Well overcome these hard days with cooperation, synergy

Speaking on Wednesday in a cabinet session, President Hassan Rouhani said, "The Supreme Leader of the Revolution wants more powerful, quicker move towards production and the way to do that is to make some infrastructural and quick work".

Parts of President Hassan Rouhani's speech at the cabinet session is as follows:

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation to the overwhelming majority of people for heeding the recommendations of the National Task Force for Fighting Coronavirus.

This staying at home is the best way to fight coronavirus so that we can return back to normal conditions quicker.

I would also like to appreciate the dedication of the medical staff, the armed forces and all the producers in the fight against COVID-19; those who are working hard in major water treatment plants to produce health drinking water for people; all those who are trying to provide people with energy, be it power, gas, diesel and petrol; all those who are working in factories and stores providing foodstuff.

Of course, there is higher sacrifice by those who are working to save lives in hospitals, and the day-to-day care of the nation's health system, the armed forces, and those who volunteer and donate money or special facilities.

The Red Crescent, the Armed Forces, the police, Basij, and all those who are working hard for your health ask you not to continue traveling if you do not have normal conditions.

I emphasise once again that protecting people's health is the top priority for all authorities and the armed forces, and the entire system. God-willing, our conditions are better than other countries, and even those developed ones and the European ones both in supply of essential needs and hospitals and beds.

I would also like to thank the IRIB for informing and educating people and those who are active in the social media to keep people entertained and teach them sports to have fun in their houses. We will overcome these hard days with cooperation, coordination and synergy.

During this year's New Year, we abandoned some of our national and religious traditions and could not go to holy places and attend congregational and Friday prayers and were unable to attend regular annual visits.

Before anything, Islam the religion of health and invited everyone to take care of their personal hygiene over 14 centuries ago.

On the national aspect, the one who discovered alcohol was the Iranian scientist Zakaria Razi. He produced a substance that is the ingredient of many disinfectants and the Iranians produced it and made it available to humans.

Basically, a large part of the medical science was promoted by the Iranians, including Avicenna and others. So the world is indebted to the culture of Islam and Iranian culture in many scientific and health fields, and we should all appreciate each other at this point.

The other point that I want to make here is that in the new year, we must do our best to develop the country. The Supreme Leader has always emphasised economic issues and surge in production, and the government has made every effort last year to boost production.

The naming of year 1399 as the year of 'Surge in Production' by the Supreme Leader is a good opportunity for the government, producers, private sector and everyone to make greater efforts for boosting production.

Let's do our best for country's development in new year. This year the year of inaugurating major projects.

Ministers should announce their important plans and programmes in various areas for year 1399 in the coming days and weeks.

What plans we have regarding our foreign relations until the end of the year; what foreign affairs should do in terms of production, export, the raw materials we need to import will be announced to the people.

The Supreme Leader of the Revolution wants more powerful, quicker move towards production and the way to do that is to make some infrastructural and quick work.

Reforming the banking system is one of the top priorities for us. People should know that the way to move quicker and more powerful in production is to make some infrastructural and quick work.

Surge in production happens through good relations with our friends all over the world for import and export. Production is possible with investment, technology and foreign relations

Banking, customs, tax and other infrastructure are requirements for improving business atmosphere and surge in production.

We are not in a normal economic situation; sanctions that are cruel, illegal and terroristic have been imposed by the US on the Iranian people, and unfortunately many problems have been caused for us.

Americans' saying we are ready to help Iran through the hardships of coronavirus is one of the great lies of history, as if as somebody has blocked the source of the spring and does not let anyone go to the clear spring, but it brings a glass of muddy water and offers them, saying that I've come to help, I know you're thirsty.

If you want to help, get your boots out of the way; you have blocked the origin, you have made problems for us selling our oil; you have made problems for our banking system; for food, for raw materials and for employment; part of the unemployment is because of America, part of the hard life of the people is because of America, part of the lack of working capital for factories is because of America, lack of some medicines is because of America, not having a job and living in a state of extreme crisis for some people is because of America.

The Americans, who are responsible for the biggest crimes in the region and responsible for the crimes in Iran and terrorism in the true sense of the word, and when their thoughts and underpinnings of their misconduct and terrorism have become more apparent to the world, say we are ready to help in combatting coronavirus. This is the same glass of muddy water, but they do not say that they blocked the main springs on this nation.

We do not want your glass of muddy water; step aside, break the barrier, do not harass the nations and companies, buyers, importers and exporters; we know well what to do. Our nation, our businessmen and our doctors are well aware; our scientists are well acquainted.

These days are the days of Prophet's ascension, and I wish God's mercy for all.

Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

end item\*

We'll overcome these hard days with cooperation, synergy

Differentiating the effect of social enterprise activities on health

Making norms to tackle global challenges: The role of Intergovernmental Organisations

American Militarism, Its Agents, And Its Next Target: Iran