The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a New Year meeting on Wednesday with a group of Cabinet members, Presiding Board of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis), senior judiciary officials and officials from other organs, offered his gratitude to officials,   particularly for efforts and endeavors made by President Hassan Rouhani’s administration in pursing he implementation of policies of the Economy of Resistance. Ayatollah Khamenei assessed as very important  “empathy and rapport” and “unity among officials” for the implementation of these policies and emphasized: “The Central Headquarters of the Economy of Resistance, under the command of the administration and the first vice president in person, should attract cooperation and help of all organs while closely monitoring the performance and drive of different sectors, and seriously supporting domestic production. In this way, the Leader added, it can pave the way for all-out and broad action in order to achieve the goal of taking ‘practical steps and action’ for the implementation of the Economy of Resistance.”

Ayatollah Khamenei described the leadership role of the Headquarters of the Economy of Resistance in monitoring the activities of organs as very important and said: “In such monitoring, the organs moving within the framework of these policies must be strengthened, and the organs that are indifferent must be dragged back into the main track and the organs moving in the opposite direction of the Economy of Resistance must be prevented from taking such action.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated that “practical steps and action” in the Economy of Resistance must be such that at the end of the Iranian calendar year in March, it would be possible to submit precise and tangible reports on the performance of different sectors, adding: “All executive organs are able to materialize the policies of the Economy of Resistance and the Islamic Consultative Assembly must help the administration in this direction.”

“We are not seeking to raise expectations from the administration and we are aware of the problems and deficit of credit and shortage of resources, but by saving [costs] in certain sectors, the voids and shortcomings in other sectors would be compensated,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the country’s management group is comprised of seasoned, experienced and motivated individuals endowed with thought and action, adding: “The Command Headquarters, which is both the center of thought and the center of action, must benefit from the high capability of the country’s management system and also the capacities and capabilities of different organs for decision-making and following up on various executive steps.”

Emphasizing that management of state affairs, which is up to the administration and the esteemed President in person, is very difficult, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution added: “Given the abundant and multiple functions of the esteemed President, the First Vice President who enjoys an important status, can play a special role for commanding the Headquarters of the Economy of Resistance.”

“I will seriously support any action by the administration, Majlis and the Judiciary that would be in the interest of people and [aimed at] removing obstacles and resolving issues and solving people’s problems, but the important thing is that it must be felt that what is being done is helpful and necessary for national interests,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

“In the implementation of the policies of the Economy of Resistance, we have to lean towards abundant domestic capabilities and capacities,” noted the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

Ayatollah Khamenei also described the US as a symbol of dishonesty and peskiness, saying: “We cannot trust the Americans, and besides the Americans, some other Western governments are like that. Therefore we have to rely on our own capabilities and the American official’ positions and performance endorse such a view.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution noted that Almighty God would assist the Iranian nation, if it embraces sincerity in its actions, saying: “In the course of personal and social life, there are always ups and downs and hardship and ease, but the important thing is that under all these circumstances, the main course and orientation must not be forgotten.”

In another part of his speech, the Leader called on officials to take the necessity of supporting domestic production seriously, saying, "Production in both industrial and agriculture sectors must be given serious attention."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said “empathy and rapport and unity” among officials will prepare the ground for the realization of the Economy of Resistance, noting: “Without cooperation among officials, [country's] affairs will not go ahead.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always enjoyed the privilege of national unity, but alongside this national unity there must be unity and empathy among officials and such unity is in no contrast with differences of attitudes and views,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described Wednesday’s meeting as a manifestation of empathy and rapport and friendship and companionship among officials, saying: “The country’s officials, of whatever attitude and view, must move in the direction of fundamental and revolutionary objectives.”

“Today, there is this feeling in the country that the heads of [three] branches [of government] and the main officials in [the Islamic Republic] establishment, despite their differences of attitudes and in methods and ways, share thoughts and views in the direction of the main objectives of the [1979 Islamic] Revolution,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. 

In another part of his speech, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution offered sincere gratitude to the officials’ families, particularly their spouses, for their patience and tolerance, saying: “Many efforts and endeavors of officials, which draw attention, are owed to their spouses, who are usually not seen.”

During this meeting, First Vice President Mr. Es’haq Jahangiri, thanked the Leader of the Islamic Revolution for his guidance and his support for the administration, saying: “The administration has drawn up a comprehensive plan for enforcing the policies of the Economy of Resistance and considers this policies as a remedy to the country’s economic woes.”

“The administration fully believes in the policies of the Economy of Resistance and these policies are acceptable to the government from the standpoint of sharia, law and expertise,” said Jahangiri. 

He said that the Headquarters of the Economy of Resistance has highlighted economic priorities for the Iranian calendar year 1395 (2016-17), which started on March 20, in its two recent meetings, adding: “Last night, a lengthy meeting was held with [officials from] the major economic enterprises, and the administration is determined to reinvigorate production, promote exports, facilitate business and seriously engage the private sector.”

Jahangiri said the necessary condition for the success of the administration in implementing the policies of the Economy of Resistance is cooperation and assistance on the part of other branches of government and different organs and particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), saying: “I assure you that the administration will withhold nothing like knowledge, experience, management and capacity for the implementation of the policies of the Economy of Resistance.”

Before this meeting, officials performed noon and afternoon prayers with Ayatollah Khamenei as the prayers leader.