Leader: Intelligence personnel should be vigilant towards enemy plots

Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on Wednesday April 18 granted audience to Intelligence Minister, Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi, and officials and personnel of his ministry.

He said the Intelligence Ministry emanates from the grassroots movement of the Iranian people, and had been set up by revolutionary forces loyal to the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (AS).

Ayatollah Khamenei called on the Intelligence Ministry to keep moving on the path of the Islamic Revolution and remain revolutionary “one hundred percent”, by making sure that no corruption, luxuriousness or sense of exclusiveness creeps in.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution touched upon the intelligence war waged by the enemy’s vast front against the Islamic Establishment, and said: “One of the key and major pivots of this war is to infiltrate and influence the system of calculations of the officials in order to change people’s beliefs. In this war, in addition to defense and blocking ways of infiltration, offense should also occur and any ignorance and naivety should be seriously avoided.”

He touched upon the start of the auspicious month of Sha’ban, and described it, along with the previous month of Rajab and the forthcoming fasting month of blessed Ramadhan as a good opportunity for proper cognition of God Almighty, through greater affinity with the holy Qur’an, the prayers, the supplications with their lofty concepts, and the boosting of one’s understanding.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the establishment of the Intelligence Ministry after triumph of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and added: “The intelligence apparatus was clean and pure from the very outset of its formation, and has remained so until now and has passed good tests.”

He said all the staff members of the Intelligence Ministry have their roots in the Revolution as well as in those loyal to the Revolution and the late Imam Khomeini (RA).

He added: “Accordingly, the Intelligence Ministry and all its personnel should remain revolutionary one hundred percent and move on the path of Revolution.”

The Leader said the Intelligence Ministry abides by the policies of Iran’s system of government, adding: “All over the world, intelligence apparatuses comply with the policies ruling countries.”

He said siding factionalism at the ministry is a sin, adding: “In the Intelligence Ministry there is only one front, and that is the Revolution front.”

He urged all departments of the Intelligence Ministry to carefully study the Late Imam’s instruction in his Last Will, which is indeed a testament for the nation.

Ayatollah Khamenei noted: “All departments and the main body of the ministry should be completely familiar with the basics and principles of the revolution and act in a revolutionary manner accordingly.”

He touched upon the major and complex war launched by the front opposing the Islamic Republic and its system of popular religious rule. He said the espionage services of the other side are the major part of this confrontation.

The Leader noted: “The intelligence apparatuses of the front opposing us have not been able to do any major harm to us so far despite all their resources,”

He referred to the different dimensions of this complex intelligence war, saying: “In this war, different methods and ways are on the agenda, from ‘infiltration and stealing information’ and ‘changing the calculations of decision-makers’ and ‘changing people’s beliefs’ to ‘creating financial and economic chaos’ and ‘triggering security disarray’.”

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the recent developments on the forex market, saying, “When more attention is paid to such issues, the footprints of foreigners and their intelligence services are evident.”

Thus, he said: “In this war, we should stand up to the front which opposes us, and accordingly plans for offense as well as defense should be on the agenda in order to overcome the enemy, and this should be done in such a way that the playing field is determined by our intelligence apparatus.”

He said one of the ways for Iran’s intelligence apparatus to counter the machinations of the front opposing us is to make long-term planning, predict future events, and carefully analyze and study intelligence.

The Leader said: Another way to counter the aggression by the opposing front is to take the issue of infiltration seriously.

He added: “A person who wants to be the trustee of the country and people should be eligible, so the slightest uncertainty about individuals’ eligibility should be reflected, and government institutions are duty-bound to act in accordance with the views of the Intelligence Ministry.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei called for cooperation, synergy and professional competition among the country’s intelligence services.

Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon the issue of “corruption,” and said: “The fight against corruption should be taken very seriously, and the key elements behind it should be tackled because corruption will destroy individuals and society spiritually and mentally.”

He underlined that corruption, in many cases, emanates from the spirit of acquisitiveness, aristocracy and luxuriousness.

“That is why”, he added: “The great Imam [Khomeini] repeatedly stressed the need for authorities to lead a frugal and simple life.”

Addressing the personnel of the Intelligence Ministry, the Leader said: “Convey my greetings to all staff members of the ministry across the nation and your families, and do know that your spouses share a major divine reward for the activities you do because these activities are the result of their cooperation and patience in the face of difficulties.”

Prior to Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi presented a report on the activities and approaches of the ministry.

He said: “All anonymous soldiers (a term used to refer to Iranian intelligence and security forces) announce their readiness to stand up to the cronies of the global hegemony led by the US, which is seeking domination over the world, the criminal Zionism and the infant-killing Al Saud regime, and to safeguard the ideals of the Islamic Revolution to the last drop of their blood.”

AS/ME