By:Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

 

After a 15-day gap because of the New Year holidays we are back on the news- stands with our first Viewpoint Column of the year 1402 solar hijri of the Iranian Calendar ready to meet the challenges and turn them into opportunities for the steady progress of the Islamic Republic.

The current year, which started on the threshold of the blessed fasting month of Ramadhan, has been designated by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution as “Year of Inflation Control and Increased Production” in order to decisively clamp down on the unexplained rise of prices that is hurting the economy and has reduced the purchasing power of the people.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was confident of success in this vital field, in view of the sense of national unity and Islamic identity of the Iranian people who for the past forty-four years through their dedication to the homeland have defeated every plot of the US and other enemies – including the riots triggered for a few weeks last September in a few parts of the country by thugs, traitors, terrorists, blasphemers and some characterless women deceived by the propaganda of Farsi TV channels based in Europe and America.

In his “Nowrouz” or New Year Day speech in Mashhad at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Infallible Heir of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), in the presence of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims that was viewed live by millions throughout Iran and outside, he took stock of major developments of the past year at home and abroad, saying the Iranian people are noted for their solidarity and have the penchant for reaching even goals considered by some as impossible.  

Thus, the remedy to these social ills warrants more efforts for the mass production at our rapidly growing industrial sector which in almost all fields has achieved self-sufficiency, thereby greatly reducing the need for unnecessary imports.

Of course, quality is definitely important and should improve, along with the reduction of prices so as to help the population meet its growing needs, not only for consumer goods but also for providing proper education to the children – the hope of the future.

Opportunities for employment is also a vital factor as well as more agricultural produce, along with growth of poultry farms and the rearing of sheep, goats, and cattle for both dairy products and abundance of meat at reasonable prices. 

The most important point, however, is to change the mindset of a section of the people who have a habit for prodigality, hedonism, hoarding, craze for foreign products, and the ill-advised greedy accumulation of foreign currencies and gold.

     It is hoped the blessed month of Ramadhan and recitation of the holy Qur’an with contemplation on its timeless wisdom that includes the miserable fate of hoarders, cheaters, and saboteurs in afterlife, would bring about positive changes.

The Islamic Republic’s growing influence in the region and beyond is fully evident today with countries which had been forced by the US to sever relations, brushing aside western pressures to resume and restore diplomatic and grade relations with Iran.

The backbone of a country’s prestige is the strength to endure, resist and nullify sanctions which hostile countries impose, and the capability to compete in regional and international markets.

The Iranians have the potential. Now with the end of the New Year holidays, it is incumbent upon people of all strata of society, including officials, producers, workers, craftsmen, artisans, entrepreneurs, innovators, and consumers, to get together to help materialize the motto of the Year 1402 “Inflation Control and Increased Production” for the progress and prosperity of Iran.

There is no problem that cannot be resolved. Iran has over the past 44 years proven its industrial metal to the world by exploring outer space, mastering the nuclear fuel cycle, achieving self-sufficiency in Nano and stem-cell technology, breakthrough in medicine, cyberspace and artificial intelligence, and producing ballistic and hypersonic missiles for self-defense.

With trust in God Almighty, blessed with geographical advantages, rich natural resources, terrestrial vastness, adjacency to the high seas, neighbourliness to at least 15 countries and strategic location on the West-to-East and North-to South international corridors, in addition to its prime hydrocarbon reserves, the Islamic Republic “Insha Allah” is all set to break new grounds to the frustration of its archenemies.