Khamenei's Promise on Achieving the Goals of the Islamic Revolution 'in the Not-Too-Distant Future'

Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, promised that the Islamic Republic will achieve 'all the goals' of the 1979 revolution 'in the not-too-distant future.' He criticized a group that he said has become a 'megaphone for the enemy,' claiming that they say it is impossible to stand against global powers. According to the state news agency IRNA, on Wednesday, December 1, during a meeting with a number of Basij forces, Khamenei stated that Iran will 'achieve all the goals of the Islamic Revolution in various economic, social, scientific, political, and cultural fields.' He announced that the younger generation will 'solve economic problems, double scientific advancements, and realize cultural and Quranic concepts in society.' Khamenei also mentioned that the political system of the Islamic Republic is 'far from reaching its lofty goals, but achieving these goals is possible through being present in the scene and relying on determined and willing human resources.' His promise comes amid previous statements from Islamic Republic officials about 'deviating from the goals of the 1979 revolution.' 'Increasing class divides,' 'rising poverty,' 'systematic economic and administrative corruption,' and 'increased social harms' are described by some officials as signs of straying from the goals of the 1979 revolution. On the other hand, some political activists and critics of Khamenei view the lack of political freedoms and the 'unlimited powers' of the Supreme Leader as indicators of the revolution's failure to achieve its goals and as a 'reproduction of despotism.' Khamenei also claimed that the Islamic Republic has 'defeated the enemy in all matters.' He criticized those who, according to him, have become a 'megaphone for the enemy,' promoting despair and caution in the face of powers and stating that 'it is impossible to stand against powers.' Khamenei asserted that the Islamic Republic has 'defeated the enemy in all matters.' He also criticized those who, according to him, are 'upset by the repetition of the term enemy,' adding that 'these unaware individuals do not realize that if the enemy finds the opportunity to strike, it will not hesitate.' He added, 'Based on a rational and eternal principle, one should not show any action, speech, or state that would give the enemy the illusion of weakness in the ranks of Iranians and encourage them to strike and act with hostility.' The Supreme Leader has previously considered 'challenging' the West to be less costly than 'compromising' with it. These statements come as the Islamic Republic's insistence on pursuing certain regional and international policies, including its controversial nuclear program in recent years, has led to Iran's isolation in international circles, and government officials have repeatedly spoken about the negative impacts of Western sanctions on Iran's economy. Meanwhile, Khamenei has repeatedly criticized the Vienna nuclear agreement while also acknowledging it, calling it beneficial for the Western side. Close associates of the Supreme Leader have also accused Hassan Rouhani's government of seeking normalization of relations with the U.S. through the Vienna nuclear agreement. For instance, Ali Saeedi, the Supreme Leader's representative in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, implicitly referred to Rouhani and his associates as the 'Niyavaran circle' on June 4, stating that the pursuit of the idea of 'peaceful coexistence with the West' in Iran is the result of this group's activities. 'We can' is not merely a conceptual belief. The Supreme Leader also claimed that Iran is 'hundreds or perhaps thousands of times more advanced and powerful than at the beginning of the revolution, and this is the meaning of the worldly reward for steadfastness and resilience.' He emphasized that 'one should not perceive the Islamic revolution and system as weakened by looking at some disbelief and indifference.' While the Supreme Leader and his associates always speak of America's 'perpetual enmity' with Iran, some analysts consider these statements to reflect a 'conspiracy delusion' or 'domestic consumption' to eliminate opponents. For instance, Faezah Hashemi, the daughter of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, stated in an interview last year that the Islamic Republic's grand policy is to have a 'perpetual enemy.' In another part of his speech, Khamenei stated that 'we can' is a concept 'not merely a belief but something that the Iranian nation has repeatedly witnessed and understood.' He also interpreted recent blows to the Islamic State group (ISIS) as a sign of 'bringing America to its knees' and proving the 'concept of we can.' The slogan 'we can' was among the slogans of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2005 presidential election and also Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf in the 2017 presidential election. On Tuesday, in response to a letter from the commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, Khamenei called the 'blow' to the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq a 'blow' to 'previous and current U.S. governments' and their allied countries in the region, accusing them of having 'created' ISIS. Islamic Republic officials have repeatedly accused the U.S., Britain, and Saudi Arabia of creating and supporting ISIS. This claim comes at a time when the Islamic State group has faced heavy bombardment from U.S.-led coalition forces in Syria and Iraq for a long time, and U.S.-backed armed groups recently managed to capture Raqqa, the self-proclaimed capital of that group in Syria, and push its forces back in large areas of northern and eastern Syria. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Arab countries have always accused Iran of interfering in the internal affairs of several countries in the region, including Syria. For instance, former U.S. President Barack Obama held Russia and Iran, alongside the Assad regime, responsible for the civilian deaths in Aleppo during his presidency. Previously, some critics within Iran have also severely criticized Qassem Soleimani and the Quds Force's performance in the region, attributing the 'creation' of ISIS to 'Qassem Soleimani's mismanagement.' For example, Mehdi Khazali, a political critic, stated in a video last year that if Qassem Soleimani had not been in Syria, 'there would be no ISIS in Syria now.'