Leader's New Year Message

In the name of God. In the first moments of every year, the Iranian nation eagerly waits to hear the Nowruz message of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in this message, very briefly sums up the issues of the previous year and determines the roadmap for the new one with a special motto.

Ayatollah Khamenei said, "The issue of production in my view is the pivotal issue of this year; hence, I determine the motto of this year as, Boosting of production. Everybody should try to boost production in the country. From the beginning till the end of the year, this concept will be spectacularly tangible in the country, God willing."

On the first day of every year, Ayatollah Khamenei pays a visit to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad and delivers a very keynote speech to the audience which is indeed the explanation of the roadmap for the New Iranian Year. The Leader said that last year Iranian goods received a warm welcome by the Iranian nation, yet he emphasized that this trend should continue. He explicated the motto of this year, saying, "The main and basic issue is the boosting of production. If there is production, then there will be development in different sectors. If there is boosting of production, this will both affect employment, reduction of inflation and even the balance of budget and enhancing the value of national currency."

Ayatollah Khamenei went on to say, "By production we don't mean only industrial production; agricultural production, animal husbandry, big industries, middle industries, small industries, even handicrafts, home industries, even raising livestock – a few livestock at rural houses- this will contribute manifold to the spread of public welfare in communities."

Then the Leader of the Islamic Revolution asked the government, the parliament, people and activists of production for taking boosting of production seriously in their agenda. He stressed, "The producer must be helped; the investor must be helped; the economic activist must be helped; the one who creates wealth for the country must be helped; efforts must definitely be made to improve the climate of job and business."

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that the US broad sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran are doomed and the solar year 1398 is the year of opportunities, possibilities and opening. To materialize this, the Leader called on all government establishments, thinkers and youths to study the ways of confrontation with these illegal sanctions, saying, "There are many ways to confront sanction and foil the oppressive and wicked sanction of the enemy."

To show that it is possible to thwart sanctions and pass by the hard economic situation, Ayatollah Khamenei enumerated some of these possibilities, "We don't have shortage. The capacity of our manpower is very good. Our natural capacities are very good. Our geographical capacities are very good. Therefore, there are capacities and there is money in the country, too."

But the usage of these capacities requires a correct and accountable management which the Leader calls as "Jihadi management" which is characterized by inexhaustible endeavour in the way of God, sincerity and love of people. Ayatollah Khamenei emphasizes that these managers, "should find the correct ways with scientific features and accurate scholarly method. They should both be well-read and should have various facilities. These people should work together; then, the country's economy will definitely thrive."

Just like his statement known as "The Second Phase of the Revolution", the Leader stressed the usage of the young generation to solve the problems of the country.

Iran enjoys vast reserves of oil and gas. Although these resources are considered as a positive point, improper usage of them can be problematic and may deal irreparable blows to the economy. In the past, Iran's economy was thoroughly dependent on oil export. Although the victory of the Islamic Revolution decreased this dependence, it remains a major problem, yet. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly stressed that we should cut dependence on oil and gas export. He continued in his speech at Imam Reza's shrine, "Experience has shown that the countries which enjoy natural resources- like oil- whenever their revenues are reduced from these resources, they think of implementation of economic reforms, they are motivated to save themselves from dependence and take proper measures."

As an example of turning threats and pressures to opportunities, the Leader pointed to severance of sale of weapons to Iran during the 8-year imposed war which caused the Iranian youths and specialists to manufacture the most sophisticated weapons and making Iran as one of the most powerful countries in the military arena. Ayatollah Khamenei continued, "The westerners made good move in science, they strove, made progress and pursued; in technology, too, in some of the moral characteristics, too, which I have said in speeches and so on several times. These shouldn't be rejected. We must take every good thing from everywhere in the world."

Then, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed, "Politics and power in the west, in the western governments including the US and Europe, is both oppressive, bullying, illogical and greedy. They don't understand logic at all. They are alien with logic."

The obvious example of expansionism, greed and plundering can be seen among the western governments especially during several centuries of colonialism in which they not only pillaged the resources and riches of countries but prevented them from scientific and economic progress. Ayatollah Khamenei explained colonialism and referred to some instances of the European governments' betrayal of Iran such as the Iran Nuclear Deal known as JCPOA in which they didn't abide by their commitments to lift the sanctions while the Islamic Republic of Iran fulfilled all its commitments and even took measures far beyond its commitments. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to the recent terrorist operation against Muslims in New Zealand as the newest example of the illogical and hypocritical stance of westerners; in which, despite their claim of fighting terrorism, many of their leaders called the operation as a mere armed attack because the horrific event led to the martyrdom of Muslims. Moreover, Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned the proposal of 226 bills at the US Congress against the Islamic Republic during the past two years as another example of the wickedness and enmity of the US and the west against Iran. It is due to this hypocrisy and greed of the west that the Leader said, "There is no harm in relation but hanging on is harmful, trust is harmful. I say don't trust."

One of the greatest harms of trusting the westerners is the infiltration of their misguiding thoughts among people such as the false belief that science and progress is in contrast to religion and faith. Ayatollah Khamenei said, "During the tyrannical regime the young community of the country had been suggested that if they want to reach civilization and progress they must abandon religion. They would say religion, religiosity and religious faith do not comply with science, progress and things like them."

 Then the Leader made it clear that the astounding progresses of the Islamic Republic in different domains of science, culture, industry and military by faithful specialists, who are committed to Islam, is an obvious reason to thwart the baseless claims of the westerners. Finally, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed, "The west and America have come to the conclusion that if the Iranian nation wills something, it will achieve it. They have come to the conclusion that they cannot struggle the national will of the Iranian nation; so what do they do? They have concluded that they should do something so that the Iranian nation doesn’t will and its will weakens. Today, billions of money are spent in the world to infiltrate in the political and religious beliefs of our youths so that the will of moving, the will of uprising is destroyed in them. They want to destroy this will; so that you don't make decision. Their effort is aimed at preventing the shaping of the Iranian nation's will for progress, confrontation and creation of the Islamic society and Islamic civilization. They know that if this will is shaped, no doubt it will materialize."

RM/SS