Statements in Meeting with the Minister and Officials of the Interior Ministry and Governors

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

Dear brothers and diligent servants of the Islamic Republic system and Islam and this noble nation! Welcome.

The very formation of this gathering and the discussion on issues related to the elections and other important matters is a meaningful act and indicative of your attention to this issue, which truly plays a fundamental role in the workings of our system. These days are also important days. All the atmosphere, memories, and events of these days invite us to be serious, sincere, tireless, and steadfast in our work.

In these days, our nation witnessed one of God's promises with their own eyes. One of the manifestations of the verses "If you help God, He will help you" and "And whoever fears God, He will make a way out for him. And He will provide for him from where he does not expect, and whoever relies upon God, then He is sufficient for him" became evident in these days when the righteousness of this oppressed and brave nation was acknowledged by official organizations. Who accomplished this movement that led to such a victory? This was God's help, resulting from the people's support for God's religion; and this is God's promise, and it is true.

We may, with our limited minds, assume a time for the fulfillment of a promise that does not occur; but ultimately, it will happen. Who would have imagined in this world, tainted with the deadly poison of the biased politics of superpowers, that this United Nations, which for eleven years kept the clearest truths hidden—while it was clear from the first day what had happened and was happening—would, in such a situation, despite the will of the superpowers, and despite the dissatisfaction of those who still fear Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran, issue such a clear and condemning acknowledgment against our enemies? This was God's work; this is the unseen help. We should not expect that the unseen help will always appear in one form; this is also one of the forms of God's unseen help. This help is a continuation of the help you provide to God's religion; "If you help God, He will help you."

And the place of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) is empty; although that great sage, with the insight that wisdom had given him, saw many things that people like us could not see. He undoubtedly saw today in that clear mirror of his wise and discerning heart. There are many other things that we cannot see today; perhaps we cannot even guess; but they exist and will happen.

As long as we remain steadfast, stay on the path, strive, and have sincerity and compassion—which is the essence of the matter—undoubtedly, the flowing spring of God will be directed towards us; whether the enemies want it or not; whether America likes it or not.

Today you see what state the world is in; how empires are disintegrating; how nations are rising; how Islam is revealing its spiritual dominance over hearts. Therefore, we must learn a lesson.

Wherever we are and whatever we do, our intention must first be to seek God's pleasure; this is the most fundamental part of the matter. We must please God with righteous deeds. Deeds and righteousness go hand in hand. We do not have righteousness without deeds. In the Quran, after faith, there is righteous action; although according to some narrations, faith itself is action; "Faith is action." Action is internal and heartfelt; it is a will that a person imposes on their heart and soul. Willing is sometimes—and perhaps always—more difficult and burdensome than acting with limbs and body; sometimes our problem lies there. There must be action; it must also be in the line of righteousness.

The criterion and distinction of righteousness and corruption is whether we do that work for God's pleasure or not. It is evident that when we want to do something for God's pleasure, when this feeling arises from us, it is because we have examined and understood the goodness and desirability of the action, and then we do it for God's pleasure. Therefore, within the pursuit of God's pleasure, there is awareness, vigilance, comprehensive attention, and divine planning of the believer.

It is appropriate to mention the long, deep sorrow of the loss of our dear martyrs; their struggle and effort were the epitome of patience and sincere work. Today, too, God Almighty, with the return of the pure body of our dear martyr—Martyr Tondguyan—revived the memory of the martyrs in the minds of the Iranian nation. May God immerse him in His mercy, and just as he struggled in solitude and was martyred in the path of God, may He grant him the reward and recompense of the lonely martyrs of God's path.

Regarding the elections—which is your current issue—there are many matters. We need to discuss some aspects here; many of them will also be presented to the Iranian nation at the appropriate time, and what is necessary will be said, God willing, at the right time. What is currently being discussed and needs to be addressed with you dear brothers of the Interior Ministry, governors, political deputies, and employees of the esteemed Ministry of Interior is that elections, with their fundamental position in the Islamic Republic system, should always be considered. Elections are the essential point of connection between the thoughts and opinions of the people and the executive body of the system. If elections—as they have been, thanks be to God, in the past—are conducted with the presence of the people, with the will of the people, with complete freedom of the people and their free choice, and especially if, God willing, in this election, maximum awareness is exercised by the people so that competent and worthy individuals who truly deserve to represent this great nation are sent to the parliament, the Islamic system can be assured that it is moving towards its aspirations and goals. This is the role of elections and the high status of elections.

The position of the parliament is a very high position; it reflects the opinions and will of the nation in the laws and regulations of the country and the executive veins of the country; this is not a small matter. The parliament, thanks be to God, in the Islamic Republic system, has largely found its real meaning. The parliament is a place for individuals from the heart of the revolutionary masses; people who are interested and compassionate—of course, mostly—individuals who want to do something for the nation and strive to be somehow involved in this good work that interests them.

Thanks be to God, in the periods that have passed so far, we have largely witnessed such scenes; they freely express their views and pursue the path they consider correct. This is the characteristic of the Islamic parliament; a significant part of these characteristics has existed. Of course, we do not want to say there are no exceptions; yes, after all, there are exceptions everywhere; but the judgment is based on the majority and the natural course of work.

You must strive to ensure that the fourth-term elections are conducted even better than previous terms; this expectation should not be surprising. Our two days should not be the same; we must improve day by day; our governments must also improve day by day; our officials and agents must also improve. Each of us, in whatever work we have, must expect improvement from ourselves and others. We must move forward. Progress does not mean apparent and material progress; progress towards goals is a spiritual matter, which is possible with our improvement. With our deterioration, we move further away from the goal day by day. Therefore, the parliament is also subject to this rule; elections are also subject to this rule.

What is important in the elections, from the perspective of you dear and hardworking brothers, is, first and foremost, the integrity of the elections. Elections must truly reflect the people's vote. This does not mean that we only prevent fraud by those who may want to do such a thing—that is preserved and known, and the status of the Islamic Republic's agents is above these words—but beyond that, the election atmosphere must be healthy; the advertising atmosphere must differ from the usual propaganda of the world.

Today in the world, democracy is not a true democracy; because the pressure of flashy, hollow advertisements, with deceptive words, weighs so heavily on people's minds that it does not allow them to make the right choice; they do not let people think. Anyone who has observed some of the electoral activities of so-called democratic countries will find this meaning clear. The words they say, the promises they make, the faces they put on, the flattery they express to certain classes or groups, the connections they establish with specific factions to attract their attention, these are not healthy actions; actions that, when carried out in a popular setting, poison the atmosphere and do not allow them to think.

Advertising is correct and rightful; but with the true meaning of the word, with the observance of the legal limits of the word, free from deception, free from false and showy actions, free from accusing this and that. We cannot say that election officials have no responsibility in this matter; this is the condition for the integrity of the elections.

The next point is the cooperation of the agencies that bear this heavy burden together; whether the Ministry of Interior, the esteemed Guardian Council, or the law enforcement forces. Those who want to safeguard this sacred setup must be coordinated; they must cooperate and create understanding among themselves. I hope that in this election round, God willing, this understanding will reach its highest level; my prediction is the same.

Thanks be to God, the esteemed Minister of Interior is a cleric, a scholar, a learned, wise, and endowed with commendable qualities. The esteemed members of the Guardian Council—who are just jurists and appointed by the Imam—are the same. My perception is that what will happen, God willing, will be a good thing and a sincere cooperation; but you must strive for this.

What is important is that we look at our subordinates. In the management you will exercise—I am addressing all parties involved—you must carefully monitor the work of those who work under your supervision and under your command; this is the basis of the correctness of the work. You are good; but this is not enough; your agents must also benefit from your goodness, from your purity, from your sincerity. Be careful, and truly do not overlook any negligence in this work that relates to the people, and do not overlook any violation.

Of course, election candidates may belong to different political factions, or they will be—there is no problem with that—they may have competitions with each other; but no official should in any way allow partisan interpretations, factional interpretations, and group tendencies to have any impact on this work. This work must be done, God willing, purely and without any blemish; this is what will encourage the people.

Of course, our dear people should remember, and they certainly remember that Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), in all the elections that took place from the beginning of the revolution until the time of his passing, emphasized the presence of the people. It truly does not matter which group's candidate is being proposed. It does not matter which faction may have dominance over another faction. It does not matter which election candidate is more active in this city or electoral district and may have more votes due to the people's presence. Who he is and who I am is not the issue here; individuals are not the issue. The presence of the people is the support of the Islamic Consultative Assembly; and the Islamic Consultative Assembly is the foundation of the system. With this perspective, we must approach the elections.

We hope that God Almighty, God willing, will grant those deep, spiritual, and unexpected helps in this election work to the Iranian nation and to all of you. God willing, we will reach the day when we see the parliament and popular institutions, with pure and complete activity, displaying such a demonstration of sincerity before the eyes of the world's people that this itself encourages individuals and nations to lean towards the Islamic movement and the Islamic system.

I ask God Almighty to include His grace, mercy, help, and support for you dear brothers; and God willing, may the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) include you in his attentions, and may we all move together on the path that pleases that great one.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings