Leader receives parliamentarians
Tehran, May 29 - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei says parliament which serves as the nerve-center of the country's
management and day-to-day administration of affairs should give urgent
priority to national solidarity and build on expert viewpoints to adopt
workable legislation.
At a meeting Sunday with parliament deputies, Ayatollah Khamenei
appreciated the endeavors of the chamber to serve members of the public
and hailed its recent decisions on foreign policy and nuclear technology,
saying deputies need to return the favor of the Iranian people who have
voted for them, by making every effort to safeguard the principles
championed by the late Imam Khomeini and the Islamic establishment at
large.
The Leader further said recent guidelines on principle 44 of the
Constitution, require the chamber to pass legislation which lay the
foundation for emergence of a healthy and stable economy.
Ayatollah Khamenei urged the legislative branch to maintain legal and
logical relations with executive institutions, saying solidarity holds the
key to a stronger showing on both local and international fronts.
The enemy is at pains to drive a wedge among the ranks of officials,
promote corruption and secularism, erect a wall of mistrust between
officials and members of the public and discredit disciplinary and
oversight bodies like the Judiciary, the Guardian Council and parliament
to secure its unholy objectives, the Leader said adding that is why
officials need to take maximum care not to contribute to enemy efforts by
their words or deeds.
Ayatollah Khamenei also urged the MPs to exercise maximum vigilance to
prevent tension on parliament floor, adding every step the chamer takes
should be in line with the principles of faith and piety.
Leader urges high elections turnout
Tehran, May 27 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Thursday that massive turnout of the Iranian
nation is an issue of utmost importance and to this end university
students should play an active and crucial role.
Addressing thousands of Basiji university students, the Supreme Leader
said the Basij members (volunteer forces) should not only stay on the
scene during any enemy aggression but also should get involved in
safeguarding the country's national and political identity, campaign
against cultural in roads and making scientific breakthrough.
If the society goes after science without spirituality it would face a
world like the Western world where there are no rooms for justice, morals,
humanity and human rights, said the Supreme Leader.
Among the characteristics of Basij members is their justice seeking
spirit, Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The most significant criteria for choosing the next president is his
belief in Islam, justice seeking spirit and firm resolve to remove
discrimination, said the Supreme Leader.
The enemies of the Islamic revolution do not know that whatever they
say the Iranian people would do the opposite, said the Supreme Leader.
Ayatollah Khamenei also quoted the founder of the Islamic Republic the
late Imam Khomeini as saying "whatever the enemies want we should do the
opposite, because they only seek their own interests."
The future of the country belongs to the youth and university students,
the Supreme Leader said, adding "you should enter the scene vehemently and
guide the country towards success and prosperity."
Thousands of Basiji Students Meet the Leader
2005-05-26
Thousands of university students who were members of the Student Basij
Organization met the Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Thursday, May 26. Speaking at the meeting,
the Leader called the Student Basij Organization the symbol of modernity
in its real sense, religious zeal and progressiveness in different arenas
in the country. "The progressiveness of the Basiji organs, especially of
the Basiji students, in the realm of modernity means identifying basic
social needs and deficiencies and making incessant efforts to fulfill
those needs and fill the existing vacuums," the Leader told the students.
Pointing to the fact that knowledge and intellect constitute the major
components in all arenas, the Leader stressed that committed intellectual
individuals and the Basiji students are mainly characterized by their
mental products and new ideas.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated that the real meaning of Basij is
keeping one's presence on the scene, but he emphasized that such presence
is not required only at the time of the enemy's military aggression, but
that the Basiji students should keep their vigilant and strong presence on
various scenes at all times. "The arena where the national and political
identity of our nation and its culture, beliefs and religious faith are
threatened, the scientific field where efforts are needed to make up for
our scientific retardation, the social arena where there is a need to
administer justice, the cultural sphere where there is the necessity of
countering alien cultural onslaught that is aimed at estranging our nation
from its cultural roots are all the scenes on which the Basiji students
are expected to keep a wise, strong and vigilant presence," he pointed
out.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic noted
that the outcome of a society in which scientific progress and development
is devoid of spirituality is the Western world today, where justice,
morality, humanity and respect for human rights are missing and where the
prevalent logic is the law of the jungle, a logic that regards the taking
of any action by powerful countries as something permissible.
Ayatollah Khamenei called on the Basiji students to avoid
superficiality in their religious beliefs and acquire a deep knowledge of
Islamic thought and ideology. "One of the main features of the Basiji
thinking is the thirst for justice. The intelligent Basiji students should
call for the implementation of policies aimed at administering social
justice, and they should prepare the groundwork for realization of justice
through their efforts and legitimate demands," he told the audience.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader referred to the upcoming presidential
elections in Iran, emphasizing that what bears great significance with
regard to the elections is a high public turnout on the Election Day. He
noted that the intellectual and knowledgeable students are able to play an
influential role in society, and he called on the students to make every
effort so that a massive voter turnout in the upcoming elections may be
ensured.
"In electing the next president of the Islamic Republic, certain
criteria such as competence and efficiency, deep faith in Islam and the
revolution, believing in justice and not discriminating in favor of the
rich and against the poor as well as liveliness and vitality should be
taken into consideration. Besides, considering that youngsters constitute
a major portion of our population, it is advisable that a youthful
dynamism be created in the entire Executive," the Leader observed.
Ayatollah Khamenei also stated that another criterion for electing the
next president is whether he is influenced by the enemies and whether his
election is welcomed by the enemies or not. Touching on the prattle
uttered by U.S. officials regarding the presidential elections in Iran,
the Leader noted, "These morons do not know that, whatever the say, the
Iranian people will act contrary to that." He went on to say, "One of the
criteria, as the late Imam Khomeini often stressed, is that the Iranian
nation should always act contrary to what the enemies want, since the
enemies try to promote their own interests."
The Leader of the Islamic Republic further hinted at certain remarks
made by U.S. officials concerning the existence of supervision in the
Iranian presidential elections. "In the Western countries, despite all
their propaganda, the most rigid and complicated kinds of supervision are
enforced, and there are numerous hurdles in the way of taking up top
government positions. This is why for the past two hundred years no
individual from outside the two mainstream parties has been elected
president of the United States," he told the students.
The Leader also stated, "Even in the European countries there is no
political group really opposing the political system and constitution of
those countries. The so-called opposition groups differ with their
governments only on minor issues, and they all believe in the same
principles and tenets." In conclusion, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized the
fact that the top executive and managerial positions in the country will
all be filled by young people in the future.
"You should try to increase your knowledge and power of mind and deepen
your religious beliefs, so that you will be able to lead the country to
its bright future with efficiency and strength," the Leader told the
students. Before the Leader's speech, the representative of the Basiji
students Hussein Tarikhi, a student of nuclear physics, said at the
meeting that the main concerns of the Basiji students are the
administration of social justice, the software movement and the campaign
to open new horizons in science, certain cultural and social issues and
the plots hatched by the arrogant and postmodern colonial powers against
the Iranian nation, especially with regard to its peaceful use of nuclear
energy.
Leader grants amnesty to prisoners
Tehran, May 25 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Rvolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday pardoned several prisoners sentenced by
military courts.
The amnesty had been requested by Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah
Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi as per a proposal to that effect from Judicial
Organization of the Armed Forces.
The Supreme Leader accepted the amnesty package to mark the anniversary
of liberation of Khorramshahr from Iraqi occupation in 1982.
Leader message on Khorramshahr day
Tehran, may 24 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that liberation of Khorramshahr in 1982
was a great lesson for the nation bringing victory and that the same
pattern should be followed in every other field including the presidential
election.
In a meeting with 1,000 family members of martyrs to mark anniversary
of victory against Iraqi occupiers of Khorramshahr, the Supreme Leader
said that the June 17 election is a field for national solidarity.
The Supreme Leader recalled the pre-revolution era when the Iranian
nation was deprived of real election, and said that free and fair election
is the outcome of the Islamic Revolution.
"We should thank God for such a blessing and appreciate free and fair
election through our active participation in the election." The Supreme
Leader criticized certain individuals who don't appreciate the Islamic
Republic which provided the nation with an opportunity to determine their
own fate by holding free and fair election.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that such a democracy was not available
throughout the era of Pahlavi regime and even during premiership of
(Mohammad) Mossadeq who some believe established democracy whereas during
his term in office the parliament was closed for one year.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that US endeavors to restore the same black
dictatorship to Iran in a modern style, but, the Iranian nation enjoying
freedom under the Islamic Republic will disappoint it through their active
presence on the scene.
The Supreme Leader advised presidential candidates to observe principle
of brotherhood in the election campaign and avoid discord or tension.
"They should outline their programs and should not get involved in
argument with one another," Ayatollah Khamenei said. The Supreme Leader
called on reporters and mass media to contribute to the atmosphere of
amity and cooperation and avoid sowing discord among the presidential
contenders.
The Supreme Leader said that former governments have records of service
and the upcoming government is expected to make the fruits of efforts made
by its predecessors known to the public with effects on their life.
"The next government should strongly fight poverty, financial
corruption and discrimination in the decision making bodies," the Supreme
Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei paid tribute to martyrs of eight-year Iraqi imposed
war (1980-1988) and said that victory of the nation against foreign
aggression has set a precedent for the nation to press ahead with other
successes in line with welfare, justice and freedom of expression that are
the principles of Islamic system of government.
"In the Islamic community there should not be poverty, corruption or
discrimination," the Supreme Leader said.
Leader orders GC to review decision on Moin,
Mehralizadeh
TEHRAN, May 23 (MNA) - In a letter to the Guardian Council on Monday,
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei
urged the oversight body to review its decision regarding the
disqualification of two prominent presidential candidates, former science
minister Mostafa Moin and Vice President Mohsen Mehralizadeh.
The Supreme Leader made the demand after receiving a written request
from Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel asking him to convince the GC
to review its list of presidential candidates.
Lauding the Guardian Council for its strenuous efforts to examine the
qualifications of presidential candidates within the framework of the law,
the Leader added, “Since it is more favorable that people with different
political tendencies find the opportunity to establish a presence in the
scene of elections, a review of the situation of these two candidates
seems necessary.”
The Guardian Council on Sunday released the names of the candidates it
had approved to run for the post.
The GC approved former national police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf,
former Majlis speaker Mahdi Karrubi, former IRIB TV director Ali Larijani,
former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadinejad,
and Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaii to run in the June 17
presidential election.
Leader urges principle 44 enactment
Tehran, May 23 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei on Monday assigned three branches of government to
implement article 44 of the constitution.
The article 44 of the constitution calls for dividing economy into
three sectors - state, cooperatives and private.
The guideline has been issued based on the article 110 of the
constitution which empowers the Supreme Leader to monitor implementation
of the constitution.
The Supreme Leader also assigned the Expediency Council to monitor
implementation of the guideline.
The guideline is part of a series of decisions made by leadership to
implement parts of the constitution that have yet to go into effect.
Ignorance of the two sectors - cooperatives and the private sector- in
the past and overgrowing the state sector of Iranian economy caused
widespread financial corruption at the expense of the poor.
The guidelines of the Supreme Leader will prepare the ground for
helping both the cooperatives and private sector to grow within the
national economy and contribute to economic growth.
The 20-year strategy for economic, social and cultural development was
the other guideline which the Supreme Leader issued last year assigning
the Majlis, government and judiciary to take the strategy into account in
drawing up annual planning.
The 20-year vision plan will be implemented within the context of the
next four five-year economic, social and cultural development plan.
Leader urges Kerman problems removal
Tehran, May 16 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei here Sunday stressed the importance of complete
settling problems of the rich Kerman province through taking high efforts
and planning. In a meeting with President Mohammad Khatami and cabinet
members, the Supreme Leader called on the Management and Planning
Organization, governor-general of Kerman and other responsible
organizations to materialize programs set during his recent visit to the
southeastern province with speed. He expressed appreciation over measures
adopted by the government and officials of Bam reconstruction headquarters
to reconstruct the quake-stricken city and underlined the need to draw up
a fundamental planning to this effect.
"Progress of measures in Bam needs the government's special attention,"
he said , adding support for Bam reconstruction headquarters should not be
weakened in routine decision-making trend. Ayatollah Khamenei also
stressed the importance of making speedy and serious decision for
quake-stricken people of Zarand. He called for serious efforts to
eradicate poverty from different areas of Kerman province, reduce the
damage inflicted by drought and remove insecurity made by smugglers.
The Supreme Leader assessed economic activities in Kerman province as
broad and fruitful, saying the results of such activities should play an
effective role in the living of provincial people. He said executive and
mid-term and long-term programs which were approved during his recent
visit to Kerman should be carried out before the end of the current
government's mission, adding the next government should also continue this
path.
Leader calls OIC for further action
Tehran, May 12 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi and his entourage on Thursday referred to the spirit of
understanding and cooperation dominating bilateral
relations and urged the need to further expand ties in various domains.
Turning to Malaysia as the chairman of the the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
and the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), Ayatollah Khamenei
stressed that given the hegemonic policy currently being applied against
the Muslim nations and governments, Muslim nations look forward to further
action to be taken by OIC, which has a high potential. "Unification is the
only way to tackle the bullying policies imposed upon the Muslims by the
big powers," the Supreme Leader made it clear.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to NAM's role in becoming active once more
despite the current world conditions and its status in the UN general
assembly, where it holds 60 percent of the seats, and said, "While the big
powers, including the US tend to make changes in the UN to their own
benefit, one of the most significant duties of NAM member states is to
intervene and take steps against the on going actions."
Appreciating the favorable approach of Malaysia and NAM towards Iran's
nuclear program, the Supreme Leader underlined that in principle, Iran is
against producing nuclear weapons. "However, the main issue is the
objection raised by the US and some western countries against Iran, given
their reluctance to lose the monopoly on the advanced nuclear technology
and make it accessible to other countries," he added.
Concerning Iran-EU3 negotiations and the total non-compliance of the
three European countries of France, Britain and Germany with their
relevant commitments, Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the western states are
used to imposing their hegemony on the developing and underdeveloped
countries.
"But so far as the Islamic Republic of Iran is concerned, they should
forget such a habit," stressed Ayatollah Khamenei. During the meeting,
which was attended by President Mohammad Khatami, Badawi expressed
satisfaction with his visit to Iran and said that a 41 percent boost was
observed in trade exchange between the two states over the past year.
He added that talks are currently underway on expansion of cooperation
in the fields of agriculture, biotechnology, oil and gas. Stressing the
need to make further use of OIC and NAM potentials, the Malaysian Premier
said that at present NAM is in position to boost its efficiency. Badawi
underlined the right of access to peaceful nuclear technology for all
world countries and said that the policy of his country and NAM has always
been based on supporting Iran's nuclear dossier.
Leader receives Malaysian PM
Tehran, May 12 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei referring to the mutual understanding and cooperation between
Iran and Malaysia says bilateral ties between the two Islamic nations
should expand further. In a meeting with the visiting Malaysian Prime
Minister, Ahmad Badawi, on Thursday the Leader referred to Malaysia's
presidency of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the
Non-Aligned Movement, saying Muslim peoples and governments want the OIC
to play a more active role while it has the potential to do so. On Iran-EU
talks and the European Troika's failure to fully live up to their
commitments, Ayatollah Khamenei said Westerners are used to domineering
and its acceptance by developing and weak countries, but as for Iran, they
must clean forget about it.
Supreme Leader speaks to students
Kerman Province, May 10 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with thousands of Kerman
Province university students and professors once again stressed the utmost
importance of public participation at June 17th Presidential Elections.
The leader stressed, "Participation in the elections is not only a
right, but a religious duty, and if the enemies would face defeat in their
efforts aimed at encouraging the nation to boycott the elections, as they
faced in the case of the 7th Majlis (Parliament) elections, they would
accuse us of various types of violations, both in holding the elections,
and in our governance.
Stressing that the Guardians Council's survey of the candidates' right
to run should be based exactly on the country's laws, the leader said, "The
enemy is opposed to broad participation of masses at the polls, but the
nation is capable of holding an authentic election, and of choosing the
best, and the June 17th elections would God willing be our best elections,
ever.
The Supreme Leader discouraged those youth and politicians that try to
pursue the Western models in their conduct, arguing, "The reason why
following the Western political and social models would lead you nowhere
is the bitter fruits of the West's efforts in past two centuries, namely
fascism, communism, and liberalism, that have each paved the path for
countless crimes against mankind."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the launching of two devastating world
wars, US and British-led bloody attack against Iraq, practical collapse of
the foundations of family life in the West, encompassing ethical
corruption, shameful looting of other nations' resorts by neo-colonialists,
torture of innocent human beings in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and dozens of
other US prisons throughout the world, and making and taking advantage of
atomic and chemical bombs, as other manifestations of the "defeated
Western culture."
The leader said, "Among other proofs for inefficiency of the European
and American models I can refer to the hegemony of capitalists over the
mass media and press in the West and lack of true democracy and personal
freedom in Western countries." He added, "For all these reasons paving the
path that the West has once paved, that has lead it to the no-where-land,
would be a grave mistake resulting in a bleak future."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referring to the existing disputes
among the country's various political factions said, "Such disputes are ok
so long as they would be natural, but the enemy pursues higher objectives
in taking advantage of exaggerated political disputes." Ayatollah Khamenei
further elaborated, "The enemy wishes to convey the idea that the system
is faced with internal self-contradictions through boosting such disputes."
The leader reiterated, "The basis of the the enemy's project is
creating fractions at the peak of the system's leadership between two
contrasting mentalities, and of course, some people inside the country,
too, were moving in that direction." He added, "In that respect, they
imposed serious pressure against Mr. Khatami, but relying on his piety and
his rationalism, he did not yield to that pressure."
The Supreme Leader of the revolution referred to certain objections
with campaign against corruption in 6th Majlis (Parliament), as a "small
token of the enemy's efforts aimed at establishment of a dual governance
in the country" and "efforts aimed at creating delays in pushing forth
crucial affairs in the Islamic Republic of Iran", encouraging the entire
nation to remain alert in heeding such conspiracies.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the campaign launched to accuse the
system of effort aimed at monopolizing the political power, saying, "If by
that accusation they mean to convey that the system is trying to trust all
country's affairs in the hands of a single political faction, that is a
lie, because we believe the existence of two faithful factions to the
constitution serving the system has benefits." He added, "They would
function like the two wings (of a bird) that allow it to fly and take wing
in a competitive and progressive atmosphere."
He added, "Yet, if the enemies by accusing us of trying to monopolize
the system mean we would not permit creation of gaps in fundamentals of
the system, that is exactly the objective we are pursuing, and like
anywhere else in the world, we would not permit those who are not faithful
to the constitution and the basis of the system to lead it."
The leader said, "Those who think fundamentalism and reformist tendency
are at the opposite ends of a spectrum are making a grave mistake because
it is actually hedonism and lack of abiding by ethical values that
contrasts reformist tendencies, and the contrasting school against
fundamentalism, too is corruption and evil tendencies. The leader said, "The
middle way, and right approach is the fundamentalist reformist approach."
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution criticized those who
accuse the Islamic system of despotic tendencies and the Iranian nation of
being stricken by tyrant approaches, as well as being politically immature".
Ayatollah Khamenei said, "In order to please the West, some people
argue that the Islamic system has halted its progress towards democracy
half-way there, but let us not try to please the Westerners by making such
accusations."
West example doomed to fail: Leader
Tehran, May 9 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei says students who are the prospective decision-makers of the
country need to have a guiding political cause to secure progress for the
nation down the road. At a meeting Monday with thousands of students and
academics from across Kerman province, Ayatollah Khamenei said as the
country's younger generation makes efforts to meet its material needs, it
pursues greater goals such as administration of social justice,
elimination of poverty and corruption, and achievement of progress on all
fronts, objectives which have their roots in the Muslim faith and
guarantee the prosperity of the faithful.
On the other hand, some youngsters follow Western models in their
pursuit of progress and development but the example of the West is doomed
to fail, the Leader said adding, the experience of the past two centuries
in the West resulted in the emergence of Fascism, and Liberalism, which in
turn paved the way for commission of unspeakable crimes.
The Leader then said the enemy is at pains to use diffrences of opinion
among political factions to drive a wedge in the establishment, and reap
the subsequent benefits. On elections, Ayatollah Khamenei said just like
the past, the enemies of the country, are trying to hold up the vote and
if they fail to win their unholy objective, they would begin to question
the credibility of the electoral process. However, Iranians will once
again prove to the world that they will vote for the best candidate, to
turn the June 17th elections into another perfect chapter in the history
of the revolution.
Leader highly welcomed in Rafsanjan
Kerman, May 8 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday arrived in the provincial town of Rafsanjan
and was accorded enthusiastic welcome by tens of thousand citizens. This
is the eighth day of his eminency's tour to Kerman province. During the
past eight days, the Supreme Leader and his entourage toured the
provincial capital of Kerman and attended public receptions in Jiroft,
Zarand and the quake-hit city of Bam. Besides, a high-ranking delegation
was commissioned by the Supreme Leader to inspect various provincial towns
including Sirjan, Shahdad, Baft, Shahr-e Babak, Ravar, Kouhbanan, Kohnouj
and Manoujan and report their shortages to the leader's office. The
Supreme Leader is scheduled to deliver a speech to the people of Rafsanjan
at Takhti stadium.
Leader calls for public turn out in elections
Kerman, May 7 - Day seven of a visit to Kerman province by the Leader
of the Islamic Revolution Saturday, saw Ayatollah Khamenei tell a huge
crowd of people in Jiroft, the Islamic establishment will spare no efforts
to settle the problems facing members of the public. The Leader further
said in the Islamic Republic which is bitterly opposed to authoritarianism,
supression and foreign interference in favor of justice and meritocracy,
the moral values of individuals, rather than their wealth or power,
determine their status. Ayatollah Khamenei urged members of the public to
turn out in force for the upcoming presidential elections to display their
national unity and elect the best candidate to lead the executive branch
for 4 years.
The Leader further stated those who run for the top executive post
should be able to develop an understanding into the problems of the public,
try their best to fight corruption and poverty and put the country on the
path to development and economic progress. Ayatollah Khamenei expressed
hope the rise to power of an efficient government will see the executive
branch follow the efforts of previous administrations to secure the stated
objectives of the establishment.
The Leader urged all state institutions to give priority to anything
which is directly linked to the living standards of the people. Later the
Leader visited the same neighborhood he once lived in as an exile during
the rule of the deposed Shah, before going to the city's cemetery to pray
for martyrs of the Revolution.
Supreme Leader arrives in Jiroft
Kerman, May 7 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei arrived in the provincial town of Jiroft on the seventh
day (Saturday) of his tour of Kerman province. Upon arrival in Jiroft,
Ayatollah Khamenei was warmly welcomed by tens of thousands of
enthusiastic citizens. This is Ayatollah Khamenei's first official visit
to the city ever since he took office as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic
Revolution. The Supreme Leader attended a people's gathering at Jiroft's
Takhti stadium on Saturday, where he is scheduled to hold talks with local
people and officials to get an idea on the difficulties facing the area.
Prior to Ayatollah Khamenei's speech, Jiroft Friday prayer leader will
present a report on the developments taking place in the area since the
victory of the Islamic Revolution, its current shortages and the city's
role in the eight-year imposed war.
Supreme Leader reviews army parade
Kerman, May 6 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei stressed here on Thursday that the enemies know
attacking Iran will cost them dear, and that they will take their dreams
to that effect to the grave. Ayatollah Khamenei, speaking before a morning
parade of armed forces in Kerman, said the leaders of the global arrogance
are afraid of the firm determination of the Iranian nation and the armed
forces to defend the country. He then spoke highly of the sacrifices of
Iran's armed forces in the eight-year war with Iraq, stressing that the
Iranian armed forces will always be ready to thwart threats against the
country. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the armed forces as guardians of
the national security and termed security as a basic requirement to push
forward the scientific, economic, social, cultural and political progress
of the country.
"The Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC), the armed forces, the
Basij and the police shoulder important responsibilities to provide such a
basic national requirement," he added. Turning to the significance of
border security and the effective defense launched by Iran's armed forces
in the war with Iraq, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "It was the first time over
the past two centuries that the Iranian nation and armed forces joined to
fight the enemy and establish sustained security at the national frontiers.
Even today, the world powers have realized that they can not overcome the
firm determination of the Iranian nation and Iran's armed forces.Besides
they know that they will have to pay a high price for any military
invasion against Iran and will take their wishes to that effect to the
grave."
The Supreme Leader pointed to the citizens security as another aspect
of security and stressed that people wish to feel secure and calm at home,
in their working environment, at school and any other place. "They do not
wish their peace and security to be disturbed by the agents of the enemy.
The police, the Basij and IRGC thus play a significant role in providing
the security of the citizens." Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the cultural
and ethnic security as the third category of security and underlined the
crucial role of the Basijis and police forces in providing that security.
Supreme Leader eulogizes elites
Tehran, May 5 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei in the southeastern city of Kerman on Thursday said
elites are priceless spiritual assets of the society. Addressing a meeting
with elites of Kerman, Ayatollah Khamenei said Islam does not deny use of
scientific, cultural, artistic and literary potentials aimed at life
improvement and attaches importance to such potentials and spiritual
assets. The Supreme Leader urged elites and officials to promote a culture
that can help the country's real development. "We believe we can create
renovation in the area of science and technology. This is what Islam
demands us," Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated. Referring to the counry's
scientific potentials during the past two decades, the Supreme Leader said
the country, thanks to the unflinching efforts by the Iranian nation in
particular the youth and experts, will outdo the world in the area of
technology.
Supreme Leader visits Zarand city
Kerman, May 5 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei visited Wednesday some parts of Kerman province's
Zarand township and its surrounding areas and talked to the pious, devoted
and sincere people in the region. The leader spent more time in Zarand's
Dahoviyyeh village that was totally leveled in February this year.
The villagers expressed their delight over hosting the leader and
talked to him about their problems during the visit. Reyhan Shahr (city),
that was eighty percent destroyed in February earthquake of Zarand, too,
was visited by the leader on Wednesday. Speaking to a group of Dahoviyyeh
residents, that have suffered severer losses, the Supreme Leader
appreciated their "patience and exemplary resistance" in facing the
hardships, considering such natural disasters "divine tests both for the
pious nation and for the officials."
Addressing Zarand residents that were waiting for the Supreme Leader at
Zarand's 22nd of Bahman sports stadium, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated, "the
Iranian nation builds a ladder out of the hardships and disasters and
climb it to achieve advancement and development in this world, and eternal
salvation in the hereafter."
Ayatollah Khamenei appreciated the warm hospitality of the "pious,
selfless, well-cultured, and sincere" people of Zarand and commemorated
the victims of their city's February earthquake, reiterating, "hardships
and natural disasters are too little to create obstacles in the path of
you brave people's material and spiritual progress." The leader considered
"heeding the people's problems and trying to tackle solutions for them" as
the most important concern of the Islamic system and advised the country's
concerned officials to expedite the trend of their decision making. The
leader added, "yet, adopting appropriate decisions does not suffice in
elimination of the people's problems, since it is also necessary to pursue
the process of their implementation seriously so that the people would
taste the sweetness of fruits of their officials' efforts."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the comprehensive planning done or
remunerating the losses suffered by the quake stricken people and the
reconstruction of their destroyed cities and houses. The leader said, "both
the current government and the officials of the next administration must
pursue the job seriously and the leadership, too, would take serious care,
so that the promises made in this regard would meet reality, and the plans
devised would be finalized." He also advised the people to turn the bitter
incidents in their lives into means for their own material and spiritual
growth, adding, "of course parallel to observing patience and maintaining
your spirit resistance in encountering hardships you should pursue efforts
to gain your rights and put forth your demands."
The leader once again stressed that the most important lesson that the
people and officials must have learned from Bam earthquake is that we need
to strengthen our structures, adding, "we are living in a quake-prone
country and therefore, our people and our officials, and mass house
builders should heed quake safety measures quite seriously."
Ayatollah Khamenei considered the global oppression's fear from the
Iranian nation's progress as the result of the system and the nation's
resistance and appropriate approach in dealing with the difficulties and
the enemy's threats. He added, "today, too, that the nation's enemies have
launched a serious campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the
Iranian nation paves its proud path toward scientific, material and
spiritual development relying on self confidence, knowledge, resolute
will, belief in God, national solidarity, and public participation."
Leader continues southeast tour
Kerman Province, May 4 - On day four of a visit to Kerman province,
Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
toured Zarand and nearby villages, badly affected by a killer quake in
late February. Later, Ayatollah Khamenei told a crowd of locals, the
Iranian people are strong enough to remain undeterred in the face of
difficulties and tread the path to progress. The Leader added natural
disasters can not shatter the steel of Iranian resolve to make moral and
material headway, urging officials to redouble their efforts to settle the
problems members of the public are wrestling with.
Ayatollah Khamenei further said executive officials, should make
detailed planning to rebuild the stricken area and that state institutions
should go the extra mile to materialize every promise they have made. The
Leader stated the Iranians should draw on bitter experiences such as the
devastating quake of Zarand, to what their perseverance, and that
reinforcement of structures, both in rural and urban areas is a necessity
to offset the damage of natural disasters. Recalling the threats issued by
hegemonic powers against the Islamic establishment, Ayatollah Khamenei
said Iranians need to build on their self-confidence, awareness,
deeply-entrentched religious principles and unmatched unity to pull off
more victories on various fronts.
Leader urges Bam reconstruction
Kerman prov, May 3 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that precautionary measures should be
adopted by the headquarters to tackle natural disasters in order to reduce
death toll through rapid rescue operations. During a visit to the
quake-devastated city of Bam on the third day of his tour of Kerman
province, the Supreme Leader said that the nation should learn lesson from
the deadly quake and seriously embark on reinforcing buildings. The
Supreme Leader expressed pleasure over the sense of hope and happiness he
saw in the faces of the people of Bam compared with his earlier visits and
said, "thanks God, I see the people living in the city hopeful and happy."
Ayatollah Khamenei urged the officials to mobilize all resources to
meet the needs of the people of Bam as quickly as possible. "Islam does
not accept surrendering to the disasters and recommends to actively deal
with any catastrophes to which human being maybe exposed." "The beloved
people of Bam are the example of patience and endeavor to tackle the great
disaster and tragedy from which they suffered. They showed their nobility
in coping with the tragedy and helped those working for their recovery
from the heart-rending situation," the Supreme Leader said.
The Supreme Leader said that good planning have been made for
reconstruction of Bam and the officials promised to accomplish
reconstruction efforts by the end of Iranian year 1385 (March 2007).
Ayatollah Khamenei criticized unsatisfactory speed in reconstruction
efforts and said that some organs are really praise worthy for doing their
duty well, but, the housing sector did not work fast. "Some promises have
yet to be fulfilled. Government institutes and banks should do their
responsibility as schedule," the Supreme Leader said. The young population
of Bam should also be provided with jobs consistent with the
reconstruction efforts and the general program of the government to create
jobs.
Leader pay tribute to martyrs in Bam
Kerman prov, May 3 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei paid tribute here Tuesday to the martyrs of the
1980-1988 Iraqi imposed war. Ayatollah Khamenei prayed for the souls of
the martyrs and the victims of the killer quake which rocked the
southeastern city of Bam in December 2003.
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution arrived in the city of Bam
on Tuesday. Ayatollah Khamenei was warmly welcomed by local people upon
his arrival in the city. This is the first official visit to Bam by the
Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader, accompanied by several high-ranking
officials, arrived in Kerman on May 1 on a ten-day visit.
Supreme Leader met seminary figures
Kerman, May 2 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei here on Sunday evening said theological seminaries now shoulder heavier responsibility in the high technology era than before. Addressing Ulema, clerics and theologians of this southeastern province, the Supreme Leader underlined the need for making use of modern and diverse propagation system. The clerics will suffer a great loss if they fail to utilize such kind of system, Ayatollah Khamenei added. Appreciating great efforts made by seminaries to promote religious sciences and train efficient and committed clerics, the Supreme Leader reiterated that the enemy has targeted all clerics since the religious intellectualism is the major weapon of the Islamic society against the enemy's attacks. The clerics play a key role in making use of such a weapon, he added. As to the importance of the constitution, the Supreme Leader said since the constitution is a progressive law, it has been targeted by the enemies.
Prior to the Supreme Leader's remarks, Kerman Friday Prayers Leader briefed the Supreme Leader and his entourage on the activities and performance of the provincial seminary. The Supreme leader arrived in Kerman on Sunday on a 10-day visit to the province to meet local people and become familiar with the problems facing the province.
Supreme Leader on 10-day visit to Kerman
Kerman, May 1 - The streets bedecked and the roads watered have added glories to a shining sky over the central province of Kerman which hosts Sunday the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Ayatollah Khamenei arrived in Kerman province early in the morning. Waves of people from the province and the neigborhoods have taken to the convening spot in Kerman to voice they are still keeping the flame of revolutionary cause burning.
They have prepared from weeks ago to pay a warm reception to him. During his 10-day visit, Ayatollah Khamenei is due to meet with local people of the cities of Kerman, Zarand, Jiroft, Bam and Rafsanjan. The Supreme Leader is also scheduled to meet martyrs' families, elites, intellectuals, clerics and the youth of different cities of this southeastern province. This is the first formal visit to Kerman province by Ayatollah Khamenei in his present capacity as Supreme Leader.
