Leader hails joining int’l bodies
Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei expressed his gratitude to President Raeisi’s government for its foreign policy achievements including its “neighborliness policy” and efforts to join international organizations.
The neighborliness policy must be pursued vigorously, he stressed during a Wednesday meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and members of his cabinet in Tehran on the occasion of the Government Week, according to Press TV.
“We must not be in conflict with any of our neighbors,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “Every conflict must be turned into cooperation. This is doable and has already been done to some extent.”
He also described Iran’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS group of emerging economies as two great achievements within a short span of time.
“Gaining membership in two important international bodies in a short period of time was a great success,” the Leader said, arguing that the developments demonstrate Iran’s clout has grown to such an extent that “the founders of these international agreements are willing — and sometimes insist — to include our beloved country among them.”
Sanctions must be ‘neutralized’
Ayatollah Khamenei also said the anti-Iran sanctions are intended to take people’s livelihood hostage, calling for attempts to “neutralize” the bans while pursuing negotiations for lifting them.
He added that it is a pity that the Iranian government’s positive measures are being overshadowed by livelihood problems such as the high cost ofرhousing and rent.
The Leader advised officials to consider the effects of their economic decisions on issues of wealth inequality, market stability, exchange rate, inflation, etc.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that he has supported every Iranian government despite their different ideologies for more than three decades, adding that in addition to supporting the incumbent government, he would like to express his praise for it.
“What I want to emphasize is that a significant number of macroeconomic indicators show growth and progress,” he added.
Unfortunately, the Leader lamented, the incumbent government is not eloquent enough in presenting what it has done to the public.