Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called on the six hopefuls approved to run in the forthcoming presidential election to commit themselves to promoting self-sufficiency and avoiding reliance on outsiders.
"Candidates should promise to the people during campaigning that they will not look for help outside Iran's borders to develop the country, spur the economy and address the problems, and will instead look to national means and capabilities," Ayatollah Khamenei was quoted as saying by his official website on Tuesday.
He was addressing a gathering of Iranian officials and ambassadors of Muslim nations on the occasion of the public announcement of Hazrat Muhammad's (PBUH) prophethood upon the divine order.
He highlighted the importance of a high voter turnout as a show of national power and solidarity against hostile countries.
"Participating in the elections is the responsibility of the people in an Islamic system and demonstrates their right and power in shaping the executive pillar of the government and … deters provocation and aggression by the enemy," he said.
A body in charge of vetting candidates and laws, the Guardians Council, approved six candidates on Thursday for the May 19 vote and the election campaign officially started the next day.
Contenders include incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, Ebrahim Raeisi, the custodian of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH), Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former culture minister, Mostafa Mirsalim, and former vice president, Mostafa Hashemitaba.
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