TEHRAN- In a meeting attended by thousands of workers, Ayatollah Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the endeavors, integrity, and dedication of the community of workers, noting that the Prophet's (pbuh) gesture of kissing a worker's calloused hands exemplified the utmost respect for labor and those who perform it.

During the meeting, which was held in the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah on Wednesday, the Leader explained Islam's view of "work and the worker". He underlined that, “In the materialistic world, a worker is seen to be a wealth production instrument. The way Islam sees a worker and the way that a worker is valued is due to the way that work is valued. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) stated that God admires those who diligently, skillfully, and steadfastly perform their work.”

Ayatollah Khamenei continued by addressing the country's officials, stating that the working class and their respected families represent about half of the population, and emphasized: "If the condition of the working class improves, it would benefit at least half of the people in the country, which is very important."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution continued his remarks, stating that talking about economic issues without considering the unprecedented sanctions imposed by the US and Europeans is impossible. "The West deceitfully claims issues such as nuclear weapons, human rights issues, and support for terrorism as the reasons for imposing sanctions against Iran," he stated.

Ayatollah Khamenei clarified the contradictions and false excuses of the West by referring to Gaza as an example. “The people of Gaza are terrorists in the opinion of the U.S. and Europe. A malicious, fake, usurping, brutal regime that has massacred nearly 40,000 people in six months, thousands of them children, is not a terrorist but the people who are under its bombardment are terrorists!”

He underscored that the true intentions behind Iran's enemies imposing sanctions is to place the Islamic Republic in a challenging position and force it to align with colonial and imperialist agendas, adding that “the expectations of the U.S. never finish.”

While referring to a speech delivered several years ago on Iran’s nuclear issue, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to clearly outline how much nuclear reduction is necessary for them to be satisfied. The Leader further stated that the U.S. is reluctant to specify this limit, as they intend to systematically reduce Iran's nuclear facilities similar to how they did with a North African country, ultimately leading to the shutdown of Iran's nuclear industry.

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that the main goal of the U.S.’s imposition of sanctions, is to demand complete obedience and submission of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic in the political and economic fields. “They want Iran’s wealth, reputation and policies to be in America’s hands, as is the case with some other countries. “However, it is evident that the Islamic system, Islamic devoutness, and the great, long-standing Islamic nation will never submit to such coercion.”