On the eve of the June-17 presidential elections, thousands of Iranian citizens met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Wednesday, June 15.
In an address to the audience, the Leader regarded the presidential elections as playing a crucial role in deciding the fate of the nation. He stressed that it is the right as well as the duty of the Iranian people to decide their own fate by participating in the presidential elections.
"On Friday, the vigilant Iranian people will go to the polls so as to protect their country, preserve their national interests and infuse new life and spirit into their strong and stable Islamic system. Also, by doing so, they will display their national solidarity to the world and foil the plots of the wicked enemies that are aimed at diluting the Iranian people's participation in the presidential elections," the Leader told the gathering.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that there are presidential candidates for all kinds of political, economic, social and cultural tastes and tendencies on the scene of the upcoming presidential elections in Iran.
"Thanks to the real democracy existing under the Islamic system, no one in this country, neither the Leader nor the government or different political groups or parties, can enjoin the people to vote for a certain candidate. But it is the people themselves who will vote for a candidate whom they consider to be the most competent and suitable after necessary investigations and consultations," Ayatollah Khamenei further noted.
He added that the Iranian people will also be rewarded by the Almighty for their intention and efforts to establish the Islamic values in society when they vote for the presidential candidate who is the most suitable for the office.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic criticized certain individuals for echoing the negative propaganda of U.S. and Zionist media implying that the Iranian nation is just learning to act democratically.
"The enemies are saying these words in order to despise and humiliate the great Iranian nation. However, it is unfortunate that those who have often witnessed the Iranian people's enthusiastic participation in many nationwide elections after the victory of the revolution, the participation which has been in conformity with the Iranian people's freedom of choice and motivated by their faith, knowledge and awareness, are repeating these unfair remarks," the Leader observed.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei drew a comparison between democracy under the Islamic system and democracy in the West.
"Democracy under the Islamic system is characterized by transparency and generality. But democracy in the West is plagued with certain problems and limitations. For instance, in many of these countries claiming to be democratic the people vote for the candidates nominated by political parties without having enough familiarity with those candidates, as they have only heard the names of those candidates during their election campaigns. But in the Islamic Republic, no party can enjoin the people to vote in such a manner," he noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei, however, stressed that some individuals are trying to make the Iranian parties function like those in the United States and certain European countries so that a few party officials, motivated by certain political or economic incentives and horse-trading, may decide for the whole general public, and so that the people may vote for their nominated candidates without circumspection. "But such efforts have so far proved abortive and will not succeed in the future either," he added.
The Leader considered the Iranian people's presence on the scene a strong bulwark against the enemy's aggression and encroachment. He also referred to the attempts made by the arrogant powers over the past few months to dilute the Iranian people's participation in the June-17 presidential elections.
"Despite all such attempts and in spite of the negative propaganda disseminated by the enemies of our nation, it is currently predicted that the majority of the Iranian people will participate in the upcoming presidential elections. This is why the enemies of our nation are now deeply embarrassed and disconcerted," he pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the Iranian people's support for the Islamic system as the most important factor foiling the world's bullies and arrogant powers in their plots and machinations against the Islamic Republic.
"On Friday, the Iranian people in a massive turnout will once again vote for the Islamic Republic and the inviolable Islamic principles of the constitution and, by doing so, they will safeguard their Islamic system and constitution," he noted.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic stated that despite the fact that many constructive and positive measures have been taken in the country, there still remain many problems that have to be resolved. He emphasized that the Iranian people have grown tired of political disputes and wranglings, and that they expect government officials to solve their problems.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that Islam and the constitution have entrusted government officials with the duty to uproot corruption and discrimination and take serious measures to raise the living standards of the deprived and underprivileged strata.
"The Iranian people expect the new president of the Islamic Republic to avoid futile political wranglings and, instead, appoint dedicated individuals faithful to the rights of the people and to the system as his colleagues and take concrete measures to solve the people's problems as the first priority of his government," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
The Leader further called on the Interior Ministry officials and the supervisors appointed by the Guardian Council to make every effort to protect the vote of every single Iranian citizen. He stressed that the people's votes are a divine consignment, and that they should be fully protected.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei felicitated the gathering on the birth anniversary of Her Holiness Zainab (peace and greetings be upon her). The birth anniversary has been designated as the Day of Nurses, and Ayatollah Khamenei also congratulated the Iranian nurses on this occasion.
The Leader emphasized that if women follow the model set by Her Holiness Zainab (peace and greetings be upon her) in any society, moral and spiritual values will prevail in that society.