The Leader of the Islamic Revolution formally endorsed the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a second term this morning. He approved the Iranian nation's vote for Mr. Ahmadinejad in a ceremony that was also attended by heads of the three government branches, members of the Assembly of Experts, and members of the Majlis.
Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his appreciation to the Iranian nation for its record turnout in the June 12 presidential election. His Eminence said that the 80 percent voter turnout in the 10th presidential election was indicative of the Iranian nation's hope and commitment to the achievements of the post-Revolution era.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the unprecedented voter turnout in the presidential election and said it was a vote for the Islamic Republic's discourse, tireless efforts, courageous resistance against domineering global powers, and "fighting poverty, corruption, discrimination, and aristocracy".
Speaking at the ceremony, Ayatollah Khamenei described religious democracy as a novel and thought-provoking phenomenon and added: "Religious democracy - which describes the extraordinary convergence of people's enthusiastic presence in elections and their concern for Islamic and divine standards - is a serious response to the modern needs of the human community."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the people who claim to support democracy and human rights used to support the dictatorial Pahlavi regime despite the people's absence from all decision-making areas. "Thanks to the nation's great Revolution, the people's presence in the scene, and their submission to divine teachings, the people managed to give rise to a reality named the Islamic Republic," he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei dismissed as meaningless and irrelevant the discussion about the priority of the republican or Islamic aspects of the Islamic Republic, further reiterating: "The republican and Islamic aspects are two inseparable elements because relying on the people and respecting their wish and vote is at the heart of the Islamic aspect and relying on divine teachings."
His Eminence referred to the ups of the downs of the past 30 years and said that they prove the efficiency of the Islamic Republic. "Holding about 30 elections with the presence of people with different political tendencies throughout the past 30 years and democratically choosing the government system, Constitution, and basic management of the country on the basis of the people's vote are indicative of a great capacity that the majority of the foreign observers, even those who are not biased, have not been able to understand."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the polite and peaceful transfer of power and executive positions after the victory of the Revolution are signs of the praiseworthy capacity of the establishment and added: "During these years, some of the measures and management policies have not been totally consistent with the basic foundations of the establishment, but through internal resolution of such problems, the Revolution has in practice used the problems to expand its capabilities. And through increasing its capacity and experience, the Revolution has continued its path with more power."
He said that religious democracy and seamless integration of the Islamic and republican aspects are the secrets behind the invulnerability and permanence of the Islamic Republic.
Elsewhere in his speech, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the ability of the Islamic Republic to win public trust was the first message of the June 12 election.
He added: "After the Revolution some people were waiting to see Islamic government fall into abeyance. They were waiting to see Islamic government fall out of favor with the people. But the recent election and the new international record in voter turnout clearly showed that the Islamic Republic has become even more capable of winning the people's trust and mobilizing their support. And this pure reality must not be sidelined for the sake of the incidental post-election events."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the mutual trust between the Islamic Republic and the people was the second message of the presidential election. He further reiterated that opening the door to political contribution and the free exchange of ideas was a sign of the self-confidence of the Islamic Republic and its trust in the nation.
He added: "The people, too, showed their trust in the Islamic Republic. They proved their support for their elected government by casting their votes into the ballot boxes. And this reality shows that those who talk about the people's distrust are unaware, if not spiteful."
"The people's trust is the main asset of the Islamic Republic, and I expect all the officials working in different parts of the government to constantly increase this invaluable trust through their behavior."
The Leader referred to public hope and dynamism as the third message of the election and stressed: "Depressed and hopeless people would not participate in elections. The enthusiastic presence of the youth and people of different ages at the polling stations was indicative of the hope that our society has for the future."
Ayatollah Khamenei called on the people and government officials to seriously consider the lessons of the presidential election. "The post-election events were a serious warning that the enemy is lying in ambush and that being unaware about its possible blows is very dangerous, even in the best conditions."
His Eminence said that the enemy's plots and efforts to create trouble for the people are a reality and added: "If we suspect each other in political and social matters, if we regard each other as enemies, and if we are not clever and clear-sighed, we will suffer from the enemy's blows. That was the important lesson that the June 12 election taught us."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also stressed: "People from all walks of life, all officials, people with different political tendencies, those who are devoted to the country and the Islamic Republic, and each and every Iranian must be truly vigilant. Of course the nation showed that it was vigilant, and it did not allow the enemy to fish in troubled waters."
Ayatollah Khamenei also called on the enemies to learn lessons from the post-election events and stated: "The enemy must know what nation and government it is faced with. It should not imagine that it can bring the nation to its knees with some ordinary measures. The enemies should not imagine that they can deal a blow to the Islamic Republic through a poor imitation of the great presence of the people in the impressive 1979 Revolution, through a caricature of that great movement. That is because this powerful and established government will not be defeated through such actions."
The Leader said that the nation's faith and vigilance will prevent the enemy's success. He added: "It is not possible to deceive this vigilant nation by imitating the magnanimous Imam whose heart and soul were immersed in the Quran. That is because the heart of this nation is enlightened by the light of faith."
His Eminence described the presidential election as a divine test and said that the Iranian nation passed the test. "Many people, youth, and elites participated in the election because of their faith, sincerity, and sense of duty. And then they obeyed the law. These people were the ones who passed this great test."
The Leader touched on the failure of some individuals in the post-election test and added: "Some of the elites failed in this election, and some of the youth who had entered the arena with sincerity made mistakes in some cases."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that expressing their gratitude for the people's presence in practice is a test for the president-elect and other government officials, further adding: "The honorable president, who has been elected by the people with a record number of votes, and his colleagues in the next administration must appreciate the people's faith and make every effort to reach the goals of the Revolution."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to observing the law and cooperation among the three government branches as the prerequisites of appreciating the people's presence in the election. He further called the three branches of the government to unity and cooperation.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the president and the 10th administration belong to all those who voted in the June 12 election and added: "This reality must be taken into account in all planning."
His Eminence said that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has many supporters and reiterated: "Besides these supporters, there are two groups of other people who have to be taken into account: The furious and wounded opponents who will continue opposing the administration and the critics who are not opposed to the Islamic Republic and the president. The views and suggestions of the critics must be taken into consideration, and I hope that is how the administration will act."
The Leader stressed the need for supporting the people who sustained physical injuries and financial loss as well as the people whose reputation has been tarnished. He added: "The victims must be supported. Those who caused suffering for the people must be identified and reproached, no matter who they are."