Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has lauded the Islamic Republic’s achievements and progressive movement over the years, saying the enemies seek to induce despair among the people and turn the country's strengths into weaknesses.

Raeisi made the remarks in an official ceremony to inaugurate the launch of several new urban railway routes in the capital Tehran on Saturday.

“Today, the enemies seek to instill despair, hopelessness and helplessness in the society, but we, the Iranian nation, believe in the culture of ‘we can’,” Raeisi said.

Underling the heartfelt cooperation between the Iranian government and nation, the president said a lot of work has been done in the country and a lot more is also underway, which will be accomplished through the efforts and perseverance of the country’s youths.

"Today, the atmosphere of work and effort prevails in the country, and such an atmosphere will surely bring about satisfaction and trust of the people, and generate strength for the country,” Raeisi noted.

“The enemy does not want the country to progress and the people to hear good news, so it tries to mask the strengths and magnify the weaknesses that exist in every corner,” he noted.

In a speech in November, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said arrogant powers are disgruntled by Iran’s scientific advances and tremendous achievements, adding that the West’s enmity towards Iran is rooted in the Islamic Republic's continuous progress, which the West cannot stand.

“The enemy is trying to make not only the people and the youths, but also the officials lose hope, and unfortunately, the enemy has an internal extension that they are also trying to instill hopelessness and despair,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

Touching upon some instances of progress and forward movements in Iran in recent weeks, the Leader recounted Iranian scientists’ new method to treat leukemia, localization of one of the oil and gas extraction equipment, opening of a railway line in a part of Sistan and Baluchistan Province, which is an important part of the North-South railway, opening several factories, setting up the first offshore refinery, operating 6 power plants, unveiling one of the largest telescopes in the world, launching a satellite-carrying rocket and unveiling a new rocket.

Ayatollah Khamenei said such achievements were obtained at a time that the enemy was trying to prevent this forward-heading movement with riots and by the imposition of draconian sanctions.