The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei in an enthusiastic meeting, held this morning with the presence of thousands of people from different groups in the country, called the forthcoming elections on Friday a great national test aimed at increasing the authority and the dignity of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic. He said: "The vigilant and determined Iranian nation, with its presence on this scene as a religious and political duty, will once again disappoint the global hegemony and the U.S."The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei in an enthusiastic meeting, held this morning with the presence of thousands of people from different groups in the country, called the forthcoming elections on Friday a great national test aimed at increasing the authority and the dignity of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic. He said: "The vigilant and determined Iranian nation, with its presence on this scene as a religious and political duty, will once again disappoint the global hegemony and the U.S."
His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei also said: "The Iranian nation will form a powerful parliament based on values and Islamic principles which will be beneficial to the whole country by electing the most qualified candidates who are pious and sincere, who believe in social justice, revile corruption, and support the rights of the underprivileged as well as national interests, and by electing candidates who have marked clear borders with the enemy."
His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei, referring to the opposition of the global hegemony with the staging and the presence of people in the elections, called the hostility of global bullying powers towards Islam and the Islamic Republic as the main reason for the vast, non-stop political efforts of foreign propagandists. "These efforts are aimed at hindering the Iranian nation's enthusiastic presence in the elections on March 14, and that opposition is the main reason behind these efforts." He added: "They have realized that the great Iranian nation is the standard-bearer and pioneer of power and vigilance among the Islamic nations and it is due to this that those powers are opposed to any movement which would provide dignity, comfort and the development for Iranians and the Iranian nation."
The Leader also referred to the recent speeches made by the American authorities and the passing of an anti-Iranian resolution aimed at preventing the people from taking part in the parliamentary elections. He added: "Those who claim to advocate democracy are clearly opposing democracy and the staging of elections in our country because they are well aware of the fact that democracy in the Islamic Republic will be the basis of the Iranian nation's development and power. The daring and vigilant Iranian nation, in a manner similar to all the important events which occurred after the Islamic Revolution, will take part in the elections even more enthusiastically than before and will foil the bullying powers' plots to weaken the Islamic Revolution and to increase pressures on Iran."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution considered the creation of doubt among some in the Iranian nation about the great services of the Parliament and the government as one of the other purposes of the foreigners' political propaganda. He explained: "Those who are against the presence of the Iranian nation in the public arena are after creating a sense of doubt about the accuracy and the freedom of elections in Iran."But I insist with complete certainty that elections held so far have all been accurate and the Friday elections will also be held in a similar fashion."
Ayatollah Khamenei called the necessity for vast public presence as the most important issue in the 8th parliamentary elections and reiterated: "Such decisive presence has, during the last 30 years, always contributed to the greater power of the nation and the government and has rejuvenated the Islamic Revolution's ideals and values on a daily basis."
His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the strength of belief and piety in the hearts of all people as one of the most important values of the Islamic Republic. He added:" Social justice, fighting corruption, religion-based democracy, not imposing individual, governmental, party and other votes on the nation and the right for people to choose freely in the framework of Islamic regulations, are among the values and principles of the Islamic Revolution and the 8th Parliament will also be formed on the basis of such values with the help of God and the determination and accuracy of the people when they choose."
Ayatollah Khamenei also referring to the different operations during the various Parliaments - regarding various issues such as nuclear energy - stressed the importance of people's prudence and reflection on electing the most qualified candidates. He said: "People must through vigilance, research and reference to experts, intellectuals and trustworthy persons, select candidates who are pious and trustworthy, and who support justice and fight corruption, as well as those who support the underprivileged and adhere to the principles of Imam Khomeini and Islamic values and principles. They must vote for candidates who have set themselves a clear and distinctive border between their goals and beliefs and those of the enemies."
Also in this regard, the Leader called participation in the elections as an act rewarded by God and added: "Of course accuracy and the right choice will be rewarded doubly by God."
His Eminence also considered the repeatedly voiced sensitivity of the American authorities towards the 8th parliamentary elections in Iran as a sign of their ignorance and said:" This has caused the Muslim nations to follow the Iranian elections with more accuracy to see how the Iranian nation will enter this great scene and who they will elect."
Referring to Imam Khomeini's statements on not being afraid of the enemies and their intimidations, Ayatollah Khamenei explained: "Our magnanimous Imam believed that the nation's enemies never praise anyone without an aim or a reason, and the vigilant Iranian nation always remembers this statement by our magnanimous Imam."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the clear marking of borders with the foreigners by the political groups and added: "Fortunately the political groups in our country - except for a small minority - have reached a consensus about the principles of Islam and the Islamic Revolution. We must put aside all indecisiveness and not stand on ceremony when confronting the enemies, and clearly mark the borders. We must only consider God and the Iranian nation as the yardstick."
His Eminence also added: "People will have this yardstick in mind when taking part in the elections, and so with the help of God, and through public participation and the enthusiasm and eagerness marking this participation, the 8th Parliament will unanimously or by a majority of votes be the real manifestation and embodiment of the nation's ideals and the values of Islam and the Islamic Revolution. And besides carrying out vast and important law-making and supervisory responsibilities, the 8th Parliament will smooth the way for more services by the current diligent government that serves the public interest."
In another part of this speech, Ayatollah Khamenei congratulated the Iranian nation on the arrival of the holy month of Rabi`al-Awwal, the month of the birth and migration of Prophet Muhammad (swa). Ayatollah Khamenei considered the whole life of the Great Prophet Muhammad (swa) as inspiring, enthusiastic and full of lessons for all Muslims and added: "If Muslims reflect and deliberate on this hidden treasure, follow his practices, and spoken and practical lessons, the Islamic community will reach such a position in the world that makes all bullying powers incapable of intimidating and bullying Muslims."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also referred to the blatant opposition of the Zionists and their allies towards Islam and the organized attacks against the Character of Prophet Muhammad (swa). He stressed: "The global hegemony is afraid of Muslim nations' adherence to Prophet Muhammad's lessons and its evident result which is the vigilance of the Islamic Ummah and the strengthening of the one and a half billion Muslims of the world. And it is due to this fact that they have waged a war on the Holy Prophet Muhammad (swa) as the last of Prophets and a blessing to the whole world."
His Eminence mentioned the Islamic Republic as the standard-bearer of Islam and practicing the lessons of Prophet Muhammad (swa). He reiterated: " Human rights, democracy, and nuclear energy are only pretexts for the Americans to mount pressures on Iran, but people in the world have recognized the true identity of the U.S. and the Zionist regime and having observed the tragedies in Gaza, Palestine, and Iraq they rightly consider the U.S. and Israel as the greatest enemies of humanity."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also referred to the official opposition of the U.S. president to the anti-torture law, adding: "Those who claim to advocate human rights have officially turned into the standard-bearers of torture and this has caused the " Down with the U.S." motto which was once only heard in Iran, to turn into the common motto of Muslim nations as well as many other non-Muslim countries."
In this meeting, various groups of people from different cities across the country as well as tribesmen from across the country, a number of the dear families of the martyrs of the imposed war, and a number of religious travel groups were present.