Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has held a meeting with Iran’s President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi and his cabinet members who recently won a vote of confidence at the parliament.
Saturday’s meeting was the first between Ayatollah Khamenei and members of the 13th Iranian government.
The Leader called on the new administration to use its time in office to serve the people to the best of its ability and improve their livelihoods.
"I had a recommendation to all the officials in different periods, I also offer you this recommendation; time passes quickly. These four years will end soon, so use every hour, every opportunity. Do not let time be wasted when it belongs to the people and to Islam," he said.
The new administration, Ayatollah Khamenei said, should focus its efforts on initiating a "revolutionary but rational and thoughtful reconstruction in all managerial fields".
"Being revolutionary must certainly be accompanied by rationality. This has been the correct way of the Islamic Republic from the very beginning until today, requiring that the revolutionary movement should be accompanied by an intellectual and rational movement."
President Raeisi has said he has chosen a cabinet to improve Iran's economy and fight corruption. One of his key slogans on the campaign stump was to form a "popular government".
Marking his first provincial trip two days after the formation of his cabinet, he paid an unannounced visit to Iran's key province of Khuzestan on Friday as his new administration is getting down to brass tacks to improve people's livelihoods.
"One of the manifestations of being popular is going among the people and hearing directly from the people. This very good and commendable move that Mr. Raeisi made yesterday, when he went to Khuzestan among the people, heard from them, talked to them, is a manifestation of being popular, which is a very good thing," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Another manifestation, the Leader said, is the lifestyle which state officials choose, enjoining the new administration to practice "modesty in manners and character and avoid aristocratic styles and looking down at people from a high position".
Ayatollah Khamenei also said the basis of the Islamic government and the Islamic Republic is the establishment of justice, but a lot of work has to be done in this regard.
"We have a lot of work to do in these areas. We are lagging and have to work hard."
Ayatollah Khamenei also said the basis of the Islamic government and the Islamic Republic is the establishment of justice, but "we have a lot of work to do in these areas".
"We are lagging behind and have to work hard," the Leader said.
"In my opinion, every resolution that you pass, every bill that you draft in the government, every directive that you issue in your own system, should have an appendix of justice. You have to be careful that it does not impact justice and does not stamp on the oppressed classes," he added.
