Thousands of enthusiastic people of Kurdistan province met this morning with Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Speaking at the meeting, the Leader expressed his appreciation for the resistance and vigilance of the faithful people of this province. Stressing the importance of national glory, he delineated the criteria for identifying the most qualified presidential candidate.
Kurdistan is mainly populated by Kurdish and Sunni minority groups. Ayatollah Khamenei described Kurdistan as the land of faith, culture, art, and loyalty and added: "The Iranian nation will never forget the selfless efforts of the courageous people of this land, who identified the enemies' machinations during the early stages of the Islamic Republic and stood up to them."
His Eminence said that the people who try to undermine national unity are the enemy's mercenaries. "Those who try to undermine national unity under religious pretexts, especially under the pretext of supporting Shia or Sunni, are the enemy's mercenaries, whether they realize it or not," he said.
Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei touched upon the Islamic Republic's view of ethnic diversity. "We believe ethnic diversity provides different ethnic communities of the Iranian nation with a great opportunity to complement each other's capacities."
The Leader also added: "Our view of Kurdistan is based on affection, brotherhood, and unity, and those who are opposed to this view are acting against the general policy of the Islamic Republic."
Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to elections as a great national test and reiterated that the great participation of the people in the upcoming presidential elections is an important issue. He further added that such presence will result in increasing national grander and resistance, and will prevent the enemies from hatching plots and spreading corruption in the country.
His Eminence referred to the close attention of the spiteful enemies of the Iranian nation to the upcoming elections in the country and added: "The enemies have been trying to prevent the elections from being held in our country through broadcasting different propaganda during the past year, but they will not succeed, as was the case in the parliamentary elections. All their plots were foiled through the determination of the nation and Allah's favors."
Ayatollah Khamenei said the enemies are planning to prevent the people from taking part in the elections and reduce the voter turnout. He continued: "Despite the enemies' efforts, the vigilant Iranian nation will take part in the elections in an active, conscious, and enthusiastic manner because the elections are a means for increasing our national grandeur and will contribute to our national progress."
Ayatollah Khamenei said the fact that the head of the executive branch carries great authority is one of the factors which increases the significance of the upcoming presidential elections in the country. He further said that the great Iranian nation has the right and the ability to make and influence decisions in the management of the country and reiterated that the Iranian people are aware of the fact that a determined and enthusiastic president will render great services to the nation.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the active participation of the people in the upcoming presidential elections as the most important issue in the elections and added: "Electing the most highly qualified candidate from among the candidates whose credentials are approved by the Guardian Council is the second most important issue in this regard."
Also in this regard, Ayatollah Khamenei added: "All the candidates whose credentials are approved by the Guardian Council are deemed qualified to run for president, but the people should not apply low standards in their choice. Rather, they should elect the most qualified candidate by considering the appropriate criteria."
Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed that he never expresses a preference for a particular candidate in the elections. He further clarified the criteria for electing the most qualified president and advised the people to elect a president who is aware of the problems of the country and the nation, who is sympathetic and friendly towards the people, and who avoids luxury. His Eminence also referred to avoidance of corruption and extravagance by the president and his family and relatives as important criteria for electing the next president. He said that the tendency toward luxury is a serious problem.
Referring to the necessity for avoiding extravagance and luxury, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to naming the current year as "the year of reforming the norms of consumption" and added: "Avoiding extravagance and turning frugality into a cultural norm requires several years of concerted efforts. However, the officials who have a tendency towards extravagance cannot help the nation in this regard."
At the end of this part of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that the people should try to elect the most qualified candidate by considering these criteria and then vote for the right candidate with the intention of getting closer to God.
Ayatollah Khamenei also advised the presidential candidates to act fairly and consider the truth in their electoral campaigns and avoid defaming other candidates. He said: "Some of the candidates say certain things about the current conditions of the country or about economic issues which are not true. These remarks will only make the people concerned, and one cannot believe that all these false claims have been made out of honesty and sincerity."