In remarks on the thirtieth anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini's passing, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei counselled that "contrary to surrender, resistance makes the enemy retreat. When the enemy is bullying you, if you take one step back, the enemy will move forward without a doubt. The way to stop the enemy's advance is to stand your ground". He added that "resistance is obviously not without cost, but the cost of surrender to the enemy is far greater". Khamenei went on to warn that "the enemy's plots appear in many forms and kinds. At times, they threaten. At times, they entice... this is a sly political game".