Neyshabur- Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi assserted it is all right to have various left and right political viewpoints in society as long as both sides observe amity and friendship between them. Addressing a large group of worshippers at the Jame mosque in the northeastern Iranian town of Neyshabur, the prominent religious authority warned that hostility among different walks of life is comparable to an earthquake in a sense that the result is wide-scale destruction. He pointed out that Islam emphasizes on solidarity and friendship, and it is our duty as Muslims to act amicably towards others. In reference to U.S. schemes to spread corruption and vice amongst Iranian youth, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi quoted one of the government officials stating that growing opium has increased four-fold since the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan commenced. He went on to say that obviously the drugs produced in Afghanistan are distributed among Muslim youth to kill their will.

Elsewhere in his talks, the Grand Ayatollah pointed to strong faith and morality as the best tool to prevent and to cure addiction, adding that if the U.S. forces should attack our nation, only the pious believers will defend the nation, not the drug addicts and pornographers.

Finally, the senior seminary teacher stressed the importance of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, adding that a subtle approach in these matters would be more affective, that if this religious obligation is not taken seriously and acted upon, wishes and aspirations will not come true.

Meanwhile, in a separate meeting with religious seminary students in Golshan Seminary, Neyshabur, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi urged seminary students to acquire skills in both speaking and writing referring to these two as modern times' weapons and swords.

Elsewhere in his talks he stressed the role of Marja'e Taghlid (religious authority others imitate), and criticized those opposed to this essential religious practice.