TEHRAN (Basirat) :The following is the full text of a speech delivered on August 23, 2018, by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, during a gathering with thousands of people from various groups.



In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,



All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings are upon our Master and Prophet, Ab-al-Qassem Al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate, and chosen household, especially the one remaining with Allah on earth.



Welcome dear brothers and sisters, who have come from far reached cities, in this hot weather. Today, this Hussainiyah is more enlightened thanks to the purity and spirituality that exist among many of you. From these gatherings, besides political, managerial and international aspects, we should seek spiritual aspects. Among you, there are, undoubtedly, pure hearts, whose prayers are surely accepted: we are hopeful for these individuals.



Today is the first day of the month of Dhu'l-Hijjah, which is an extraordinary month; it is the month of supplication and remembrance of God’s meeting with the great Prophet [Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)]. The utmost of the supplication, dua, and invocation is the day of Arafah, where we witness the conversation between our martyred, great Imam with the Almighty God---Arafah Supplication, with its deep meanings; then, comes about the day of Eid al-Adha, a reminder of the great sacrifice: "We ransomed his son with a great sacrifice.” {Quran, 37:107} It is followed by the second ten-day of Dhu'l-Hijjah: the tenth day of Ghadir is an extraordinary event: this is an important month that precedes the month of Muharram. Let’s take a spiritual advantage of these opportunities.



Most of you are young, your hearts are pure, your souls are clear, your impurities are minute compared to those like me who have lived a long life. Give proper attention to God, and "ask Allah of His grace,” [Quran: 4:32] in all your affairs--in personal, political and international aspects--and the Almighty God will answer. When you believe in God's grace and blessings, its first result is that you feel powerful: you feel strong. Weakness, disappointment and such feelings are fleeting: this is so great, so valuable.



Another feeling that will come to from reliance on God--on His never-ending power, a never-ending blessing--is hope: you will gain a feeling of hope. Hope will grow, and your hearts will glow with the light of hope. When there is hope, trust in God; have self-trust and reliance on God's power, then a nation will become invincible. A human being becomes an element of never-ending power, movement, and improvement. The secret of so much insistence on reliance on the Almighty and begging from the Almighty in the words of our pure Imams (p.b.u.t), and in Duas, is this. When you rely on God, "O God, those who could save themselves in the face of storms in this material world, some of your power is given to them. So, give us some of it as well." In Dua, in Sahifeh Sajjadiah, Imam Sajjad (a.s.) teaches us to pray and beg like this: we are advised to supplicate and be humble [in front of God], to be aware of our place, stay away from mistakes, and not to consider ourselves minuscule and powerless. If you are connected to the never-ending divine source of strength and richness, then you will not need anyone else. "O God, make us heedless of the rich out of your richness, and relieve us from fear of loneliness through your connection." Even if the whole world turns their backs on you, you will be strong. A small bit of this feeling emerged among the Iranian nation; as a result, we have been standing strong against shameless, impertinent, hegemonic powers of the world for forty years. What we have in this matter is small: the more it grows this strength and ability grows. So, this was for the month of Dhu'l-Hijjah.



Today, I would like to speak about three subjects. I have caught a bit of cold and my voice is deep, I apologize for my voice: this would not lead us to stand out of the ring though, we will say what we need to say. I would like to talk about three subjects, as far as the limits of this gathering allow. One is about the economy and livelihood of the people, which is a current preoccupation for many people. I would like to make a few remarks regarding this matter. Another subject is on the United States: the US and its wickedness or what ensues. Today, they have brought about a new discourse, and we will briefly talk about this. Another subject is the political and general unity between the people and the officials, and the synergies. All around the country, the people and the officials must try and create synergy and be complementary.



The first subject is the economic situation: livelihood problems are felt by people from all walks of life today. A group of the people is truly under extreme pressure. The inflammation rate in food: like meat, eggs, chicken, etc., other household goods, housing rents, furniture, and all other products, put pressure on the people. We are facing major economic problems, including the reduction in the value of our national currency.



Economic experts and many officials agree that today's livelihood problems do not emerge from foreign sanctions; rather, they are tracked down to our internal issues. Many officials have explicitly mentioned this. The experts also--as far as I know--agree on ‘internal factors’ as the source for the crisis. The sanctions may have played a role in creating the current economic situation, but domestic factors are stronger role players on the matter. If actions are taken more efficiently, more prudently, more swiftly and more firmly, sanctions cannot have much of an effect, and they can be resisted. The problem mainly arises from within the country. For instance, with the problem of gold coins and foreign currency that unfolded during the last couple of months, large sums of money--it was said that $18 billion of our foreign currencies reserves, which is a big sum for our country because of the problems we have for providing foreign currencies; we cannot even easily transfer our own currency from outside country to inside--due to negligence and mismanagement, was given to some people who didn’t use it properly.



Some registered for a product and imported another product; they demanded something for a particular purpose and didn’t use the foreign currency for that purpose; they said they wanted to travel but didn’t travel. The foreign currencies provided were either used by a small group or sold to smugglers who took it abroad or sold to those who hoarded it, to sell it later for two or three times the value and gain an overnight fortune. These are managerial problems; thus, not related to sanctions. The honored officials of the country acknowledge the problems. So many of our problems are as such. The problems arise from our methods of governance and policymaking.



When foreign currency and coins are distributed for the wrong reasons; this distribution has two sides: the party that distributes it and the party that receives it--who could be a smuggler or who could sell it to a smuggler. We are always searching for those who receive it--convicts of economic corruption or smugglers, whereas, it is mainly the fault of those who give disburse it: they must be prosecuted. Appropriate work, recently initiated by the Judiciary Branch, is the goal. They should not accuse individuals without enough proof, but grave crimes are committed in this area. I won't call it betrayal: I would not easily call some people betrayers; but, it is a big mistake, and it affected the people. When the price of foreign currencies rises in this manner--that is, Iranian Rial falls against foreign currencies-- it is the daily-paid laborer or poorly-paid employee who is left with nothing to live on. When the value of Iranian Rial falls, the value of our national currency is reduced: we face the present problems, as you see. --This is one point: so, although sanctions have played a role, the main source of the current economic problems can be traced back to internal mismanagement and actions.



Another point is that the enemy takes advantage of this shortcoming. The enemy ambushes where it can. We are a nation with cruel and vile enemies, due to several reasons. The enemies have set out to ambush; as soon as they notice this problem within our country, they take advantage of it. They insinuate that the Islamic Republic was not successful, it was incapable, they instigate disappointment, they mislead the public. The enemy is propagating, as you see it. I don't know how much you can relate to the global propaganda. Today, everyone has access to the virtual space. Constant propagation starts from around, against the Islamic system, Islam, the Islamic Republic, and all the sectors of the country, because of a mistake this person or that person has made. The enemy is taking advantage of a situation. Well, this is an evil deed plotted by the enemies: the enemies want to make the public believe that the country has reached a dead-end.



Here is my word: there is no dead-end in this country. There is no dead-end when it comes to the economic matters of the country. It's not true that we are left without solutions: No! The country's problems, economic problems are known of and so are the solutions. The officials must act effectively with strong determination, as they have already begun. Some work has been accomplished: I will elaborate later on. I frequently receive suggestions, letters, and messages from devout, revolutionary, enthusiastic, innovative youth, I transfer them to executive sections to make use of them. Recently, a group of forty economic experts, some of whom are eminent, well-known experts, addressed a letter to the president, listing the economic problems of the country, along with the solutions. I carefully read the letter, and I could tell they have written the letter out of sympathy. They are individuals who hold no opposition towards the government, the present administration, or the president. They are part of the movement that is actively involved in the executive sections. Meanwhile, they have well recognized the structural shortcomings of our economy, the current and potential problems of the economic movement of the country. So, they have written them down along with twenty solutions. When I observed them--as far as I remember--I thought nearly all their proposed solutions were accurate: these are the same things that I have been emphasizing during recent years--as the mottos of the years. These are the same things--most of them; I can't say all of them--that I have already mentioned in general policies that are transmitted to the three branches of power.



Now, these independent economic experts and thought leaders have suggested them: solutions exist. That the enemy, followed by some vile people inside the country, announced in a website or a press release "The country has come to a dead end. No solutions are left, except seeking help from that devil, or that great devil” is extreme and evil. Solutions exist: these solutions are delivered to the officials; they can implement them. I mentioned that some of the actions have begun. But they should act with more seriousness. I am now telling you, publicly; but I have been saying the same to the honored officials and heads of the country, frequently. They also pursue the advice and move forward at the extent of their capabilities. They should choose good players and cooperators, like these devout youth. We are not short of human power. We are not short of a qualified, serious, motivated, and capable human working force. Just recently, about five thousand university students wrote and signed a letter--addressed to me. I didn’t see the letter myself, but I was informed of it. They say they are committed to the revolution, committed to you, "we are ready to act, ready to work." We are not short of a human working force. Thanks to God, we have a rich country, with regard to human power. These people need to be put to use: we will advance, by God’s permission.



In a public meeting, on the event of Eid Fitr prayers, I mentioned, addressed to the officials, that great liquidity is brought about in the country, which is also due to mistakes. --This is one of those defective policies, that has resulted in increased liquidity and created many problems. I suggested: if the country’s officials gather and think more on ways to lead liquidity towards a productive economy, either within the industry or in agriculture, housing or other areas, liquidity which is a threat today will become an opportunity later; even if half of the liquidity can be led, it will help. Now, I assert, addressing dear government officials--you know I support the administration, I support all of the administrations--and I emphatically stress, they must use the help of smart, talented, and aware individuals to find solutions to leading this huge amount of liquidity toward production: this is possible. This is the duty of dear government and economic officials, they must do this. This was the second point I wanted to stress.



Another point is: those who analyze economic issues, and sometimes prepare reports and transfer the same analysis to senior officials of the country, say: "The reason behind problems that have come about in the market and the business environment is that because the sanctions were supposed to be enforced in mid-August or November the economic actors prepared themselves." Well, if "economic actors," who predicted the sanctions, "prepared themselves" government officials should have prepared even more for the sanctions. I said the impact of sanctions is not so great. Some say the impact of sanctions is thirty percent, some say twenty percent; I do not mention numbers, but I know its effect is less [compared to other factors]. If the sanctions are really effective, well, you knew we were going to be sanctioned, you should have been prepared. You have to get prepared, even now, it's not too late. If someone says it's too late, if someone says it is not possible, he speaks nonsense: he is either ignorant or talks without reasoning. No, it's not too late. Still, now, they [the officials] can decide on and act against the enemy's hostile measures-- which I will talk about later--and take the necessary steps: this is what can be done. If someone declares that nothing can be done, that it is too late and declares a dead end, he is either ignorant or mentions treacherous remarks (I do not want to call anyone a betrayer) if it is not due to ignorance. --This was another point.



One other important subject is the issue of corruption. One action which must surely be taken is opposing corruption. The Head of Judiciary’s recent letter to me, regarding the punishment of convicts of economic corruption, which I answered and emphasized, is a major step in combating economic corruption and [punishing] committers of economic corruption. The committees of economic corruption are to be punished. Why do we publicly announce it and emphasize it? Because based on experience, when corruption and convicts of corruption are opposed to, some may start to protest. Some ten years ago, I wrote a letter to the heads of the three branches of power, indicating that corruption is like a seven-headed Dragon: if you cut one head, it has several other heads that emerge. Corruption needs to be totally obliterated. We announce it publicly to let all the people know that economic convicts are going to be seriously confronted, with no compromise.



[Meanwhile, a group of the audience chanted: "The committers of economic corruption should be sentenced to capital punishment.”] Wait! Are you the court? [Ayatollah Khamenei and the audience laughs.] Some of the convicts might be sentenced to capital punishment and some to imprisonment. Do not bring about a negative atmosphere by saying that they must be punished with capital punishment. I have written that the trial of the convicts must be carried out justly and with meticulousness.



Here, there is an extremely important matter regarding corruption. The entire Iranian nation should pay attention to this point. I have always been combating corruption and convicts of corruption, and I still hold to my beliefs. But some go too far in their remarks when they talk of corruption, be careful of that! They attribute corruption to the entire system and all the managers: this is not wise. A small number commit corruption. It is true that even a little corruption is too much, and it must be combated. --But this is one thing, and attributing corruption to the entire system is another. Some even use foreign terms: "systematic corruption.” --It is not true. Those who see corruption as systemic are themselves, contemplating corruption in their brain, in their eyes. There are many honest and devout managers and officials who work throughout the country for different entities. Why do you violate the rights of these people? Why do you say things which are not true? Why do you violate the rights of the Islamic Republic? I accept that in the Islamic system, even one person must not be corrupt. But the reality is that we have for instance ten corrupt people and not ten thousand corrupt people: this is a big difference. Be careful! Some, in their writings, and speeches, especially now that virtual space is available, easily mention or attribute corruption to all. --But it not the right approach. I admit that corruption exists and in different sections. Some, for instance in the Parliament (Majlis) stand accused; but when you carefully consider it, you see a few individuals stand accused: we cannot overgeneralize. Still, it might not be true; even the accusations might be lies; unreal; based on ignorance. But even if they are true, it relates to a small number as opposed to a much bigger group. Notice, going to extremes in every aspect is problematic.



In conclusion, concerning economic matters, economic problems exist in our country which is known: their solutions are also known, both structural and short-term solutions. I asked the dear heads of the government's three branches to organize a common meeting to come to solutions for the country’s economic issues, cooperatively. I demanded this about two months ago. Meetings are being held, round the clock, during which the heads of the three branches along with experts from the three branches meet and discuss economic matters. --This is important. I demanded it transpire, and it is!



In conclusion, concerning economic matters, economic problems exist in our country which is known: their solutions are also known, both structural and short-term solutions. I asked the dear heads of the government's three branches to organize a common meeting to come to solutions for the country’s economic issues, cooperatively. I demanded this about two months ago. Meetings are being held, round the clock, during which the heads of the three branches along with experts from the three branches meet and discuss economic matters. --This is important. I demanded it transpire, and it is!



Entities that supervise must be present with strength and awareness: The Intelligence related sections, the supervising section of the Judiciary, the supervising sections of the parliament (Majlis), and all the devout people should feel responsible and act vigorously. In a newspaper, I noticed, devout people were asked to call the responsible agencies, in case they learn about a crime: this is a good idea. Many actions are carried out with the help of the people.



The government must use a motivated and talented workforce--in high-level management positions, not only in executive positions but in Ministries and senior managerial levels and shut down any path leading to corruption. It is true that the Judiciary Branch is responsible for punishing the convicts; but, in the Executive Branch, it is possible to block corruption or potential ways that could lead to corruption.



In the matter of foreign currency and gold coins, if supervision, attention, and prosecution had existed, corruption would have been blocked. The way to corruption was left unobstructed and corruption occurred. The doors and the paths to corruption must be blocked.



People should also act insightfully in face of the provocations of the enemy. Our people have shown their insightful behavior, thanks to God--I will mention something later on, about the events last January. (Even though this will extend the meeting; there is no problem: you, too, have come from far places; also, despite the fact that I caught a cold, I felt better as I started speaking). The people acted insightfully, now they should act insightfully once again. The people should know that the enemy is trying to take advantage of any weakness they see in us. This weakness exists--we admit it--but the enemy wants to use this weakness against the Iranian nation, and for its own benefit. The enemy never wants to resolve a problem: the enemy will do their best to make a weakness weaker: they want to take advantage. The people should continue to behave insightfully in this regard, as they did in the past.



And the media--whether on the television, the press, or on websites--should not cause disappointment among the people; they should not talk in a manner to disappoint people of Islam; it is okay If they want to criticize; I am not against logical criticism. But they should not stir up feelings of hopelessness in the people. Sometimes, in a newspaper, in a television program, or in a radio program, things are presented in a way that the audience might say "It's like all the doors are closed.” Well, that's not the case: the doors are not closed. Why do they think so? Know this; surely the people of Iran, the Islamic Revolution, and the Islamic Republic of Iran successfully passed through some tough stages, previously; and it will easily pass through these stages, which are much easier.



The U.S. has become more blatant and turbulent in their rhetoric over the past few months or the past six months. Previously, they were not so observant of diplomatic etiquette, political etiquette, or common international etiquette in their speech either; however, they have become stormier and more blatant compared to the past; [they have become so,] not only towards us but also towards all nations and in all matters. It is as if shame has been left them: they say things, take actions, adopt stances that makes one wonder what kind of creatures they are! Are they even human? For example, you saw, in the last week, the Saudis committed two crimes against Yemenis, within only one week: at the beginning of the week, they attacked a hospital, killing the patients in the hospital with bombs and missiles; at the end of the week, they attacked a school bus with dozens of innocent 8 and 9-year-old children on board. Do you have 8 or 9-year-olds at home? This is a great tragedy. It truly breaks one’s heart. The Saudis carried out this horrific crime that shook the world.



The horrific news shook the global conscience. Other states issued a message, even if not sincere, they expressed their condolences. The entire world reacted in their own way. But, how did the U.S. react? Instead of condemning an obvious crime, the U.S. spokesperson stated: "We have strategic relations with Saudi Arabia.” --Is this not [a sign of] shamelessness? The U.S. acts in the same manner towards all matters. Their actions reveal their shamelessness; for example, look at what the U.S. president did to thousands of children by separating them from their parents, under the proclaimed reason that they were "immigrants." Then, they failed to look after the children, and they put them in cages. You see they separate children from their mothers; then, in order to watch after them, they put the children in cages. --This is an unprecedented crime throughout humankind's history! They [U.S.A] commits such crimes; they don’t feel ashamed at all. Truly, the U.S.’s rhetoric, actions, have become more blatant and shameless, recently.

The U.S. also talks about the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the same blatant and shameless rhetoric. What do they say? Beside sanctions, they talk about two things: war and negotiations. Of course, they do not openly talk about war, but they intend to imply—by hints, sarcasm, and the like—that there might be a war. They present a big myth of war that would scare the Iranian nation or scare cowards. We also have a number of cowards: they want to scare them. So on the one hand, they create this big myth of war; on the other hand, they mention negotiations, saying they are ready to negotiate with Iran.



On the matter of negotiations, they play a poor game. One of them says, "negotiations with preconditions," another one says, "negotiations without preconditions." --This is a poor political game, not even worthy of dealing with. Let me address the people on each of these matters in a few words, but before that, I will concisely refer to two facts for the Iranian nation: there will be no war; nor will we negotiate with the U.S. This is the gist of the word that all the Iranian people should know. There is strong evidence behind it: this is not a mere claim, not a wish, or a slogan; rather, it is based on reasoning.



No war will happen. Why? Because in a war there are two parties: one party being us and the other the U.S., just as we have never previously been, we will never be the initiator of a war. The Islamic Republic is proud that it has never initiated war. Though we have had wars; the initiator has always been the opponent. If the opponent initiates a war, we will act with strength; but we will not initiate a war. --This is the case for our part. The U.S. won't launch a war because they know it would end to their detriment: because the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation have proven that any invasion would be responded to by a greater blow. --This has been the case so far.



The U.S. attacked us once—you remember, Operation Eagle Claw at Tabas desert in 1980—they were forced to return! They may not understand a lot, but they probably do understand what an outcome of invading Iran would feel like. Surely, there won’t be a war.



Now, concerning the matter of negotiations, the U.S. president claimed they were ready to negotiate with us. Also, a group of people here—I do not know how to refer to this group—said: "Wow! The U.S. has suggested negotiations with us.” The U.S. has now offered to carry out negotiations: this is nothing new.



During the past forty years, they have sought out negotiations with Iran. Ronald Reagan, the powerful U.S. president-- the U.S. of that time was very different from today; Reagan was more powerful than the current president and politicians in the U.S.-- even secretly sent an agent to Tehran (the well-known Robert McFarlane case). An agent was sent to Mehrabad airport at the time of Imam [Khomeini (r.a.)], but he went back home empty-handed. --This is not the first time they are asking! They have always asked for it, but we rejected them, we didn’t accept. Now, I will tell you why we did not accept. We never accepted, and we will not accept it now. The Americans have always wanted to negotiate with us. Now, why don't we negotiate? The reason is this: the Americans have a formula for their negotiations that I am going to explain to you. Then, you decide if a wise person would negotiate with such a formula.



Firstly, negotiations of the political code is not a gathering for greetings and speaking. Negotiating means making a deal: it means the two parties sit for taking something and offering in return. --This is how a real political negotiation is. Because the Americans rely on military power, money, and media power when they want to negotiate with a party, they determine their main goals before starting the negotiation. They might openly express some of their goals, but not all. During the negotiations, they constantly change their words, they add new things, they bargain; however, key goals are determined for them. --This is one thing.



Secondly, they won’t retreat, even a step away, from these goals. Sometimes, they might mention some unimportant, marginal goals, and they withdraw from them to pretend as if they would retreat. Nevertheless, they, by no means, retreat from their main goals: they offer no advantages.



Thirdly, they demand that the other party offer immediate profit: they don’t accept promises; they say they don’t trust anyone; --just as we experienced in JCPOA negotiations or in other cases. Now that they are negotiating with North Korea, the same is true: they demand immediate profits. If the other party refuses to create profits, they stir up a fuss around the world--via propaganda and media--saying the other party refuses to negotiate. They make such a vast propagation, that the other party usually surrenders. As a result, the other party usually becomes passive, in face of all the propaganda.



Fourthly, The U.S. itself does not pay anything in exchange for what it takes from the other party. In any business deal, if you pay money you must receive a product. But the U.S. does not give anything back, it takes the immediate advantage like cash, and in exchange, they only offer promises; they make strong and firm promises by words like "without a doubt; no hesitation; or be sure of it.” The U.S. only makes weak promises in order to enchant the other party with mere pledges. The other party believes the promises as they use such strong language.



In the final stage, after receiving all the immediate advantages, the U.S. breaches their own promises: they forget their strongly verbalized promises. --This is the U.S.'s method of negotiating. Now should we negotiate with such a sham of a government? Why should we negotiate? The JCPOA was a clear example. This is while I was very strict about it—yet, the red lines were not respected. Still, the other party acted in such a manner. So, it is impossible to negotiate with this government.



On various issues, any government that negotiates with this government, it [the U.S.] makes problems for them. Unless they have common grounds, like Britain. Although, the U.S. government even coerces the United Kingdom; the Americans even coerce the Europeans, but because they have some common grounds: they manage to interact and work together. It is always the case when the U.S. negotiates with another party. The Islamic Republic can negotiate with the U.S. only when it reaches a favorable level of power and sovereignty that would nullify U.S.'s pressures and domineering efforts: when their efforts have no effect on Iran due to our power. When Iran reaches the favorable level of power and sovereignty in cultural and economic aspects, then Iran can negotiate with the U.S. Today, this is not the case for Iran. If we negotiate, this will surely be detrimental for us; therefore, negotiating with the United States was banned by Imam [Khomeini]; for the same reason, I have also banned it. Imam [Khomeini] said, "We will not negotiate until the Americans act appropriately.” What does it mean? It means we hold to our position as long as the U.S. supports the Zionist Regime and the viscous forces in the region.



Now, if the government of the Islamic Republic was to negotiate with the American regime, at any time, it would never have negotiated with the present government of the United States. Everyone should know--our politicians, our diplomats, our motivated young people, our students in political sciences as well as political activists--they should all know that negotiating with a bullying regime such as the United States is not a means to eliminate hostility.



Negotiating is not a means to eliminate America’s hostility: it is a tool in its hands to apply hostility. You see, this is a definitive formula confirmed through our experiences and emphasized by various political considerations. Some say negotiating will reduce hostility; no, it does not reduce hostility, negotiating gives it [the enemy] the means to increase its hostile manner. So, we do not negotiate, and it is forbidden--everybody needs to understand this.



Today, the United States has focused on waging an economic war against us. There is no military war, and there will not be one. But there is an economic war happening. Their focus is on the economic war now. Why? Because they have found military war to be hopeless.

They even have no hope left when it comes to a cultural war. Look. During the 90's, the second decade after our revolution, a wicked cultural plot started against our country. I talked about the cultural assault at that time. the cultural camisado, for the youth, to be aware and keep their eyes open: for the people to be alert. A vast plot was put in place and started in the 90's against our country. Now, look: those born in the 90's are going to defend and die for the holy shrine [in Syria], their bodies returning. Who would have guessed this? At the same time with that vast cultural assault, flowers blossomed in the garden of the Islamic Republic, and these trees grew. Hojas were made. So, we were the victorious side in the culture war and our enemies were defeated.



Another cultural war started in the 90's and early 2000's, to cause the glories of the holy defense [with Iraq] to be forgotten, and they persisted. The Islamic Republic was innovative with soft technology: the major movement of Walkers to Light. The Walkers to Light symbolizes technology, a technology of soft power. Millions of youth went to the front lines during the war era; to that center of knowledge and holiness: to that source of self-sacrifice. There, they saw what the situation had been and what had happened. It was explained to them, and they were made aware of the story of the holy defense. Yes, this is the Islamic Republic. It brings up defenders of the holy shrines. It starts the movement of the Walkers to the Light. It created those attending the mosques for Itikaf, who are mostly young, as a prominent symbol of modesty and purity. --These didn't exist before. So, we were victorious in the cultural war against the enemy. And we were victorious in the military war as well.



We also won in the political-security war. Their [the enemies] political-security war occurred during the 2009 events. They worked many years towards those events; such events cannot be created in an hour or one day: they had worked on it for several years. The people of Iran and the Islamic Republic overcame and nullified the enemy's conspiracy.



Now the enemy has focused on the economic front, after being defeated on the cultural front, on the security front, on the political front, and on the military front. I reassure you that the enemy will also be defeated, by God’s Grace, on the economic front. They make every effort to win this war: they talk to the Iranian nation through treachery and deception. You may view a mentally incompetent person on a TV program, addressing the Iranian nation, saying "Your government is spending your money in Syria and Iraq.": he/she is ignorant.



These incompetent people are those whose boss [Donald Trump] said: "We spent seven trillion dollars in the region--that is, in Syria and Iraq--and we didn’t gain anything." They are right; according to them, they spent seven thousand billion dollars there, and they haven’t gained anything so far. The Islamic Republic has not done anything comparable! The governments of Syria and Iraq are our friends, they were threatened by the United States and by Saudi Arabia, but we helped them. We will also help them in the future: we will help any government that is our friend. It is not a matter of giving money or the like, [but] it represents normal exchanges between states when they take, give, buy, and sell. Nevertheless, he [Trump] talks in that manner cause the Iranian nation to become hesitant about the positions of the Islamic system and the government of the Islamic Republic.





Well, in the economic war, U.S.A.'s goal is to create dissatisfaction; they aim for it: they want to create dissatisfaction, in hopes of turning this discontentment into internal turmoil. I'll tell you a bit of news--this is not an analysis, this is actual news. You remember the events of last January--about six or seven months ago--for a few days, some people chanted slogans [against the Islamic Republic] and so forth. The US government had worked with the Zionists, along with the Saudis, three to four years to create these events. God only knows how much they spent! They had worked for three to four years to gather hundreds or thousands of people, in a few days, from a few cities in the country to chant their slurs. Then, the Iranian nation acted, without being asked to--indeed, the people moved. I also appreciated the nation’s action at that time; they did it on their own: they cleared all the impurities and defeated the rebels. The Iranian nation nullified years of the enemy’s endeavors at creating this event--within a few days! Then they [the enemies] decided their plan had some shortcomings; they decided to repeat their plot this year, in 2018, after fixing the shortcomings. The U.S. president said: "Within six months, you will hear important news from Iran.” "Six months” was, in fact, the month of August: the recent events in August, that's when some gathered to chant slurs against the nation. They [the Americans] are overspending; they are making efforts to create incidents: this is the result. The Iranian nation is aware: the nation is insightful. It is true that livelihood problems put pressure on the people; many are unhappy; however, the Iranian nation will never accept a conspiracy, the will of the United States, and the disgraced regime! The enemy is weak, the enemy is incapable, the enemy is defeated: surely, in the future, the enemy will be defeated at all times, provided that you and I are awake, provided that you and I act in accordance with our obligations, provided that you and I do not become disappointed.



Some talk and act like they want to make the situation better; for example, they claim to be for the weaker classes, and such; in fact, they are acting on behalf of the enemy without knowing. Those who are saying that the government must be made to step down and so on, are acting on behalf of the enemy. No, the government must stay strong and finish the job. The president is elected by the people. The parliament is also elected by the people. The government has rights, the parliament has rights too. Each has rights and responsibilities. They have to take on their responsibilities and their rights, and dignity must be preserved. The parliament must preserve the dignity of the president, and the president must preserve the dignity of the parliament: they must protect one another and create synergy. One of the benefits of the recent high-ranking meeting that I organized between the chiefs of the three branches, regarding the economy and other important matters, must be the creation of synergy between these branches. They must help augment the means of each other and complement each other. The people must act with open eyes; they must know what they are doing, what actions they are taking, what they are saying, and what they want.



And I am sure that, God willing, the powerful hand of God is supporting this nation. As Imam (r.a.) told me--this was said by Imam himself: "I see the powerful hand moving over the head of this nation or this system." Imam saw the powerful hand of God. We see the powerful hand of God too, and God's power is visible in the people's power and faith. I hope that God Almighty blesses you all with success. I thank you, again, for coming and ask God the Almighty for your success.



May God’s peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you

Source:english.khamenei.ir