Supreme Leader Meets with Officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassadors (14/08/2014)

Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, met Wednesday morning with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iranian ambassadors and charge d'affairs. Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence described the diplomatic apparatus of the country as the fighter in the front lines of defending the goals and the national interests and resources of the people of Iran.

Referring to the significance of diplomacy, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: "Intelligent and active diplomacy can bring about many important political, economic, human and social achievements. These achievements cannot be made with any other move including costly and dangerous wars. This truth indicates the weight and position of diplomacy in the management of a country."

Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the recent events in the region are a manifestation of this truth, reiterating: "Certain powers tried to safeguard their interests with bullying and weapons, but they failed. Unlike these powers, some people managed to safeguard their interests with subtlety, intelligence and dynamism."

His Eminence described the present era as the period of transition to a new global order, stressing: "As well as the traditional actors, new actors have entered the arena in Asia, Africa and Latin America and they are trying to strengthen their position in the upcoming new order."

He added: "In the present time, if our diplomacy can show its presence in an active, intelligent and powerful way, the position and power of the Islamic Republic in the new order will be established as an outstanding position in the following decades. Otherwise, we will not benefit from the necessary position in the new world."

Expressing his agreement with the statements that the President had made two days ago about interaction with the whole world, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: "There are two exceptions in this regard: the Zionist regime and America."

Ayatollah Khamenei stated that it is not to the advantage of the Islamic Republic to establish relations and to negotiate with America. He stressed: "Not only will establishing relations and negotiating with America not bring the Islamic Republic any advantage - except for a few special cases - but it will also be harmful for it. Which wise person pursues unprofitable deals? Some people used to pretend that if we sit at the negotiating table with the Americans, many of our problems will be solved. Of course, we knew that this was not the case, but last year's events proved this truth again and again."

His Eminence reiterated: "In the past, there were no relations between our officials and American officials, but last year, it was decided that officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs make contacts and negotiate with American officials because of the sensitive nuclear issue and the issue of making an experience that we referred to previously. However, not only did these contacts not bring us any benefit, but the Americans' tone also became harsher and more insulting and they expressed more unreasonable expectations during negotiations and in public podiums. Of course, in these negotiations, our officials gave them sharper rejoinders in response to their unreasonable expectations. But in general, it became clear that unlike what some people think, negotiations are not helpful at all."

He touched on the issue of increasing sanctions against Iran, saying: "Not only did the Americans not decrease enmities, but they also increased sanctions. Of course, they say that these sanctions are not new, but in fact, they are new. Therefore, negotiations in the area of sanctions have not been helpful either."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated: "Of course, we do not prevent officials from continuing negotiations on the issue of nuclear energy. The task that Dr. Zarif and his friends have started and in which they have made good achievements will continue. But this was another precious experience for everyone so that we understand that establishing relations and speaking to the Americans will not have any effect on reducing their enmity."

Pointing to the disadvantages of negotiating with America, Ayatollah Khamenei said: "Negotiating with America will make other governments and public opinion throughout the world accuse us of hypocrisy. It will help westerners to describe - with their vast propaganda efforts - the Islamic Republic as inactive and dualistic."

His Eminence stressed that the Islamic Republic will not establish any relation with the Zionist regime at all. Referring to the issue of negotiations with the Americans, he said: "As long as the current conditions - that is to say, the enmity of America and the hostile statements of the U.S. Congress and government against Iran - continue, interaction with them is meaningless."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlighted the events in Gaza, adding: "The Palestinians' logic on the issue of the truce is cogent. They say that accepting the truce means allowing the blood-thirsty and savage Zionist regime to create any disaster that it wants and to restore the conditions prior to the day of the attack - that is to say, laying a prolonged siege and continuing the pressures - without any punishment. As the Palestinians say, there should be a punishment for all these crimes which is an end to the siege of Gaza and no fair-minded individual can deny this legitimate request."

At the end of his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the issue of Iraq, reiterating: "By Allah's favor, when the new prime minister is elected, the problems will be solved and the government will be formed so that it can teach a good lesson to those who have decided to instigate fitna in Iraq."