Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday said strict opposition to hegemonic and bullying powers is a fundamental policy of the Islamic Republic.
 

Speaking at a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minster Manouchehr Mottaki, foreign ministry personnel and Tehran's ambassadors and representatives to the foreign states, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Islamic Revolution introduced an "anti-hegemony interaction policy" not just as a novel policy, but also as a logic to the international community.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that the anti-hegemony policy is novel in the world and that in international relations this policy has gained widespread popularity among governments, luminaries, and intellectuals throughout the world.

The Leader said that Iran is the sole country which has pursued an anti-hegemony policy in practice.

"There are two sides in the hegemonic world order, one is the hegemonic side and the other is the side that accepts hegemony, but the Islamic Republic of Iran has clearly announced from the very beginning that it is not a hegemonic power and will not accept any other country's hegemony," he said.

Reminding that Iran's stand against the world's hegemonic powers enjoys wide public support inside the country, the leader called on the envoys and diplomats to employ a strong, proactive and efficient diplomacy to further promote Tehran's anti-hegemony policy.

"It is the duty of the ambassadors and representatives of the Islamic Republic to promote the anti-hegemony policy through utilizing qualitative, firm, and efficient diplomacy. This requires insistence on the revolutionary and religious principles and not standing on any ceremony in this regard."

He stated it is essential to promote this policy through the power of diplomacy, and further added, "The power and influence of diplomacy is not less than military might, propaganda, and money, and in some cases diplomacy is even more effective. Therefore, in order to implement the anti-hegemony policy, it is necessary to use firm and efficient diplomacy which is based on logic, thought, and the spirit of self-confidence."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that being fully committed to religious principles and the principles of the Islamic Revolution is the primary requirement for firm and efficient diplomacy.

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that insisting on revolutionary and religious principles is the strength of the diplomatic system of the Islamic Republic. He further stressed that such insistence is indicative of strength and inspires respect and humility.

"Some people wrongly assume that we can improve our position through repeating western concepts and surrendering to them, but western ideas and concepts are outmoded and date back to 200 years ago. But the ideas introduced by the Islamic Republic of Iran are novel and influential," he continued.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the victories of the Islamic Republic in diplomacy and international challenges, and added, "For example, regarding the nuclear issue the powerful countries of the world could not achieve their goals in spite of spreading numerous lies, causing uproar, and exerting pressure on the Islamic Republic. This is indicative of the firmness of the foundations of the Islamic Republic."

He reiterated that the Islamic Republic of Iran has declared since the beginning that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, including the production of energy.

"The negative propaganda that some westerners, specially America, England, and the Zionists, broadcast in this regard are sheer lies, and they themselves know that they are lying," he said.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated that in spite of all these pressures the Islamic Republic of Iran has made a lot of progress in nuclear technology. He added that Iran will make as much progress as necessary in order to achieve self-sufficiency in nuclear science and technology.

He noted the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General on Iran's nuclear activities, and said that some actions and reports by the UN nuclear watchdog agency show that the IAEA is not an independent organization.

Ayatollah Khamenei criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency and added, "Some actions and reports by the agency show that this international organization is not independent."

"The International Atomic Energy Agency must not be influenced by America and some other countries because such unilateral actions undermine trust in the agency and the United Nations and will seriously tarnish the reputation of these international organizations."