Using a nuclear weapon is a grave sin

The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the use of nuclear, chemical and similar weapons to be a grave, unforgivable sin. We proposed the idea of “a Middle East free of nuclear weapons,” and we are committed to this. But this does not mean forgoing our right to the peaceful use of nuclear power and the production of nuclear fuel. According to international laws, the peaceful use of nuclear energy is the right of every country…

A bitter irony of our times is that the U.S. government, which possesses the largest, deadliest stockpile of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction and which is the only country guilty of using them, is eager today to carry the banner of opposition to nuclear proliferation. The U.S. and its Western allies have armed the usurper, Zionist regime with nuclear weapons and created a major threat for this sensitive region. Yet the same deceitful group does not tolerate the peaceful use of nuclear energy by independent countries. They even oppose with all their strength the production of nuclear fuel for radiopharmaceuticals and other peaceful, humane purposes. The false pretext they use is fear of the production of nuclear weapons. In the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran, they themselves know that they are lying. However, lies are sanctioned by the kind of politics that is completely devoid of the slightest trace of spirituality. Will the one who shamelessly makes nuclear threats in the 21st century feel ashamed of lying?

I stress that the Islamic Republic has never pursued nuclear weapons. At the same time, it will never give up the right of its people to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Our slogan is, “Nuclear energy for all, and nuclear weapons for none.”

The Leader’s address delivered on August 30, 2012 at the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran

We do not accept nuclear weapons because of our beliefs

Well, we do not accept nuclear weapons, not because of so and so, and not because of America or other countries. Rather, we are against nuclear weapons based on our beliefs. No one should have nuclear weapons. When we say that other countries should not have nuclear weapons, this means that we ourselves should not and will not have them either.

Leader’s speech delivered on September 17, 2013 in a meeting with commanders and officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

The decision not to use nuclear weapons is based on Islamic laws

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army and the other Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic honor Islamic commitments… If we have said – and we have said - that we will not use nuclear weapons, it is because of such commitments to Islam and to the Islamic laws and regulations.

Leader’s speech delivered on April 19, 2015 in a meeting with commanders and personnel of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army

Based on Islamic thinking, weapons that kill civilians are forbidden

Some people - including that international Zionist clown – constantly say that they will not let us build a nuclear weapon. But who are you to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon? If we decided to build a nuclear weapon, you and powers greater than you would not be able to stop us. But we have not decided to do so based on our Islamic thinking. Our Islamic thinking says that a weapon which is used for killing civilians, non-military people and ordinary people is forbidden. It is forbidden whether they are nuclear or chemical weapons. Such weapons are forbidden. It is due to the Islamic viewpoint that we do not want to build a nuclear weapon. However, if we wanted to do so, who are you to prevent us? You yourselves do not observe these principles. In one day, the US massacred 220,000 people [referring to the bombardment of Japanese cities]… Therefore, [based on our Islamic viewpoint] we are not thinking of building a nuclear weapon at all.

Leader’s speech delivered on February 22, 2021 in a meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts

The Quranic bases for the ban on nuclear weapons

The repetitive, outdated, nonsensical accusation that they level at the Islamic Republic about building nuclear weapons indicates their total incapability, even in the area of propaganda. The Islamic Republic does not at all insist on putting a lot of feeling and emotion into defending itself in this matter. We do not accept nuclear bombs and weapons, and we will not pursue them. Based on our ideological and religious principles, using such weapons of mass destruction is fundamentally unlawful and religiously forbidden because it leads to the destruction of people and also agriculture. The Holy Qur’an has forbidden this, and so we will not pursue them.

Leader’s speech delivered on February 19, 2010 in a meeting with officials in charge of building the Jamaran Warship

Using all kinds of weapons of mass destruction is religiously forbidden

In our opinion, in addition to nuclear weapons, all other kinds of weapons of mass destruction – including chemical and biological weapons -  are considered to be a serious threat against humanity as well. Having been the victim of chemical weapons, the Iranian nation feels even more than other nations the danger of producing and storing such weapons. Therefore, the nation is ready to use all its resources in the effort to confront them. We consider the use of these weapons to be religiously forbidden, and we believe the effort to immunize all human beings from this grave tragedy is everyone’s responsibility.

Leader’s message delivered on April 17, 2010 to the International Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

We believe that building nuclear weapons is a crime against humanity

We do not want to build nuclear weapons and this is not because it would upset America. Rather, it is based on our beliefs. We believe that building nuclear weapons is a crime against humanity and that they should not be built. Furthermore, we believe that all existing nuclear weapons should be destroyed too. This is our belief.

Leader’s speech delivered on February 16, 2013 in a meeting with the people of East Azerbaijan

A nuclear weapon is a source of trouble

A few criminal countries, which have either used nuclear bombs themselves against other nations or tested them - such as America and France – are trying to tell us what to do. Ten or twelve years ago, France conducted three nuclear tests in the ocean in a row. These tests are destructive and they destroy the marine ecosystem. They conducted three very dangerous tests and they were only slightly criticized in the world over this matter. And then everyone stopped talking about it and it was over.

And then they are telling us [to not build nuclear weapons]! We are not in pursuit of building nuclear bombs or making tests. We are not pursuing nuclear weapons, but this is not because they are telling us not to pursue these things. Rather, we do not want these things because of ourselves, our religion and our reason. Religious laws, reason and religious decrees dictate that we should not pursue them. Our decrees based on reasoning tell us that we do not need a nuclear weapon now or in the future. A nuclear weapon is a source of trouble for a country like ours.

Leader’s speech delivered on April 9, 2015 in a meeting with a number of elegists

Storing nuclear weapons is futile and very harmful

They know that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons. They already know this. I do not have any doubt that in the countries that are opposed to us, the organizations in charge of decision making are fully aware of this fact that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are not beneficial to us at all. Moreover, from an ideological and jurisprudential perspective, we consider developing nuclear weapons to be unlawful. We consider using such weapons to be a grave sin. We also believe that storing such weapons is futile, very harmful and very dangerous. We will never pursue them. They know this, but they emphasize this issue in order to stop our progress.

Leader’s speech delivered on February 22, 2012 in a meeting with Iranian Nuclear Scientists in Tehran

Nuclear weapons do not bring power

We want to prove to the world that nuclear weapons do not bring power. This may be understood by looking at how the nuclear powers are suffering from the biggest problems today. They have dominated the world by making nuclear threats, but today such threats are no longer effective. We want to say that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons, we do not believe nuclear weapons bring power and we can break the kind of power that is based on nuclear weapons.

Leader’s speech delivered on February 22, 2012 in a meeting with Iranian Nuclear Scientists in Tehran

Building nuclear weapons is against our interests

We are not pursuing nuclear weapons and the West knows this perfectly well, because building nuclear weapons is against the country’s political and economic interests. It is also against what Islam has commanded. Therefore, the Islamic Republic will continue moving on the path of scientific progress with reliance on its principles and without having any fear of this commotion that they make. The world cannot influence the will of the Iranian people.

Leader’s speech delivered on January 18, 2006 in a meeting with Tajikistan’s President and his accompanying delegation

Nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s military system

Our nation says that it seeks to gain nuclear technology and that it seeks to have the capability to use nuclear energy for peaceful, civilian purposes. Then they say that the Iranian nation is trying to develop a nuclear bomb. Why do they tell these lies? Why do they say such things to make the Iranian nation strongly detest them? They have been doing these things over the past years.

On numerous occasions, the Iranian people and government officials have announced that they do not seek to develop nuclear weapons, and that nuclear weapons are not a part of the needs of the nation and the military system of the country. We have announced that it is religiously forbidden and prohibited to use nuclear weapons from an Islamic point of view, and having such weapons brings a great danger and needless trouble. We are not pursuing nuclear weapons, nor do we wish to have them. Even if they paid us money and told us to develop a nuclear weapon, our nation and officials would not do so. But as you can see in the propaganda spread by our opponents and the western media over the past few years, they say that Iran is pursuing a nuclear bomb instead of saying Iran is pursuing peaceful nuclear energy. They have been saying these things in order to justify their false claims. Isn’t this injustice?

The Leader’s address delivered on June 4, 2009 on the occasion of the anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s demise

The enemy knows that Iran is not in pursuit of building nuclear weapons

The enemies pretexts for their hostility is different on different occasions. Since the time the nuclear issue was brought up, the pretext for their enmities has been the nuclear issue. Of course, they know and they acknowledge that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, which is true. We have our own reasons for not pursuing nuclear weapons. We have not manufactured any nuclear weapons and we never will. They know this and the nuclear issue is just a pretext… We do not have atomic weapons and we will not build atomic weapons in the future.

Leader’s speech delivered on March 20, 2012 to a number of pilgrims at Imam Reza’s shrine in the holy city of Mashhad

They wish to take away elements of power from Iran

They say that they are opposed to nuclear weapons, but they are lying because this is not their issue. Perhaps many or all of them know that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons, but they are even opposed to us having conventional weapons. They are opposed to us having defensive capabilities because they seek to take away Iran’s elements of power

Leader’s speech delivered on February 22, 2021 in a meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master Muhammad, and upon his pure household, and may God curse all their enemies

The last century began with an English coup d’etat while this century begins with elections and government on the basis of the peoples’ votes

Once again, I wish to congratulate all the dear people of Iran and I ask Allah the Exalted to bestow a blessed and auspicious year on all of them. We have entered into the year 1400. According to the common viewpoint, this year is the year of entrance into a new century. Although it may not be correct technically speaking, people say that we have entered into a new century.

If we want to make a small but significant comparison with the country’s entrance into the previous century – the year 1300 – the latter was the beginning of Reza Khan’s dictatorial and dependent regime. It was in fact an English coup launched by Reza Khan and that regime was in fact a dependent, tyrannical and English regime. That was how the country entered into 1300.

This year, the year 1400, is the year of elections which means government on the basis of independence, the people’s votes and national self-confidence. So, our entrance into this century has such an important difference with the entrance into the year 1300 – the 14th century. I hope that God will drive all our affairs forward with the same proportion.

I have prepared certain issues to discuss: the first is about this year’s slogan – which stresses production once more but with a focus on the support that should be provided for it and the obstacles that should be eliminated. Later, I will discuss the issue of the upcoming elections and I will raise a few points about it and finally, I will raise a few short points about foreign events – the issues of the day and also the Bar-Jaam [JCPOA] – with the dear Iranian nation.

The achievements made in the year 1399

As I mentioned in my New Year message, the goal pursued in the year 1399 – which had been named “The year of surge in production” – was not completely achieved, but to be fair, production moved forward in important areas. In certain cases, one could describe its progress as a surge. And in other cases, if production did not witness a surge, it certainly made progress. I have a rather long list of the goods whose production increased. Of course, I do not intend to read the entire list, but primarily, household appliances, tires, aluminum, petrochemical and steel products are the goods which really witnessed a boost in production in the year 1399. This should continue. The movement of production should continue to improve and the obstacles in the way of production should be eliminated.

Some of the obstacles in the way of production

As for the obstacles, I might have mentioned two, three of them in my New Year message, but I wish to discuss them today as well: For example, unnecessary imports, smuggling, unnecessary and cumbersome rules and regulations, and the refusal of banks and the banking system to help boost production. These are some of the obstacles, but that is not all. They have given me a report in which the obstacles in the way of production are mentioned in detail. In my opinion, it is good for experts to present such a report to the people on television so that they know that eliminating some of these obstacles falls on the people themselves and that some fall on executive or, in general, governmental organizations – whether, the executive branch or other branches. In any case, the obstacles ahead of production are many and they should be eliminated.

Support for production

And another issue is about support for production such as providing legal incentives and importing the materials on which production is dependent. For example, some of our products need raw materials which should be imported from abroad and we also need some machinery whose importation should be facilitated. A major way to help production is to do something to increase the people’s purchasing power because without demand, a boost in production will fail to achieve its purpose. The people’s purchasing power is the same as the value of national currency. This is a very important point that should be discussed by experts in due circumstances. Another way to help production is to do something to eliminate dealers and third parties because they increase prices, and producers and consumers will be hurt – both will be hurt. If dealers and third parties, those whose existence is unnecessary, are eliminated, this will help production a great deal. There are other such measures as well. If these things are pursued seriously in the year 1400, it will surely bring about a transformation in the area of the economy.

Fighting against corruption

There are other conditions as well which should be observed. One of these conditions is combating corruption. Combating corruption is a very important issue. Corruption channels and outlets should be blocked. This means reforming the banking system and the customs system. The path of corruption should be completely blocked.

Having competent managers and benefiting from capacities are necessary conditions for economic blossoming

I want to say to the Iranian nation that because of some problems in the economic situation and in the people’s livelihood conditions, some individuals have used the opportunity to fabricate negative stories, saying things such as “nothing can be done in any way.” Some people are like this. Some individuals in cyberspace, in our press and primarily and unfortunately in foreign propaganda networks use the problems that the people face as a means to portray a completely dark picture of things conveying the feeling that nothing can be done. However, I will tell you that this is not at all the case. With its domestic capacities and capabilities, our economy can be one of the most prospering economies in the region and even in the world. We have many capacities. We have numerous resources. And using these resources does not require any miracle whatsoever. These are issues which could be resolved by officials and managers with determination, a sense of responsibility and great endeavor. The condition for this is to have strong and anti-corruption management in the country as well as a comprehensive economic plan. If these things exist, then these capacities could be exploited.

The World Bank experts are saying now – it is not what we claim, rather this is being said by well-known and first-tier economists in the world, working as experts for the World Bank – that Iran’s economy is 18th among the best economies in the world. In other words, we are the 18th economy among 200-plus countries in the world and that has been achieved despite the current sanctions and numerous problems. They say that if untapped capacities are used – later on, I will mention these capacities – Iran’s economy will move up six spots, rising to the 12th position. This is a very important point. With an 80-plus-million population and despite all these problems that others have imposed on us – sanctions and the like – the country is thankfully alive and up and running and it is also the 18th economy in the world. This is not a minor achievement. We should pay attention to this.

​Geographic capacities

As for the capacities that have been mentioned by the World Bank experts, there are two capacities: geographic and human capacities. Geographic capacities include the geographic area of the country and the country’s access to international waters. We are in close proximity to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean and therefore, we have access to international waters. Our neighbors, amounting to 14, 15 countries, have a population of about 600 million people. This is a very important opportunity and capacity. There is also a good transit network in the east, and west and in the north and south. Our country has such a geographical location and it has such a capacity. Of course, the enemies are active in order to prevent us from utilizing these capacities, but with good endeavors on our part, we can benefit from them. These are geographic capacities.

​2. Human capacities

The human capacities include a working-age population. Thanks to an increase in population occurring in the 1360s – during which time a number of people made harsh criticisms about the increase in the population – we have a large number of youth who have entered the job market. In other words, the country is a young country where there are numerous human resources ready to enter into the job market. We should be able to activate the educated forces who are working-age. With this astonishing expansion in our university education and with so many students and graduates, we have a large number of educated youth who are capable of working. These are the points mentioned in the World Bank report, but there are other important capacities, some of which I would like to mention.

3. domestic markets and natural resources

One is the domestic market capacity. In other words, Iranian producers have an 80-million market at their disposal. This means that every producer is also a consumer. Overall, an 80-million market in a big country is available to Iranian producers and this is an important opportunity in itself. Another important capacity is natural resources, some of which – but not all – we are using today, but we use them in the raw form. These resources include oil and gas. They are being consumed in the raw form while they could be used in much better ways in order to create value added. Other examples include agricultural lands, pastures and forests which are great sources of wealth available to the Iranian nation. We have a good rank in the world in terms of underground minerals such as oil and gas, zinc, copper, iron ore and the like. Our rank ranges from first and second to ninth. We have such great natural resources. Well, this is a very important capacity.

Besides, important infrastructure has been built in the last 30 years which did not exist before: dams, power plants, rail and road transportation and many other infrastructure. Well, if a country with such characteristics and with all these capacities formulates good economic plans and if it benefits from efficient management which is strong and capable of resolving the people’s issues, which cares about the people and which is anti-corruption - later on I will expand on the characteristics of such a manager in my discussion about elections –then that country will turn into an economically advanced country resistant against all sanctions. This does not mean that the sanctions will be lifted. Rather, it means that it does not matter if they are lifted or not. When there is a thriving and progressive economy, others will need that economy and in such circumstances, sanctions will not make any sense.

The necessity for the people to show their cooperation

Another point which is good to be discussed on the economic matters of the country is that eliminating the problems requires the people’s cooperation. If the people enter any area, that area will surely improve. This has been the case until now. Whenever the people entered any area, that area improved! What I want to say is that the people themselves can play a role in investing in production. This includes those who have capital and who use it in some unnecessary business dealings and transactions – they could use their capital for boosting production - and those who want to help others such as the pious help movement launched during the coronavirus pandemic as all the people participated in it. On the issue of production too, those who are economically well-off can create employment for one, two, ten people and help employ them.

The necessity for revolutionary associations and popular charity organizations to enter the arena

Of course, this requires popular organization. There are many who wish to help, but they do not know how. Charity organizations established by the people, revolutionary associations and mosque officials active in these areas should organize these people so that everyone knows how they can participate with a small contribution. People should not think that everyone should have a billion [toman] or more in order to participate in production. Even with small capital, one can help the production of the country. Sometimes, a rural family can be revived and rendered self-sufficient with a few head of cattle. A family living in a city could be rendered self-sufficient with a sewing or weaving machine. Such things could be done in abundance because they help the people, encourage the fight against poverty and boost production.

Economic siege and sanctions are big crimes

Now that we are discussing the economy, I wish to raise a point about the sanctions – of course, I will return to this discussion later on. First of all, America’s economic siege and sanctions against us and against some other countries is a big crime committed by a government. Sanctions should not be simply viewed as a political or diplomatic tactic. They are really a criminal activity. That they impose sanctions on a nation with the result being that it cannot import medication and medical instruments and foodstuff is really a big crime. Of course, we are thankfully capable of pulling ourselves out of this situation – and we have indeed done so – but there are some countries that cannot do so. This crime can only be committed by a government which can massacre 220,000 people in the course of one day [reference to the nuclear bombardment of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US]. This crime was committed by powers such as the US. You should know that sanctions and economic siege are definitely big criminal activities. This is the first point.

The creation of domestic technology is one of the benefits of the sanctions for our country

Despite this, the sanctions against our country – this crime committed against our country – the sanctions had certain benefits as they managed to turn this threat into an opportunity. In other words, our diligent youth showed determination by providing the needs of the country in some of the areas on which the country was completely dependent. They produced those goods inside the country. This is different from the surge in production. This is actually the creation of technology inside the country. It is actually an endeavor to do something new in the country. Sometimes, one witnesses reports broadcast on television about such endeavors. Youth manufacture products which render the country self-sufficient since their products are even of higher quality than their foreign counterparts and they are also cheaper. These products are produced by our own youth and we can use them quite willingly. So, they cut off our dependence in certain areas. This became a lesson for us. When we watch a youth on television saying that he as well as others achieved a certain feat, this becomes a lesson for us.

The ways to confront sanctions: Either begging the sanctioner or activating domestic forces and production inside the country

We could take two approaches in confronting the sanctions: One is to go to the sanctioner, begging him to decrease or lift the sanctions that he has imposed on us. Then, he will say, “Alright, you have to do this and that – a bunch of arrogant demands – and then, I will lift some of them.” This is one path, which is in fact the path of humiliation, destruction and retrogression.

Another approach is to activate our domestic forces. We have good capabilities. We should activate these forces so as to manufacture the products on which sanctions have been imposed. When the other sides sees that such products are being manufactured inside our country, he himself will get moving because he wants to profit from the product on the market in other countries – this is one of the main sources of profits for governments. As a result of this, the sanctions will either be automatically lifted or rendered ineffectual.

Our nation has chosen the second path. This is really the case. I see that our dear nation has chosen the second path and has made great achievements, the last one being the achievements related to the coronavirus. If you remember, in the beginning of the spread of the coronavirus, we did not even have masks. We did not have enough resources to produce masks in the country. The same was true of disinfectants. However, a national endeavor was made and as a result, we became self-sufficient in producing masks. Others would steal masks – this occurred in Esfand of 1398 and Farvardin of 1399. A European country bought masks from China, but another European country snatched it away in the middle of the transportation. There was such a shortage of masks. Well, we produced them on our own. Our youth and our people produced masks and disinfectants at home and at mosque. It was really a manifestation of cutting the dependence on foreign countries. And we continued to move forward until we faced the challenge to produce a vaccine. Today, vaccines are thankfully being tested and produced in several ways. This is a source of reputation for the country. Fair-minded foreign analysts are praising our country for this. This path was tested by the Iranian nation and they will continue it by Allah’s favor.

Turning threats into opportunities by relying on domestic forces

Thousands of youth in knowledge-based companies and production centers are busy manufacturing products under foreign sanctions and these products both have better quality and, as I said earlier, are cheaper. The same is true of other fields of knowledge. No matter how much we speak about the talents of our youth, it is really not enough. In the area of new sciences, such as nanotechnology, we are among the top countries in the world. As for scientific articles, according to scientific databases in the world, in the course of the past 20 years – this is because nanotechnology is a new science – Iran wrote, for example, 10 articles in the area of nano, but in 2020, it produced 12,000 articles. In other words, in the space of 20 years, we improved from ten articles to 12,000! Such tasks are thankfully being carried out in the country. These are important achievements.

As for military areas, the country’s progress is thankfully becoming more and more noticeable, brilliant and, in the eyes of some people, astonishing because these military products increase the country’s foreign security. This is very important for the country: “Now the army is, by the will of Allah, the fortress of the subjects” [Nahjul Balaghah, Letter 53]. The military forces are in fact a fortress for the security of the country. Therefore, the threat of sanctions – which is a real threat and a crime in the true sense of the word – could be turned into an opportunity if we rely on our domestic capacities and forces.

The country’s economy should not be tied to the lifting of the sanctions

The last point about economic matters is that I firmly advise the dear officials of the country – whether the ones already in office or the ones who will later assume office – not to tie the economy of the country to the lifting of the sanctions. In the electoral campaigns, candidates will discuss the economy. They should not make the economy of the country contingent on others’ decisions and on the lifting of the sanctions. We should assume that the sanctions will remain in place. Therefore, we should plan the economy of the country on the basis of the existence of the sanctions. And it is possible to do such planning. You should not wait for others. One of the problems with our economy in the past three, four years was that we constantly said, “If the sanctions are lifted, we can do such and such things and if there is foreign investment, such and such things will happen.” Well, these “ifs” keep the country waiting, but there should not be any sense of uncertainty and indecision in the economy. This is a great loss. These statements were about the economy and this year’s slogan. By Allah’s favor, everyone should try to realize the goal of supporting production and eliminating the obstacles in its way.

The importance of the elections

As for presidential and city council elections, due in Khordad, in almost three months – which are really important elections – I wish to raise a few points:

The first point is about the significance of elections. Elections in our country are very important both domestically and internationally.

The domestic significance of elections

Domestically, elections are in fact an act of renovating the country. When an election is held, fresh individuals enter the arena and assume the responsibilities. This is in fact renovating the executive apparatus of the country. This is a very important issue because a new impetus is given to the executive organization of the country. Well, the executive branch has a very heavy duty. Later on, I will expand on this issue. Therefore, a group of fresh and motivated individuals will enter the arena and this is a very auspicious and blessed phenomenon for the country.

The international significance of elections

Internationally, elections and the people’s presence and participation are a sign of national power. All of us should know and acknowledge that defensive and diplomatic capabilities empower the country. There is no doubt about this, but above all, it is the people in a country who are the most important source of power. When everyone in the world – enemies and friends – feel that a nation is vigilant, awake, determined and motivated, such a nation and country will be respected by everyone including friends and enemies. Therefore, the people’s presence will strengthen the country. And elections are the manifestation of the people’s presence. Revolutionary gatherings are a manifestation of popular presence, the most important of which is undoubtedly elections.

Well, I have spoken at length about “Strong Iran” before. We should try to strengthen the country. When a country and nation sees the enmity of the enemies, transgressors and arrogant powers, the way to confront them is to achieve power. “Strong Iran” and the idea of strengthening the country is a national slogan. Everyone believes in this slogan. Even those who have disagreements with me believe in the slogan of “Strong Iran”! Undoubtedly, a strong Iran is better than a weak, powerless and subservient Iran. It is important for Iran to be strong, respectable and dignified. Now, who gives this power to Iran? As I mentioned earlier, it is the people who do so. It is the people who empower the country and their presence and participation – the essence and also the amount of their participation – will surely influence national power.

The enemies’ endeavor to discourage the people from participating in elections

Let me add that – this is based on the information available to us – the espionage and intelligence services of certain countries – the worst ones being the US and the Zionist regime – have been trying since a while ago, not today, to undermine the upcoming elections in Khordad. They either accuse the organizers saying that the elections have been “engineered” – in fact, they level their accusations against the organizers of the elections or the honorable Guardian Council – or they discourage the people by saying “Your votes are of no consequence in improving the circumstances. So, why would you tire yourselves participating in the elections?” They are adopting these courses of action with complete intensity.

The enemy is making the most of cyberspace

And they are making the most of cyberspace. Well, the necessary regulations are unfortunately not observed in cyberspace despite all my emphases. In certain aspects, cyberspace is completely free of any supervision. Those who are in charge should be careful. All countries in the world are controlling their cyberspace, but we are proud of letting it roam freely! There is no reason to be proud of this in any way. Cyberspace should be managed. The people should be able to use it freely and this is completely alright, but this instrument should not be put at the disposal of the enemy so that he will conspire against the country and the nation. They are taking advantage of cyberspace and their goal is to reduce the people’s participation in the elections with psychological methods. I hope that the people will reject and disappoint the enemy and that they will not forget about this important issue. This is the first issue which was about the significance of elections.

The significance of the presidency as the heaviest managerial responsibility of the country

The second issue is about the significance of the presidency. The presidency is a very important issue. The most important and influential managerial responsibility is the presidency. Now, some people claim that the president has no authority, that he is a mere “caterer” and that he has just a 12, 15-percent authority. I do not know how they calculate these things! It is several years now that they have been saying these things here and there, but all of them are untrue. These statements are made either out of a lack of responsibility or out of ignorance, or God forbid with ulterior motives. This is not the case.

The presidency is one of the heaviest and most demanding responsibilities. To be exact, it is not “one of the heaviest”, rather it is “the heaviest” managerial responsibility in the country! Almost all managerial centers of the country are at the disposal of the president. The judiciary branch and military organizations have certain managerial responsibilities as well, but compared to the ones in the executive branch, their managerial responsibilities amount to a few percent above zero. Almost all managerial responsibilities – thousands of responsibilities – are at the disposal of the head of the executive branch.

The entire ratified budget of the country is at the disposal of the president. This is because the head of the Planning and Budget Organization of the country is a vice president and therefore, it is directly supervised by the presidency. The same is true of the country’s governmental resources. Most of such resources are at the disposal of the president. Therefore, the other managerial responsibilities at the periphery of the executive branch are really insignificant. The presidency has such an important status.

Now, you want to elect a president. Therefore, notice what important responsibility falls on us voters. Of course, my vote is as significant as the vote of a 17, 18-year-old boy. It is neither more nor less important than his. We want to go and choose a president and therefore, we should know what an important responsibility falls on the president. This is another point.

Candidates should pay attention to the heaviness of their responsibility

In the third point, I wish to address candidates, those who want to run for the presidency as election time has already begun. It is some time now that individuals, one after another, have been announcing their candidacy. I want to say to them that we expect them to be aware of the heaviness of the task in hand. You who have run for the presidency should know what responsibility you want to undertake and what important duty you want to shoulder. You should know this. If you find yourself capable, very well, you can enter the electoral campaign. However, it should not be the case that you are unaware of how heavy the job is. First of all, you should know the main problems and issues of the country. The issues of the country are not one or two. There are hundreds of issues tens of which, at least, are the most important issues of the country. You should know these issues and know where the problem lies. Then, you should have a plan and solution for resolving those issues although your solution might be general. Even if it is general, you should have one.

You should know the economy because it is important. There are important tasks in the area of the economy including boosting national production, improving national investment, strengthening national currency and attending to inflation and other such issues. After that, there is the issue of the country’s security which is a very important issue. The next issue is social maladies as they are one of the most important issues of the country. Another issue is confronting the complex policies that exist in the world because you need to confront them: this is foreign policy. We could equally mention the issue of culture. You should know what is happening in the country, what the expectations are and what should be done. You should know these things. If you see the capability in yourself to undertake this heavy and important responsibility, then you are welcome. You can enter the arena. However, if you do not find yourself capable of doing that, you should not enter the arena. Narrations mention that a very bad fate awaits those who cannot undertake a responsibility and who accept it anyway. However, I will not mention it. So, this is another point related to candidates.

The characteristics of an ideal president

The next point is addressed to the masses of the people. I wish to mention the characteristics that an ideal president should have. You people should see if this is really the case. These characteristics are not my personal viewpoints. It seems that anyone looking for the welfare of the country wants such a president. First of all, he should be competent. He should possess managerial qualities and managerial competence. Secondly, he should be religious. If he were irreligious, it would not be possible to trust him. An irreligious person will sell the country and its interests and people. Therefore, he should be religious. After that, he should be after justice and fight against corruption. This is one of the most important characteristics that should exist in a president. He should pursue justice in the real sense of the word and want to fight against corruption in the true sense of the word. He should have a revolutionary and jihadi performance. One cannot work with a pretentious and ceremonial manner. With all the fundamental issues that exist in the country, there is a need for a jihadi and revolutionary performance. He should have such a performance. 

He should believe in domestic capabilities. There are some individuals who do not believe in domestic capabilities at all. They repeat the same cliché that inside the country, it is only possible to build clay ewers. However, they do not know what is happening inside the country. Once, a gentleman said something about our defensive capabilities. Then, I said that we should hold an exhibition so that such gentlemen come and see what is happening in the country in terms of defensive capabilities. Presidential candidates should be really sure about the capabilities of the country. They should also believe in the youth. They should recognize the youth as the engine of the country’s general movement and they should trust them. I have been in contact with youth since long ago and I have been trusting them for years over different issues. In whichever area the youth enter – it is not necessary to mention which areas – they really untie difficult knots and solve the problems. So, the president should believe in the youth. He should also believe in the people and be an optimistic person. He should not be a hopeless and pessimistic person with a bitter and dark outlook towards the future.

If there is such a person with the power to manage problems, he will surely help the country reach the ideal point. You should find a president with such characteristics. Of course, it is not easy for all people to find such a person. Well, they can refer to others and ask for their opinion. In any case, they should try to find a candidate with such characteristics. We should ask God to help the Iranian nation find and elect a person with such characteristics.

Elections are a symbol of national unity

The last point about elections is that our dear nation should look at elections as a symbol of national unity, not as a symbol of division, discord and polarity. They should abandon wrong divisions such as left and right and the like. What is important is the future of the country and of our future generation. What is important is the dignified Islamic system in the country. These are the important issues. They should consider these things and stand together in the true sense of the word. Of course, there are differences in opinion, in taste and in political tendencies and there are differences of opinion between ethnicities and denominations. These are completely alright. They used to exist before as well. They exist now and will exist in the future too. It is alright, but these things should not undermine national unity, set the people against one another and create poles in the country. Well, these statements were related to the elections. 

The failure of the US’s maximum pressures against Iran

The last point is about the Bar-Jaam and regional matters. I wish to raise a few points about this as well. The first issue is that the US’s maximum pressure policy failed. The previous idiot devised the maximum pressure policy in order to put Iran in a weak position and ultimately force it into sitting at the negotiating table and giving in to their arrogant demands. Well, he disappeared into thin air and he departed in disgrace. Even his departure was not a normal one as it was accompanied with disgrace for himself and his country. His actions disgraced the US. Thankfully, the Islamic Republic has stood with complete power and strength and by Allah’s favor, our country and our nation are respectable. Therefore, they should know that the maximum pressure policy has failed until now, and from now on too, if the new US administration wishes to pursue the maximum pressure policy, they will fail as well. There will be no trace of the new politicians either and they will go, but Islamic Iran will prevail with complete power and dignity. And by Allah’s favor, the words of advice that I offered will help Iran become stronger on a daily basis.

The Islamic Republic’s policy on the Bar-Jaam will not be violated

The second point is that the country’s policy on the interaction with the Bar-Jaam sides and on the nuclear deal itself has already been explicitly declared. This policy will not be violated in any way. It is a policy which has already been announced and which is adopted with everyone’s agreement. It is not the case that this policy was an exception to other policies. Everyone has agreed to it.

This policy is that the Americans should lift all sanctions. After that, we will verify. If the sanctions have been lifted, we will return to our Bar-Jaam commitments. We will return without any problem. This is a definite policy. We do not consider American promises to be valid. If they say that they will lift them on paper, this is of no use. What is necessary is action! They should lift the sanctions in practice. Subsequently, we will verify their statements to make sure that the sanctions have been lifted. Then, we will resume our commitments.

Things have changed to the advantage of Iran

Surprisingly, some Americans have issues with the nuclear deal. I have heard some Americans say that this year’s circumstances are different from the years 1394 and 1395 when the Bar-Jaam was signed and that therefore, the deal should change as well. I too agree that things have changed compared to the years 1394 and 1395, but not to the advantage of the US. They have changed to our advantage. Things have changed to the advantage of Iran, not to your advantage. Iran has become much stronger compared to 1394. It has managed to rely on itself and it has found self-confidence. However, you have become disreputable in this period of time. During this time, an administration held office in the US which made your country disreputable with its statements, actions and behavior. Economic problems have engulfed your entire country. So, things are not to your advantage. Yes, circumstances have changed, but to your disadvantage. If the Bar-Jaam is supposed to change, it should change in a way that Iran will profit from it, not the Americans. We thankfully rendered the sanctions ineffectual with the help of many knowledge-based companies, the youth’s great movement and various innovations in this regard and by Allah’s favor, we will continue this path, but you, on the other hand, have faced more problems every day. It is not even clear either what the fate of this President [new] will be.

Iran is in no rush

I want to add that we are in no hurry at all about what we offered as a solution. Some people say that there is an opportunity and that one should not let opportunities slip our grasp. I too believe that opportunities should be seized on time and that they should not be missed, but we should not hurry either. Being in a hurry sometimes leads to more harm than wasting opportunities. An example is on the issue of the Bar-Jaam. We should not have hurried. All their promises existed only on paper, but ours materialized on the ground. We fulfilled our obligations in a hasty manner, but they did not fulfil their obligations. It is a very importation issue to know that we have abundant patience and that we are doing our job. If they accept and then act on the policy that we announced, then everything will be alright, but if they do not do it, things will remain the way they are now and that will be fine.

Lack of trust in the US

When we said that they should lift the sanctions first, I heard some politicians in the world say, “it does not make any difference who should begin first. You say that the Americans should begin first and the Americans say you should begin first.” The issue is not about who should begin first. The issue is that during the Obama administration, we trusted the Americans and we did what we were supposed to do on the basis of the Bar-Jaam, but they did not honor their commitments. On paper, they said that the sanctions had been lifted, but their agents said to every country willing to sign a contract with us, “it is dangerous. It is risky because it is not clear what will happen.” In other words, they frightened the investors. That is how they acted. We do not trust them and their promises are of no value to us.

The US’s wrong policy in the region

The Americans made a mistake in the way they behaved towards us. The Americans unfortunately are delusional about all regional matters. In the present time too, they are making mistakes. Their oppressive support for the Zionist regime is wrong. Their cruel presence in Syria – their extensive presence east of the Euphrates – is definitely wrong. Their cooperation with the Saudis in striking the oppressed people of Yemen is definitely wrong.

The issue of Palestine will never be forgotten

Their policies on Palestine are wrong policies as well. The issue of Palestine will never be forgotten in the world of Islam. They are taking delight in that a few handful of small governments normalized relations with the Zionist regime. However, these few governments are of no consequence. The Islamic Ummah will not forget the issue of Palestine and will not let go of it. The Americans should know this.

The Saudis’ failure in making the Yemenis surrender

The same is true of the issue of Yemen. The transgression against Yemen began during the Democratic administration before Trump. In other words, it was not Trump who waged the Yemen war. The Saudis waged the Yemen war during the Democratic administration of Obama. The war actually began with the US’s green light. The US sanctioned the war and helped the Saudis. They gave the Saudis numerous military resources. To what end? In order to make the people of Yemen surrender in the course of 15 days, one month, after having dropped so many bombs on them. Well, they made a mistake. They have not managed to do it in the past 6 years!

The war against Yemen began on such a day. Six years have passed from that day, but they have not managed to force the Yemenis to surrender. I wish to put this question to the Americans: The day when you gave the Saudis the green light to enter into the Yemen war, did you know in what quagmire the Saudis would get stuck? You knew into what quagmire you were dragging the Saudis as in the present time, they can neither stay nor leave. The problem has two facets for the Saudis in the present time. They can neither stop the war nor continue it. Both options of the issue are detrimental to them. Did you Americans know what disaster you were creating for the Saudis? If you knew it and you did it anyway, then how poor your allies are because you treat them like that and if you did not know it, then again how poor your allies are for trusting you and for coordinating their plans with you who are not familiar with regional issues. Therefore, you should know that you do not know the region and regional nations and that you are making a mistake.

I hope that Allah the Exalted guides all the ignorant in the world out of their ignorance and makes them turn back from their mistakes. I hope that Allah the Exalted will make the Iranian nation dearer and more powerful on a daily basis, that He will help them benefit from the comforts of life more than before and that He will render them happy and blissful.

I hope that God will improve their worldly and otherworldly conditions. I hope that the holy heart of the Imam of the Age will be satisfied with the people of Iran, that all our people, including this humble person, will benefit from the prayers of that great Imam.

I hope that the immaculate soul of our magnanimous Imam and the pure souls of martyrs will be satisfied and pleased with us.

Greeting be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and Prophet, Ab-al-Qassem Al-Mustafa Muhammad, upon his pure and immaculate household, upon his chosen companions and upon those who follow them until the Day of Judgment

Palestine is the most important issue for the Islamic Ummah

The issue of Palestine continues to be the most important and active issue for the Islamic Ummah collectively. The policies of the oppressive and cruel capitalism have driven a people out of their homes, their homeland and their ancestral roots and instead, it has installed a terrorist regime and has housed a foreign people therein.

The logic behind the establishment of the Zionist regime

Can one find a logic weaker and shakier than that of the establishment of the Zionist regime? On the basis of their claim, the Europeans oppressed the Jews during the Second World War, therefore they believe that the oppression against the Jews should be revenged by displacing a nation in West Asia and by committing a horrible massacre in that country!

This is the logic which western governments have relied on with their wholehearted and blind support for the Zionist regime, thereby disproving all their false claims about human rights and democracy. It has been 70 years now that they have been sticking with this laughable and at the same time tragic story and every now and then, they add a new chapter to it.

Fighting against the Zionist regime is a collective responsibility

Since the first day, the Zionists turned the usurped Palestine into a terrorist base. Israel is not a country, rather it is a terrorist camp against the Palestinian nation and other Muslim nations. Fighting against this despotic regime is fighting against oppression and terrorism. And this is a collective responsibility.

Weakness and discord in the Islamic Ummah prepared the ground for the usurpation of Palestine

Another noteworthy point is that although that the usurping regime was established in 1948, the ground for occupying that sensitive Islamic region had been prepared years before that. Those specific years coincided with the active interference of westerners in Islamic countries with the purpose of establishing secularism and excessive and blind nationalism and also with the goal of installing despotic governments who were infatuated with or controlled by the West.

Studying those events in Iran, Turkey and Arab countries stretching from West Asia to North Africa reveals this bitter truth that weakness and discord in the Islamic Ummah paved the way for the disastrous usurpation of Palestine, allowing the world of arrogance to deliver that blow to the Islamic Ummah.

Westerners and Easterners colluding with one another over the matter of usurping Palestine

It is instructive that at that time, the capitalism and communism camps colluded with the rich Zionists. It was the English who masterminded the plot and who persisted in it and then, Zionist capitalists executed it with their money and weapons. The Soviet Union too was one of the first governments that officially recognized the establishment of that illegitimate regime and later on dispatched a large number of Jews to that area.

The usurping regime was actually an outcome of that situation in the world of Islam on the one hand, and of a European plot, invasion and transgression, on the other.

In the present time, the balance has been tipped in favor of the world of Islam

Today, the situation in the world is not like those days. We should keep this reality within sight. Today, the balance of power has swung in favor of the world of Islam. Various political and social incidents in Europe and in the United States have laid bare the weaknesses and the deep structural, managerial and moral conflicts among westerners. The electoral events in the US and the notoriously scandalous failures of the hubristic and arrogant managers in that country, the unsuccessful one-year fight against the pandemic in the US and Europe and the embarrassing incidents that ensued, and also the recent political and social instabilities in the most important European countries are all signs of the downward movement of the western camp.

On the other hand, the growth of the Resistance forces in the most sensitive Islamic regions, the development of their defensive and offensive capabilities, their growth of self-awareness, motivation and hope in Muslim nations, the increasing tendency to follow Islamic and Quranic slogans and the growth of independence and self-reliance in nations are auspicious signs of a better future.

The necessity for Muslim countries to cooperate with one another on the pivot of Palestine and Quds

In this auspicious future, cooperation between Muslim countries should be a main and fundamental goal and this does not seem unlikely. The pivot around which this cooperation turns is the issue of Palestine–the entirety of that country–and the fate of Holy Quds. This is the same truth that guided the enlightened heart of the great Imam Khomeini (may God bestow mercy upon him) towards the announcement of International Quds Day on the last Friday of Ramadan.

Cooperation between Muslims around the pivot of Holy Quds is an absolute nightmare for the Zionists and for their American and European advocates. The failed project called “The Deal of the Century” and the effort to normalize the relations between a few weak Arab governments and the Zionist regime were desperate attempts to run away from that nightmare.

I tell you with confidence: These attempts will not get them anywhere. The downward movement of the Zionist enemy has started and it will not stop moving downward.

The decisive factors in the future: The continued activities of the Resistance in the occupied lands and Muslims’ support for the Palestinian mujahids

There are two determining factors in the future: First and foremost is the continued activities of resistance in the Palestinian lands and the strengthening of the line of jihad and martyrdom and second, global support, on the part of governments and Muslim nations throughout the world, for the Palestinian mujahids.

All of us–government officials, intellectuals, religious scholars, political parties and groups, the brave youths and people of various social backgrounds–should determine our position in this public movement and play our part.

This is what nullifies the enemy’s plots and it will be an apoclyptic manifestation of this Quranic verse: “Or do they intend a plot? But those who defy Allah are themselves involved in a plot” [The Holy Quran, 52: 42], and “And Allah has full power and control over His affairs, but most among mankind do not know” [The Holy Quran, 12: 21].

I also wish to address the Arab youth in their own language…

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Greetings be upon all liberated individuals in the Arab world, in particular Arab youth, and greetings be upon the resistant people of Palestine and Quds and the defenders in Masjid al-Aqsa.

Greetings be upon the martyrs of Resistance and the large number of the mujahids who laid down their lives on this path, in particular martyr Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, martyr Sayyid Abbas Musawi, martyr Fathi Shaqaqi, martyr Imad Moughniyah, martyr Abdul-Aziz Rantisi, martyr Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis and finally, the most prominent personality among the martyrs of Resistance, martyr Qassem Soleimani. Even after their fruitful and blessed life, with their martyrdom, each of these personalities exerted a deep impact on the Resistance.

The endeavors of Palestinians and the pure blood of the Resistance martyrs have managed to hold up this auspicious flag and to increase the internal power of Palestinian jihad by a hundred times. One day, the Palestinian youth used to defend themselves by throwing stones, but today, they respond to enemy attacks with precision missiles.

Palestine and Quds has been described in the Holy Quran as the “Holy Land”. It has been tens of years now that the most impure and malicious human beings have been occupying this pure land: they are devils who massacre honorable human beings and then they confess to it with complete shamelessness. They are racists who have been harassing, for more than 70 years, the main owners of the land by murdering, looting, imprisoning and torturing them, but, thank God, they have not been able to break their willpower.

Palestine is alive and it continues to resist and it will finally overcome the malicious enemy with God’s assistance. Holy Quds and the entire Palestine belongs to those people [the Palestinians] and they will regain its possession again: “Nor is that for Allah any great matter.” [The Holy Quran, 14:20].

All Muslim governments and nations are responsible towards Palestine, but the Palestinians themselves are the pivot of the jihad and their population reaches about 14 million people inside and outside the land. The unity and the unanimous willpower of those people will work wonders.

Today, unity is the biggest weapon for the Palestinians

The enemies of Palestinian unity are the Zionist regime, the US and some other political powers, but if unity is not shattered from inside the Palestinian society itself, the extrinsic enemies will not be able to do anything.

The pivot of this unity should be national jihad and lack of trust in the enemies. The main enemies of the Palestinians-the US, England and vicious Zionists-should not be used as a source of support for Palestinian politics.

All Palestinians–including the Palestinians in Gaza, in Quds, in the West Bank, in 1948 lands and even the ones living in refugee camps–form a single unit and they should adopt the strategy of coalescence. Every part should defend another part and when under pressure, they should utilize the tools at their disposal.

Today, hope of achieving victory is stronger than ever. Today, the balance of power has swung in favor of the Palestinians. The Zionist enemy has become weaker year after year while its army, which used to describe itself as “the army which will never be defeated”, has turned into “an army which will never taste victory” after its debacle in the 33-day war in Lebanon and its experiences in 22-day and 8-day wars. As for its political condition, it has been forced to hold four elections in the space of two years. In terms of security as well, it continuously tastes defeat. Moreover, the increasing desire among Jews to emigrate from that land has become a source of embarrassment for that overconfident regime. Its serious endeavor to normalize relations with a few Arab countries, with the assistance of the US, is another sign of the decline of that regime. Of course, this will not help that regime in any way either. Tens of years ago, it established relations with Egypt, but since then, it has become much weaker and much more vulnerable. Therefore, will the normalization of relations with a few weak and small countries be able to help that regime? Of course, those countries will not benefit from the relations either, as the Zionist regime will transgress against their properties and their land and it will promote corruption and insecurity in their countries.

Of course, these truths should not make others forget about their heavy duty. Muslim and Christian ulama should announce the act of normalization as haraam from a religious perspective and intellectuals and liberated individuals should explain to everyone the results of this treachery, which is a stab in the back of Palestine.

Contrary to the downward movement of the regime, an increase in the capabilities of the camp of Resistance is a sign of a bright future: An increase in defensive and military power, self-sufficiency in building effective weapons, the self-confidence of mujahids, the increasing awareness of youth, the extension of the Resistance circle to the entire country of Palestine and beyond, the recent uprising of youth in defending Masjid al-Aqsa and the simultaneous promotion of the Palestinian nation’s spirit of jihad and innocence among public opinion in many parts of the world.

The logic behind the Palestinian cause, which has been proposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and has been registered in the United Nations documents, is a progressive and attractive logic. Palestinian warriors can bring up the idea of holding a referendum with the participation of the main inhabitants of Palestine. The referendum will determine the political system of the country and the main inhabitants, including the displaced Palestinians, no matter what their ethnicity and religion are, will participate in it. That political system will bring back the displaced [Palestinians] and will determine the fate of the foreigners inhabiting there.

This demand is based on the common democracy accepted in the whole world and no one can question its progressiveness.

The Palestinian fighters should continue their legitimate and moral fight against the usurping regime until it is forced to give in to this demand.

Move forward in the Name of God and know that: “Allah will certainly aid those who aid His cause” [The Holy Quran, 22: 40].

Greetings be upon you and Allah’s mercy