"Cutting relations with America is one hundred percent to the advantage of Iranians. It is a deceitful misrepresentation to say that nations who have good relations with the U.S. have no economic or financial problems. If the Iranian nation wishes to turn its economic and financial standing around, which it will certainly do, all it needs is a strong will, decisiveness, and cooperation among the different sectors of society. It also needs to avoid being impacted by Western media and the West’s propaganda machines. These measures and values will build the nation, not relations with America."
Ali Khamenei

January 1, 1970