TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said the general atmosphere of Iran is suitable for serving the people and there are abundant opportunities which officials must make the best of for the country’s progress.
“The country benefits from an immense capacity in its young human capital. Wherever an institution has recognized and utilized this potential, tangible progress has been achieved,” he told provincial governors in a meeting here.
“One of the important issues is the issue of people. You must go among the people, attend their gatherings, listen patiently to their words, even if they are harsh, and provide them with the necessary explanations,” the Leader said.
He also cited Iran’s membership in key regional and international organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS group of emerging economies, as well as the appointment of an interior minister with in-depth knowledge of the country’s diverse regions as other valuable opportunities.
The Leader touched on the management of provincial affairs, including matters of diplomacy by the governors, saying “We have many neighboring countries. These neighbors themselves are one of the opportunities.”
Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed the necessity of preserving the integrity of the country and confronting corruption, calling the fight against corruption a definitive duty of senior officials.
“The first condition for combating corruption is that officials and their families must remain distant from corruption-inducing elements,” the Leader said.
“Given the sensitive position of public officials, any involvement in corruption inflicts far greater harm and its punishment in the sight of God will be significantly more severe.”
He also advised governors to uphold religious obligations, avoid what is forbidden in Islamic law, be attentive to religious observances, strive for the realization of the year’s slogan, and engage in a serious, coordinated effort to combat the smuggling of goods.