In a meeting with the people and seminarians of Qom, which was held on the occasion of a historic uprising by the people of Qom on January 9, 1978, Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the arrogant powers have resorted to all kinds of machinations and methods in order to undermine the determination of Iran's government officials and disappoint the Iranian people. He stressed: "Western officials have repeatedly said that the aim of pressuring Iran and imposing sanctions on it is to encourage our people to leave the scene and to force our government officials to revise their calculations. But they are wrong and they will not achieve this goal because these disgraced people wrongly think that we are in the Valley of Abi Talib. This is not the case. Today we are not in the Valley of Abi Talib: we are in Badr and Khaybar."
His Eminence added: "While the Iranian nation has proudly achieved victory on many stages and the signs of new victories are becoming visible, the camp of the arrogant powers is trying to undermine the determination of our people and government officials by threatening them with sanctions. This is while the Iranian nation has chosen this path of glory with insight and has made many selfless efforts and sacrifices on this path."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the need for insight and steadfastness against the bullying of the arrogant powers. He added that presence of the people on the scene and insistence of the Islamic Republic on the principles are two factors that ensure the failure of the plots hatched by the enemies.
His Eminence said that the arrogant powers have been making widespread efforts to undermine these two factors. He added that the enemies have been unsuccessful in spite of these efforts.
Elsewhere in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that elections invigorate the Islamic Republic, but he cautioned: "Despite this outstanding and important characteristic, elections might also bring about certain problems."
His Eminence stressed that in any election, some people might protest against the final results. "The law has specified a certain path for such conditions. But in the presidential elections of the year 1388, certain people chose the path of breaking the law, imposing expenses on the country and the people, cheering up the enemy and implementing the enemy's plans, but they did not get anywhere because the people were present on the scene and as long as the people are present on the scene, nobody in the country can push ahead with their illegal actions."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the upcoming parliamentary election is important for other Muslim nations as well and added: "This is why the malevolent organizations affiliated with the arrogant powers - including America, England, the Zionists and others - are trying to present a disappointing picture of this election to other nations."
His Eminence called on the people to choose their candidates carefully and stressed: "There are two ways to make the right choice: you either have to research the matter and come to a conclusion, or you have to listen to those who can assure you."