In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Happy new year! God willing, this Eid (festive occasion), both the Eid of Nowruz (which marks the Iranian new year) and the eid of the birthday of Seddiqeh Korba [Hadhrat Fatemeh] (PBUH) would be blessed for all of you dear brethren and sisters; both for yourselves and for your families, children, and spouses,and without a doubt a great share of the divine reward of [state] officials goes to their spouses. Many of these hardships [that are] special to your responsibilities and your occupations and your troubles are tolerated by them [as well], but it is you who become famous and are praised and are thanked by both elites and lay people, and nobody thanks them. I both congratulate them – your spouses and your families – and thank them for the patience that they show and for the cooperation that they have with you, which help you be, God willing, able to fulfill your important duties, [shoulder] heavy responsibilities and [carry out] great tasks, which you have undertaken, in the best possible manner.
The Eid of Nowruz is really an opportunity for us Iranians. Regardless of the connection of this specific day with what exists in the history of Islam – which now some people say this day corresponds with [Eid] al-Ghadir and some say [it corresponds] with other days, which I cannot pass a judgment on whether these correspondences are right or wrong – this Eid per se, which is the beginning of our solar year and has been attributed to the Honorable Prophet (PBUH)’s Hegira, is really a great and good opportunity. Festive occasions are like this; [they are] indicative of a beginning and [the start of] a new era. This feeling of entering a new era helps one to find new energy, make new plans, [and] bring new innovations into play; [therefore,] it is a very good thing. This is why across the world all nations attach importance to their annual festivities. This importance may have a religious aspect in some places, for example, among Christians and others, and in some places, no, it has not religious aspect at all, but is the beginning of the year. The beginning of the year means a new day, new job, [and] new innovation; this is what it means. This causes one to have a very good feeling.
Another blessing of the Eid of Nowruz is these meetings and coordination. Now you, who have gathered here, include most state officials. [People] from all three branches [of government] and some [other] institutions have gathered here [and] all of them are sitting together; from the executive branch, from the legislature, from the judiciary and from revolutionary institutions, all have come together and are showing some sort of unity; this is a very valuable thing and is very important for any country.
National unity is an issue, and thank God, since the beginning of the [Islamic] Revolution, up to the present day, the Islamic Republic has availed itself of the privilege of national unity, but something exists besides national unity and that [thing] is unity and rapport and empathy among state officials; this is a very important thing. It is not at odds with difference in choices, [and] with difference in viewpoints. Well, yes, any person has a choice of his own. You may have a viewpoint on a given political, economic and other issues, [and] your brother, your friend, [and] your colleague in your organ or in another organ may have another viewpoint; there is no problem with this. The important point is that unity of direction, unity of course, [and] unity of goal be preserved. This is what shapes the unity among officials and ultimately [leads] to national unity; this is a very good thing. This very meeting of us today is a manifestation of this rapport and empathy and cooperation and friendship and companionship [among officials]; this must be appreciated; [and] I value this.
I believe that without cooperation, country’s affairs will not progress. We have gained a lot of experience in these thirty-odd years; if the country’s officials share viewpoints in one direction [and] in [order to achieve] one goal – which are general goals, are basic goals, [and] are revolutionary goals – [then even if] there is difference of choices with regard to hundreds of problems, it would do no harm and [the country’s] affairs would go ahead; this is the most important [issue] and this is what we want, and well, thank God, one feels that this exists in the country; that is, officials of [three] branches and main officials of the country are of the same opinion, are empathic, [and] share the same viewpoint on large-scale goals of the [Islamic] establishment, even though [their] choices of ways and methods and approaches and the likes of these may be different.
This is also one of the blessings of the Eid of Nowruz, which we come together; for example, I had not met [the first vice president] Mr. [Es’haq] Jahangiri for a long time; now, today, thank God, due to the blessing of the Eid of Nowruz, for example, I could, thank God, meet with him and other friends; these [opportunities] are very good.
I have an opportunity in this meeting to, firstly, commend the troubles that [these] friends are taking in different sectors, especially with respect to issues related to the Economy of Resistance, now I mentioned the name of Mr. Jahangiri and he is to play a role as manager and commander of the headquarters [set up] for this great measure. I insist on this concept that commandership should take place in the true sense of the word [because various] organs, well, have policies [of their own and] have tasks [to fulfill], [which are] usual tasks and ordinary tasks; the role of the commander is to observe [and] see which one of these tasks falls within the framework of [the country’s] economic policy, and which one is indifferent to the Economy of Resistance, and which one is against the Economy of Resistance. These [issues] must be assessed; that first group [of tasks] must be bolstered, the second group must be pushed toward the [policies of] the Economy of Resistance as much as possible, [and] the third group must be totally prevented. I mean this is [my] expectation. Well, I am informed that [these] gentlemen [in the administration] are really working and busy, both him [Jahangiri] and his colleagues and I must thank [them] for doing this job.
I said [the motto for] this year [is] “practical steps and action” [and] what I mean by practical steps and action is that an all-out and overarching measure must be taken, so that, at the end of the year, I could receive a report and [my] friends [in the administration] could submit a report [saying] that these steps [for example,] these ten steps have been taken. Assume that with regard to the issue of production, these measures have been taken or with regard to generation of science these steps have been taken, or with regard to, for example, foreign trade [and] commercial exchanges, these measures have been taken; [I mean] specific steps [must be taken]. And I expect and hope that, God willing, this would be done.
Of course, I feel that this group that has been chosen can do this job. The Majlis [Iranian parliament], God willing, would also help; [and] other organs each of them can play a part in any way they are able to; revolutionary institutions can also play a real role in this regard. The important point is that this centrality, is a centrality for thought and action; this is the [main] characteristic of commandership; that is there is both thought and action; it is not just a coordinating staff, but is a command center, is a headquarters. In that meeting where I discussed this issue, I explained the difference between headquarters and staff: headquarters is a command center for operations, like military headquarters; that is, it takes advantage of various organs in order to achieve the goal set for it. Therefore, it is both a center of thought and [those who run it] must sit down and think, and it is also a center of action; that is, commands must be given, followed up, [and] the results of the job must be seen; these steps should, God willing, be taken; this is what I expect and I totally hope that, God willing this would be done.
Of course, I do not raise my expectations too high, [because] I am aware of obstacles [and] problems. Shortage of [budgetary] credits is one of our problems, but we must make up for this; I mean, [you must] look and see in what places saving can be done, [and] wherever saving is possible, save and spend the saved money where there is a void. We are doing many things where money is spent and can be also saved. Therefore, [make up for] the shortage of [monetary] resources. Now, [various] organs may face some degree of difficulty, but if, God willing, this step is taken with resolve and is managed properly, this is a practical step.
I believe that we have no shortage in terms of management; fairly speaking, we have very good managers in the country. Well, I have years of experience; I have been both inside the administration and have been also observing various administrations from outside; truly and fairly speaking, we have seasoned managers; their management is both good in terms of motivation, and [they] are also [good] managers in terms of thinking, while being [good] managers in practical terms as well. We have no shortage of managers; [but we need] follow-up and centralization, and centralization is the most important [issue]; [we need] centralized decision-making, centralized command, [and] centralized execution.
I have also told our esteemed president. Well, the president has many things to do; those people who look from afar do not understand the scope of jobs and activities that a president must do; running the country in various fields is not an easy job, it is a very difficult job. During the blessed life of Imam [Khomeini] (May God’s Mercy Be Upon Him), some people referred to him, [and] sometimes complained of certain things, [and] some issues, [saying] that “Sir, at that given place, that given thing has turned this way’. He frequently answered them by saying, “Mr., running a country is a difficult job to do.” [And] it is really like this. I myself have experienced running the country; it is a really difficult job, [and] is not an easy job. Therefore, the president’s occupations are aplenty. The first vice president, who enjoys a special and superior position, can, God willing, well enter these fields with full and complete powers. This is my expectation; I mean I want this job [to be done].
I seriously defend any measure, which is taken either by the administration or by the Islamic Consultative Assembly in the interest of people and for [bringing about an] opening in people’s affairs, and support it. [The] important [point] is that one must feel that something is being done, which is useful and necessary for [the country’s national interests. If with regard to any issue – whether it is related to the executive branch, or what is related to the legislature, [and] also [related to] the judiciary – I feel that something is being done, which is in the service of people and for people, I will seriously defend [it]; [and] I will take advantage of all the power and strength that exists in this humble one to support this step, which is being taken in the interest of people and to solve people’s problems.
The important point is that we [must] rely on ourselves; this is the fundament of the work. We must rely on ourselves, [because] others cannot be relied on, [and] foreigners cannot be relied on [and] cannot be trusted [either]. I frequently said during the period of these nuclear negotiations – perhaps four or five times or more – that Americans cannot be trusted. Now you observe and see, what they say, the remarks they make, and the performance they show, is totally a rubberstamp on what I said at that time; I mean, they cannot really be trusted. [Of course], Americans [are] symbol of dishonesty and peskiness [and] it is not only them [who are like this], [but] there are others who are pesky and dishonest and misbehave like this; the bottom line [is that] they cannot be trusted.
We must have confidence in ourselves, rely on ourselves and know that we can and know that the Almighty God will also help [us]. Amir al-Mo’menin [Imam Ali (PBUH)] says: “When God saw our honesty, bestowed victory on us and suppressed our enemy.” When we enter the arena with honesty and move, the Almighty God will certainly make us triumphant. Well, life has ups and downs; individual life has also ups and downs, let alone social life and the life of a nation. At some places one faces problems, at some places he is plagued with abnormalities and undesirable conditions, [and] at some places one if faced with opening [in his life]; there are all sorts [of ups and down in human life]. The important point is that we, God willing, follow that direct line and that direct path and move ahead.
At any rate, I ask the Almighty God to make all of you successful. I always pray, I always pray for all officials of the country; I mean, [I pray for] all those people who are moving on this path and are making effort at any corner and in any form. [Of course,] my prayer has no significance and value, but after all, I fulfill my duty of praying. You also show resolve and work, so that, God willing, we would achieve [our desirable] result.
And I put emphasis on the issue of [promoting domestic] production. The issue of domestic production must be taken very seriously; that is, the main key to [facilitation of] all affairs is the issue of domestic production. In both sectors, both the sector of the Ministry of Industry and [Mine and] Trade, and [the sector of] the Ministry of Agriculture, the issue of [domestic] production must be taken seriously. God willing, the Almighty God would also help you.

Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and His blessings