In a meeting with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his cabinet members on the occasion of Government Week, Ayatollah Khamenei the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that economy of resistance is the only way in which the country can maintain its progress. He stated that making use of all the capacities of the state and private sectors, paying serious attention to the problems that the people are faced with in their daily lives, combating economic corruption, supporting domestic production and fighting extravagant consumption are among the requirements of an economy of resistance.
Addressing executive officials of the country, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the opportunity to render services to the people passes quickly. He called on President Ahmadinejad and his colleagues to make the best of the remaining time and reiterated: "It is possible to do very important and great things in the one year that remains from your term."
His Eminence said that President Ahmadinejad's administration has important domestic and international responsibilities to fulfill in the last year of its term. "The arrogant powers of the world are doing everything in their power to force Iran to retreat. The current government should dispel the enemies' illusion by deploying all the capacities of the country and continuing the advances."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that foreigners have failed in their plots and machinations, further adding: "Always remember that the global bullies will not stop their hostilities and that after every failure, they will go after new decisions and new actions. Therefore, it is necessary for our government officials to constantly think of adopting new measures to confront the enemies."
His Eminence said that trying to predict the enemy's plots will result in victory and reiterated that if government officials can predict what decisions the enemy will make, they will be more successful in adopting appropriate measures to confront him.
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the advances by the Islamic Republic, reviving the revolutionary slogans, the awakening of the regional nations and a determination to prevent Iran from becoming a role model for the regional nations have caused America and the arrogant powers to increase their hostile efforts against the Islamic Republic.
He added: "These days, certain people are saying, ‘Why do you make enemies?' But such comments originate from wrong analyses."
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated: "During the time of Imam Khomeini (r.a.), we were faced with endless enmities by the arrogant powers because he would decisively defend the Revolution, Islam and Iran. This shows that whenever the people and government officials of Iran adopt firm positions, the enemy becomes more hostile. Of course, the arrogant powers will never overcome our nation."
Elsewhere in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the existing problems in the country and stated: "The majority of these problems are related to the issues that the lower and middle classes are faced with in their daily lives and it is necessary to plan and make serious efforts in order to eliminate these problems."
His Eminence said: "Some of the issues are due to inflation. Of course, there is no shortage of essential products in the country, but it is necessary to find solutions for the inflated prices and the decrease in purchasing power."
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the increase in money supply is one of the reasons behind the existing problems and stressed: "Through intellectual cooperation and reliance on knowledge and experience, find a way to control money supply and channel the excess money towards production centers."
His Eminence said that strengthening the private sector is one pillar of an economy of resistance, further stressing: "It is necessary to follow up the policies specified in Article 44 of the Constitution as carefully and meticulously as possible."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that an economy of resistance will help the country maintain its rate of progress and that it will also make the economy less vulnerable to the enemies' plots.
His Eminence said that fighting extravagant consumption plays an important role in an economy of resistance and added that both cultural and executive organizations of the country are responsible in this regard.
Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his satisfaction over the government's efforts to avoid extravagance in the executive organizations of the country and called on government officials to truly support domestic production and to ban consumption of foreign products in governmental organizations.
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlighted the issue of unity and national solidarity and urged government officials to have unity. He added: "The scope of the responsibilities is clear and all the three branches of government should work with harmony and cooperation."
His Eminence also urged executive officials to preserve their revolutionary spirit in diplomacy and try to make the best of the events that take place in the region.