Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in a meeting with a large group of workers and teachers on the occasion of Labor Day and Teacher's Week

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

First of all, I welcome all dear brothers and sisters, especially the esteemed families of the martyrs and also friends, brothers, and sisters who have come from far and other cities. In my opinion, this meeting is a very significant one; because both groups, teachers and workers, are magnificent. Today's teachers and the teachers of tomorrow are the guides and mentors of our generation, and workers are the fundamental pillars and columns of the country's progress. Therefore, your gathering is, in my view, a distinguished and prominent one.

Labor Day and Teacher's Day - that is, the 11th and 12th of Ordibehesht - should truly be recognized as outstanding and significant days from various aspects. We have much to discuss with you and our dear nation. For a month, due to suffering from back pain and related physical ailments, I have not had the opportunity to speak with our dear people. There are many accumulated words, and you are the best audience.

Many issues can be raised; both domestic issues, such as the importance of the issue of labor and workers and the working community; and the issue of teachers and various other matters that our dear people's awareness of them is necessary. Our nation is one that has so far moved with the power of awareness. When faith is accompanied by awareness, it performs miracles. Our enemies have taken advantage of ignorance wherever they could. The issues of the Islamic world are also important matters. It should not be imagined that the issues of the Islamic world, the issues of Palestine, and the issues of the Middle East have no connection with our internal matters and our destiny. Today, global issues are intertwined, and the issues of nations are interconnected. The policies that create problems for nations in the world do not recognize this nation or that nation in advancing their goals and objectives. For each of these issues, we will present a few sentences as time permits.

The most important issue in our foreign matters - which is directly related to the current issue of our country - is Palestine. The issue of Palestine is not just the issue of one nation; it is the issue of international dictatorial rule and the rule of force. Just look at what is happening today in the lands of Palestine! Today, we are witnessing the most catastrophic bloody events in Palestine. The usurping and fake Israeli government, with its military force, with tanks and airplanes and the fire of cruelty and oppression, has besieged the cities of Palestine and enters these cities one after another; massacring people and destroying homes; one day Ramallah, one day Nablus, one day Jenin, and today Hebron and other cities. The catastrophes that have occurred in these cities are indescribable. A military force enters a city, arrests and kills men, women, and children, or injures them! Today, there are ten thousand injured and thousands of martyrs in these cities. Thousands of young people have been abducted from their homes and taken to unknown locations, and countless homes have been destroyed. I heard that in the city of Jenin, seventy percent of the homes have been destroyed! Seventy percent of the homes of a city being destroyed by tanks! These crimes are before the eyes of humanity.

What does this mean? The meaning of these actions is that a tyrannical government, indifferent to all human, moral, religious, and divine regulations, due to its greed and the continuation of its decades-long oppression, brings about these catastrophes; and a government like the United States fully and completely supports it, and all slogans of human rights and defense of nations and democracy and freedom are forgotten. The global conscience has been stirred, but the conscience of the leaders of the United States and the White House has not been affected in the slightest!

They want to specify two things for the world: one is that this cancerous tumor must remain at any cost; the second is that they want to tell and make the world understand that today you are dealing with the exercise of force, and we want to speak with force; anyone can say whatever they want; that is, they want to convince the people of the world that no word or action against the force of the bayonet and the military force of the United States is capable of doing anything.

Of course, they have failed so far, and despite all these powerful demonstrations, they have not achieved their goals. Why? Because Palestine has not surrendered. They want to force the Palestinian nation to surrender through pressure, slaughter, cruelty, and trampling all signs of humanity, and for this nation to completely submit to them and abandon its legitimate demands; but so far they have not been able to. Contrary to the imagination of the United States and Israel, it is not the power of force that advances; it is the power of the will and faith of human beings that speaks the final word in all matters; and this matter is no different.

To confront the horrific oppression that is being inflicted on the Palestinian people these days, there are two inevitable remedies. These two remedies must be accepted by all and must be pursued:

The first way is the continuation of the Intifada and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, which, thanks be to God, they have stood firm so far. The peak of this steadfastness is the martyrdom operations. The fact that a man, a young person, a boy, and a girl are willing to sacrifice their lives for the interests and welfare of their nation and religion is the peak of honor, bravery, and courage. This is what the enemy fears. Therefore, you have noticed that from the President of the United States to all those who work and speak in line with the United States around the world, they have tried to stop the martyrdom operations with reproach, blame, and philosophical reasoning. No; martyrdom operations are the peak of a nation's greatness and the peak of heroism. Where a military force selflessly defends its homeland, is that not a martyrdom operation? Where an oppressive and tyrannical army invades a country and the people of that country stand against that army, is that not a martyrdom operation? Who can condemn such an act? Who can diminish the greatness and value of this act in the eyes of conscientious and fair-minded people? Martyrdom operations are their peak of greatness. Now, some may sit down and say and write for themselves and blame a nation that has been forced to come to the field with its life to revive its rights due to the negligence of its predecessors and the lack of attention of its previous generation to long-term interests; does this have any effect on that nation? The Palestinian nation is alive and awake and is moving forward.

The second way is support. The whole world must support them. Of course, nations have supported them. In Europe, too, nations have supported them, marched, and shown their heartfelt desires in various ways and methods. Even within the United States, these supports have been expressed. After this, these things will continue; however, governments must fulfill their duties. Most importantly, the Islamic governments, especially the Arab governments, are required to do so.

The issue of cutting oil for a month, which we mentioned, is a fundamental matter. This matter cannot be treated superficially. Of course, it is not a symbolic matter that a government simply stands up and says I will cut my oil; it is unclear how it will cut it or not. This is a serious and real matter, and all must decide.

They came and said that cutting oil is detrimental to the cutting countries; while this is not the case; this is a miscalculation. Cutting oil is not detrimental to nations; it is beneficial to them. Right now, you see in the fluctuations of oil prices, for a while the price reaches twenty-four dollars, twenty-five dollars; but after a few days it drops to fifteen dollars, sixteen dollars. Nations suffer so much loss from the rise and fall of prices; because the decision-making power is in the hands of others. By cutting oil for one month, this decision-making power will be revealed in the Islamic nations. Nations and Islamic governments will show that they can act against international dictatorship and against the demands of the arrogant who rely solely on the bayonet. They must do this; it is inevitable.

Of course, some governments have taken good positions. The Syrian government and the Lebanese government have bravely stood firm; their positions are good; but all Arab governments, all Islamic governments, and oil-exporting and producing governments must pay attention to this historical duty. History will judge these decisive actions in the future; today, too, nations are judging. Today, nations are deciding based on this regarding their governments and their honesty, compassion, and integrity.

Of course, this is one of the ways to help and a very effective one. There are other ways to help; nations should provide financial assistance. As I mentioned in the Friday prayers to our people and other nations, they must help. They must defend these oppressed people who are defending their homeland, their religion, their holy land, and the identity of an Islamic nation and want to cut off the continued influence of global arrogance in this region. Neighboring governments of Palestine, as well as popular forces and resistances, must defend and will defend. Anyone who can help them must do so; this is everyone's duty.

The United States, with all its grandiose claims that its propaganda and media constantly speak of the necessity of world leadership and human rights and the like, stands behind the Israeli government. Truly, one is astonished at the imagined audacity and shamelessness of some of the arrogant world leaders! They consider this to be defending justice; those who do not understand the meaning of justice. The United States does not understand the meaning of justice. Which of their actions has been accompanied by justice? They consider these crimes to be a just war and a war against terrorism; while they openly defend the most horrific acts of terrorism. Truly, the forehead of humanity sweats from shame.

Of course, today the Americans have completely fallen from the eyes of nations due to this unreasonable behavior and have become hated, attracting the hatred of pure hearts and sound consciences all over the world. Any government that takes these rightful positions is rejected by the United States. Their animosity towards the Islamic Republic is due to the truthfulness of the Islamic Republic; because it is not influenced by fear; it does not fear the United States; it does not sacrifice its path and will for the desires and will of the American leaders and does not lose its independence. In the past, when they wanted to speak against the Islamic Republic, they shouted that human rights are not respected here. Today, everything has been revealed, and it is clear why they oppose the Islamic Republic; because the Islamic Republic has not submitted to the logic of force and bullying and will not do so.

The positions of the Islamic Republic are clear, explicit, and one hundred percent logical; these are the same positions that the country's officials have repeatedly expressed; the esteemed President has also reiterated them in front of other nations and international assemblies in recent days. If you move in the Islamic world, you will see that these positions are praised and admired in the hearts of each and every nation; nations seek justice.

The foundation of global arrogance and bullying in the world is to force all governments and consequently all nations to accept its logic of force, oppression, and injustice and to move along that path. They have established the world on oppression and want to manage the world in favor of large companies and capitalists and the Zionist and non-Zionist operators of the world's major financial resources and against nations, expecting all governments and nations to follow these positions. Can such a thing happen? Some governments may submit due to the personal interests of their officials; but a government and a nation that speaks in the name of Islam, takes a stand in the name of its independence and national identity, speaks the truth, and seeks the truth, can it possibly submit?

Now, some are talking about negotiating with the United States! What negotiation?! They say negotiate with the United States so that it does not act maliciously; does not exert pressure; does not threaten and respects our national interests. Are the countries that are currently threatened by the United States - other than the Islamic Republic - not negotiating with the United States? Do they not have relations with the United States? Negotiation and relations do not prevent pressure and threats and malice and greed; negotiation does not solve any problem. The United States has explicitly declared its opposition to the Islamic system, the Islamic identity, and the Islamic faith of our people. The reason is that Islam has made this nation steadfast and firm in its positions and stand strong and not submit to them. The goal of the United States is to re-establish its dominance that was widespread throughout the country during the reign of the infamous Pahlavi regime - especially in the last thirty years of that regime. It is clear that the Iranian nation, after this great revolution, after all this sacrifice and heroism, and after all these martyrs, will not submit to such bullying. No, negotiation does not solve any problem.

Negotiation with the United States, of course, is beneficial for the United States. Through negotiation, it finds a foothold to impose its demands more and to pile its expectations on this nation and government. Negotiation causes the United States to be able to bring the very threats it is currently making from afar, the very unreasonable and bullying expectations it expresses in interviews and speeches, to the negotiation table, with greater volume and more bargaining power, to impose on our country's officials. The meaning of negotiation is not that the United States is willing to recognize the identity of this nation, the Islamic Republic system, the faith of these people, and their positions. They oppose this basis; they oppose the presence of these believing people; they seek to re-establish the same methods that were applied during the Pahlavi regime - the same corruption, the same dominance, and the same tyranny - in this country again. This cannot be solved through negotiation. Will this nation allow any official in this country - from the Supreme Leader to all officials - to step back from its Islamic positions and fundamental life-changing interests?

We must not attribute our weaknesses to this nation. This nation is strong, alive, and faithful; our youth are faithful; various sectors of this country appreciate this revolution and this popular system. With the enemy's propaganda that constantly claims this system is imposed, this system is not popular; if anyone else in the world believes it, these people see for themselves what is happening in this country; they see that this system is based on the vote, affection, faith, and will of the people. Such a system is solid. This system is not one that the threats of a certain power or a certain official, the frowning of a certain president or a certain politician can shake and destabilize. The remedy is the steadfastness of the nation and the government against the greed of the United States and the covetousness of any arrogant power.

Once, there were two great powers in the world - the United States and the Soviet Union - both opposed to Iran - during the imposed war - they were opposed; but the Islamic Republic did not give in to either; it stood on its own feet and achieved its goals, and no one could do anything. After this, it will be the same. Our nation is a living, awake, and aware nation.

The best thing that officials and those involved in various sectors of the country can do is to serve this nation. Now, various issues of different sectors - the teachers' sector and the workers' sector - are raised. Other sectors also have their own demands. See, my dear ones! This nation has abundant wealth; it has material wealth, underground wealth, and human wealth, which is above all. We have tens of millions of young people, which is a very great wealth; we have outstanding talents. The collection that can utilize these talents and employ them for national interests will have rendered the greatest service to this country.

We have no need for foreigners. Of course, we have relations with the whole world; we have not closed the doors of the economy and various movements of the country to other nations and countries; we use experiences and have exchanges; but we rely on principles, values, national interests, and the Islamic identity of this nation. This must not be threatened; this is the secret of our power. The enemy wants to take the elements of power from within this country; to leave the nation defenseless; to take away faith, understanding, and awareness; to neutralize and render ineffective the fundamental centers of the Islamic Republic system so that if at any time it wants to attack this nation, this nation cannot defend itself. On the contrary, we must insist on our values, positions, and national interests.

Today, the issue of the country's economy is one of the very important matters that all officials must address. I have repeatedly spoken about the issue of employment. Of course, officials are making efforts; I can assure you of this. The esteemed President is working on this in the cabinet and various other gatherings. This line must be pursued in all ranks and all sectors. The way for this nation to reach its lofty goals is through the tireless, sincere, and devoted work of the country's officials; whether the government, the Islamic Consultative Assembly, or other sectors that are related to these matters and can influence these decisions.

We need our teachers' community - as the esteemed minister pointed out - to be a community that can engage in education and training with peace of mind and free from various concerns. We need our workers to be properly evaluated, and everyone must understand that the foundation of the country's progress is on pillars, one of the most important of which is the workers' sector; a skilled, faithful, and duty-conscious worker; a worker who, if a task is entrusted to him, wants to perform it in the best way; a worker who is one of the most valuable elements of a society. These two sectors and various other sectors each have their own demands and needs that must be addressed within the limits of the country's capabilities and resources - we do not expect too much from the officials.

Wastefulness must be avoided. Spending the country's budgets and funds in unnecessary, ceremonial, and excessive places is forbidden. Today, engaging in activities that do not relate to the practical aspects of people's lives is a wasteful act. The fact that some politicize the country's atmosphere so much that the main issues of the country are overshadowed is a great negligence. Of course, a small group deliberately commits this negligence; they betray; some also neglect. Creating a new political issue every day in the country - looking at the Islamic Consultative Assembly, it is one way; looking at various other groups, it is another way - and diverting minds and thoughts from what must be done for the people is not in anyone's interest. Everyone must direct their minds to the things that are necessary for the advancement and resolution of the country's problems - the livelihood issues of the people, the economic issues of the people, the employment issue - and the devices must help each other and carry out these tasks. Work is being done, but it must gain more speed and become more comprehensive.

We must avoid misleading slogans. Some seem to have been paid to distract the minds of the country's officials from the main tasks and lead them elsewhere; unfortunately, some media also have a significant impact in this regard. They write anything, contrary to the faith, beliefs, and interests of the people and contrary to reality, and publish it freely; and in the end, they scream that there is no freedom! They use freedom to falsely claim that there is no freedom! If there is no freedom, then what are all these screams, all this rumor-mongering and lying in the media and non-media and various devices?! Of course, we do not let these statements frighten us; this nation is a faithful nation.

They tried to distract the working community from its work; they tried to politicize the legitimate demands of the teachers; they tried to force the teachers' community to stand against the system; but they could not, and they will not be able to. Our teachers and workers are faithful and committed and have borne heavy burdens since the beginning of the revolution. Over the past years, the enemy has repeatedly tried to exploit the feelings of these people; but thanks be to God, they have not been able to, and the steadfastness, awareness, and faith of these sectors have pushed back the enemy and will continue to do so. Officials must feel this and appreciate it.

The media should not try to portray the atmosphere as dark and gloomy. There is a difference between advising the government and officials and giving them reminders, which is good; and portraying the horizon and atmosphere as dark and gloomy, which is bad and wrong. If done deliberately, it is treachery. The atmosphere and future horizon of the country is not dark and gloomy; it is bright. Our nation is alive, awake, determined, and resolute, and our officials are interested, conscientious, and selfless. If for a while there are uncertain and foreign individuals in the second or third ranks, they must be dealt with; the officials and various responsible agencies must deal with them.

We ask the Almighty God to grant this nation, as it deserves, His mercy and blessings; to bestow His guidance and blessings upon this nation; to increase the attentions of the Blessed Imam al-Mahdi (may our souls be sacrificed for him) day by day and more than before; and to include us in the prayers of that great one. We ask the Almighty God to elevate the ranks of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and our precious martyrs day by day.

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