Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution in Meeting with Students of Yazd Universities

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

I am very pleased to be present among you dear, enthusiastic, and sincere youth. You are young, and youth is the embodiment of purity, sincerity, determination, and enthusiasm for ideals and aspirations. Everything that our dear youth expressed here was delightful to me in various aspects; not because whatever these friends proposed must be implemented or prioritized or is even feasible; these matters require examination and need to be studied, and we say they should study them; however, the mere fact that a talented student, a student member of an organization, stands in a university gathering and boldly and confidently expresses their understanding of current issues and makes demands is very meaningful and sweet for me. My discussion today is fundamentally in this context.

National self-confidence, a product of the Islamic Revolution Yesterday, I spoke about self-confidence in a public gathering. You are the primary and main audience. The segment of our society that we desperately need self-confidence from is our youth, especially the educated and wise youth who will potentially manage a part of this country's future; whether in scientific, political, or practical and executive management. This segment must hear the recommendation for self-confidence — which I briefly mentioned yesterday and wish to elaborate on today — and accept it from the depths of their hearts and make it the axis and criterion of all their activities.

Why do I bring up the issue of self-confidence? What has happened in the country that I insist on emphasizing the self-confidence of our nation or our youth? There is an explanation. Our nation, due to the Revolution, the Sacred Defense, the influence of the unique personality of Imam — which I will refer to later, God willing, regarding the creation of national self-confidence, the Imam and the elements constituting his personality had one of the greatest impacts — and due to various advancements, has today achieved a considerable level of self-confidence. There is a fear that in the realm of psychological warfare and propaganda, and what is termed soft warfare between us and the enemies who insist on continuing this battle, this self-confidence may be undermined, weakened, shaken, or at least not progress to the extent that our nation needs it. We are halfway there. I can clearly see that in the minds, words, and actions of many of our country's prominent figures, this self-confidence has not yet reached the necessary threshold.

Self-deprecation, a dangerous disease The opposite of self-confidence is self-deprecation; self-deprecation in the face of the thoughts of a faction of the world's nations — which today is represented by the West — self-deprecation in the face of their philosophy, self-deprecation in the face of their science, even self-deprecation in the face of the national development models they propose; while the national development model varies among different nations. Self-deprecation, this very dangerous disease, has been injected into the body of our nation over decades. The foreign terms, foreign thoughts, and borrowing from foreign words have become part of our common practices. I listen now, and unfortunately, I see that in addition to the foreign terms that have been prevalent among the people for decades, every so often, a new foreign term is introduced in our radio and television, prompting people to ask each other: What does this mean?! They must refer to someone; what does it mean, so they can understand it! Well, what necessity is there? This concept that has just entered the country for which you want to provide a word, well, create a word for it! The Persian language has this vastness.

These are the self-deprecating attitudes that stem from past effects. Why did I mention this? To show that we still have a long way to go in the realm of self-confidence. I fear that this spirit of national self-confidence will not grow as necessary. I discuss this for this reason. Yesterday, I mentioned it for this purpose; today, I will speak with you more privately and in detail, still for this purpose.

Constant effort to continue the path We are the runners who must reach the finish line; we must reach the winning line. We must keep running. Here, you have written on the banner that in 1404 (2025), Iran will be a developed country. The continuation of this vision is that it must be ahead of other countries in the region in terms of technology and so on. Do you think other countries are just standing still while we move forward, and they do not move? They are also moving. It is a race; it is a running competition. If in the middle of the path, our determination weakens, if our hope diminishes, if we think that it is of no use, then we will not reach it. I fear this; hence, I want to talk about self-confidence.

The enemy means the global domination faction Today, we have a certain level of self-confidence, which I mentioned is due to several factors. Our enemy is the global arrogant system of domination. When I say enemy, this is it. Now, you may say its manifestation is the American government, fine; or some other government, fine. Our problem with countries and governments is not a geographical, racial, or national issue; the problem is that a system of domination has emerged in the powers and policies of the world; they have become accustomed to domination and not encountering serious obstacles. Now, a serious obstacle has emerged here; its name is the Islamic government, the Islamic Republic. They fiercely grapple with this serious obstacle; this is our discussion. The enemy means that faction of global domination and power-seeking politics, whatever name it may have. Of course, in my view, today its manifestation is the United States government and its greatest embodiment of evil; now, whatever name it may have, whoever it may be; this is the enemy. Their enmity with us is precisely because there is an obstacle here. Like a cutter that was cutting through without any obstacle, now a strong steel wire has been placed in front of it, preventing it from moving forward. The pressure is because of this. Our challenge with the West returns to this.

The will of the Iranian nation is one of resistance Some sit philosophically and paternalistically, shaking their beards, asking why we fight with everyone. The issue is not about fighting; it is not about wanting to fight with anyone. Our issue is standing against domination. We are a nation that has been kept in a state of sleep, negligence, and confusion for centuries or at least for decades; they did whatever they wanted with us. We have just awakened; we want to no longer submit; our crime is this; "And they did not resent us except because we believed in God, the Almighty, the Praiseworthy." The challenge is here.

The enemy's defeat against the self-confidence of Hezbollah This enmity that is against the Iranian nation will clash with the self-confidence that you have achieved until today; especially since today America has failed in its Middle Eastern policies. America's Middle Eastern policies were primarily directed at the Islamic Republic. On one side Afghanistan, on the other side Iraq; they thought the Islamic Republic would be caught between the two jaws of a vise and would be pressured and raise its hands. America's Middle Eastern policy was based on strengthening the Zionist regime, and one of their greatest actions and decisions was to eliminate the effective, believing, and influential force, namely Hezbollah and the resistance force, from within Lebanon — which overlooks the occupied land of Palestine. Last year, with that disgraceful defeat, this was taken from them. Since last year until now, they have been struggling to see if they can do something in Lebanon, create a pro-American government, a pro-American army there; this is now the problem and dilemma of Lebanon. The Americans are not willing to easily pull this cooked meat, as they think, from under their teeth; so they can establish a puppet figure as president — who is also the commander of the army — and consequently, a puppet government there to pressure Hezbollah; but so far, they have not been able to. For a power like America, this is a failure. With all their claims, with all their power, with all their money, with that extraordinarily strong diplomatic apparatus, and with various technical and human tools, they have not been able to confront Hezbollah. They also consider Hezbollah connected to Iran; they see Hezbollah's victory as the victory of the Islamic Republic. Here too, they have failed.

The enemy's defeat against the self-confidence of the nation In the nuclear issue, the Americans insisted until just a few months ago that Iran must completely abandon all its nuclear activities; that is, like what they did with Libya; sweep it all away, hand it over to them; completely announce withdrawal. Recently — a few weeks before this — the situation has reached a point where they said Iran should stop at this level. See how great the distance is. There was a time when they were not willing to tolerate five centrifuges. The officials negotiating with Europe were willing to keep twenty centrifuges; they said it was not possible; they said at least five, they said it was not possible. If they had said one, they would have still said it was not possible! Today, three thousand centrifuges are working, and large amounts are ready to be installed. They say stop at this level. This is also one of America's failures.

In the region, after the events of September 11, they tried to depict the scene as a bipolar scene in this region: a war between democracy and terrorism. How much propaganda they did, how much they worked, how much military aggression and spending they did, and whatever they could do, they did to say we are the bearers of democracy; the region is pregnant with terrorism; we have come to save the region. Today, look at Iraq, which was the center and hub of their activities; if you ask ordinary people, they say the Americans are the cause and factor of terrorism; no one believes that America brought democracy to Iraq. The government that was formed, the state that came to power, the parliament that came to power, came to be despite America; they did not want this to happen; they were forced; everyone knows this. Therefore, in various scenes, they have failed.

The enemy cannot belittle and humiliate When a dominating power fails to psychologically undermine a nation and break its self-confidence, does it remain silent? The answer is no, it does not remain silent; it seeks new ways. Because it seeks new ways, we must think of new methods. We must calculate the new paths of the enemy; we must know that its capabilities are not few. I have often said: "Do not underestimate the enemy." The enemy's propaganda capabilities are incomparable to the propaganda capabilities of the Islamic Republic. I must also tell you; in the fields of cultural work, in the fields of propaganda and communication, the enemy's capabilities are very vast; they are constantly busy, spending a lot of money. What they said, that we give eighty million dollars, a hundred million dollars to the opposition in Iran — as they call it — is just the surface of the matter; their costs for this work are much more than these things. They are spending. You and I, the youth of this country, the students of this country, the officials of this country, the professors of this country must know how the enemy will enter; predict it. If you predict, then you will recognize the phenomena that arise in society. When you know that, for example, a flood is on the way, or a storm is on the way, the phenomena that occur in your life before the flood or storm happens, you recognize those moments before the flood or storm and know its cause. When you do not know, these causes are unknown to you. Sometimes a person inadvertently helps those unknown causes. This is what makes this discussion serious for us.

The importance of self-reliance Let me first say a few sentences about the importance of self-confidence. The national self-confidence that must manifest in the elites of a country has the most significant impact in removing the expectation of help and assistance from others. A nation that does not trust itself is always waiting for something to be provided for it and given to it. When you are waiting for someone to bring you prepared food, you no longer cook; you do not even learn to cook. This is one of the major dangers, and it is very clear; it is not a complicated philosophical issue. However, this clear thing and clear mechanism for the backwardness of the country is sometimes overlooked by us.

The poison of self-defeat I do not forget; by coincidence, years before the victory of the Revolution, we went to visit a friend — he was from one of the northern cities, came to Mashhad, we went to see him — the representative of that city in the National Assembly of that day was also coincidentally in Mashhad and had come to see this person. By coincidence, we spent an hour with a member of parliament. We were young at that time, like you now — saying whatever you want — we did not consider the aspects of the issue. I started criticizing the regime, and we said the things that were on our minds at that time. He was a representative of the Shah's parliament, and he was offended; thus, he began to argue with us. Among the things I said to him was: Sir, you have kept the country stagnant; it is all imports, all imports, all the products of others; why do we not do anything ourselves? His response was interesting, so you know what the mindset was. He said: Sir, it is better! Let the Europeans work for us like servants, and we will benefit from their work! See how this poison sometimes penetrates deeply into the souls of individuals and the elites of a nation that they speak like this.

Self-confidence as a foundation for talent emergence When there is no self-confidence, a person's state is one of waiting for help and assistance from others. Like a miserable person sitting in a corner, waiting for someone to pass by and help them. The opposite of this state is self-sufficiency: a person should not wait for others to bring things to them. When they are not waiting, they are thinking about providing their needs, and the talents that exist within them — the hidden talents within a nation — come into play. When the talents are activated; the talent that was potential becomes actualized and achieves success, one success creates a cluster of subsequent successes. One success brings a cluster of successes behind it; this is the nature of the work.

The Sacred Defense as a manifestation of self-reliance During the Sacred Defense, especially in the early days, the children of the IRGC and Basij truly had nothing; they did not have the necessary weapons; most of their weapons were just Kalashnikovs; an individual rifle. You could not fight with this weapon; thus, they began to think. This very thinking opened doors for them. My recommendation to dear youth is to read the biographies of the martyrs. Among the words of these individuals, there are emotional and spiritual aspects — which have their own benefits — but there are also experiential aspects of their actions in the battlefield. I have often said that during the war, we had to smuggle RPG-7s at several times the price from other countries and endure extreme hardships; we paid several times the price to obtain a number of these basic weapons. The result of those experiences and self-confidence was that the Iranian nation reached a point where the weapons it produces are among the best in the region, and some are unparalleled. This was due to this very need; because they would not sell to us, because they would not give to us. We felt we had to rely on ourselves. Our youth relied on themselves. This reliance on oneself stirred the talents. This bubbling of talents produces results; each result has several follow-ups. This is everywhere. This self-confidence exists in discoveries, in science, in manufacturing and production, and in the development model.

The Iranian development model is our desired model In one or two student meetings during last year's trips to Mashhad and Semnan, I spoke about the issue of the development model; the Iranian development model, the indigenous development model, that we should not turn to the theories of European scholars for the development of the country. I do not say we should not use their science; however, their prescription is for themselves. We should learn their science; however, we should write the prescription for our own disease ourselves, so that it is trustworthy for us, so that we can rely on it, and be assured of it. Now, if there is no self-confidence, we say, Sir, can we do this? Others have experienced this; what higher than them do we want to bring? This is a lack of self-confidence; which unfortunately some of our educated individuals say! We said to prepare an indigenous development model, they say, Sir, which indigenous development model; can it be done?! See, this is the residue of the past; it is a lack of self-confidence. If a nation wants to progress, it cannot wait for others.

The instillation of self-defeat by elites The Westerners, Europeans, one of their sweetest actions that benefited them was that they took the elites of other countries into their grasp, instilled their thoughts into them; then they released them into their countries, saying go. The Western countries — namely England, France, and the rest — instead of spending money to implement their political thoughts in those countries, their trained individuals went without pay and favor, doing their work for them. One of the calamities of underdeveloped and developing countries was this. They are still following their trails and doing their work. This must be broken. The importance of self-confidence is that if we gain national self-confidence, these talents will emerge; then we will see that we can; it will be proven to us that we can.

Three main obstacles to self-confidence There are three main obstacles in the way of the process of self-confidence and its fruition that we must be aware of these three breaches. These three breaches can distort the process of national self-confidence and lead to successive victories and the realization of aspirations.

A) Despair and darkening the horizon First, creating despair; darkening the horizon, highlighting the scientific gaps. This is a reality; today we are scientifically distant from the advanced scientific world that has been working scientifically for two hundred years. They highlight these gaps and say, Sir, how do you intend to cover these? Is it possible? They discourage our researching and scholarly youth with this. I say: Yes, it is possible; why not? We use the knowledge of others and take a step higher; as we have done. We have used the knowledge of others. Sometimes we have created things that do not exist in the world; like some of the medical and pharmaceutical advancements and the like. These have been achieved using the foundations of Western knowledge, but greater works have been accomplished. The distance should not discourage us. We can increase our scientific acceleration; we can reduce this distance day by day; we must strive to move forward. Especially since today the Western world is afflicted with serious ailments that it did not have fifty years ago or a hundred years ago. Today, the moral ailments, sexual ailments, and the instability of spirits in the West are much more severe than in those days; today they are in a predicament there. What is the harm? A nation that is determined can somewhat protect itself from these calamities, has determination, has trust in God, has self-confidence, and has clear aspirations can traverse this path; as they did. We were once ahead of the West; we fell into calamity, they worked hard, and moved ahead. Now we can move ahead. Traversing distances is absolutely not out of the question for a nation whose youth is moving forward with determination; its officials and managers also sit down to plan and design with determination. Therefore, three obstacles may be designed by the enemy: one is spreading despair, one is diverting talents, and one is imposing hard and harsh attacks; that is, imposing military aggression and the like.

Regarding the first issue of spreading despair, I insist that you youth think more, reflect, and see its signs. Right now, they are doing this; some speak for them and from their mouths and throats in favor of them.

A few examples of instilling despair Now, see these few cases: one of them is the issue of nuclear energy. They created a commotion in our own country, saying that nuclear energy is a cost without profit; why are you doing this? Now, the global propaganda that has completely followed this issue and still does; but within our own country, from the first time this nuclear issue was raised, from five or six years before this until now, they have repeatedly said and reiterated this. Even some wrote letters and said, Sir, we are physicists. What they say is that we have been able to operate centrifuges is not true at all! They stated this so emphatically that we had to send people to verify it, to see if what they said was true. This was five or six years ago. They went, came back, and said no, Sir! The work is being done very well, correctly, scientifically, and firmly. At first, they said it was not possible; we cannot; after they saw we could, they said, Sir, this is a cost that has no benefit, no advantage. I spoke in detail about this in my public speech on the New Year last year and do not want to repeat it. How does it have no benefit? We must obtain at least twenty thousand megawatts of electricity from nuclear energy for the next twenty years. The estimate made for energy consumption in the country and the production of the required electricity is that at least twenty thousand megawatts must come from nuclear energy; otherwise, we must beg for electricity from others; or if we cannot beg, or if we are ashamed, or if they do not give it to us, we must give up many things that run on electricity; from factories, from production, from many tools of advancement. Well, when should we start so that we can obtain twenty thousand megawatts in twenty years? If it is not too late now, it is certainly not early. It may have already been late. See what a strange fallacy it is that "Sir, we do not need it"! Or they say: you cannot build a nuclear power plant; why do you want enriched uranium of three or four percent? This is again one of those statements that the current American president, who is somewhat ignorant, recently expressed, that well, the Russians are providing you with enriched uranium, they are providing you with nuclear power plant fuel; what do you want to do? This is one of those statements that this respected president of America recently expressed, that well, the Russians are providing it, what do you want to do? This is like telling a country that has oil reserves underground to say, why are you drilling? Well, go buy oil from outside! That is, a country that has oil reserves becomes an oil importer! How ridiculous is that? If one day they do not want to give this fuel, or they say we will give it at this price, or they say we will give it under these conditions, the Iranian nation will have to accept it.

Nuclear energy as a strong backing for national self-confidence See, these are the things that if you pay attention, you will see the same plan of creating despair by the enemy; now a work of this magnitude has been done — the issue of nuclear energy — and people have rejoiced and celebrated so much, and they come out and say: why are you dragging the country into such challenges for something as insignificant as nuclear energy?! See, this is the same creation of despair; this is the very thing you must be vigilant about. This is one of those breaches that strikes at national self-confidence; just as unfortunately this happened a few years ago. That is, this nuclear issue, which should have been a strong backing for our self-confidence, they wanted to turn it into a means to take our self-confidence away. They constantly pressured that you must stop this, you must stop that, you must stop this. They reached the UCF factory in Isfahan and said: you must stop this too. That is the initial preparations. At that time, I told the officials that if you listen to this, tomorrow they will say you must gather all the uranium mines that exist in this country and hand them over to us, so we can be assured that you do not want to build a nuclear bomb!

This process of retreating, of course, had a benefit for us — it was not without benefit — its benefit was that we experienced both our promises and the words of our European and Western rivals, and the world public opinion experienced it. Today, anyone who tells us, Sir, to make a temporary suspension, we say we have already made a temporary suspension; for two years! We made a temporary suspension. What benefit did it bring? They first said to suspend temporarily, they said to do it voluntarily; we, thinking it was temporary and voluntarily, suspended it. Then every time the name of lifting the suspension came up, they created a global uproar — in the media and political circles — oh, Iran wants to break the suspension! The suspension became a sacred matter that Iran has no right to approach! We have experienced this; it is no longer a new experience. In the end, they said: this temporary suspension is not enough; you must completely gather your nuclear apparatus. These Europeans who said to suspend for six months, when we did this, they said you must gather it! This process of retreating had this benefit for us; it was both an experience for us and an experience for world public opinion. However, it was a retreat.

At that time, I also said in a meeting of officials — which was broadcast on television — that if they continue to demand this process of retreat, I will personally enter the field; and I did just that. I said that this process of retreat must stop and turn into a process of advancement, and the first step must be taken in the same government in which this retreat occurred; and this was done. During the previous government, the first step towards progress was taken; it was decided that the UCF factory in Isfahan would be launched, and it was launched, and thanks be to God, this progress has continued until today.

They want to turn the source of our national self-confidence into a source of distrust, so that the enemy does not attack, so that the enemy does not strike. There are many such issues; these are the things they try to advance their work by creating whispers. For example, one of our fundamental policies is to cut relations with America. We have never said we will be cut off forever; no, there is no reason to be cut off forever from any country, from any government. The issue is that the conditions of this government are such that relations with it are harmful to us. A person establishes relations with any country in pursuit of defining a benefit; where it is not beneficial for us, we do not pursue relations; now, if it is harmful, all the more so, we do not pursue relations.

Relations with America are harmful to us Political relations with America are harmful to us. First, it does not reduce the threat of America. America attacked Iraq; while they had political relations, they had an ambassador; this one had an ambassador there, and that one had an ambassador here. Relations do not eliminate the insane and domineering threat of any power. Secondly, the existence of relations for the Americans — not today, it has always been this way — has been a means for infiltration into the susceptible classes of mercenaries in that country. The British were the same. The British, throughout the years, had their embassies as centers of communication with the scum of the nation; those who were willing to sell themselves to the enemy. Embassies are one of their functions.

In the events that occurred about seventeen or eighteen years ago in China, which caused an extraordinary uproar, the American embassy was the hub and center of managing the chaos and disturbances. They have this vacuum in Iran; they need a base, and they do not have a base; they want this. They need free and untroubled movement of their espionage and intelligence agents and their illicit communications with the base and mercenary elements; but they do not have this. Relations provide this for them. Now, the gentlemen sit and chatter and talk and argue, saying that the lack of relations with America is harmful to us. No, Sir! The lack of relations with America is beneficial for us. The day that relations with America become beneficial, I will be the first to say to establish relations.

They say: why do you provoke the enmity of America? For example, suppose now the president uses a harsh expression, suddenly the so-called wise men say this expression was harsh; this provokes the enmity of the Americans. No, Sir! The enmity of the Americans is not dependent on these words and expressions. Enmity is principled enmity. This enmity has existed at different times. From the beginning of the Revolution until now, there has been enmity — now I will briefly discuss the danger of military attack — at least in the last eighteen years, that is, since the end of the eight-year imposed war until today, this danger has always existed; that is, the Iranian nation has always been threatened that they might attack militarily; this is not a matter of today. What can weaken the enemy's threat is the display of your power, not the display of your weakness. The display of your weakness encourages the enemy. What may prevent the enemy's recklessness and tyranny is that it feels you are powerful. If it feels you are weak, it will do whatever it wants without any obstacle.

B) Illogical obstruction One example of creating despair that I must mention — that is, fairness requires that one should say these things — is illogical obstructions. Today, you observe; unfortunately, regarding most decisions of the governing apparatus of the country, a number of opponents create illogical obstructions; illogical obstructions. If it is an economic decision, if it is a political decision, if it is a decision in the field of artistic and cultural issues, if it is a decision in the field of international issues, especially regarding the government — now regarding the leadership, there is a bit of hesitation and they consider some things — they speak freely, easily, and insultingly. These actions are ugly.

Those who do these things may not realize what a negative impact this has. This is the very creation of despair; that is, the opposite of self-confidence. This creates a state of self-defeat and passivity and self-deprecation. Many of those who strive in these fields, unfortunately, do not understand and do not pay attention to what the impact of their work is. These are not malicious people. Of course, some are malicious, but most are not; they are not aware, they do not have a correct evaluation of their work. The government makes an economic decision, protests follow protests, and that too with insulting tones; it makes a political decision, the same; it makes an international decision, the same; it goes on a certain trip, the same; it does not go on a certain trip, the same. When we got on this bus and trusted this driver, we should not say at every turn, Sir, be careful, my hand is this, my heart trembled. Well, he is driving, he is going. This is while this government is, in fact, a hardworking government and is exemplary in some characteristics. The fact that they go to all cities is very important to me; it is very interesting to me. The president, ministers, and senior executive managers of the country go to different cities. This traveling to cities has a significant impact. Some say, Sir, when we read the reports; no, reading reports is different from going. Perhaps more reports come to me than most managers. When a person goes to a city, goes to a province, sits with a group of people, sits with a group of youth, they see that reports differ from reality. What one sees and hears is much more valuable than reports. This is what the government is doing today. They travel to all parts of the country. They take a small part of this and turn it into a point of weakness and criticism. Why did you have a hundred resolutions on this trip; while only fifty of them are more executable? Very well, now if fifty of them are executed, that is better than nothing? These are creating despair. These are unnecessary criticisms: why did you go on this trip? Why did you not go on that trip? These are illogical obstructions that create despair. I have said; most of those who do this do not pay attention to the consequences of their actions. After all, every government has weaknesses. Not that this government has no weaknesses; yes, it has weaknesses and mistakes; like other governments. I, who want to criticize, do I not have mistakes? We have mistakes, to the extent of infinity; it is not just one or two. A person is fallible; they must strive to avoid mistakes or make fewer mistakes. Those who see the mistakes of the other side should be compassionate and inform them of the mistakes; however, creating uproar, discouraging people, breaking the self-confidence of the people, and making them hopeless about the future is absolutely unacceptable. This is my address to everyone; both to the press, to the media, to the officials, and to those who have various platforms for speaking to the people; in the parliament, in Friday prayers, in other places, in universities. This is something that concerns the interests of the country; the interests of the country must be observed. This is also one of those ways to counter national self-confidence.

C) Media uproar One of the ways — which the Westerners have pursued vigorously in these years — is the issue of media uproar. One might think that booing individuals is limited to specific circles of people, in specific gatherings; no, at the international level, one of the things that is very common is media uproar; media uproar. Today, media capabilities are abundant.

Examples of American human rights One of these uproars is the issue of human rights. Now, those who say these words are the ones whose Guantanamo brings sweat of shame to the forehead of every honorable human; the signature of torture orders by their president makes a person feel ashamed in front of the truth; they burn and destroy the documents of Guantanamo, the interrogation documents, by the orders of their higher officials; people who are so indifferent to human rights; people who humiliate nations. If today you go and talk to the Iraqi people, the first thing they say is that they disrespect us, they humiliate us. The first thing is not unemployment and hunger. An Arab youth has a certain pride, a certain arrogance; they come and handcuff him in front of his wife, lay him down, and beat him with their boots on his back; they humiliate him. These people are alien to human rights. In Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, they inflict horrors on the accused that a person feels ashamed to recall. Sometimes I remember, and I feel embarrassed. These people then talk about human rights! And now, among other things, they accuse the Islamic Republic and any government opposing them of violating human rights! Well, is this not ridiculous? Now, the same ridiculous act that an enemy does from outside, sometimes one sees, unfortunately, that this is repeated and echoed inside; they also say the same words.

Examples of American democracy In the issue of democracy, those who supported coup governments — now these are coup governments, which I do not want to name; you know them — they strongly supported hereditary despotic governments, in places where they went with military force under the banner of democracy, they could not establish democracy; that is, they did not want to. In Iraq, they first placed a military ruler; then they saw it was not working, they placed a political ruler; then they opposed elections. Despite them, elections took place. Now they constantly threaten this government and parliament of Iraq and the government of Iraq, which are elected by the people. These people then say you do not have democracy! Again, inside, some unfortunately repeat the same words. I am truly astonished. These are creating despair and uproar; they are against the self-confidence that the Iranian nation needs and must have.

Elections, a clear manifestation of democracy We hold elections every year; is it not so? Do people not participate in elections? Do they not do more than this in other parts of the world that claim democracy? With this enthusiasm, people participate in various elections; with the competitions that exist; complete competition among different factions, still — now whoever says it is the enemy — why do some inside say there is no democracy and popular rule, or they do not say it explicitly; they say it in such a way that its meaning is the same as "there is none"? They say, Sir, we must strive to create popular rule in the country! What exists. Do you want to strive for something that exists?! These are the things that are the opposite of the self-confidence that our nation needs and must have.

In the issue of women, the West must answer! I have often told you dear sisters, my children, my daughters, you dear student youth; I still firmly say that in the issue of women, the one who must answer, the one who is in trouble, is the West, not Islam, not the Islamic Republic. Those who completely obliterated the boundaries between the two genders, promoted sexual freedom in practice, in language, in propaganda, even in philosophy, must answer. The result of this was that, given the natural aggressiveness and natural strength that a man has over a woman, the woman becomes oppressed and injustices are done against her. They turn women into a means to sell their goods; like a commodity, like a merchandise! You look at these foreign magazines; to sell a product, they show the naked body of a woman! What greater insult could there be for a woman? They must answer.

Hijab is in the direction of honoring women Hijab is the honoring of the one who is in hijab. The hijab of a woman is the honoring of the woman. In most countries — now when I say "most," because I do not know all — in the past, in ancient times, in Europe until two or three hundred years ago, the women of the aristocracy and nobility wore a hijab over their faces; you may have seen this in some old films. They would wear a hijab so that their eyes would not be seen. This is honoring. In ancient Iran, the women of the aristocracy and nobility and leaders were all veiled; the women of lower classes and the lower classes were not veiled; there was no obstacle. Islam came and put this discrimination aside, saying no, a woman must be veiled; that is, this honoring belongs to all women. This is Islam's view. Then they have become the creditors, and we have become the debtors! They are the debtors; they must say why they turned women into a commodity for lust. A statistic was conveyed to me just yesterday — the statistic is from a week ago — that one-third of women in the world are beaten by men! To me, this brings tears to my eyes; this is heartbreaking. And this is more prevalent in industrial countries; in Western countries and stems from the same sexual violence and harsh sexual demands that men have from women. This is their uproar about women; then they discuss women: you made hijab compulsory. They themselves make nudity compulsory; they do not let a female student into the university because she has a headscarf, and then they tell us why you made hijab compulsory! This is in the direction of honoring women; that is in the direction of debauchery and disrespect to women. And there are many such cases that these are their uproars.

Uproars target self-confidence I am worried that these uproars will have their desired effect. One of the reasons I talk about self-confidence is this. These uproars first affect four so-called elites of ours, make them feel ashamed in front of that insulting Westerner, and they begin to attack; self-confidence is struck. Be aware that these uproars are one of the three methods for destabilizing the self-confidence of a nation.

The possibility of hard confrontation! One is also the issue of hard confrontation, which, of course, today is less likely; it is less than before. Here, I must also say that some injustices are being done. It seems that we were the ones who attracted the hard threat of the American domineering government towards ourselves; no, I said; since the end of the imposed war until today, there has never been a time when the possibility of a military attack by America on us was absent. Today it is less than before. The officials of the previous government, when they first came, one of their statements was that before our government came, the barrels of American cannons or bullets were ready to be fired at Iran; we came, and they were removed. So, it was there before. During the time of the previous government, the one who is the embodiment of evil himself identified the Iranian nation as one of the axes of evil. Bush, the evil Bush, whose existence is pure evil and wickedness, identified the Iranian nation as one of the three nations or countries of the axis of evil. This was during the time when a little consideration was given to the Americans; sometimes some from inside would say things that would please them. Of course, you should know that the higher officials of the system, our presidents or the top officials of the system, have always been sincere and interested in the foundations and principles of the system; they were revolutionary; this does not pertain to them; it pertains to those who always do things around them that the main actors do not believe in. In any case, there have been these things.

Of course, as a country, a nation, a system, we must always be vigilant militarily. Today it is America, one day it could have been the Soviet Union in the past, one day it could have been a neighboring evil country like Saddam Hussein. We must always be vigilant; we are vigilant. Today, even though everyone says the military option of America has been taken off the table — some believe it was never on the table to begin with, so it could be taken off — my belief is this, and our action is the same; we must be cautious, we must be vigilant, our military officials must be awake, and our nation must be vigilant.

Well, let us summarize. National self-confidence is one of the necessities of our nation in all eras; especially in this era. The reason for this, especially, is that the enemy has failed in various arenas in grappling with the Iranian nation; now it is seeking new methods, new paths, new tricks, and new plots; "And they plotted, and Allah plotted." You, who are the servants of God, must have your special vigilance against his plots and tricks.

The necessity of reflecting on the issue of self-confidence The things that weaken this self-confidence must be avoided; especially the elites, some of which I have mentioned; you think about it, study it; the things that strengthen this self-confidence must be highlighted; you in student publications, professors in the classroom, students in student organizations, students in their influential environments.

Influential students One of these brothers said that although the influence of students is significant, they are not consulted on all issues. Well, how can one consult with a group of several thousand students? Now there are fifty or sixty thousand students in Yazd. Consultation has a specific mechanism. There are no works without consultation. I want to say that the influence of students is more than what is consulted with the officials; it is through directing human elements in the forces under their influence. You can influence your family; you can influence your siblings; you can influence your parents. In your living environment, you can influence relatives, friends, and sports companions; influence through language, influence through demeanor, influence through behavior. This is the best success and victory for a student; influence in the environments where they can have an impact. Of course, some environments are even more than this. Especially you are young; value this youth; value the patience and vitality of youth. We, in the era of oppression — now we should not talk too much about ourselves; you are much ahead of us — but it is not bad to know this as well — that at the age you are now, we were young, the situation in terms of security or otherwise was such that one could not go somewhere and sit; when we had to speak somewhere, three or four hours would pass standing in discussion and exchange of ideas! Youth has energy, vitality, and capability; they can influence with the backing of this very youth power. Therefore, we must eliminate the factors that weaken self-confidence as much as we can; we must strengthen the factors that enhance self-confidence as much as we can.

O God! Illuminate these dear youth, these pure, radiant, and bright hearts with talents that draw closer to You; bring them closer to You; grant them a good end. O God! Make the future of this country, which will be built by these youth, much better and more beautiful than today and the past. O God! Unite the great teachers of this path, at the forefront of whom is our Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and our dear martyrs with Your saints.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.