IRNA: "Supreme Leader: Iranians to show Islamic Iran's honor to world"

The Holocaust-denial conference headlines are now mostly gone from the Iranian press--back to the usual "Supreme Leader" pronouncements, visits from foreign dictators, and denunciations of you-know-who. These upcoming elections should prove very interesting, however. I wonder if there will be a boycott.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed ali Khamenei here on Wednesday stressed that by electing pious, committed, faithful and trustworthy people in the Friday elections, the Iranian nation will show to the world the honor and power of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Addressing thousands of people from all walks of life, the Supreme Leader said the presence of people in the elections is an indication of their liveliness and awareness, adding that the Iranian people, by participating in different elections, have always firmly proved their will.

Referring to the importance of the Experts Assembly elections, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that honest, faithful and trustworthy people should be elected as members of the Assembly so that they would be ready to appoint the Leader of the Islamic Republic at any time.

Ayatollah Khamenei further underscored the importance of the City and Village Councils elections, to be held simultaneously with the Experts Assembly election on Friday, and called for electing committed people who can serve people properly and in the best possible manner.

As to efforts by the enemies to discourage people from taking part in the elections, he said the so-called advocates of democracy are trying to prevent people from voting by weakening the religious-democratic foundations and raising accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. But, the Iranian nation will thwart their conspiracies as they did in the past, the Supreme Leader added.

"The Iranian people will vote en masse in Friday's elections," the Supreme Leader said, adding that women, men, old and young will go to the polls with strong determination.

As to massive participation of people in various elections in the past 27 years since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed, "Such a high turnout in the elections was an indication of people's profound belief in the importance of their presence in different social scenes."

The progress and development of the Islamic Iran and promotion of Iran's stands in the region and the entire world are also the results of such massive presence, he added.

The insistence of people on pursuing peaceful nuclear technology is another example of their wise presence on the scene, Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that the bullying powers tried to deprive the Iranian nation of such a legitimate right while the Iranians insisted on its will and reached such an advanced stage in the field of nuclear technology. The Iranian nation would make further progress in its nuclear program, he added.

Showing sensitive reaction toward domestic and regional developments including critical situation in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine are also indication of the awareness of the Iranian people, Ayatollah Khamenei said.

"Today the Iranian people are the main decision makers in the country and this will secure Iran's future," the Supreme Leader reiterated.

Tags: Iran, elections, Ayatollah