Statements in Meeting with Various Segments of the People on the Eve of Presidential and Islamic Council Elections

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, chosen, infallible progeny, especially the Awaited One among the inhabitants of the earth, and may God's curse be upon all their enemies.

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters! In these important and blessed days, you have adorned and illuminated our Hussainiyah with your presence, your sincerity, and your kindness.

These days, as they are the last days of the blessed month of Sha'ban, are very precious. We must always remember to make the utmost use of the opportunities that the Almighty God provides us; one of these opportunities is the blessed month of Sha'ban, which is the month of supplication, the month of communion, the month of intercession, the month of expectation. Another great blessing is the blessed month of Ramadan, which is approaching, and it is very appropriate for us to prepare ourselves in the month of Sha'ban for Ramadan. Ramadan is the month of divine hospitality; entering the realm of divine hospitality requires certain preparations, and we must create these preparations within ourselves.

Your work, dear youth, is easier than ours. Young people, with their pure hearts, their clear hearts, and the absence of the impurities that accumulate over time, are more prepared; they should appreciate this readiness, these supplications of the blessed month of Sha'ban, especially this famous supplication (Shabaniyyah) that has been narrated from the Imams (peace be upon them). I once asked the esteemed Imam (may his soul be sanctified) which of these supplications from the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) he was most attached to and felt close to; he said the Shabaniyyah supplication and Dua Kumayl. He, this knowledgeable and experienced man who acted in the way of God, paid attention to these two supplications. God willing, in the remaining days, we can all make use of these days and enter into this realm of divine mercy with spirituality and benefit; that is the essence.

Another point regarding these days that I prefer to speak a few sentences about is the issue of elections. The people—the Iranian nation—are preparing themselves for a great epic, for the elections, with enthusiasm and eagerness. From what I hear and learn, thanks be to God, there is enthusiasm and eagerness for the elections throughout the country; the people are preparing themselves. This is very important; this is the brilliance of the Iranian nation in another great epic. Each of these elections in which you participate is an epic, a massive popular movement that is presented before the eyes of the world; it elevates the dignity of the nation and increases national power. Elections are like this; they showcase Islamic democracy before the eyes of those who claim to be politicians in the world. Religious democracy or Islamic democracy was a new idea, a new experience for humanity that was presented by the Islamic Republic and Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified); you will showcase this on Friday before the eyes of the world—politicians, analysts, officials, and the general public—and demonstrate it; this is the importance of elections.

Everyone in the world is watching your elections; let me state this. When I say everyone, I mean the officials of countries, from the governmental apparatus of the United States to European powers and countries, to governments in this region that follow the United States, to that broken-necked prime minister of the Zionist regime—all of them are watching how you enter the arena on Friday and with what volume you enter the arena, with what spirit you enter the electoral arena; everyone is looking. This is one side of the issue; the other side is the nations of the region who generally look at the Iranian nation with admiration and many of them long for this freedom and this democracy that exists here and look on and admire the Iranian nation. These are also your supporters; they are also watching the elections on Friday. If our elections are weak, if the people's participation is weak, they will judge in one way, they will make decisions in one way; if the people's presence is intelligent, strong, and substantial, they will judge differently, they will have a different opinion. Truly, the Islamic Republic gains a fresh vitality with the renewal of these elections at specified years and periods; it manifests itself in the hearts and eyes of the world in a new, prominent, and remarkable way; this is why election day is truly a day of celebration for the Islamic Republic, a day of joy and enthusiasm.

Look at the region, our region, the region of West Asia and North Africa is today engulfed in insecurity; whether with the presence of terrorists and armed elements that are often supported by ill-intentioned and malevolent governments, or with internal wars in some countries where the hands of colonial powers can be seen in all of these. There is insecurity; it is an insecure environment. Look at the countries in the region; where is there no insecurity? Amid this collection of insecurity, thanks be to God, with the grace of the Almighty, the Islamic Republic is preparing for elections with security and tranquility. Today, there are only two days left until the elections, and thanks be to God, the environment of the country is calm, accompanied by tranquility and serenity. These are very valuable; dear brothers and sisters! We must appreciate these; they are very precious. An election is taking place in a country of eighty million people—where it is said that over fifty million have the right to vote—and the people are preparing themselves with enthusiasm, yet everywhere is calm; this is very valuable, very important. This must be appreciated.

The Islamic Republic has given us the space of freedom. Although some are ungrateful and use this free space to negate freedom. This is ingratitude and ungratefulness that some exhibit; well, let them do so. In the country, thanks be to God, there is a free space, a space for the presence of the people, and a space for the impact of the people's vote; in the election of the first executive official of the country, which is the presidency, and also in the election of city managers, which is the council elections, the people have a vote, they have an opinion, they make decisions; this is very valuable. Nations in our region whose governments are under the patronage of the United States of America envy this; they long for the Iranian nation; for them, it is a dream to be able to enter the arena; two, three, five people compete for the executive presidency, and then the people have the right to choose one of them; this remains like a dream for the countries in our region. This happens every four years in our country. The people enter, choose, and make distinctions; this is very valuable. This must be appreciated.

The presence of the people in this arena is very meaningful. This indicates two essential matters; of course, under these two matters, there are other issues, but in this popular presence, there are two essential matters: one is the trust of the people and their affection for the Islamic Republic system, the bond of the people with the Islamic Republic system; the other is the power of will and decision-making that exists among the people; these two things are very important. When you are present in the arena, you show that you are attached to the Islamic Republic, which has been able to grant independence and freedom to the country; you also show that the Iranian nation is a living nation, present, determined, and resolute; you demonstrate this. Both of these are of great value for the country; of course, each has its own subsets; there are even more benefits. The more this presence increases, the more this discipline, which thanks be to God exists among the people, increases, the more the dignity of the Iranian nation and the respect of the Iranian nation in the eyes of global observers increases.

This point about discipline that I mentioned is an important point. This popular discipline is very significant, very valuable; both before the elections, during the elections, on election day, and after the elections. This popular discipline and adherence to order and law are very important. This is what many countries lack, and our nation, thanks be to God, is showing that it possesses this. And we, the Iranian nation, have learned this from past experiences; we have experienced it; we have been experiencing it for many years. The Iranian nation has experienced how beneficial this discipline is for it and how detrimental disorder and lawlessness are; this is what the Iranian nation has experienced.

Well, of course, there are multiple candidates in the arena; they speak, express opinions, each has supporters. This is not a problem; one person will eventually win from this group, as is customary; I do not believe in winners and losers; one person will eventually receive votes, while several will not, but the main winner in this matter is the Iranian nation; whoever receives votes. The main winner is the Islamic Republic, the main winner is the Iranian nation. Whoever wants to be at the top, the one who is truly the winner is the people who have been able to choose someone with their vote. This is very valuable. Fortunately, various agencies are also involved.

Let me also state this; everyone should know! The executive agencies, the supervisory agencies, the agencies that safeguard security, they are all seriously engaged in work. They are trustworthy; they are working, and they are moving and working in coordination. Of course, despite this, I emphasize and recommend to those agencies that are trusted to ensure that the votes of the people are secure, that the trust is preserved. Well, there may be some individuals in the midst of this work who may want to commit some violations, but the agencies, thanks be to God, are accepted, trusted; whether supervisory agencies, executive agencies, or agencies that safeguard security and maintain security; all of these are valuable; all are engaged.

Of course, everyone should be vigilant and know that the Iranian nation has an enemy; in front of the enemy, the face of the nation should reflect both determination and self-assurance; serenity and calmness. These two things must exist. Firm resolve and determination where decisions must be made, and in any case, reliance on the Almighty God and self-confidence and a sense of power and ability that, fortunately, the Iranian nation possesses; one feels this. Well, now in the discussions and electoral speeches, sometimes remarks have been made that were unworthy of the great Iranian nation, but the presence of the people will resolve all these issues; these matters will not affect the presence of the people, God willing, and with divine grace. God willing, the people—men and women—throughout the country will participate and bring honor to the Islamic Republic system with their presence and their firm resolve.

I would also like to say to the supporters of the electoral candidates; well, each of these esteemed candidates has a number of supporters and enthusiasts and admirers, they should also maintain their composure; both the supporters and the campaign teams should maintain their composure and discipline; their aim should be to fulfill their duty, that which is important for us. These few days of life, these few days of work and effort—whether Zayd or Amr or Bakr—will pass; what remains is our actions that will be accounted for in divine reckoning, and we must answer for them. And employ me in that which You will question me about tomorrow; the Almighty God will question us tomorrow about certain things; we must think about that and strive for it. Both the general public and the candidates who have entered the electoral competition, as well as their supporters and friends, should act in a way that every movement of theirs is a good deed in the sight of the noble recorders of God; they should act in a way that their actions, their behaviors, their words are considered good deeds before the Almighty God, and that God determines rewards for them. When will this happen? When we perform our actions for God. Everyone should strive, struggle, and work; this is good, but intentions should be for God; if this is the case, then the Almighty God will bless the work, will bless the Iranian nation, and what is in the interest of the Iranian nation will come to fruition with divine grace. In any case, we are all obliged to adhere to the law and legal discipline and to act accordingly.

Let me tell you this: dear brothers and sisters! Every period that the Islamic Republic has gone through, it has progressed under various and different conditions that have existed in the world, in the region, and in the country itself. The performance of officials like myself may not always be suitable, positive, complete, or comprehensive, but the great movement of the Islamic Republic and the presence of the people and their cooperation with the Islamic system have done their part and have progressed; and God willing, this progress will continue day by day and period by period, and the Islamic Republic will witness the day when the enemies will become hopeless and will abandon their threats, exaggerations, and nonsense against the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation; with divine grace.

We hope that the Almighty God grants blessings to the Iranian nation; for this great test that lies ahead, may the Almighty God grant assistance and blessings; and God willing, may He bring forth what is good for the people, what is beneficial for the country, and what is beneficial for the nation.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.