Khamenei Urges Iranian Officials to Unite, Cooperate

Iran's Supreme Leader with a group of Iranian officials and representatives of Islamic diplomatic missions in Tehran (Khamenei's website)
Iran's Supreme Leader with a group of Iranian officials and representatives of Islamic diplomatic missions in Tehran (Khamenei's website)
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Khamenei Urges Iranian Officials to Unite, Cooperate

Iran's Supreme Leader with a group of Iranian officials and representatives of Islamic diplomatic missions in Tehran (Khamenei's website)
Iran's Supreme Leader with a group of Iranian officials and representatives of Islamic diplomatic missions in Tehran (Khamenei's website)

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urged senior Iranian officials in the three authorities to unite, cooperate, collaborate, and distance themselves from marginal issues to devote themselves to solving the country's major problems.

During Eid el-Fitr prayer sermon, Khamenei asserted that cooperation and solidarity are the essential and basic strategies for solving problems and advancing the country.

He said if the government, parliament, and the judiciary cooperate fully, the country's issues won't be complicated, asserting that cooperation is the overall strategy.

Last Wednesday, Khamenei criticized economic sessions held by the presidencies of the Judiciary, Executive, and Legislative authorities, saying they were temporary and did not reach their intended purpose.

He asserted that the solution is to hold such sessions until the work is done and completed.

During the Eid sermon, Khamenei called for focusing on resolving issues and refraining from "marginal issues," warning that the enemies want to divide the nation.

Khamenei accused the enemies of aiming for conflict between Iranians because of different beliefs and sects, asserting the need to maintain unity to overcome challenges.

"The enemy is against the unity of the Iranian people," he said, adding that the different sects and beliefs can coexist and work together in the country.

Khamenei implicitly ruled out repeating the war tactics against Afghanistan and Iraq, noting that the US saw that military action could not yield results, prompting it to change its strategy.

He noted that the US tactics are now based on deception, distortion, lies, and concealing other nations' capabilities, recalling: "We must update our knowledge of the enemy's movements, tactics, and methods."

Last Sunday, Khamenei stressed during a meeting with senior armed forces commanders that Iran was the "ultimate goal" of the US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Khamenei added: "Therefore, the enemy can be defeated despite its seemingly solid calculations and military power."

The Supreme Leader announced his opposition to calls for a referendum on state policy after he rejected calls to change the Iranian constitution last month.

Referring to the comments of one of the students, he said: "The various issues of the country cannot be put to a referendum because each referendum preoccupies the entire country for six months. Besides, where in the world do they hold referendums for all issues?"

Earlier, former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for a referendum on the country's issues, including differences over the headscarf. Rouhani's call came about two months after former President Mohammad Khatami called for a return to the current constitution to carry out reforms in the country.

Reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi, who is under house arrest, called for a new draft constitution, which would be submitted for referendum.

Reform activist Ahmed Zeidabadi called to remove Friday imams representing Khamenei in Iranian cities.

In an implicit reference to Khamenei's speech, Zeidabadi tweeted that the work of many Friday imams went beyond raising marginal issues, creating crises, and fueling psychological warfare against people.

He indicated that warning them is not the solution, instead dismissing them. Otherwise, the situation will remain unchanged because of their presence and people like them in military ranks.



Taliban Say India Is a ‘Significant Regional Partner’ after Meeting

Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
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Taliban Say India Is a ‘Significant Regional Partner’ after Meeting

Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP

The Taliban's foreign office said they saw India as a "significant regional and economic partner" after meeting with its most senior foreign ministry official, the highest level talks with Delhi since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on Wednesday.
Afghanistan's foreign ministry said in a statement that they had discussed expanding relations with Afghanistan and to boost trade through Chabahar Port in Iran, which India has been developing for goods to bypass the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in its rival Pakistan, Reuters reported.
"In line with Afghanistan's balanced and economy-focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as a significant regional and economic partner," the statement from Afghanistan's foreign ministry said late on Wednesday.
India's foreign ministry said after the Delhi meeting that India was considering engaging in development projects in Afghanistan and looking to boost trade ties.
No foreign government, including India, officially recognizes the Taliban administration.
However, India is one of several countries with a small mission in Kabul to facilitate trade, aid and medical support and has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under the Taliban.
Regional players including China and Russia have signaled they are willing to boost trade and investment in Afghanistan.
The Delhi meeting could ruffle Pakistan, which borders both countries and has fought three wars in the past against India.
Pakistan and Afghanistan also have a strained relationship, with Pakistan saying that several militant attacks that have occurred in its country have been launched from Afghan soil - a charge the Afghan Taliban denies.
Earlier this week India's foreign office told journalists they condemned airstrikes conducted late last year by Pakistan on Afghan soil.