Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei urged all groups, including those who disapprove of the establishment's policies, to go to the polls in the forthcoming parliamentary and Assembly of Experts votes.
"As ever, we insist that everyone, even those who do not favor the system or the Leader, go to the ballot boxes because elections belong to people, the country and the Islamic Republic system," he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei was speaking in a meeting with people from the holy city of Qom in Tehran on Saturday, only weeks before the elections for the parliament and the Assembly of Experts will be held on February 26.
The Leader said a high voter turnout would boost the Islamic system, promote security and bolster the international image of the Iranian nation, according to a transcript of his remarks on his official website.
“It won’t matter if there are varied views and preferences; what matters is that we make a right choice,” he said.
Explaining the way to identify the most qualified among the candidates, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Those on the lists of candidates for the Majlis and the Assembly of Experts who are believers and followers of the revolution and the [late Founder of the Islamic Republic] Imam [Khomeini] are trustworthy.
“But if they do not value the revolution, religion and independence and only heed the words of the US and other outsiders, they should not be trusted.”
Underscoring the significant role of Experts Assembly, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Despite some people’s belief, the assembly is not simply tasked with convening once or twice a year for speeches.”
It is to select a replacement when the current Leader passes away, which is a “very important” task, the Leader added.
