Leader felicitates Basij week

IRIB - Tehran, Nov 30 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday felicitated Iranian nation on Basij (volunteer forces) week.

In a meeting with Basij commanders, the Supreme Leader said that Basij is a system to mobilize the lively youth in line with the lofty goals of the Islamic Republic in all fields.

"Basij is a sacred tree planted by the late Imam Khomeini and is blossoming out in the hearts of the faithful youth and of people," the Supreme Leader said.

The Supreme Leader advised the Basij members to display the sense of sincerity in the work-place, the university and the reconstruction scenes.

The Basij took shape when the Iraqi army invaded Iran in September 1980.

The then army had been disintegrated thanks to victory of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979 and the top commanders of the army had been sacked.

There had been no organized army to defend the country.

The people heeded a call from the late Imam Khomeini to rush to the border areas both in the south and south western Iran.

The volunteer forces had only a gun and a grenade. They even had not enough bullets to fire at the enemy.

There were no tank movable in the war fronts. The Iraqi artillery had ruined the garrisons on the border areas.

The Iranian army did not have enough artillery shells to respond to the enemy fire. There were only a small number of Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPGs).

For example a company of 100 Basij members had about five or six RPGs.

In some units, every group of ten soldiers had one RPG. The only means to destroy the numerous Iraqi tanks were the RPG.

The soldiers had to stand up to aim at the tank approaching them with at least 10 Iraqi soldiers guarding each tank.

Yes, this was the only way to stop the advance of the columns of the tanks coming fast toward the Iranian cities and how brave were those who stood up against the armored divisions of Iraq bare-handed.

It was impossible to fire at a tank destroying it without being destroyed by the enemy fires.

The brave soldiers destroyed columns of tanks from the enemy kissing the holy Quran which taught them to protect their dignity and home knowing that they are going to be destroyed.

Leader grants amnesty to inmates

04:20:35 IRIB, Nov 27 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has agreed to a proposal to grant amnesty and commute sentences of a group of inmates on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr marking the end of fasting month of Ramadhan.

The proposal was made by Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and approved by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

The amnesty did not include those jailed for armed robbery and banditry, drugs and arms smuggling, spying, kidnapping, rape, graft, setting up prostitution centers and threatening national security.

The Islamic Republic usually grants amnesty or commutes the punishment of those convicted by the country's tribunals on the occasion of national or religious events.

Leader blasts US democratic claims

IRIB, Tehran, Nov 26 - Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday dismissed as a "disgraceful lie" the US pro-democracy slogans and said public opinion in Iraq or any other part of the world of Islam favors those who brand the US as enemy of Islam.

"They (Americans) are in fact against democracy because they know that reference to public votes in Iraq or anywhere else in the world of Islam today will prove that Muslim nations would elect those who whole-heartedly consider Americans as enemies of Islam," said Ayatollah Khamenei in his Eid-Al-Fitr prayers sermons to multitudes of worshipers here at Imam Khomeini Mosalla prayers ground.

The paramount leader said the US' bloody coups and crimes in different parts of the world and Washington's continued support for dictatorial regimes prove real nature of the US President George W. Bush's claims.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that American occupiers have through such "false" pro-democracy, freedom and human rights slogans put Iraqi nation in a hard condition, leaving them no option other than campaign against the occupiers.

Addressing American nation, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "you should know that your government has through Iraq's occupation pushed the US into a quagmire and it further sinks into the swamp day by day.

"The Supreme Leader said Iraqi people will resist the imposed democracy or any other dictated establishment or law. "

The US government should know that it will fail to take Muslim nations in the Middle East its captive even by raising its military budget ten-folded because the great, struggling and noble Iranian nation sets as a symbol for other nations, giving them lessons of perseverance and prosperity," he added.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the case of Palestine and said despite abundant economic problems and massacre and suppression of women, children and the youth in the occupied territories, the defenseless and brave Palestinian nation continues to resist against the tyrant occupiers by all means under blessing of Islam.

He said ongoing realities in the occupied lands prove that the Zionists and Americans have been facing deadlock in dealing with Palestinian nation.

He added that young Palestinian generation has been awakened and understood from its religious beliefs and sentiments that they have no way but resistance and self-sacrifice against the occupying enemy.

The Supreme Leader went on to say that the historical understanding will guarantee Palestinian nation's undoubted victory and eventual defeat by the Zionist regime and the US government.

Referring to high turn out at the world Quds day rallies, Ayatollah Khamenei said the world Quds Day mirrored overwhelming will of Muslim nations for campaign against the US and Israel.

The Supreme Leader said the great, faithful and united Iranian nation had proved on the world Quds Day the significance and importance of its national will in the scene.

He said the Iranian nation had through its powerful and vigilant defense of the oppressed Palestinian people showed its deep hatred of Zionists and their American supporters, making Iran and the Islamic Republic proud worldwide.

Concluding his sermons, Ayatollah Khamenei asked Iranian nation to massively turn out at the seventh Majlis elections, slated for march, so as to thwart enemy plots.

Leader receives senior officials

IRIB, Nov 26 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei received here on Wednesday a group of high-ranking government officials and people on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.

President Mohammad Khatami, Parliament Speaker Mehdi Karroubi, Judiciary chief Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, chairman of the Expediency Council Hashemi Rafsanjani, ambassadors of the Arab and Islamic countries in Tehran as well as a group of people were among those meeting the Supreme Leader.

Ayatollah Khamenei presented congratulations to the officials and people the advent of the Eid al-Fitr and said the feast carried a major message which was the need of the unity and solidarity among the Muslims all over the world.

The unity is the key to the victory for Muslims in all regional and international levels and in the campaign against the global arrogance, said the Leader.

The bitter situation in Palestine, Iraq and the tyrannical and expansionist policies and behaviors of the United States toward the Muslim world and the Middle Eastern states have links with the gap among the Islamic states, he noted.

To get rid of the US pressures and bullying tactics, the Islamic states have no way but to get united and act in concert, he added.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the hidden and open efforts by the enemies of Islam to create division among the Muslims worldwide make it more necessary than before for the Muslims to adopt policies to get more united to face the enemies' threat.

Islamic nations, political formations, intellectuals have to know that the global arrogance is now planning to divide Iraq but they should know that Iraq belongs to all Iraqis, the Supreme Leader said.

The constitution of Iraq should be written and formulated by Iraqis not by Washington leaders otherwise Iraq would not be a safe place for occupiers, the Leader stated.

He paid tribute to the Muslim Palestinian people for their endless struggles against the Israeli Zionists and said today the Americans and Israelis have failed in their policies and ideals in the occupied lands.

Prior to the Leader's speech, President Mohammad Khatami congratulated Muslims on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and commented on the developments in Iran and in the world.

Supreme Leader: Martyrs sacrificed lives when country needed brave

men Tehran, Nov 24, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Sunday night that the martyrs sacrificed their lives when the country needed brave men. Speaking to several hundred children of martyrs, the Supreme Leader said that without any exaggeration, the nation and the country are indebted to the martyrs. "You should be proud of your fathers, because, they put their life for the cause of humanity. They paved the way for the highest possible status they achieved in their young age," the Supreme Leader said. The Supreme Leader appreciated the high talent of the children of the martyrs and said that the young students should take maximum advantage of their life to advance national goals. "After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, a lively and energetic generation emerged who have been symbol of blessings for the nation in the past and will remain the same in future," the Supreme Leader said. 215/AH/210

Iran enjoys a living nation: Leader

Leader hails Iran encyclopedia bid

Tehran, Nov 23 (IRIB) - The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei here Saturday evening received members of the board of trustees of Iran Encyclopedia Foundation.

Praising the great efforts made by members of the foundation for compiling the encyclopedia, the Supreme Leader underlined the need for determining certain criteria to compile the encyclopedia in order to promote its quality.

Meanwhile, Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, managing director of the foundation briefed the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on performance of the foundation and the great efforts made by his colleagues in promoting scientific knowledge in the country.

He further announced that the foundation has so far published seven volumes of the encyclopedia in 6,000 pages.

US old tricks will not work anymore

IRIB Tehran, Nov 14 - The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said here on Friday that the US is frustrated over its military campaign in Afghanistan and Iraq, warning that Washington is now trying to devise cultural and political ploys to harm the countries of the region from inside.

Ayatollah Khamenei, delivering a sermon at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosalla (prayer ground), said the US has already realized that its military plans will no longer bear fruit in the Middle East, and cautioned that the White House leaders have now resorted to new schemes to push forward their campaign in the region.

He said the recent remarks by US officials to advocate democracy in the Middle East depict that they are pursuing sinister policies in the region, and called on the regional states to exercise prudence toward the positions of the American leaders.

"Whoever is familiar with the policies of US leaders over the past years from World War II onward feels ashamed to hear the remarks by the president of such a regime to claim that it is the custodian of democracy," the Supreme Leader said.

"Why should an individual be so impudent to utter such a baseless and wrong remark?" US positions toward the issue of democracy have been particularly planned to nip the calls of nations for justice in the bud, stressing that such positions are accordingly "not worth the attention".

He recalled the efforts by former US governments to support dictatorship in Iran, and also to back the regime of the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein against the Iranians.

The Supreme Leader highlighted the killings of civilians by US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and lashed out at US leaders for refusing to apologize to the people of those countries for the killings.

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the US is everyday receiving serious blows in Afghanistan and Iraq, adding that the White House, from the position of an aggressor, has realized that its previous plots will not work anymore.

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that they had entered Iraq under the pretext of liberating the Iraqis, and regretted that US campaign in the country had created a devastating situation.

He said the US had replaced an Iraqi dictator with a foreign dictator in Iraq, stressing that the US would exercise the same oppressive policies that were used by the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the US leaders have realized that they can do nothing in the region through military approaches, stressing that Washington knows that it would face numerous problems in starting a military campaign in the Middle East.

"They are now confessing that their previous plans to use military action to press ahead their policies in the region had been wrong, and the plan should be to degenerate the nations," he said adding that such degeneration was plotted to be implemented in cultural and political domains.

"The global arrogance of the US and the Zionist regime are trying to disappoint the people toward their aspirations thus setting the stage for the return of an American domination," the Supreme Leader said to the chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel".

Ayatollah Khamenei warned that the White House is pursuing serious plans to saw seeds of discord among Iran's political parties as the cornerstone of its policy to harm the Islamic Republic.

He also said that the US is trying to create an atmosphere of tension in Iran by challenging the principles of Islam, the Islamic Revolution and the constitution so as to promote its own policies against Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed that the US would face numerous difficulties if it continued military approaches toward others, stressing the held true with the Islamic Republic.

He stressed that the US is at the same time considering to support domestic print media to become its own loud speakers against the Islamic establishment, stressing that the Iranians must be prudent toward such measures.

The Supreme Leader also warned that the US is annoyed over the success of the Islamic Republic in various areas, and warned that any effort to obstruct the development of the country would benefit the interests of the US.

"Whoever undermines the efforts by the government to serve the people has acted to the benefit of the US.

Whoever propagates the views of the US in the newspapers ... and has acted to the benefit of the US," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

"Any step to propagate rumors and to level false charges on others would serve the interests of the US, and whoever promotes such practices and deteriorates a war of nerves in Iran is the mercenary of the US."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution further called on the Iranian nation to resist US political and cultural plots, stressing that the nation must be aware toward the efforts of the enemy against Iran's sovereignty.

"The US has failed to achieve the desired results in attacking the region. And it is true that the US takes away Iraq's oil for its own," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

"Still, the hatred of the Iraqi people toward the US will increase day by day and the US will receive more blows from the Iraqi nation.

And as the late (founder of the Islamic Revolution) Imam Khomeini put it, the US today has become the most hated before the Muslim world and there is no figure who is detested the most in the Islamic world than the US president and the Israeli prime minister."

Leader to lead Friday Prayers

IRIB Tehran, Nov 11 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei is expected to lead Friday Prayers congregation at Imam Khomeini Mosalla on November 14.

This is the first time that the Friday Prayers congregation is going to be held at Imam Khomeini Mosalla.

The Imam Khomeini Mosalla, in northern Tehran, has been the venue for the Eid Al-Fitr prayers for at least ten years.

The Mosalla is being inaugurated on the auspicious occasion of the Leilat Al-Qadr (nights of blessings).

The three nights ahead of the 19th, 21st and 23rd days of the holy month of Ramadan are the nights of blessings for the Muslims

Supreme Leader meets academicians

IRIB Tehran, Nov 7 - The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei here Thursday evening said the serious demands of the youth regarding such issues as justice, freedom and sciences could reinforce the success of aspirations of the Islamic Revolution.

Ayatollah Khamenei, speaking in a meeting with the academicians, said Iran needs the youth to raise their demands in various areas, adding that those demands could have auspicious outcomes and decisive results for the country.

He warned that Iran's enemies are always seeking to undermine the intellectual progress of the youth, stressing however that those efforts will be doomed to failure as long as the youth exercise prudence in the political arena.

He said Iran has attained significant achievements in the area of higher education, and spoke highly of the academic endeavors of the students to that effect.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the demands of the youth regarding scientific issues would provide a support for the software movement of the country.

"This instance shows that whenever the youth attain self-confidence and raise their serious demands, the movement will become permanent and will move forward," he said.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the demands of the students regarding the intellectual liberties and freedom of thought should not be restricted to merely political definitions.

"Political and social liberties are important aspects of human liberties. However, those who are trying to push forward the goals of the fascist pseudo-democrats who are ruling the US are definitely not pursuing freedom and intellectual liberties," he said.

"Although they are trying to give their rhetoric a proportion of freedom-seeking aspirations, their real rhetoric is slavery and treachery".

Ayatollah Khamenei called freedom of thought, freedom of choice and failure to follow the suggestions of the West as manifestations of intellectual liberty, adding that such liberty in a broader sense includes a wide spectrum of scientific, political and social domains.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Supreme Leader said the politicians can consider the expediencies in the decision-making of the country, stressing however that a similar practice could destroy the aspirations of the Islamic Revolution if exercised in the areas closely affecting the intellect and spirit of the youth.

Supreme Leader lays out macro plans

IRIB Tehran, Nov 5 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday declared a macro plan for Iran's economic, social and cultural development for the next 20 years.

"Relying on grace and benevolence of Almighty God, Iran will turn to a developed country within the next twenty years," the Supreme Leader said in announcing guidelines which envisages to take effect in the context of fourth five-year economic, social and cultural development plans.

The fourth five-year economic, social and cultural development plan will be implemented from the year 2005 to 2010.

The Supreme Leader cited the constitution of the Islamic Republic and said that Iran should reach the first place in terms of economic, scientific, technological development in the region, thanks to the Islamic and revolutionary aspirations.

"Iran should reach a level of development and inspiring other developing nations.

God willing Iran will turn to a developed country within the next 20 years," the Supreme Leader said.

On diplomatic exchanges, part of the guidelines said, "Iran will proceed with constructive interaction and effective exchanges in the international relations.

"In the next 20 years, Iran will intensively work in line with the Islamic values, the democratic and ethical principles and national interest to promote human rights, legitimate freedoms, religious democracy, social and judicial justice," the Supreme Leader said.

"Iran deserves the right and should gain advancement in the field of science and technology and national products thanks to highly skilled human resources and social capital."

On defense sector, the Supreme Leader placed emphasis on national unity and solidarity of the nation with the government as the best deterrent to any threat in addition to an independent defense structure.

"The population should enjoy healthy environment, health service, welfare, food security, social security, equal opportunity, foundation of family should be reinforced, poverty, corruption and discrimination should be removed within the next 20-year planning," the Supreme Leader pointed out.

The Supreme Leader said that every individual should be proud of his/her Iranian nationality, observe social discipline and sense of commitment to the social conscience and the Islamic Republic.

Leader receives released filmmakers

IRIB Tehran, Nov 5 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei here on Tuesday afternoon received Soheil Karimi and Saeed Aboutaleb, the two Iranian documentary filmmakers detained in Iraq for several months.

During the meeting, the Supreme Leader expressed his happiness with the freedom of the two documentarians of the Islamic republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) who were released on Monday after spending 127 days in captivity in Iraq.

Karimi and Aboutaleb were arrested on July 1 by US troops in Iraq's southeastern city of Kut together with an interpreter and a local driver as they were preparing a documentary on the life of the Iraqi people.

They were later transferred to Diwaniyah, and afterwards to Baghdad before being handed over to the British troops in Um-al Qasr prison, southern Iraq.

Leader backs additional protocol

09:00:42 IRIB, Tehran, Nov 3 - The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei here Sunday evening strongly supported Iran's recent decision to sign the additional protocol of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), but stressing that Iran would fiercely stand against any attempt to challenge its peaceful nuclear program.

"What happened was an appropriate measure and it was a prudent step to thwart the plots of the US and the Zionists," Ayatollah Khamenei told a meeting of the country's high-ranking officials.

However, the Supreme Leader stressed, Iran will not hesitate in stopping cooperation with Europeans or global power centers if it is proved that they are pursuing excessive aspirations.

"If those who have entered talks with us ... ever try to exercise caprice toward us, and take only one step at a time in approaching us, everything will be ruined," he said.

"Once we reach a point where we feel that Iran's national interests and the values of the system are threatened, we will definitely stop this process (of nuclear cooperation)".

The French, German and British foreign ministers arrived in Tehran on October 20 in a lightning visit at Iran's invitation to provide the Islamic Republic with consultations over signing the additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Ayatollah Khamenei described as "significant" Iran's achievements in the area of nuclear technology, stressing that no official or any state institution should ever overlook this "great success" of the Iranian nation.

"If anyone ever tries to challenge the Islamic Republic regarding its peaceful nuclear energy program, or tries to interfere in our domestic affairs, he will be definitely slapped on the mouth as the Islamic Republic will never back off even one step toward this issue," he said.

The Supreme Leader recalled the continuation of Iran's dialogues with European states, stressing that Iran would continue talks with those states as long as they do not demand too much.

Ayatollah Khamenei further rejected speculations that Iran's signing the NPT protocol should be interpreted as surrender, stressing that the announcement to sign the protocol was a political and diplomatic measure.

He also rejected the mentality that advocates passiveness toward the enemies.

"The enemies of the Islamic Republic should never cherish this idle thought that the Islamic Republic is in a serious predicament," Ayatollah Khamenei said."

"This is because in continuing the path that we have just taken up, we will definitely stop wherever we feel that the interests of the country and the values of the establishment may be jeopardized."

Ayatollah Khamenei further thanked President Mohammad Khatami for his struggles to resolve the problem of the NPT protocol, stressing that nothing has been done against the principles of the country.

"I will stop anything against the regulations and orientations of the system and the goals of the Revolution," he said.

Ayatollah Khamenei hit out at some unnamed states saying there is no need for Iran to produce nuclear fuel." Those countries, attempt to take Iran and the Iranians as a hostage by controlling the fuel supplying corridors, and hence exert pressure on Ir an, but we never give in, the leader continued. We will produce the nuclear fuel at home under the aegis of international laws by Iranian experts and nuclear scientists, the leader confirmed.

The Supreme Leader further stressed that Iran's signing the NPT protocol must run its due constitutional course, adding that the Majlis (Iran's parliament) and the supervising Guardian Council (GC) have the final say.

"What the government does is only an introduction, and the final decision on the additional protocol, according to the law, will be made by the Majlis," he said.

"Moreover, the GC, will have to check its compatibility with the Islamic Sharia law and the constitution as with any other agreement."

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