On March 21, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei questioned the Holocaust in a controversial address at the Imam Reza shrine marking Nowruz, Persian New Year. The “Holocaust is an event whose reality is uncertain and if it has happened, it's uncertain how it has happened,” he said. Khamenei lauded Iran for progress in science and technology despite tightened economic sanctions. He also argued that the United States had failed to achieve its goals in the Middle East, especially in Syria. The following are translated excerpts from Khamenei's semi-official Twitter account.
Pictures of the Leader of the Revolution's speech at the holy shrine of #ImamReza http://t.co/p6YlOJz7am #Nowruz pic.twitter.com/DsdGZgD940
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014I ask God a year full of blessings&a prosperous life 4Iranian nation&all Muslims of world.I hope new year’ll be one apt to nation’s dignity.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Political valor was indeed realized in last year: in the 1st half, presidential election & the second half, 22 Bahman rally. #Nowruz
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014The no. ppl of our country partaking in #elections’s always been large &this means the Islamic govt’s successfully established #democracy.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Reason 4a larger turnout at 22Bahman rally this yr was that Arrogant's agents adopted a more offensive&brazen tone toward Iranians.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014This shows the sensitivity and zeal of our ppl against the hostility and evil acts of enemies of the Islamic Republic of #Iran.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014I declare to the Iranian nation that if a nation is not strong, it will be subjected to bullying and blackmailing. #Nowruz
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Unfortunately the nature of a world run by materialistic agents is that powerful states subject weaker ones to their imperialistic desires.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014What I'm saying is that Iranian nation should strengthen itself; if a nation is not strong, it will be bullied and trampled under the feet.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 20144strengthening #Iran-ian nation,I see economy&culture as 2main outlines for yr93;w/national willpower&jihadi management
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014The strengthening of a nation does not solely rely on weaponry;the 3important elements of economy,culture & knowledge make nation a strong.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014We should take our economy to a point where no one can undermine our economy from the other side of the world.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Economy of resistance is the economy which would not be hindered by global instigations. 2better explain it, 3 questions should be answered.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014What is and what is not economy of resistance? It’s intro-productive but not introvert. It’s ppl-founded.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Economy of Resistance is knowledge-based but it does not mean that experienced artisans and farmers should not play a role.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Economy of resistance is justice-based but it does not mean to share the poverty.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014It is said whether economy of resistance is an imaginary thing or feasible thoughtful measure? The latter is the answer.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014The no. of uni students’s increased 25 times compared 2Pahlavi era; this is the high competence of our human resources.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Another capacity is our natural resources; no country has Iran's total oil & gas. We had also considerable discovery of gas resources.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 20143rd competence’s our geographical competence.Abt 370million ppl live in neighboring countries& 4prosperity of our economy,this no. is great.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Some would say if there were no sanctions, you could've made a good use of these capacities that now you can't; that's wrong.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014We were able 2achieve prominent positions in other issues the same as sanctions.An example is production of science,industry &tech
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014We were sanctioned but we progressed at Nano, nuclear,stem cells,defence industry,UAV industry/ missiles.Why can’t we progress at economy?
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014My dear ones, culture is even more important than economy.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Culture means the air that you breathe. If the air is clean there is an effect and if it is dirty, it has a different effect.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014A question possibly posed here is:does this contradict freedom which is 1of Revolution's slogans&an IRI's base?Response:No, it doesn't.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Freedom is apart from being unconcern and abandon all principles; Freedom is the great blessing of God & has a principle.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Absolute #freedom doesn’t exist anywhere in world.Even countries that claim 2 have freedom,set redlines on which they’re utterly strict.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Does anybody dare talk about #Holocaust in Europe? #freedom
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014#Holocaust is an event whose reality is uncertain and if it has happened, it's uncertain how it has happened.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014They treat their redlines in such manner. How can they expect us to neglect our faith’s redlines? #freedom #holocaust
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014It should not be that country's development units fear the rumor mongering of foreign media or those who act as their speakers
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014The more important issue addresses #youth across the country who’ve initiated #cultural activities independently,&thankfully it’s grown fast
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014#Young ppl should know that expansion of #cultural work among young revolutionary believers played an enormous role in country's development
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014..& scholars, professors etc. should have a critical look at the #culture, but it does not mean to slander, excommunicate& accuse anyone.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014In the end I should note that the realities of the international community won't be in accordance with the wishes and intentions of the #US
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014US failed in #Palestine & their plan for Palestine for which they made a great effort did not work and #God willing will not work either
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014They want to turn #Palestine into a country where #Muslims & #Christians cannot live; to terminate Palestine, so to speak.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014In #Syria US didn't achieve its goal,neither in #Iraq. Neither in #Afghanistan nor in #Pakistan. Recently in #Europe its plots went in vain.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014In our beloved country after 30 yrs of struggle against revolutionary Iranian nation,they didn't get any results.Its sign is presence of ppl
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014They've openly said that they'd tighten #sanctions 2instigate ppl 2take 2streets against the govt. What was outcome?huge turnout on22Bahman.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014Our beloved #young ppl should know that the #future is yours and the enemies are doomed to failure.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014I hope #God will lead you w/all his blessings to paths of prosperity & the heart of #ImamMahdi will be pleased w/us.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2014