Put National interests first

The most influential Iranian Sunni leader emphasized that the authorities must put Iran’s national interests first. “National interests should be spent on Iranian people not elsewhere, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid urged.
He was talking to tens of thousands of worshippers in Zahedan’s biggest Friday gathering on Nov 17, 2023.

Sovereignty should focus on solving people’s problems
Protecting national interests is the duty of all governments
The Iranian top Sunni leader went on to insist on preserving the national interest and said: “All nations and governments of the world must put the national interests first. National interest is the basic right of every nation. Governments of the world take oaths to protect national interests. Natural resources, environment, waters, and what is related to the interests of the people belong to the nation and must be preserved. National interests are very vital.”
“No one should betray national interests. National capital should not be looted. No organization or individual should make personal use of the national capital. “The president of Darululoom Zahedan underlined.
The Friday Khateeb of Zahedan believed: “Today, Iranians are worried about the national interests and resources. National currency is among national interests; if the national interests are affected, both people and the government will suffer. Unfortunately, in our country, some influential people have as much power as an important body of government. Some government bodies and institutions try to make personal use of national interests.”
He pointed out to the fall of the value of the national currency and said: “The fall in the value of the Iranian currency has hit national interests. Today, different classes complain about the living problems. Life has become difficult for people. The available income of people is not enough for living expenses. No authority is willing to respond to people’s demands.”

Solving economic problems needs fundamental thinking
The Iranian top Sunni cleric urged on improving the value of the national currency and said: “Some officials say we do not accept dollars. You cannot ignore the increase in the price of the dollar. It is a fact that Iran’s national currency has fallen; the value of Iran’s national currency is so low among neighboring countries. All strata of society, including retirees, workers, traders and so on have problems and raise their voices. Some want to silence people’s voices by the use of force, while people are hungry and have problems. To get rid of all problems, the authorities must take decisive measures.”
“The legitimate demands of the people must be met. How we can ignore the dollar while Iranians do business with many nations of the world. If we boycott the borders, people will not be able to do trade. Therefore, the value of money should return. In order to solve the economic and livelihood problems, officials should find out the right ways. Sit with people, listen to them, show patience, and cry with them. The president of the country and ministers should sit with the people and must solve their problems, “said Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan.
He denounced discriminatory treatment against Iranian religious and ethnic communities and urged on equal rights, saying: “Making differences among the nation is against Islamic, national and international laws. Protecting interests of the people is the main duty of officials. The country’s resources, including oil and gas, mines and other capitals, belong to the Iranian nation. Iranians are one nation. They must enjoy equal rights and opportunities. All Iranians, including religious and ethnic communities and different tendencies, belong to this land. They should have equal right regardless of whether they accept us or not.”
“It is the duty of the government, parties, politicians, and thinkers to think about the interests of all Iranians. Put the interests of the people of Iran first. When Iran’s blocked funds are freed, they should be integrated into national interests, “Mawlana Abdol-Hamid believed.

A weak parliament harm national interests
The eminent Iranian Sunni scholar of Balochistan pointed to the disqualification of some parliament candidates and said: “The parliament elections are important all over the world. Parliament is the house of legislation. Legislators must be among experts and political elites of the country. It will be terrible if MPs are incompetent. In the last elections, people were not satisfied with the selection process. The Guardian Council, supervisory and executive boards, and selection institutions should not impose sever restrictions in selections. The way should not be paved for the weak people.”
He emphasized: “One specific group should not take the country’s branches of power. There should be variety in the country. One thought cannot rule the country. Different tribes, religions, and tendencies live in Iran. Everyone should have the right to run the country’s affairs.”
“It is not necessary that a parliament member should be a religious person, but he\she must be compassionate, wise and think about national interests. Speaker of parliament and representatives must be among political figures. Capable people should be qualified to run the country’s affairs. If a policy is against the national interests, parliamentarians should be able to challenge that policy. Many of the current representatives of the Islamic Council who were critics have been disqualified. Criticism should not be stopped. Criticism is in the interest of everyone, “the president of Darululoom Zahedan urged on legal freedoms and criticized the restrictions against capable people.

Israel’s attacks on Gaza are not self-defense, but crimes
The most influential Iranian Sunni leader referred to the continuation of Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip and said: “Watching the painful scenes of Gaza is unbearable for anyone. American and European countries have given Israel a blank check to attack Gaza in the name of self-defense. Is killing women and children, massacring a nation, destroying infrastructures, buildings, and hospitals self-defense? Is this a self-defense or it is a crime? I would like to recommend everyone to be fair. We defend the rights of women, children, and defenseless people and advice both sides to respect such rights.
“Israel oppresses women, children, and defenseless people; the powerful countries of the world must stop Israel from oppression. For nearly a century, conflicts and disputes have been running in the Palestinian land. The world community and Islamic and non-Islamic countries must think of a fundamental solution to this dispute; both sides should live together in peace and tranquility”, “he expressed his regret.
The Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan said: “Israel and all the powers of the world must know that war is not the solution. If wars were the solution, the Israeli-Palestinian dispute would have been resolved until now. In Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they have now reached the same conclusion. Today, people of the world are against war. War, bloodshed, and killing innocent people cause the anger of Allah.”

Force and pressure is not the solution; solve the problems through popular ways
In another part of his Friday speech of Zahedan, the prominent Iranian Sunni scholar said: “All governments of the world should know that force and pressure is not the solution. You can solve the problems through negotiation, mutual respect, and observance of rights. Therefore the authorities must choose wise and popular ways to solve the problems.”
In react to the statement of one of the military officials who had said that they would increase military preparations in Sistan-Balochistan province, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said: “In Balochistan, the former regimes had never been able to rule by the force. Reza Shah and Qajar had concluded to get along with the people of Baluchistan and not fight with them. In order to establish the security of the province, officials must choose political ways and should not resort to force.”
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid pointed to the crime of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday and said: “Some officials are forcing families of victims of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday crime to accept the blood money; this is against the custom of our people and is contrary to the law. As the Supreme leader had ordered, the perpetrators of this crime must be trailed.