Friday Prayers across Iran: Economy of Resistance and Istanbul Summit

(Friday prayer attendants holding pictures of Iranian military who lost their lives in the Syrian war. Source: Arash Mirsepasi/YJC)

In Tehran, Ahmad Jannati, who had returned to the Friday prayers for the first time since his hairbreadth victory and entering the Council of Experts in February elections, called for attention to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's naming of the new year, that is, "economy of resistance, action and implementation". "To be successful, economy of resistance should be revolutionary," Jannati said. "Normal burueacratic procedures carried out so far are either futile or do not bring the desired effect." Jannati added that economy of resistance aims to withstand pressures from the United States and the West.

In controversial remarks, Ayatollah Jannati also spoke of figures in higher echelons of the establishment and also in the private sector who move Iran's wealth to other countries. He also warned about 'infiltration', Iran's most popular buzzword of recent months, reminding his audience that a significant number of senior figures have children who study abroad, and could potentially functions as a bridge between the enemy and officials.

In Mashhad, Ayatollah Alamolhoda also slammed the government's insistence on negotiations with the West. "Why would we need resistance economy if the enemy's assault on people's welfare is supposed to be countered through negotiations and shaking hands with our foe?" he asked.  "Economic assault is the enemy's weapon, and one cannot negotiate with the enemy over their weapon," he added.

In Khorramabad, center of Lorestan Province, Hojjatoleslam Miremadi slammed Saudi Arabia for its diplomatic agenda during the recent summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey. The Friday prayers' leader of Khorramabad called Saudi Arabia "the largest financial sponsor of terrorist groups in the region," criticizing Riyadh for turning the summit into a divisive one against Iran. He also criticized the final communiqué of the OIC summit for being lopsided and replicating claims by Western countries against Iran. Also in Semnan, in northern Iran, Ayatollah Mohammad Shahcheraghi called Saudi Arabia's diplomatic hustle in Istanbul against Iran and its ally Hezbollah, a move that serves Israel's goals and has serious consequences for Muslim countries. Qom's Friday prayers' imam Ayatollah A'rafi also criticized the final communiqué of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation during its summit in Turkey. "If it wasn't for Hezbollah and Iran's power, Baghdad, Damascus, and many of your capital cities would be under Zionists' control," he said.