Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with a group of university students and representatives of students associations in Tehran on Wednesday night.
In response to a question posed by a student in whether the country’s problems are a result of mismanagement or the structure of the establishment, he said, "One of the speakers asked whether these shortcomings in the management of the country are due to the structure of the establishment or (malfunctioning of) the officials. The structure of the constitution is a good one. Of course, structures can be improved and modified in order for the shortcomings to be eliminated. For instance, once we did not have the Expediency Council but today we have it. This is true for all governments. Thus, the structure is not faulty, however, it needs modifications."
The Supreme Leader pointed to the idea of parliamentary government, and said, "The parliamentary government that we once discussed, we have extensively studied it in the Council of Revision of the Constitution and we concluded that the problems of the parliamentary government are even more than a presidential government."
"Yet, we as the executives are faulty; we have shortcomings and inabilities. Sometimes, the executives make a mistake that can create a big gap in society.
Asked about the halt of privatization in the country, the Leader of Revolution said, "There has of course been grave mistakes in privatization and I have put in notices several times. There are problems related to privatization. But the principle of privatization is an essential necessity of the economy. This was one of the structural problems that has been modified."
The Supreme Leader asserted that "there are of course problems in implementation. There have been mistakes, negligence and wrongdoings and wrongdoings need to be prevented".
The Leader of the Revolution addressed another question raised by a student on the ratification of the JCPOA by the Leader, rejecting any direct involvement.
"It was said during the talks that the ratification of the JCPOA has been attributed to the Leader. You can see and hear and can observe everything. Read the letter regarding the JCPOA and the conditions set for its ratification. But if these conditions were not met, the Leader is not in charge of intervention."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the role of the Supreme Leader does not include intervention in executive affairs unless the entirety of the Islamic Revolution is at risk, asserting, "I believe that the Leader should not meddle in executive affairs unless there is a risk that the entirety of Revolution's movement is endangered."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reminded his audience that he did not approve of the JCPOA but allowed for the negotiations, and said, "But the way the JCPOA was handled, I did not really believe in it, and mentioned this to the president and the foreign minister and had warned them several times."
Referring to a declaration of the Second Phase of the Islamic Revolution issued by Ayatollah Khamenei in February, the Supreme Leader made 4 essential points to be taken heed of by the youth, and said, "The main four points that were emphasized in the statement consisted of: the greatness of the revolution and its persistence; the importance of the work done, and the revolution's functions so far; the future of the revolution; and the significance of the role young and committed forces can play."
Ayatollah Khamenei invited the nation to take promising measures towards a brighter future for Iran, and said, "We need a public movement in order to reach the envisaged future. The committed youth will naturally act as the main players for carrying out this movement. The young people are not necessarily 22 to 25; by youth, I mean the people in their thirties and forties, too. They can make a huge difference in the country's governing system."
His Eminence urged the young generation of the country to launch an upright movement for the progress of the nation, and recommend, "Prepare the grounds for the formation of a young and pious government. We expect you, the university students, to be self-organized and self-motivated. Like when we acted self-motivatedly during the tyrannical rule of Pahlavis. Do not wait for others to get you involved."
Finally, he gave tidings to the youth that they can surely overcome problems, and asserted, "If you the youth advance in this manner, and prepare the ground for the formation of a young and pious government, your grieves will be over, and these grieves are not only yours."