The Iranian Nation Cannot Endure New Sanctions or Another War; Negotiate and Reach an Agreement

In his Friday sermon on August 15th, 2025, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid, warning about the country’s deepening crises, urged the authorities to change course and, instead of exerting more pressure on the people, pursue the path of negotiation and agreement to prevent new sanctions and the threat of war. Emphasizing that “the Iranian people do not want nuclear energy at the cost of starvation,” he criticized corruption, injustice, suppression of constructive criticism, disregard for intellectuals, and the decline of ethics in society, calling for reform.

The Government and The State Must Find a Serious Solution for the People’s Problems
According to the official website of the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, Mawlana Abdolhamid said:
“The nation cannot endure new sanctions. The past sanctions have already been crippling for the Iranian people, who have lost their assets and cannot bear new sanctions or another war. This is not the time for a new war in Iran. A country that lacks water, bread, and electricity, whose businesses are closed—how can its people fight? In our time, people no longer have the capacity to tie stones to their stomachs and resist as in the days of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the Companions.”
He added:
“The government must think seriously, and the ruling establishment, which holds the reins of policy-making, must find a solution for the nation. Go and negotiate; reach an agreement. The Iranian nation does not want nuclear energy at the cost of dying from hunger. For certain issues on which some officials insist, what price must the people pay? Officials should negotiate to prevent the imposition of new economic sanctions—which are reportedly only two weeks away—and also to remove the pretext for war from Iran’s enemies.”

People’s Pockets Are Empty, and Water and Electricity are Cut Every Day
The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, referring to people’s hardships, said:
“People are suffering bitterly. Every day in this country, electricity is cut—especially in areas like Sistan-Baluchestan and southern Baluchestan, where temperatures exceed 50°C. Imagine how people live under such conditions and with such difficulty. In many parts of the country, electricity is cut twice a day. There is no water, bread is scarce, incomes are nonexistent, and people’s pockets are empty.”
He also referred to official holidays:
“When factories, workshops, businesses, and shops are closed for even one hour, the country falls behind. If the country shuts down for a day, the economy suffers. Yet for several weeks now, Thursdays have been public holidays. How much investment that should have been generated in a single day and circulated in the economy is lost! People are gradually losing hope because they see no positive change on the horizon.”

Why Are Citizens’ Voices and Constructive Criticism Ignored?
Mawlana Abdolhamid said:
“The people of Iran—who are the rightful owners and citizens of this country—have been crying out for years that changes must be made. Everyone knows and feels that the country needs certain reforms. But unfortunately, no changes have been made, and the authorities have not altered their governance, so public dissatisfaction remains.”
He continued:
“Why are the voices of the nation’s intellectuals ignored? Why are the citizens’ cries unheard? Around the world, governments listen to their citizens, value the opinions and suggestions of scholars, intellectuals, and experts. But why, in our country, do such people have no value? Everywhere else, constructive criticism is welcomed, but here, those who engage in constructive criticism are accused of threatening national security and are imprisoned. Many religious scholars and academics who were critical have been jailed, and this harms the country.”
Mawlana Abdolhamid stressed:
“Many of the current problems and threats in the country are the result of preventing constructive criticism. If the space for such criticism had been open and the people’s voices had been heard, if the authorities had paid attention to the citizens’ demands and valued intellectuals and experts, the country would not have reached this stage of crisis, war, prolonged and entrenched sanctions, and divine calamities. Now, even harsher sanctions are on the way.”

“There Are Many who Pretend to be Muslim, But Few Who Are Truly Muslim.”
The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, referring to his remarks from the previous week, said:
“Unfortunately, in our country, hostage-taking, theft, and extortion have become widespread. It is astonishing that a person can perform prayers, believe in God, call themselves a Muslim, yet engage in such acts. How can a Muslim steal and take other people’s property? How can a Muslim commit fraud, tell lies, or break promises? How can a Muslim betray a trust or fall into indecency? These are deeply shameful.”
He continued:
“How can someone claim to be a Muslim yet disobey God, or fail to respect the rights of parents, spouses, children, and neighbors? A Muslim is one who is truly surrendered to God. We must not be ‘Muslim in name only’—there are many of those, and few who are genuine Muslims.”
Mawlana Abdolhamid stated:
“Today there are Muslims who take a camel with all its load, who embezzle, who are involved in financial corruption—which is the greatest form of moral corruption. You must avoid these things. Be genuine, consistent in heart, face, and speech. Be truthful, and under no circumstances tell lies. Let honesty be part of our lives. Be trustworthy like Prophet Yusuf (Joseph, peace be upon him). The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) and his Companions governed the people and all wealth came under their blessed hands, yet they departed this world with empty hands—filling the people’s hands and satisfying their needs. That is why they were the caliphs of God on earth.”

“As Long As There Is Oppression, the Gates of Heaven Will Remain Closed.”
Referring to water shortages, he said:
“Today calamities are many, and disasters have struck the people of Iran both from the heavens and from the earth. The dams have dried up; there is no drinking water, and this is a divine test. We are sanctioned from above by the sky and from below by the earth. When we are sanctioned by heaven, it is clear that there is oppression—because oppression is a sin that God does not tolerate, and He holds the oppressor to account. Killing, hostage-taking, and denying people’s rights are all forms of oppression.”
He added:
“Oppression is not limited to the ruling authorities, but if the government fails to uphold justice, it too commits oppression. Many wrongs exist within state institutions. And as long as there is oppression, the gates of heaven will remain shut to us. We must repent and abandon these sins and immoralities; rulers and those in power must also repent and reform matters. Lip-service repentance has no value before God; true repentance means regret over the past and abandoning the sin. When the rights of people are violated, it means the greatest right of God has also been violated—because God Almighty is more displeased with the violation of His servants’ rights than with the violation of His own right.”

“Preserve the Province’s Security and Infrastructure.”
In conclusion, Mawlana Abdolhamid said:
“Preserve the province’s infrastructure, because it belongs to all the people of Iran and to the residents of this province, and it has been built with great effort. The security of the roads and public property must also be safeguarded.”