TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday called on the Iranian nation and officials to refrain from creating an atmosphere of despair and disappointment and a sense of having reached a deadlock.

In a meeting with the chairman and other members of the Assembly of Experts, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Those wishing the Iranian nation ill have put a media and propaganda war on their agenda in parallel with an economic war, therefore criticisms should be out of goodwill and aimed at reformation,” the leader.ir reported.

He expressed his gratitude over the reports presented in the meeting and pointed to the importance and urgency of national unity and formation of public opinion in this direction.

Pointing to the enemies’ plots against the Islamic Republic, he said, “Despite all [their] hostile measures, such as the military attack in Tabas, the imposition of an eight-year war, the downing of a passenger plane and economic blockade, they have not achieved anything, and now the Islamic establishment is like a virtuous tree with firm bases that is bearing fruit and growing.”  

The Leader said the problems Iran is facing is because it had chosen to move against the general current of the hegemonic powers and the domineering system.

“If under any condition and arrangement, the people, particularly the elite, neglect the conditions and status of the establishment, we will certainly suffer blows,” he added.

“Today, the Islamic establishment is facing an all-out economic war that is being led from a war room and with absolute precision and full attention; however, alongside this war, an important media and propaganda war is also underway, which is neglected most of the time.”On economic issues, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Today, the Islamic establishment is facing an all-out economic war that is being led from a war room and with absolute precision and full attention; however, alongside this war, an important media and propaganda war is also underway, which is neglected most of the time.” 

He stressed that the media war existed in the past, but it has grown more intense. “According the intelligence at our disposal, the U.S. and Zionist regime’s espionage services have set up establishments for this media war and are seriously planning and endeavoring to contaminate the society’s thinking atmosphere with the financial help of the Qaruns of the region around us.”

The objective of this media war, he said, is to create angst, despair, disappointment and a sense of deadlock, make people skeptical toward each other and toward the government and exaggerate the number and magnitude of the economic woes in the mind of the society.

‘We don’t expect anything other than wickedness from the enemy’

Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed to the issues concerning gold coins, foreign currencies and national currency devaluation, saying with regard to such problems, the media war and disinformation campaigns by ill-wishers were influential.

“Of course, we don’t expect anything other than wickedness from the enemy; however, we should be careful not to contribute to this misrepresentation,” he remarked.

“I am a critical person and do not compromise in dealing with problems and responsible bodies; however, I stress that manner of expression and taking action must not be such that the people would grow skeptical,” the Leader remarked.

He stressed that despite all of the disinformation campaigns by ill-wishers as well as the problems, the Islamic Republic is advancing.

Pointing to the importance of taking confidence-building measures by the government, he urged those with a tribune to help in this bid, because “no administration can operate without the help and support of the people.”

“The solution to the problems of the country is not walking out on the administration and distancing oneself from the activities of responsible bodies, but the remedy is the creation of a healthy link between public opinion and relevant bodies, speaking up and making criticism and at the same time providing intellectual and practical help.”   

‘Creation of parallel institutions not the way to reform’

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, “Bickering is not the way to reform, just as the creation of parallel institutions and [doing] parallel work with the administration is not expedient and successful and experience shows that actions should be taken by those responsible for them within legal channels.”  

MH/PA