Leader: Enemies seeking to influence Iranian politics, decisions

Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, warned that enemies have hatched plots to find a strong influence on Iran in various economic, cultural and political aspects.

“This way, the enemy doesn’t need to get directly involved. The targeted official, without even knowing it, will make the decision the enemy wants,” the Leader said in a meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts in Tehran on Thursday.

“Based on verified reports, the United States and the global arrogance seek to infiltrate the country. Of course, this is not in the form of coup. They know that the structure of the Islamic Republic system doesn’t allow that to happen. However, they seek to infiltrate the country by entrancing the thoughts and the wills of the officials,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.

The Leader further noted, "The best way to fight back is to strengthen from within. If Islamic Iran is strengthened and enriched from within, the same actors that seek confrontation, will join the queue to resume ties with the Islamic system.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei said after the nuclear deal many Western diplomats and delegates visited Iran for talks and business, "however, this has had no positive results. It must be shown in practice how much these diplomatic visits are effective. Otherwise, agreements are no more than papers.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, praised the tranquility and peace in which Iran’s elections were held recently, saying that while other Middle Eastern nations are experiencing insecurity, the polls were held in full security.

Ayatollah Khamenei added that the security of the polls was such that people in Tehran were flocking to polling stations to cast their ballots from 8 a.m. to midnight without facing any problems.

The Leader also expressed his gratitude to the efforts made by the Iranian security forces and the interior and intelligence ministries to ensure the safety of the votes.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei lauded the “healthy” polls, saying that despite the enemies’ propaganda campaign and claims by some inside the country, all elections held by the Islamic establishment have been healthy and there has never been an organized move to influence the outcome of the elections.

The Leader further referred to the 62-percent turnout in the polls as “very meaningful and significant”, stressing that with such massive presence at the polling stations, the Iranian people practically demonstrated their confidence in the Islamic establishment.

Countrywide parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections were held in Iran on February 26.

Some 62 percent of some 55 million eligible voters cast their ballots at around 53,000 polling stations across the country.

4,844 and 161 candidates ran for the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts, respectively.

There are 290 seats in the Iranian parliament, elected by direct vote of people in nationwide election for four years.

The Assembly of Experts is also a high-ranking body that elects and oversees the activities of the leader of the Islamic Revolution.

Members of the 88-seat assembly are directly elected to office by people for an eight-year term. It holds biannual meetings to appoint a new chairman.

EA