The Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei started off his tour of Kerman Province on Sunday, May 1.
The Leader arrived in the provincial capital, Kerman, at 9:00 a.m. and was accorded a very warm and enthusiastic welcome by the sincere and faithful local residents.
Following his arrival at the airport, Ayatollah Khamenei went to the city's prayer grounds on board a blue minibus, which traveled the long distance from the airport to the prayer grounds slowly and with difficulty because of the massive crowds of people who had inundated the streets to welcome the Leader.
The local residents of Kerman, especially the avid youth, were so enthusiastic and eager to see the Leader of the Islamic Republic that many of them followed his minibus for kilometers without feeling tired.
In an address to a large gathering of over 100,000 people at the city's prayer grounds, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his sincere gratitude to the Kerman residents for their warm welcome and described the residents of Kerman Province as faithful, revolutionary, vigilant, loyal and experienced. He also noted that Kerman Province has presented many luminaries in the fields of science, literature, art and also politics in the course of the Iranian history.
The Leader pointed out that although Kerman Province is rich in natural resources and despite the measures that have so far been taken to develop the province, the condition of the province has not reached a satisfactory level yet. He emphasized that the officials of the present and next government should pay greater attention to the issue of employment in the province, especially creating more jobs for the young people, and carry out the decisions that will be made during the visit for improving the condition of the province.
Turning to the domestic front, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the Iranian nation and officials are determined to make the Islamic Republic a prosperous, developed and powerful country through incessant efforts and perseverance and based on appropriate planning.
The Leader described the country's present situation as sensitive, but made it clear that the sensitivity of the situation has nothing to do with the challenges facing Iran's foreign policy or the threats posed by the world's bullies and arrogant powers.
"Such threats have existed ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution some 26 years ago, and the Iranian people have always forced the enemies to back off with their firm will, wisdom, prudence and power; they will also do so in the future. The sensitivity of the present situation is due to an urgent need for proper plans and constant efforts to make the country's infrastructural development show its positive effect on the everyday lives of the Iranian people and raise their living standards," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
He further stated, "Since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, especially since the end of the Iraqi imposed war, some very important constructive measures have been taken in various areas, and the country's infrastructures have been greatly improved and consolidated. But what makes the country's present situation very sensitive and significant is the necessity of making these great achievements tangible to the Iranian people, so that the Iranian nation may enjoy social justice, welfare and increased progress."
Elsewhere in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic noted that greater efforts should be made in the country to eliminate poverty, uproot corruption, fill the gap between the poor and the rich and administer social justice in society, so that the Iranian nation may attain full progress and development and set an example to other Muslim nations in the world.
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the designation of the current year as the 'Year of National Solidarity and Public Participation' and reminded the audience that participation in the upcoming presidential elections, which are only a couple of months ahead, and electing a competent and efficient president bears great domestic and international significance.
"Presidential elections are one of the most serious, exciting and attractive areas of public participation. Considering that massive public participation in the upcoming presidential elections can play a decisive role in sealing the fate of our country, the enemies of our nation are making every effort and using every possible means to dishearten the Iranian people and discourage them from voting in the June-17 presidential elections. But by the favor of Allah and vigilance and awareness of our nation, the efforts of the enemies are doomed to failure," he remarked.
The Leader stated that the arrogant powers would try to prevent the holding of elections in Iran by influencing certain political groups if they had any chances of success, as they tried to do so with regard to the recent parliamentary elections but failed.
Further in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei described religious democracy as the essence of the Islamic system.
"The Western liberal democracy is trying to indoctrinate the world public with the false belief that it wields monopoly on democracy. This is why the Western powers are displeased and irritated by the fact that the Iranian people have participated in some 25 elections over the past 25 years to elect the high-ranking officials of their government," he pointed out.
The Leader told the gathering that elections are among the attractive manifestations of public participation and constitute a great step toward accomplishing individual and social objectives. He called on the people to carefully examine the qualifications of presidential candidates and vote for the best and most efficient candidate based on exact knowledge and awareness in the upcoming elections.
Referring to the negative propaganda of the enemies that are aimed at downgrading the status and function of president in the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the Constitution of the Islamic Republic has invested unique authority and jurisdiction and numerous powers in the elected president, so that the president of the Islamic Republic may play the most influential role in promoting the country's progress and development and in solving the people's problems.
The Leader emphasized that the Iranian people need an efficient, competent and dynamic president loyal to the nation and to the lofty objectives of the revolution that will make every effort to promote progress and development combined with social justice and launch an all-out campaign against corruption and discrimination. He noted that in the upcoming presidential elections, the Iranian people should vote for a candidate who enjoys these qualifications.
Elsewhere in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei hinted at the ceaseless hostility of the United States and other arrogant powers towards the Iranian nation.
"What U.S. officials are actually saying is that if you do not accept our hegemony and predominance and do not serve our interests, we will accuse you of supporting terrorism and violating human rights. But our people have shown that they are able to resist and stand up to the bullying and outrageous demands of U.S. officials, and that they are able to confront whoever threatens their independence, national interests, dignity and identity," he stated.
Referring to the recent remarks made by U.S. officials to the effect that the Iranian nation does not need nuclear energy, the Leader of the Islamic Republic made it clear that U.S. officials are not in a position to pass such remarks about the great Iranian nation.
"The Iranian people have obtained nuclear technology thanks to the efforts and perseverance of their young dedicated scientists. Our nation is going to preserve this national achievement contrary to the demands of the wicked, bloodthirsty and lying regime of the United States," he pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei also stated, "The spokesmen of the arrogant powers have said that they are going to talk to the Iranian officials about nuclear energy after the presidential elections in this country. But the arrogant powers should bear in mind that our presidential elections have nothing to do with the issue of nuclear energy, and whoever is elected president of the Islamic Republic neither wants nor is allowed by the Iranian nation to take any steps contrary to the interests of our nation."