Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei hails administration’s ‘neighborliness’ policy, accession to international organizations

 Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has expressed his gratitude to the Raeisi administration for its foreign policy achievements, including its “neighborliness policy” and efforts to join international organizations. The neighborliness policy must be pursued vigorously, he said during a Wednesday meeting with President Ebrahim Raeisi and members of his cabinet in Tehran on the occasion of the Government Week.

“We must not be in conflict with any of our neighbors,” he said. “Every conflict must be turned into cooperation. This is doable and has already been done to some extent.” Ayatollah Khamenei 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. “Membership in two important international agreements in a short period of time was a great success,” he said, arguing that the developments demonstrate Iran’s growing clout such that “the founders of these international agreements are willing – and sometimes insist – to include our beloved country among them.” Sanctions must be ‘neutralized’: Leader He also said the anti-Iran sanctions are intended to take people’s livelihood hostage, calling for attempts to “neutralize” the bans in addition to pursuing negotiations to terminate them.

He said improving the livelihood of the people is an important issue facing the country. “Most of the sanctions are aimed at taking the livelihood of the people hostage,” he argued. Referring to the negotiations between Iran and world powers to have the sanctions terminated, the Leader said efforts must be also directed at neutralizing the bans. ‘Progress overshadowed by livelihood issues’ Ayatollah Khamenei also said that it is a pity that the government’s positive measures are being overshadowed by livelihood problems such as the high cost of housing and rent. The Leader further advised officials to consider the effects of their economic decisions on factors such as remedying wealth inequality, market stability, exchange rate, and inflation.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that he had supported all administrations with different ideologies for more than three decades, adding that in addition to supporting the current administration, he would like to express his praise for it. Unfortunately, the Leader lamented, the current administration is not eloquent enough in presenting what they have done to the public. “What I want to emphasize is that a significant number of macroeconomic indicators show growth and progress,” he added.