In a meeting with thousands of laborers and entrepreneurs on the occasion of the upcoming Workers’ Day, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said economic war is the main scheme to counter the Islamic Republic’s Establishment and stressed that the only way to thwart this plot is to support Iranian products and rely on domestic capacities and capabilities and not to pin one’s hopes on foreigners. He said, “It is the duty of the administration and officials to remove the problems and obstacles in the path of entrepreneurs and workers and increase the capacity of production units and the responsibility of the people is [to make] a serious decision and resolution to purchase Iranian products.”     
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also pointed to the war, insecurity and bloodshed resulting from the presence of the US in the region, stressing, “The one who has to leave the West Asia region is the US, not the Islamic Republic and as I said a few years back, the era of ‘hit and run’ is over.”
In the meeting, Ayatollah commemorated the great Mid-Sha’ban Eid, the festive occasion of the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi (Peace be upon Him), the twelfth Shia Imam, and underscored the need to seizing the opportunity of the spiritual and blessed days of the month of Sha’ban, saying, “Mid-Sha’ban is the manifestation of hope for the future and hope for the inviolable divine promises for the ultimate reformation of the world and alteration of the current oppressive circumstances by Imam Mahdi (May Allah Hasten His Reappearance.”    
Continuing, he described the human resources of the production sector, particularly workers, as a vast asset, adding, “The most important feature of the workforce in Iran is that its art, intellect, motivation and innovation are higher than the global average.” 
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to his hours-long visit to the Iranian Products Exhibition in Imam Khomeini Hussainiya (congregation hall), stressing, “Despite all the pressure and sanctions that the hegemonic powers create, the domestic products on offer in this fair were outstanding and high-quality and we have to bow down before Iranian workforce and for this reason we have to kiss the skillful hands of Iranian laborers, which are among the best workers in the world.”  
Ayatollah Khamenei added, “Despite such prominence and skill of the Iranian workforce, some people inside the country either do not believe in or practice support for Iranian products.”
He said support for Iranian products means support for domestic workforce and production, reiterating, “This support is comprehensive and is a responsibility of the officials and the people.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to the complaints and problems raised by manufacturers and workers, saying, “In order to support Iranian products, the administration and officials are duty-bound to remove all obstacles such as insurance, banking, tax liquidity shortage issues.” 
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed, “If these problems are resolved, we would never again see a factory working at a third of its capacity, because an under-capacity factory means high unemployment inside the country.” 
He stressed that support for Iranian products prevents unemployment among workers and will also bring about the grounds of the employment of educated youths in various production sectors, saying, “In support of Iranian products, it is the responsibility of the people to make a serious decision to purchase domestic products.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution criticized the purchase of foreign goods despite the existence of a similar merchandise of domestic quality, adding, “Why do some people insist on buying foreign goods? What kind of misconception and malady is this? All of the administrative apparatuses and all of the people must make a decision to use Iranian products.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said one of the outcomes of support for domestic products is the prevention of the social, security and moral ramifications of unemployment, reiterating, “Support for Iranian products is one of the best and most effective ways to counter the economic designs of the enemies, because they have noticed that they will fail to achieve their goals in hard and military war.”  
He added, “Indeed, a few years ago and during the term of another US president who was as immoral and raving as the current president, I said that the era of ‘hit and run’ is over and they know that if they engage in a military confrontation with Iran, they will suffer manifold.”  
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated, “They have now focused their attention on economic and cultural war and the command center for economic war against the Islamic Republic Establishment is the US Treasury.”   
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the way to counter economic wars is reliance upon domestic capacities and capabilities, saying, “I do not believe in cutting ties with the world; however, reliance upon overseas is very wrong.” 
He added, “We should have vigilant, smart and serious ties with the world but also know that the world is not merely comprised of the US and some European countries; the world is big and we should have relations with various countries.”
He stressed, “Ties with the world do not mean pinning hopes on foreign elements and sights should be set on domestic forces.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated, “If the people see that officials insist on resolving problems through reliance on domestic capacities, they will also tolerate the problems and hardships; therefore, officials must note not to rely on overseas.” 
Ayatollah Khamenei said one of the other methods of the US to counter the freedom-seeking and independent establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to provoke some unwise regional governments and create discord and conflict inside the region, saying, “Through provoking the Saudis and some regional countries, the Americans are trying to pit them against the Islamic Republic, but if they have any wisdom, they should not be fooled by the US.” 
He said the Americans do not want to bear the cost of countering the Islamic Republic’s Establishment and the strong Iranian nation themselves and shift it onto the shoulder of regional governments, adding, “Certain regional states should know that if they confront the Islamic Republic of Iran, they will certainly suffer a blow and defeat.” 
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to the insecurity, war and conflict resulting from the presence of the US in the West Asia region, stressing, “That is why the Americans should be barred from this region and they should leave the West Asia region.”
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the one who must leave the region is the US, not the Islamic Republic of Iran, adding, “We are from here and the Persian Gulf and West Asia is our home, whereas you are foreigners and pursuing malicious goals and instigating sedition.” 
He stressed, “Know that the US and some other countries like it will be shut out of this region.”
In the final segment of his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to the unchecked imports and smuggling of goods, saying, “The complaints and grievances of most of the manufactures, investors and workers concern these two issues and the administration should counter these subjects.”   
Prior to the remarks of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Iranian Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Ali Rabiei offered a report on the policies and measures of this ministry for the improvement of the conditions of workers and the creation of jobs and poverty alleviation. He said, “We can raise the quality and competitiveness of Iranian products to such a level in the world so that it could win over a fitting share of the global market.”   
Rabiei said the labor ministry’s agenda this year is the promotion of job security for workers and job stability, adding, “We will strongly work to improve employment policies and increase the purchasing power of laborers.”