On National Government Week, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khamenei, met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and members of the 14th Administration in the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

At the commencement of this gathering, the Leader paid tribute to Martyr Rajai, Martyr Bahonar, Martyr Raisi and his martyred entourage. He commended and honored the Arbaeen Walk undertaken by the people, extended his congratulations to the 14th Cabinet on National Government Week, and expressed hope that this occasion would foster a spirit of optimism, bring forth good tidings, and yield uplifting reports throughout the 14th Administration’s time in office.

Imam Khamenei referred to the timely formation of the new Iranian administration as a blessing and a great favor from God. He elaborated on the consultation process with the President regarding the Cabinet, stating, “I endorsed some of the individuals whom I knew or whose competence had been reported to me through reliable sources. And some of the individuals, I strongly endorsed. [However,] I didn’t know most of them, so I told him I don’t have any opinion about them. Praise God, he successfully made his selections and was able to convince the Parliament.”

Imam Khamenei described the opportunity to serve the people and striving for the country's progress as a profound divine blessing. He added, “Treasure this trust bestowed upon you by God and the people, and remember that while these four years of service will pass like lightning, significant accomplishments can still be achieved during this time.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated that recognizing a nation’s resources and potentials is a prerequisite for effective governance. He identified Iran’s natural, abundant, and valuable resources, its strategic geographic location at the crossroads of the world’s north, south, east and west, along with its extensive coastlines as examples of the country’s valuable material capacities.

He underlined that the Iranian nation has the capacity to produce geniuses, citing renowned figures such as Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi, Ibn Sina [Avicenna], Mulla Sadra, and Zakariya Razi as examples. “These figures are a testament to the boundless intellectual potential of the Iranian nation, and even now we can nurture geniuses from our country's talented youth,” he said.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution enumerated Iran’s political capacities, strategic depth, and regional power as significant strengths, adding that, “The positive and negative experiences of the past 45 years are among the most valuable points that need to be taken into consideration.”

Imam Khamenei highlighted the importance of involving young individuals in government structure, urging officials to select “young, faithful, revolutionary, and highly motivated individuals” to tackle challenges. He noted that by cultivating the potential of these individuals at various management positions from the grassroots, “by bringing young people into your organization, they gain the experience they need and you train an outstanding generation of highly motivated leaders for the future.”

In a further suggestion, Imam Khamenei urged government officials to be present among the people. “Understanding the realities of people's lives cannot be achieved through memos and written reports. Therefore, pursue provincial trips and engage with the people. Base your decisions on your observations and what you hear,” he remarked.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated that nuclear energy is one of the fundamental and essential priorities for Iran’s future. He added that the country cannot deprive itself of a global scientific, technical, and advanced issue and that falling behind in this area would mean attempting to catch up years later.

During the meeting, Imam Khamenei also addressed the issue of cyberspace, stating that the digital realm is no longer virtual but a developing reality in people's lives. He emphasized the need for legal regulations governing this domain. “If you don't have a law in place for this, make one and take control of the situation according to that law. The entire world is doing this. See how this poor young man is being treated by the French. They arrest him because he violated their rules,” he asserted, referring to the recent arrest of Telegram CEO, Pavel Durov, by French authorities.

While discussing cyberspace, Imam Khamenei once again highlighted the important issue of artificial intelligence. He underscored that, “Our military and non-military organizations, are currently using artificial intelligence, but this should not deceive us, as being a merely user is not an advantage. This technology has deep layers and they must be mastered.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution cautioned that falling behind in mastering the deeper layers of artificial intelligence could lead to the establishment of another exclusive domain, akin to atomic energy agency, controlled by the countries that dominate this technology. He added that opportunists and power-seekers around the world will create an artificial intelligence agency in the future and will prohibit other countries from accessing certain sectors and layers of this technology.

In the continuation of his address, Imam Khamenei advised the 14th Administration to not be afraid of obstacles, pointing out that no program or endeavor is without them. He noted that, “The first option for some people when encountering obstacles is to back down, but this approach is wrong. We must either overcome the obstacle or find a way around it. Of course, after doing everything we can, a tactical retreat might sometimes be necessary, but we should not abandon our goals or opinions at the first sign of difficulty.”

Imam Khamenei emphasized to the Iranian President and his cabinet the importance of not relying on Iran’s enemies or waiting for their approval. “This reality was also evident in the remarks of the President and the statements of the Foreign Minister a few days ago. Of course, this does not mean that we cannot interact with the same enemy in certain situations. There is no harm in that, but do not place your hopes in them. Do not trust the enemy.”

At the commencement of this meeting, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian honored the memory of the Martyrs of Government and Service, with particular emphasis on the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. He described the 14th Administration as a consultative cabinet, fostering participation from all political factions and specialized committees. Dr. Pezeshkian highlighted that his administration has been built on the principles of unity and harmony, and is committed to taking action within the framework of the general policies of the system, the vision document, and the Seventh Development Plan.