Hawzah News Agency- Imam Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, met with the participants of the 7th General Assembly of the AhlulBayt World Assembly (ABWA) in the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah on September 3, 2022. In the beginning of this meeting, he said that the greatness and popularity of the Household of the Prophet (pbut) is unique in the world of Islam. He emphasized, “Islamic societies today have a serious need for all the various aspects of the Household’s teachings. Thus, the AhlulBayt World Assembly should carry out this responsibility based on detailed, correct planning. Furthermore, they must use reasonable methods and effective tools to carry out this heavy responsibility.”

The Leader spoke of the fact that the followers of the Household of the Prophet (pbut) should raise the flag of solidarity and cooperation. He also added, “As we said from the first day, the formation of the AhlulBayt World Assembly does not mean confrontation and enmity with those who are not Shi’a. From the very beginning, we have also cooperated with the brothers who are not Shi’a but who have been moving on the correct path.”

Imam Khamenei said that the current policy of the Arrogant Powers is to highlight differences and unreal dividing lines in the Islamic world. He explained, “Inciting hostilities and scheming to instigate wars between Shi’a and Sunni, Arab and non-Arab, Shi’a against Shi’a, and Sunni against Sunni, which can now be seen in some countries, is the policy of the Great Satan, America. We need to be alert with respect to this.”

In referring to the flag that has been raised by the system of the Islamic Republic in confronting the system of the Arrogant Powers, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated, “The followers of the Household of the Prophet (pbut) and the world’s Shi’a feel honored that the Islamic system shielded itself against the seven-headed dragon that heads the system of global imperialism. The Arrogant Powers themselves have admitted that many of their schemes have been defeated.”

The Leader of the Revolution believes that the stability of the Islamic Republic is due to learning from the Household of the Prophet (pbut). He explained this in the following words, “Those shining stars with their theoretical knowledge and practical ways have taught us how to use contemplating upon the Qur’an and acting in accordance with it to walk the path of this dear Islam.”

Imam Khamenei declared that the flag of the Islamic Republic is the flag of justice and spirituality. He went on to say, “It is evident and natural that global imperialism, which is based on materialism, money, and force in all of its beliefs and actions, rises up in opposition and enmity against this flag.”

He stated that the US is at the head of the front of the Arrogant Powers. He then continued on to say, “Inspired by the Qur'an, the venerable Imam taught everyone to put aside all unreal dividing lines between Islamic societies and for people to accept only one dividing line. That dividing line is the demarcation that marks the border between the Islamic world and the world of unbelief and arrogance.”

Imam Khamenei stressed, “Support for Palestine was based on this deep belief. As a result, it was also placed on the agenda of the Islamic Revolution from the very first days of the Revolution, and the Imam stood up for the Palestinian issue with all his being. The Islamic Republic today still acts in accordance with that same political geometry that the late Imam drew up. And it will remain loyal to it in the future too.”

The Leader believes that the exceptional empathy that exists between the nations of the Islamic world with the Iranian nation is due to the Iranian people’s adherence to the Imam Khomeini’s strategy. This is the strategy of the negation of religious, sectarian, and racial lines in the Islamic world. In this regard, he stated, “Based on this, we have always asked all Islamic countries to ignore issues such as ‘Shia vs. Sunni,’ ‘Arab vs. non-Arab,’ and other dividing lines. We have invited them to base their actions on principles and foundations.”

The Leader of the Revolution believes that encouraging other nations to stand up to the aggressions of global imperialism is the reason for their anger and enmity. He called attention to this point that, “Neutralizing the criminal schemes that the US has for different countries, ISIS being one example of this, is what has caused them to organize concentrated propaganda efforts to invoke Iranophobia and Shiaphobia and to accuse Iran of interfering in other countries.”

The Leader emphasized that the Islamic Republic does not interfere in other countries. He said that the allegations of global imperialism are due to their insufficiency and inability in their efforts to prevent the substantial progress being made by the Islamic system.  The Leader accentuated the following point, “Of course, everyone should be alert with regard to the policies of the Arrogant Powers and be careful not to cooperate with them.”

The Leader of the Revolution emphasized that there is an existing ability to confront the opposition of the enemies of the Islamic world considering the hard power and soft power capacities that are available in the Islamic world. He said, “Islamic truths and teachings, reliance on God, maintaining a hopeful outlook toward history, and the issue of Imam Mahdi (the savior)” are some of the soft power capacities of the Islamic world. He also spoke of the intellectual dead ends that exist in the West and the system of liberal democracy. He explained, “Of course, in the field of using hard power, the Arrogant Powers have employed methods such as colonization, using the resources of the Islamic world, and have used all kinds of tricks and deceits in order to strengthen themselves. Nonetheless, the natural resources that exist in the world of Islam and which can help for our progress are very great. The importance of oil and gas is one example, which has become more obvious to everyone in the world today.”

At the end of his talk, he pointed out that, “The Islamic world has a bright future, and the Shi’a community can play a great role in building this future.”

At the start of this meeting, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Mr. Ramezani, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt World Assembly (ABWA), presented a report on the Seventh General Assembly, which was held with the participation of personages from 117 countries and under the slogan “The Household of the Prophet (pbut): Axis of rationality, justice, and dignity.”