Fadavi: Some falsely claim that to solve problems, one must interact with the devil

Ali Fadavi, the commander of the IRGC Navy, made sarcastic remarks directed at the government of Hassan Rouhani, criticizing individuals who do not believe in the power of the Islamic Revolution and openly lie to the people, claiming that 'to solve economic problems, one must interact with the devil.' According to a report from Fars News Agency on Saturday, August 13, Mr. Fadavi made these comments at a memorial for the martyrs of Eastern Isfahan held in the 'Golestan Shahid' of the city of Azijeh in the province. He stated that 'some individuals' have tied economic problems to 'mutual relations with the West' and 'lie to the people from the podiums, speaking in ways that indicate their lack of understanding and belief in the principles of the Islamic Revolution.' Mr. Fadavi added that 'foreign investments certainly lead to the destruction of domestic capital and also allow Western interference in governance; thus, platforms that speak anything other than the truth and explicitly lie have committed a great betrayal against the revolutionary people.' He also called for individuals who base their language and actions on the Islamic Revolution to be at the forefront of affairs, as he stated, 'We are constantly faced with choices and must choose between the Islamic Revolution and the West.' According to the commander of the IRGC Navy, 'Some in the country have not believed in the power of divine assistance for 37 years and believe in the power of the devil; they still say that to solve issues and problems, one must interact with the devil.' He criticized those who 'do not believe in the power of the Islamic Revolution and the martyrs,' adding that 'it is surprising that some who hold important positions and should accept the principles of the Islamic Revolution do not do so.' Additionally, according to Tasnim News, Mr. Fadavi identified 'being against America' as one of the 'principles of the Islamic Revolution,' stating, 'Today, some do not want to distance themselves from the principles that America laid out before the revolution; without a doubt, one cannot solve economic problems with these principles.' The commander of the IRGC Navy added that 'the whole world acknowledges that the Iranian nation is very intelligent, so people can succeed in any scene, but we see that some say that to solve the country's economic problems, we must interact with the world.' He also claimed that Americans comply with the power of the revolution 'because they have understood the power of the revolution and believe that the power of the revolution is greater than theirs, and we observe this every day at sea.' Although Mr. Fadavi did not explicitly name Hassan Rouhani's government, his criticism is directed at the foreign policy of this government, which has repeatedly stated that it seeks interaction with the world. The remarks of Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, regarding the necessity of focusing on 'resistance economy' are frequently used by conservative critics of the government and military personnel to protest the government's domestic and foreign policies. Critics of the government believe that Hassan Rouhani's administration does not pay attention to 'resistance economy' and, by opening Iran's doors to Western investors and companies, effectively hinders the success of this policy. Their criticisms have notably increased following Ali Khamenei's recent remarks about the futility of negotiations with America and the implementation of the JCPOA, while Hassan Rouhani continues to support the signing of this agreement.