposing words is very high. Of course, there are reasons for this that are natural. But malice and unfairness also have a limit! They are malicious and unfair. Every time our enemies abroad raised a slander against the Islamic Republic, it was repeated in the same form or in other forms in this third category of the press. They said about the limitation of women, these also say! They said about the violation of human rights, these also say! They said about terrorism, these also say! They said about the incompetence of the government, these also say! They said that the Islamic system is a backward medieval system, these also say! Why should a person cooperate with the enemy so much?! Why should a person be so averse to his own homeland and those who work diligently for this homeland and unfairly turn away?! Really why?! What disease do they have?! I am amazed!

They even trample purely Iranian values. For example, they prefer Christmas over Nowruz! We ask, are you not Iranian? They say our children like Christmas more than Nowruz! Well, your children are wrong! When they live in that house and family, it is clear that they become like this! Is Nowruz a bad occasion?! Christmas is the beginning of winter; in ice, snow, and cold. Is it better than the beginning of spring and the first of Farvardin?! What kind of taste is this?! Why should a person be so blind and hostile even to the basics?! It is strange for me when I see or hear such issues!

I remembered 'Seyyed Ali Khan Madani'. It is appropriate to tell his story about Nowruz. Because Nowruz is one of those holidays that we, unlike some people, have a lot of devotion to. Anyway, Seyyed Ali Khan Madani is a scholar of Shirazi descent, native and resident of Medina. That is, his ancestors lived in Medina for several generations. Seyyed Ali Khan is a great man, a first-class literary figure, a capable poet, and a great scholar. Among those who lived outside the homeland, he is almost the second Sheikh Baha'i or Sheikh Baha'i grade two. Of course, he went to Shiraz at the end of his life, lived there, and I think he died in Shiraz. I do not know where his grave is. He has very good and weighty books, and famous literati constantly refer to his prose and poetry. Seyyed Ali Khan's father was also a scholar of Medina who one day, at the invitation of a local Indian sultan, who was also of the Shia religion and apparently ruled in Deccan, went from Medina to India and stayed there for years.

When Seyyed Ali Khan reaches adolescence, he, along with his mother, leaves Medina for India and, with much hardship and difficulty, joins the family father. The father, when he sees his adolescent son, sends him to prominent teachers to learn the sciences of the time and strives to educate him. The father has been living in India for several years (pay close attention!) The environment is India, and in that time's India, the Persian language was common. The period is the Timurid era and the peak of the Persian language in India. But they are Arabs and speak Arabic. Seyyed Ali Khan, who is a poet, composes grand odes in Arabic. When Nowruz arrives, Seyyed Ali Khan writes an ode in Arabic to congratulate his father on the holiday and presents it to him. Gather the elements of the story! The poet is Arab. The praised is Arab. The place is India. The common language is Persian. The ode about Nowruz is in Arabic! Is Seyyed Ali Khan Madani's Arabic ode about Nowruz not a source of pride for a historical tradition?

Truly, why should a person forget these values?! A person breathes and lives in the name of being Iranian; but easily exchanges Nowruz for Christmas! Lack of taste and lack of discernment to this extent?! For eight years, a war took place in this country. This war was a defense, wasn't it?! If on the day Iraq attacked Khorramshahr and Ahvaz - these did not go to see what was happening there. We went and saw the Karbala of Khuzestan up close - the youth did not defend, and if the sacrifices of the Basij, the IRGC, and the army were not there, what situation would we have today?! If Iraq had separated Iran's oil region from Dezful and Andimeshk and annexed it to its territory under the title of 'Arabistan' - as their plan was - or created a new emirate like Qatar and Kuwait and in fact, dismembered Iran, what situation would we have today?! In the periods before the Islamic Republic, Iran was always dismembered and always taken from Iran. None of the Pahlavi and Qajar kings have the honor of being able to say we preserved Iran's borders. The Qajars' situation is known. The Pahlavis also put Iran's central cities under the boots of foreign soldiers for years and handed over the women, men, and honor of this country to them. Only the Islamic Republic stood manfully and did not allow the aggressors to take a step forward. Eight years of war is no joke?! Eight years of war and all those sacrifices! Our youth resisted and stood against the union of East and West and 'NATO' and all and saved the homeland. Shouldn't a word of praise be said for this great work and magnificent defense in the press that were published during the war or those that came into existence after the war?! In the hostile press, if the name of the sacred defense and the warriors is mentioned, it is accompanied by mockery. Why?! Because our warrior has a beard, and they do not like beards! That is the only reason. Is this not indicative of unfairness?! Interestingly, they accuse others of narrow-mindedness! Is the apparatus narrow-minded, or are they themselves?! Is it not narrow-mindedness that a person ignores the greatest value of his time - the sacred defense - just because the followers of it are religious and he is against religion and religious people?! Unfortunately, it is like this. They continuously and repeatedly slander; then if you respond, they say 'You slandered us!'

Of course, all the press must be aware that there is a red line, and no one should cross this red line. Not that we do not allow it; in no place in the world do they allow it. In the so-called most democratic countries, they do not allow it. You see, in those times when there was news of the left wave in America - now there is no such news - how the leftists in America - whether communist or socialist groups - and their gatherings lived under what conditions! Read the novels written by some writers with a tendency to the left, like 'Howard Fast' - several of his novels have been translated into Persian, and I have seen them - and see what shocking things they have brought about the leftists! Read this famous book 'The Grapes of Wrath' by 'John Steinbeck' or his other book, which is not in my mind right now, and see what he has written about the situation of the leftists and the behavior of the leaders of the so-called democracy center with them! Read and know that the center of so-called democracy and the qibla of those who have such bad and ugly pens in Iran were not even willing to tolerate the leftists; because they believed Marxism questioned America's capitalist system. Well, if they tolerated the leftists, it meant agreeing to their crossing the red line. If today a group appears in America that writes, says, and slogans 'America must be dismembered', or slogans 'America must be divided into forty-nine states', how will they behave with it? If today someone in America raises his head and says 'Since forty, fifty million blacks live in the United States, they must have a separate country and give them a part of America to form a government', how will the American government behave with him? Will they not do the same thing they did with the Davidian sect and set them all on fire in a building?

These are the red lines of a nation. You question the revolution, deny the essence of the revolution, and strive to negate the Islamic Republic system?! Well, this is a red line and is not tolerable.

The hostile press has repeatedly threatened the red lines so far and will do so in the future. I currently do not intend to change the approach regarding what has been in the past. They are treated with leniency. I see many cases threatening the red lines in the third category of the press - hostile - of course, not in the form of press clippings; but I see the publication itself; because I like to study various publications. They sometimes, in their press, with poetry, sometimes with prose, sometimes with stories, and sometimes with irrelevant reports, drag the subject to certain places. Although the apparatus has not said anything and has not reacted, well, these are red lines. They must be aware. Interestingly, sometimes they even demand from us! They say 'Because we are not governmental, we have the right to raise such issues'! It is not at all about governmental and non-governmental! It is about the foundation of a system. Which system allows you to question its foundation and also take facilities from it?!

Young people should be aware! Some of our young people and journalists who are mistaken about some of these people should know: their appearances are not considered and have no credibility. The essence of the matter is that they are opposed to the system and are also fighting. Of course, sometimes, to not be left behind, they speak of the people or mention something about that regime and make an incorrect comparison:

The muezzin raised the untimely call He does not know how much of the night has passed Ask the length of the night from my eyes For a moment, sleep has not come to my eyes.

What do you know about what the previous regime did; who it dealt with; what it did and what overcame it?! How do you know?! Anyway, this is the situation that the third category of the press has, and it is not a good situation.

Of course, I truly want this situation to be corrected. We do not intend to criticize, catch mistakes, and be strict. I want it to be corrected and not remain like this. It is a pity. This country is a great country. It is an important country. The Islamic Republic system is really working, the officials are really working, the country is moving towards dignity; the enemy is also the enemy. Well, why should we listen to the enemy's words?! The world's press is mostly in the hands of the Zionists. The Americans are against us, the Zionists are against us, the aggressive and plundering powers are against us. They speak against the Islamic Republic. The Islamic Republic, which does not listen to these words, does its work with power and strength. Anyway, this is the next topic.

The last topic - it seems our talk has become very long - is related to the gathering of the people of the pen, which I have seen repeated many times. Both the Ministry of Culture and others have said it is a good thing. We also agree that the people of the pen should have a gathering and have understanding and exchange of views. Of course, not from these hostile ones. Not these. These are people who, if they enter such gatherings, will corrupt. They are not trustworthy. Their past and present are not such that one can trust them. Those who truly care for these people, for this country, and for the culture of this country and truly do press work out of interest and love and a sense of responsibility, it is good for them to have a gathering. The Ministry of Culture should also help and support and make arrangements so that the people of the pen can do this work easily. We agree with this work.

Once again, I thank all my dear brothers and sisters. You were kind to come. We hope, God willing, you will be successful in your work, which is a great work, and be subject to the attentions of His Holiness the Master of the Age, may our souls be sacrificed for him, and be able to serve these people who are truly deserving and worthy of service more than ever.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings