Leader: US cannot do a damn thing if officials remove flaws

Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, granted an audience last Tuesday, January 9 to a large gathering of people of all walk of life from Qom on the 40th anniversary of the historic rally in the holy city in support of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (God bless him), that generated the grassroots Islamic movement to throw into the dustbin of history the British-installed and US-backed Pahlavi regime.

The Leader appreciated the recent weeklong huge nationwide rallies of the Iranian people to crush the latest US-Zionist plot against the Islamic Republic, expounding on the various dimensions of the enemy plots to exploit the rightful demands of the people.

In key remarks to the Americans, the Iranian officials and the people, he stressed, “Resistance and the battle between the nation and the enemies of the nation, Iran and the enemies of Iran, Islam and the enemies of Islam will continue like in the past 40 years; however, the spite of the enemy should not distract the officials from the problems and the woes of the people, particularly the lower classes.”

At the beginning of his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution recalled the memorable January 9, 1978 uprising of the people of Qom that lit the sparks of the Islamic Revolution as brave, brimming with motivation and hope and committed to the undeviating course of the people’s movement.

Referring to the recent huge rallies of the people of Qom against thugs, traitors, hypocrites, and seditionists, he said: “As in the previous years, the people of Qom took part in December 30 rallies, but when the recent developments occurred, they created that great movement four days later, namely January 3.”

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the assertion of the Iranian nation, particularly the youth, over the past 40 years has been “resistance against bullying and refusing to submit to [world] powers. The Iranian nation still pursues its lofty goals with the same rationale but it is more motivated than before and the revolutionary youths of the country far outnumber those at the outset of the Revolution.” 

He described the events of the recent days as clear proof of this spirit of the Iranian nation, saying that since December 30, when some seditionists started fireworks and acts of mischief, the Iranian nation began its movement all over the country, and when the mercenaries dared to indulge in acts of sacrilege, the rallies continued successively and every day. 

He pointed out: “These rallies are not regular incidents and this huge, coherent, and popular movement with such order, insight, passion and enthusiasm against the enemy plots is unique across the world, since this is the battle of the nation vs. the anti-nation, of Iran vs. anti-Iran, and of Islam vs. anti-Islam.”

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated, “Of course, this battle, steadfastness and resistance has not distracted the nation from the other aspects of life, such as scientific progress, the provision of security and peace.”

He said: “This time too, through their steadfastness like a national and strong bulwark , the Iranian people with all might showed the US, the UK and the London-based (enemies) that you did not succeed and will not succeed after this either.”  

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the billions of dollars spent by the enemies of Iran over the years to set up networks and train mercenaries in order to create problems in the Islamic Republic.

He said, this time the US officials, whose naivety is evident in political matters, gave themselves away by admitting their networking and mercenary-raising efforts whose expenditure was paid by the client Persian Gulf regimes.

Pointing to the enemy efforts of the recent years to launch thousands of cyberspace networks, set up TV channels, resort to assassinations and dispatch trained bombers to Iran, while spreading lies and rumors, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “They made all these efforts in a bid to change the mindset of this nation, particularly the youth, but its outcome was the beloved martyr Mohsin Hojaji and other martyrs who sacrificed their lives in defense of the Islamic Revolution.”    

He added, “In order to infiltrate certain sectors, the enemies even enticed some individuals [to do their bidding] and they also directly entered the fray themselves. The result was that everyone saw the meddling of US officials over the past few days, but still the enemies did not succeed.” 

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution expressed his sincere gratitude to the Iranian nation, saying, “I thank this nation not once, but a thousand times; the Iranian nation is a truly mature, insightful, loyal, diligent, time-wise and moment-conscious nation and knows when to make a move.”

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that although the enemies are aware of the realities in Iran, they do not acknowledge but through their propaganda portray a few seditionists as thousands, while belittling the multi-million-strong rallies of the people as a small group. He added, “With this massive movement, the Iranian nation did its job and instilled fear into the hearts of the enemies.”

He appreciated the correct analyses by the Iranian print and electronic media of distinction between the honest and rightful demands of the people and the vandalism of a few seditionists, saying that the just demands and requests of the people must be met.

The Leader made it clear that the right of peaceful protest by the deprived is one issue but exploiting such gatherings to desecrate the holy Qur’an and Islamic sanctities as well as insulting the Iranian flag and torching mosques is another issue.

He said: “There have always been popular protests and demands. During the year, a number of people from several cities held gatherings in front of the Majlis because of the issues with [investment] funds or some financial institutions. No one opposes such gatherings whose voices should be heard and answered.”

Elucidating the aspects of the recent developments, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Intelligence evidence and clues show that these events had been preplanned and a triangle [of forces] had been active in their development.”

He pointed out that the US and Zionists, as the first vertex of the triangle, hatched the plot several months in advance, and their plan was that sedition would begin from small towns and reach the capital. The second vertex was the money provided by one of the rich Persian Gulf regimes, and the third vertex were the seditionists linked to the murderous traitors – the MKO hypocrites.

Ayatollah Khamenei continued by saying that the slogan of “No to high prices” was intended to attract some people having just grievances, and initially some people went along with this slogan, but as soon as they saw deviation in the objective and seditious slogans, they separated themselves from the seditionists, and on December 30 joined the mass gatherings of the loyal nation to vent their anger against the US and traitors.

He said two command posts had been set up in Iran’s neighborhood to direct the seditionists; the first through cyberspace and the second through links with the ringleaders of the riots; both bases were under joint US-Zionist command.

The Leader praised God Almighty for the fact that the enemies of Iran are fools, and said they have still not understood that the Iranian nation is a monolithic body of faith and courage.

He said the recent rants of the US officials are a result of their failure, especially when they claim that the Iranian government is afraid of its own people and of the might of the US.

“No, he said: “The government of Iran has been born of this people and the Islamic establishment has been standing up to you with the backing of this very same people. As for your second claim, the answer is obvious: “the triumph of our Islamic Revolution kicked the US out of Iran, while over the past few years, we Iranians have virtually driven out the Americans from the entire region.

Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Are you not ashamed? Over the past year some 800 American people were killed at the hands of the US police. You did everything you could against the people during Occupy Wall Street Movement and killed the people on every excuse, and now you express concern about the Iranian people?”

Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed to the expression of concern by malicious UK officials, saying, “Recently, in the case of attacks on UK Muslims and Muslims defending themselves, a UK judge handed down very heavy sentences; now, how come the officials of such a country turned into protesters’ sympathizers?”

He said the clear goal of the US is to overthrow the Islamic Republic system and as part of the plot Washington wants to undermine the national might of Iran, which it cannot because of the youths’ faith and motivation.

Among the other means of Iran’s national might, he said: is the defensive missile technology and the powerful presence of Iran in the region. He added: “The US does not dare mention negotiation with us, but when a European country says we want to negotiate with Iran on its regional presence, it should be asked ‘why are you present in the region?’” 

The Leader of the Revolution later highlighted three fundamental points in an address to the US governing body: “First: On recent events, you met with failure, and if you repeat this in the future, you will fail again; second: In these few days Iran suffered damage; this will not go unavenged and third: this individual (Donald Trump), who according to the Americans themselves is mentally and psychologically unstable must know that this staged madness will not remain unanswered.” 

The Leader, addressing the country’s officials said “The enemy involvement in the recent issues is not an analysis and was stated based on intelligence and facts, but this should not make us neglect our flaws and problems. Like a flea, the enemies sits on the wounds resulting from problems and weaknesses; therefore, you should cure the wounds and not let them occur, because if we do not have domestic woes, foreign propaganda and misinformation would not be effective and the Americans would not be able to do a damn thing either.”

Ayatollah Khamenei described “defending the rights of the people and endeavoring to resolve their problems” as the responsibility of all the officials and added, “Some strata of the people, particularly the ‘poor classes’ are under pressure and all of the efforts of the officials must be expended on solving the problems.”

“Identification of the problems of the society, concentration on resolving fundamental issues and division of labor to eliminate them” was another important recommendation of the Leader of the Revolution to the officials of the three branches of the government.

The Leader recalled the damage and harm inflicted upon the people and Iran in 2009 due to lawlessness by some elements and added, “Submission to the law, as always, is my recommendation, emphasis and demand of the officials and apparatuses.”

The Leader of the Revolution described “fair criticism and admonition” as necessary and useful, adding however, “Criticism and admonition should not be turned into a means for rumor and misrepresentation through tale-telling, exaggeration and unreasonable generalization.” 

He described as imperative “focus by the country’s officials,” particularly executive officials on key issues particularly employment and production and the resolution of the issue of imports and added, “We have repeatedly given notice to executive officials on these issues.”   

On the same issue, he added, “Some complain that why doesn’t the Leadership issue reprimands; whereas I am aware of the fundamental issues and the problems of the people through public reports and other reports and I am constantly giving notices such that these public admonitions are not one tenths of the warnings and outbursts at officials in closed-door meetings.”

Ayatollah Khamenei once again stressed upon the need for officials to attend to the issues of employment and boosting domestic production, saying, “Unemployment is the main root of most corruption and it should be resolved by boosting production; indeed, wild extravagance will not solve the issue and fortunately, government officials are busy working in these areas.”

In his speech, the Leader of the Revolution thanked security forces, police, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and Basij officials, adding, “On the recent issue, there should be distinction between the youth and teenager who has said or done something under the influence of cyberspace hysteria and those who are among the lackeys of the US and those hostile to the Islamic Republic.”

He added, “Those who became involved because of hysterics, whether university students or not, should talked to and enlightened, but those who are the lackey’s of Traitors and kill people are a different issue.”

The final part of the remarks of the Leader of the Revolution was directly addressed to the people. He said the decisive, unassuming and insightful turnout of the beloved nation in times of the country’s need will bring the satisfaction of God Almighty and added: “Throughout the past 40 years and wherever necessary in elections, rallies and other scenes required, the people have stood tall and brought honor upon Iran.”

Ayatollah Khamenei added, “The people should know that the country’s officials are not asleep and trying and struggling as hard as they can; of course there are also shortcomings and faults in some places.” 

In conclusion, he reiterated: “I am optimistic about the very bright future of the country and I know that God has Willed to elevate this nation to the highest of statuses and with the Grace of God this will unfold.”

AS/ME