The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei in a meeting today with the president and his cabinet members described commitment, adhering to the slogans and principles of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and the Revolution, and forming close bonds with the public as three prominent characteristics of the current administration and reiterated: "The fourth decade of the Revolution marks the promotion of justice and progress in the country, and this should act as the criterion for future plans and efforts."

Referring to the prominent characteristics of the administration, Ayatollah Khamenei described commitment as the first prominent characteristic of the current administration and added: "Being active, vigorous, and serious in rendering services to the nation is one of the most important and valuable characteristics of the this administration."

Ayatollah Khamenei further added: "The administration still enjoys this prominent characteristic after the passage of three years, and the president's trips to different provinces across the country are one the manifestations of this reality."

Ayatollah Khamenei described the correspondence between the slogans and principles of the administration and those of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and the Revolution as the second prominent characteristic of the administration and described restoring "national grandeur and independence" to the nation as one praiseworthy measure of the administration.

His Eminence added: "Believing and taking pride in the nation's identity and grandeur is the basis of the independence of all nations."

His Eminence described persisting with the nuclear energy plan as one of the manifestations of defending the nation's identity and reiterated: "Some bullying powers and their mercenaries tried to impose their will on the Iranian nation, but the nation, the president, and the cabinet members opposed these expansionist powers and made progress."

Ayatollah Khamenei described opposing and not yielding to global bullying powers as one of the manifestations of adhering to the slogans and principles of the Revolution and reiterated: "The arrogant powers have a lot of weaknesses, and by exposing these weaknesses, the bullying powers should be made to capitulate. And this is something the administration is well capable of."

Ayatollah Khamenei described "being democratic" as the third prominent characteristic of the administration and added: "Your dignity lies in living an austere life and keeping in touch with the nation on a regular basis. And the manifestation of these characteristics in the behavior of the president and the cabinet members has won the trust of the nation and resulted in uprooting extravagant lifestyles."

His Eminence referred to supporting all Islamic Republic administrations as one of his policies, and a principle that was also observed by Imam Khomeini (r.a.). He added: "The executive branch shoulders a heavy burden in the management of the country, and it is due to this reason that previous administrations were also supported. But the distinguishing characteristics of the current administration have resulted in stronger support and more optimism about the measures taken by the current administration."

Ayatollah Khamenei also stated that supporting the administration does not mean ignoring its weaknesses and added: "Of course, the current administration needs to reflect on certain issues and take certain measures."

Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei clarified his demands of the administration. Emphasizing the need for obeying the law by the administration officials, he added: "The laws that are passed in accordance with the constitution should always be obeyed, unless they are changed."

His Eminence further added: "The administration might find faults with certain legislation processes, but this issue does not fall within its realm of duties, and the administration officials should obey the law even if they believe in certain shortcomings in a particular law."

Ayatollah Khamenei described collaboration with the legislative and judiciary branches and organized collaboration with the elites as other duties of the administration and added: "The opinions of the elites and the capacities of all people should be properly utilized."

His Eminence also urged the administration officials to pay continuous attention to promoting scientific and technological activities in the country and added: "Culture is of paramount importance, and the administration officials should constantly pay serious attention to it."

His Eminence described constructive criticism as a kind of service and denigration as betrayal of the government and the nation. He expressed his sorrow at the denigration leveled at the current administration disguised as constructive criticism and added: "Denying the strengths, magnifying the weaknesses, and constant insulting are denigration, not criticism."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution touched upon increasing criticisms normally leveled at different administrations during the last year of their term, further reiterating: "Of course, the current administration has been subject to a greater deal of denigration, and it has been castigated both nationally and internationally."

Ayatollah Khamenei said that there are a range of motives behind the denigration: "Some of these people do not denigrate the administration out of spite. Rather, their denigration is either ill-informed or uninformed. There are some others who do so with underlying personal motives. Still, there are others who were either reluctant to accept the leadership of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) or broke ranks with the Revolution later on. And the last group are those who are spitefully denigrating the current administration."

His Eminence stressed that the administration must pay attention to expert criticisms. "Of course, the administration must avoid adopting insulting stances. It must prevent uproar on the part of those who denigrate them," he noted.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution described spirituality and rationality as necessary for the administration of justice. He added: "If we want our dear Iran to be a model for other countries, we must pay full attention to justice as well as progress."

Ayatollah Khamenei also touched upon the plan for economic overhaul as one of the great deeds of the current administration. He described the general outline of the plan as acceptable: "You must make sure to carry out this extremely important plan, but it is absolutely necessary to avoid haste."

He said that the appropriate implementation of this plan is a long step towards progress. His Eminence also warned that hasty implementation of the plan would result in dangerous outcomes. He added: "If the implementation of a specific part of this plan is predicted to lead to inflation, it is necessary to take appropriate measures to avoid inflation and prevent the consequences."

Ayatollah Khamenei urged the administration to make more serious efforts to control the inflation and described these efforts as a public demand of the administration: "Of course, global inflation, drought, and a number of other factors have contributed to the current inflation rates. But there are other factors which the administration can manipulate to help reduce inflation. The reduction in inflation rates will make the effects of the administration's services more tangible to the public."

Ayatollah Khamenei also expressed his gratitude to the president, his cabinet members, and other staff of the executive branch and added: "The opportunity to serve the public is a divine grace, and this opportunity ought to be appreciated through more efforts and service."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution also expressed his appreciation of the report presented by Mr. Ahmadinejad and added: "Obtaining the satisfaction of God is the final goal of all efforts. But providing the public with accurate information about the efforts and accomplishments is absolutely necessary, and it is necessary to make further efforts in this respect."