Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a vigorous meeting with thousands of people coming from different walks of life from East Azarbaijan Province on Wednesday, offered his heart-felt gratitude to the great Iranian nation due to its epic presence in ceremonies marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution on February 11, falling on Bahman 22 in the Iranian calendar, saying it was a manifestation of firm determination and steadfastness and vigilance of Iranian people.

Reiterating that the forthcoming elections for the Assembly of Experts and the Islamic Consultative Assembly on February 26 will be a manifestation of the nation’s vigilance, a step in defense of the establishment of the Islamic Republic as well as a sign of national independence and honor, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Through their massive and informed presence, endowed with insight and awareness, in the elections, people [must] act exactly contrary to the enemy’s expectation.”

During this meeting, which was held one day before the anniversary of the historic uprising of people in the northwestern city of Tabriz, the provincial capital city of East Azarbaijan, on February 18, 1978, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution heaped praise on the deep-seated faith, vigilance, liveliness and perseverance of the people of Azarbaijan at important and fateful junctures in the history of the country, particularly during the struggling days of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Underscoring the necessity of keeping alive the memory of historic days of the Islamic Revolution, and highlighting Bahman 22 (February 11) as one of these very important days, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “Based on documented reports [compiled] by reliable centers, people’s presence in this year’s epic Bahman 22 rallies across the country had increased significantly from the year before.”

Extending his sincere gratitude for people’s massive presence in the Bahman 22 annual demonstrations, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “This increased presence indicates [the fact] that despite extensive and colossal efforts by the arrogant front to push the [Islamic] Revolution into oblivion or reducing its importance in the people’s mind, not even a slight fault has been created in the nation’s firm determination.”  

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution went on to highlight the February 26 elections for the Assembly of Experts and the Islamic Consultative Assembly, noting: “With a specific planning for the elections, the enemy is seeking to realize its premeditated conspiracy. Therefore, the Iranian nation, as the genuine owner of this country, must be kept abreast of certain facts so that these dirty intentions could not turn into reality.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution started his speech by pointing out that the victory of the Islamic Revolution, which cut the hands of the United States and the Zionist regime off Iran, was the biggest humiliation for them, noting that over the past 37 years, they have spared no efforts to bring the Iranian nation’s accelerated move to a halt.

“Since the very beginning of the Islamic Revolution, foreigners have been working out schemes to prevent the holding of general elections in Iran, which [to that effect] they made certain efforts, but since they were disappointed, they have been in recent years concentrating [their efforts] on calling into question the elections and they intend to exercise influence in the elections.”

“Their scheme for the Esfand 7 (the date on the Persian calendar falling on February 26) elections has started with defaming [the top oversight body] the Guardian Council and questioning its decisions, and this council is one of several key centers in the Islamic [Republic] establishment, which the Americans have strongly opposed since the victory of the [Islamic] Revolution,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

Stressing the point that questioning the decisions of the Guardian Council will amount to creating the impression of illegality of elections, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “When the illegality of elections is insinuated, the Islamic Consultative Assembly that is born out of this election and its [subsequent] legislations will be illegal too.”

“The objective behind this sly scheme is to put the country in a [state of] void of law and parliament over the coming four years, which the public opinion must be aware of this issue,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to those who are in unison with the enemy in defaming the Guardian Council in the country, saying: “Most of these people are unaware of their own words and one cannot accuse them of treason, but they must take into account the fact that the result of such unison would be the completion of the enemy’s dangerous plot.”

Stressing that one of the objectives of the Global Arrogance in questioning the elections is to deprive Muslim nations in the world of the unique, novel and attractive phenomenon of religious democracy, Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted the very significant position of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, saying: “By approving laws, Majlis lays tracks for the government and the executive apparatus [to go ahead], [and] therefore, electing representatives on the basis of insight and awareness would influence the way [policymaking] tracks are laid in the country and [also determine] its orientation.”

“If Majlis is looking for people’s welfare, social justice, economic opening, progress in science and technology, as well as independence and national honor, its tracks will be laid in the direction of these objectives, but if Majlis is to be intimidated by the West and the US, and is to be after the rule of aristocracy, its tracks will be laid in such a direction and will steer the country onto the path of misery,” noted the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

Citing the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini that Majlis must have a final say on all issues, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Having a final say on [state] affairs does not imply [interferences with] an executive hierarchy, but puts emphasis on the important position of the Majlis [Iranian parliament] in determining the route and orientation of the country’s drive.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution went on to highlight the fundamental significance of the Assembly of Experts in the Islamic establishment, saying: “The significance of the position of the Assembly of Experts is due to the fact that it is the country’s main decision-maker and policymaker with regard to appointing the Leader [of the Islamic Republic]. Therefore, electing members of this Assembly is a very important issue.”

“If the Assembly of Experts’ members are loyal to the [Islamic] Revolution, wholeheartedly devoted to the nation, aware of enemy plots and steadfast against these plots, their decision-making, when the time comes, will be one way; but if the [Assembly of] Expert’ members are any different from this, they will act in a different way as well.”

Referring to the concentration of the Arrogance front’s propaganda machines on the Assembly of Experts, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “The reason for constant emphasis on the necessity of insight and vigilance and awareness of people in the elections is this issue, so that, [the voters] would act contrary to the enemy’s will.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution once more urged the Iranian nation to turn out massively in the upcoming elections and to defend the Islamic establishment and national independence and honor of the country. Underlining the necessity of vigilance vis-à-vis the Zionist-dominated dauntless and dangerous front that is standing against the Iranian nation, Ayatollah Khamenei added: “The policies of the US and many European countries are dominated by this network and the performance of the Americans in the nuclear case must be assessed within this framework.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Once again, following the long drawn-out process of negotiations and the ensuing nuclear agreement, an American official has said in recent days that ‘we will act in such a way that investors in the world would not dare to be present in Iran’!”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that such remarks show the depth of America’s enmity toward the Iranian nation, adding: “One of the objectives of those who have been involved in the nuclear talks over the past two years, and fairly speaking they took pains, has been [to bring about] economic opening through [attraction of] foreign investment, but the Americans are already trying to block this issue.”

“That is why it has been said time and again that the Americans are unreliable,” said the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

Referring to the American politicians’ objection to the slogan of “Death to America” in the nationwide rallies in Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “When you act in this way and your past and present are indicative of your overt enmity, which response do you expect from the Iranian nation?”

“Of course, in private meetings, they smile, shake hands and express pleasant words. [But] such behaviors are limited to diplomatic and private meetings and do not affect the reality,” said the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

“The fact [of the matter] is that after lengthy talks and conclusion of the contract and settlement of issues, now they are saying ‘we don’t allow [investment in Iran]’ and openly threaten to [impose] fresh sanctions,” said the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

“This is the reality of America and vis-à-vis this enemy, one cannot close his eyes and take [their words] for granted,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.

Addressing the Iranian people, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “Dear Iranian nation! You are face-to-face with such an element. Therefore you need to be awake and vigilant.”

“The solution to the country’s problems lies in people’s vigilance, keeping up faith-based motivations in the society, hiring highly-motivated and faithful youth, and internal strengthening of the country in [such areas as religious] faith, economy, science and management systems,” stressed Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution underscored the necessity of maintaining people’s unity, solidarity, and unison in defending the Islamic Revolution and its principles and ideals, saying: “Officials, who are interested in the country’s future, must do everything for God’s sake and for the people, and trust domestic forces and potential.”

Reiterating that the Economy of Resistance does not mean erecting a fence around the country, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “The Economy of Resistance is endogenous and outward-looking, i.e., if the national economy does not grow from inside, it will not get anywhere.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also threw his weight behind economic interaction with countries in the world, noting: “Of course this interaction must be smart and its result must be endogenous growth of the economy, and reaching this goal is not possible unless through people’s steadfastness and officials’ informed move [forward].”

In conclusion, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “By God’s Grace, the country’s youth will see the day when America and even those [powers] bigger than America will not be able to do any wrong against the Iranian nation.”

Prior to remarks by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Mojtahed Shabestari, representative of the Leader in East Azarbaijan Province and Friday Prayers leader in Tabriz, highlighted the religious zeal of Azarbaijani people at sensitive junctures, saying: “The Bahman 29, 1356 (February 18, 1978) uprising by the people of Tabriz is a turning point in the history of the great Islamic Revolution and is indicative of the insight of the devout people of Azarbaijan.”

The Friday Prayers leader of Tabriz said people’s massive participation in the elections will be the sign of the spiritual strength of the Islamic Republic, adding: “The aware people of Azarbaijan, along with people in other parts of Iran, will once again create a glorious and lasting epic through their massive and informed presence in the elections on Esfand 7 (February 26).”