The Supreme Leader made the remarks in the graduation ceremony of IRGC cadets at Imam Hossein (PBUH) University on Wednesday morning.
The country's security and tranquility in a troubled region should be regarded as one of the prides of the Islamic Republic of Iran being targeted by the arrogant powers, the Supreme Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei advised the presidential candidates to pay due attention to the country's economic status as well as people's living standards.
'The Country’s National security and calmness will be of prime importance and all presidential candidates should be watchful not to incite people's beliefs, geographical location, language and ethnics and not to be trapped by the enemy's plots as those who act against the country's security will definitely receive a slap in the face,' the Supreme Leader added.
IRGC is regarded as one of the pillars of strength and this could be seen in the wrath and intolerance of the global arrogance in their international propaganda and also by their politicians, the Supreme Leader said.
Their hostility and hatred towards our scientific developments urged them to assassinate our nuclear scientists with the hands of their mercenaries, Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
A powerful and independent economy are among elements of authority, the Supreme Leader said, adding that they imposed economic sanctions against Iran and it is among duties of the country’s economists to expose the ill-wishers’ strategies.
The hue and cry targetting Iran’s missile might is rooted in their animosity and hatred which should be regarded as our source of strength, the Supreme Leader said.
'We have very precise long-range missiles hitting their targets from thousands of kilometers away and are to maintain their might and to increase powerfully,' the Supreme Leader said.
In the absence of security, there will be no scientific and economic development, Ayatollah Khamenei added.
'The Islamic Republic of Iran is the government of resistance which never succumbs to bullying and only rely on its mighty stance,' he said.
The government of resistance should have powerful politics, economy, armed forces, active presence at regional and international scenes, the Supreme Leader added.
The resistance government never seeks hegemony or interferece in the affairs of other countries or adopt an offensive or isolated stance, the Supreme Leader said.
Some believe that in order to protect ourselves from slanders of bullying and authoritarian's attitudes at international or regional issues, 'we should adopt a defensive stance while such idea is totally wrong', Ayatollah Khamenei added.
The resistance government should adopt a deterrent power and the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to continue its mighty path with more efforts, initiatives and talents.
'The enemies should bear in their minds that if they think to attack Iran, they will be given a crushing response as we have already said that the era of hit and run is over' and they might be initiator, but the end of the story will be out of their control, the Supreme Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the enemy’s short-term goal is meant to distort the country’s security and trigger chaos and sedition.
He said that the main goal is to destroy the Islamic Republic’s great source of pride.
'We have managed to create a safe haven in a region filled with unrests and a world of full of tension; they want to take this away from the nation. If we prepare ourselves to combat the plots creating insecurity and sedition, we can certainly nullify them,' he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the enemy's mid-term goal is targeting issues like that of the economy and living conditions of the people; it is to make the economy stagnant and lagging; employment and production remain at a low rate and spread as a calamity throughout the country; so that the people will lose hope in the Islamic Republic over economical problems.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the main long-term goal of the enemy as an effort to change the system.
'At one time they used to openly say that the Islamic Republic should be destroyed, later they realized they cannot as this would put an end to their detriment; so, they normalized it and called for the Islamic Republic's change in behavior,' Supreme Leader added.
'I told the officials then that bear in mind their call for a change of behavior is no different from changing the system! Changing behavior means that we should distance from the path of Islam, the revolution and Imam Khomeini, a path we have been walking on and gradually moving on to the other side. Changing behavior means changing the Islamic establishment.'
'I advise the candidates to make sure they observe these points in their campaign promises. One is economy; they should certainly pay attention and firmly declare that they desire to make efforts to improve the economy of the country; and that the livelihood of the people is a number one priority. The second point is that they should demonstrate in their campaign promises and remarks that the concern is ‘national glory and independence of the Iranian nation.'
The Iranian nation is a revolutionary nation. The glory of the nation must be protected. The third point is national security and national peace; they should avoid triggering belief, geographical, lingual or ethnic differences; they should be careful. The candidates should be careful that by a detection error, they won’t trigger these difference to the benefit of the enemy.
The Leader of the Revolution warned that if anyone wants to rise against the country’s security, they will certainly face a harsh response, and said, 'The vicious Zionist-American multibillionaire who said, ‘I can create rummage in Georgia with 10 million dollars,' was stupid enough to consider influencing the Islamic Republic—with such grandeur—in 2009. They hit themselves into a firm and strong wall of national willpower and determination.
Ayatollah Khamenei finally said, 'The security of the country is very important; the security of the country should be fully protected during the elections. Anyone who violates this, should know he will certainly be punished!'