/ Taminnews
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei addressed a huge crowd of pilgrims of the eighth Shia Imam, Imam Reza (PBUH), in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad on Tuesday, which marked the first day of Iranian New Year. During his address, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution lauded the unity among the Iranian nation and people’s commitment and attachment to the Islamic Revolution’s values as well as religious fundaments and issues. Ayatollah Khamenei noted that “livelihood and economic problems” and the forthcoming presidential and municipal “elections” in May were two important issues during the new Iranian year. Emphasizing the necessity for finding solutions to all problems facing the country in the light of “religious, revolutionary, efficient and highly motivated management,” the Leader added, “If officials focus on domestic production with the nation demanding this [from officials], the road will be paved for solving many problems, especially ‘youth unemployment’, and during new year, the dear nation of Iran will add to the dignity, might, power and prestige of Iran by realizing my main and important demand, which is enthusiastic participation of all eligible [voters] in elections, and will show off its grandeur in the face of enemies by a brilliant participation in the elections.”
Ayatollah Khamenei described the new Iranian year of 1396 as an important year for the country because of the need for more economic activity and also due to the upcoming presidential election and elections for Islamic urban and rural municipal councils. Before explaining these two important issues, the Leader offered a general assessment of the country’s situation in the past Iranian year and said, “During that year, although the country was plagued with economic problems, the Iranian nation put up a brilliant performance.”
The Leader mentioned “people’s commitment and attachment to the values of the Islamic Revolution,” and “commitment to faith-based and religious issues” as two important indices in assessing the movement of the Iranian nation. Ayatollah Khamenei then added, “People’s exemplary resolution for enthusiastic participation in [nationwide] demonstrations on the 22nd [day of the Iranian month] of Bahman (February 10, 2017) and in [other] religious gatherings during the [Iranian calendar year, 13]95 (ended March 20) was stronger than any time before and free from various political tendencies, and flaunted the revolutionary and religious orientation of Iranian nation’s movement at both friends and foes.”
The Leader noted that “national unity” during the previous Iranian year was a sign of the unanimity of Iranians over fundamental issues despite differences that exist with respect to political and secondary issues, adding, “Iranian people are united and unanimous on the path of the Islamic revolution and establishment.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also mentioned the loss of life of a number of “dear and sacrificing” firefighters as one of the bitter incidents in the previous year and noted, “Bitter developments are always there, but the important point is the existence of a promising and progressive determination among people and the need for [maintaining] this determination and national unity continues to exist in the New Year as well.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution then turned to the most basic issue and foremost priority of the country, namely the issue of economy, and emphasized that the goal of the
