The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei cast his ballot in the 9th presidential elections a short time after they were started off across the country on Friday, June 17.
After the Leader cast his vote in the ballot-box, he was interviewed by the Central News Bureau (CNB). The text of the interview is as follows:
Q: Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity for this interview. I noticed that you cast you vote in the ballot-box just minutes after the 9th presidential elections got officially under way across the country. What is the reason that you voted so early?
A: In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
It is good if one does a pious deed as early as possible. One does not know whether he is alive the next hour. I had the time and opportunity to vote early in the morning; thus, I made the most of this opportunity and cast my vote in the ballot-box.
Participation in elections is a pious deed. This pious deed should be done both in time and enthusiastically. There are some tasks that should be performed at a certain time, and participation in elections is one of these tasks.
If today, I do not carry out this responsibility, I will not be able to do it the next day or even five or ten days from now. I will have to wait for another four years. But if we the Iranians vote today, we will be able to create a new opportunity for our country and nation.
The faithful and wise Iranian people perform their tasks at the right time. Fortunately, our people have so far shown that they are quite aware of the significance of acting timely. When the Iranian people go to the polls in conformity with the constitution and vote for their favorite candidates, they actually cast their votes in favor of the constitution and the Islamic system.
Presently, there are seven candidates running in the 9th presidential elections. Voting for any of these candidates, our people have achieved two objectives at the same time. First, they have voted for their favorite candidate and, second, they have expressed their support for the Islamic system and the constitution.
The Iranian people know this very well. This is why they have participated in all the elections that have so far been held in our country. Today also, by the favor of Allah, they will participate in the 9th presidential elections with great enthusiasm.
I hope and pray to the Almighty that a presidential candidate who is competent enough to solve the existing problems and fulfill the needs of our country and nation will take office through these elections.
Q: As you know, in Western democracies, elections are considered as a symbol of the people's freedom of choice, and the countries in which general elections are held are described as having democratic governments. However, in the Western negative propaganda that is being disseminated against our country, we are noticing that efforts are being made to discourage the Iranian people from going to the polls in the 9th presidential elections. This is a clear contradiction and inconsistency. What do you think about this?
A: The negative propaganda that you said is aimed at dissuading the Iranian people from voting in the 9th presidential elections is not disseminated by all Western democracies. It is being spread by certain enemies of our nation, the enemies that would not like an Islamic system with a religious identity to be democratic and dependent on the people's votes. They would not like Islam to give rise to and firmly establish a real democratic system, since the establishment of this democratic system is contrary to their interests. This is why they do not want this great symbol and manifestation of democracy to exist in our country.
Who are our enemies who are disseminating this negative propaganda? It is not necessary for us to name who they are. Anyone who is involved in this negative propaganda against our Islamic system ranks among our enemies.
Thus, this negative propaganda does not originate from the democratic world. The democratic nations of the world are happy about the existence of democracy, no matter where it exists. Today, there are fortunately many individuals with independent views in the West, both in the United States and in Europe, who acknowledge and admit that there is no democracy - at least in our region - as comprehensive, as firmly established and as transparent as the Islamic Republic of Iran.